New PE Seats

I am on vs027 1st Mar. Are the LGW 744s equiped with the new seat in PE yet? They don't look as comfy as the old ones.

To the best of my knowledge the Upper Deck on all the LGW 747's have the old style seat, whilst downstairs behind Upper Class has the new type seat.

I would always opt to be on the Upper Deck.

I would agree as the lower deck PE seats are two rows of 2-4-2 sandwiched in between economy and UC. I get the impression that the service on the upper deck would be better.

Paul

Originally posted by rjd2709
I am on vs027 1st Mar. Are the LGW 744s equiped with the new seat in PE yet? They don't look as comfy as the old ones.

Well, to be really confusing (sorry), that depends on which "new PE seat" you're talking about

The LGW/MAN 747s have the Wash PE seats (the previous "new" seats) on the lower deck, and the older style PE seats on the upper deck. It appears that the "new new" PE seats are only on the brand new A346s at the moment - G-VWKD & G-VBLU (in test locations?), with G-VWIN to follow at the end of the month (so pretty unlikely on the LGW/MAN routes)...

Cheers

Michael

Originally posted by p17blo
I would agree as the lower deck PE seats are two rows of 2-4-2 sandwiched in between economy and UC. I get the impression that the service on the upper deck would be better.

Paul

You're not wrong there.[8D]

Wow, never knew it was going to be so complicated, we are booked on our usual four seats upstairs and I refer to the old old seats that used to be downstairs on the 742s. I presume from all that you say that these are still in situ.

Thanks

Originally posted by rjd2709
Wow, never knew it was going to be so complicated, we are booked on our usual four seats upstairs and I refer to the old old seats that used to be downstairs on the 742s. I presume from all that you say that these are still in situ.

Not having travelled on one of the 742s and since the 742s are no longer in the fleet, I have no idea if they are the same seats. Best have a look at the pics I posted in my last reply and see if any match...

Cheers

Michael

[mitchja]

I'm pretty sure the seats on the Upper deck of the current LGW/MAN 744's are the same as what was in PE of the old B742's. Goes to show when PE was lasted updated!!

I flew in PE on a B742 back in Aug 2001 to YYZ.

Regards

hang on a min.
Wasn't the downstairs on the 742's the old style UC seats in Zone B??

[mitchja]

Not on all the B742's Alan.

The one I flew to/from YYZ did have J2000 UC in the nose section with PE in zone B as I was in seat 18K in PE going out and in Upper Class coming back (7K and I think I was on G-VIBE), but I've also flown on a B742 from MAN (in seat 8H which I believe this was G-VRUM) which did have PE in the nose section.

Anyhow the PE seats were the same as they are now on the upper deck of the LGW/MAN B744's

Regards

From the picture of them posted (and thanks to whoever did so) - it looks plain odd, with some of the cabin having the new seats and some the old. What on earth is Virgin thinking of, doing that?[:0]

[mitchja]

Claire

The picture shows the PE cabin on G-VWKD. The red/blue PE seats are what are currently on all the A346's and the B744's with V:Port or just to confuse matters, they are also on the main deck of all the LGW/MAN B744's. The original PE seats are the ones on the upper deck of the LGW/MAN B744's and on the A343's, which haven't changed since the B742's were in service which also had the same type of PE seats.

The brown leather seats are the newest PE seats which aren't in general service yet. There's only 6 of then in the cabin as VS (and all airlines for that matter) trial new seats to make sure they are workable and perform well when actually in service in the air.

I believe these new leather PE seats will be fitted on the next new A346 (G-VWIN) which is due before the end of Feb - which also should have new economy seats as well. All the existing A346's will then get retro-fitted with these (and the new economy seats) over the coming months.

Ther are currently 3 types of PE seat on board VS aircraft:

Original
On the upper deck of LGW/MAN B744's and on all the A343's. Also still on 1 LHR B744 (G-VXLG) which will probably end up been changed to LGW/MAN config before the end of this year

Wash
On all the A346's and the LHR B744's where V:Port is fitted (both upper and main deck). Also on the LGW/MAN B744's on the main deck (although have smaller screens and have no laptop power point)

Echo (the new new brown leather PE seat)
Currently on trial on G-VWKD and should be fitted to all A346's in the coming months.

