V-Flyer

Hi everyone!

What is the refit schedule so-far, has there been any changes (Suites and v:port refit). Also, is it correct that two LGW 744s MAY are to be done by the end of the year? If so, will all the LHR a/c be done by then?

Thanks!

According to a.net, the re-fit is running ahead of schedule, and 2 or 3 LGW 744's could be done before the year is through.

At LHR, G-VWOW is being done now, G-VXLG is currently located at LGW, leaving G-VFAB as the only LHR B744 without suites.

Per other posts G-VEIL (A346) has now arrived with Suites at LHR, and other A346's will now start to get the treatment.

Which leaves just the A343's which it seems will remain in the fleet for at least two more years, and is the missing piece of the UCS jigsaw puzzle.

I wonder if VS will put Suites in the A343s. And put v:port in the Arcadia equiped ones, if they are to stay for 2 more years then I suppose it makes sense in some cases, but do you think that it is a waste of money or perfectly fine? I'm undecided on that one! (As much as it would be great to have UCS and v:port on the A343s!;))

I think VS will have a big PR problem if they end up with a few planes without the UCS, particularly if these sometimes end up being flown on routes that usually have the suites.

One of the great things about the UCS refit is that it applies (eventually) to LGW 'Alitalia' planes, bringing all planes up to a similar standard. But imagine the unpleasant surprise of getting the old spec A343 against a background of every other plane having suites.

BC

Blackcat,
I know what you mean. With the 744s and A346s all being done it will be great and 'I don't care what a/c I go on, as at least I know what cabin/seat I'll get, and at least I'll get v:port or odyssey (once VFAB and the lgw 744s have been done!)', but with the A343s, people will be dissapointed if they are not refitted. Obviously, if they were just here for like 6 months, then there would be no point, but because one has just been painted, this means they are here for a while!

If there were 3 LGW 744 converted to suites by the end of the year, what routes would these be assigned to I wonder? I would assume that it would be those with the highest UC sales?
cheers
GO

quote:Originally posted by Goldenoldie
If there were 3 LGW 744 converted to suites by the end of the year, what