Regards

On FlyerTalk Forums there is a post re- will BA copy the new VS seats. Several posters point out that the second row of new PE seats don't have legrests! Very odd! Are they seriously thinking of introducing new PREMIUM seats without these? A poster also ponits out that legrests have been disappearing from PE seats on VS recently. Perhaps he/she was on a A343. I have been on seveal of these without legrests (as opposed to footrests), although not recently, as I avoid these at all costs now. BA's WT+ always have legrests and adjustable headrests and lumber support. What's the story with the missing legrests on VS? My first "Mid Class" trip in VS was in 1994 on a 742 which had newly installed legrests in PE. In my opinion they make a big difference, and if you don't like them, don't use them.[:0]

Thanks James, for the info. The red/blue ones I'm familiar with and I realised it's a trial situation - but is this aircraft operational? If so, it still looks odd to have both types together- sort of prototype-ish...

Originally posted by catsilversword
Thanks James, for the info. The red/blue ones I'm familiar with and I realised it's a trial situation - but is this aircraft operational? If so, it still looks odd to have both types together- sort of prototype-ish...

That's because it is prototype-ish. They didn't want to convert the entire PE section so they just did the middle section. And the only way to trial it would be to have the aircraft be operational [i].

Oh, and isn't it supposed to be purple, not brown?

Just to throw a possible spanner in the works, isn't it coming up to the time when the LGW 744 need one of their large maintainence overhauls? Maybe new seats could appear on those aircraft too???? just a though

The LGW fleet certificate of airworthiness start to expire in 1 years time.

With the A346 fleet due to be finished in October, this would seem to fit in the right timescale...

Originally posted by Richard28
The LGW fleet certificate of airworthiness start to expire in 1 years time.

With the A346 fleet due to be finished in October, this would seem to fit in the right timescale...

Now that would be good first choice are really flooding the advertising about their extra leg room etc so it would be perfect for VS to slap them down with a leather PE seat and nice new Y class seats too, and god forbid a near standardisation of the fleet between LHR + LGW!!!!!

Yes, VS could make them the ... [:?] ... second choice! [B)]

Originally posted by ade99

Originally posted by Richard28
The LGW fleet certificate of airworthiness start to expire in 1 years time.

With the A346 fleet due to be finished in October, this would seem to fit in the right timescale...

Now that would be good first choice are really flooding the advertising about their extra leg room etc so it would be perfect for VS to slap them down with a leather PE seat and nice new Y class seats too, and god forbid a near standardisation of the fleet between LHR + LGW!!!!!

Yeah, I've noticed those ads too. Bringing pitch awareness to a whole swathe of people who'd probably never known such a thing existed![|:)]

From what I understand, when the LGW fleet took place they placed the WASH Premium seats on the main deck because the old type were not being made by the manufacturer. But when the new seats have been trialed im sure these will be fitted accross all aircraft

Can't open the new PE seat pic, but for me to make it worthwhile, it would have to improve greatly. More like the old BA club seats. I know it is a Premium ECONOMY seat, I just think they could do much more with it. Look forward to seeing the photo or the new seat for real.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by ojzissman
Can't open the new PE seat pic...

I've edited mcuth's reply, with the updated picture link. You should be able to open it now.

[mcmbenjamin]

Does anyother airline use the Wash style seat?

I have found some pics of other airlines' premium economy (or equivalent)cabins to show virgin's compares.

BA WT+

Thai Airways PE

Eva Air PE

In my opinion, the new seat and the WASH seats are better than all three. However, the older style seats on the A343s and LGW 744s seem to be only on par with the Eva and Thai PE seats. Although the fact that the PE seats on the LGW metal are on the upper deck certainly gives them the upper hand.

Cheers,
VS045

Cheers,
VS045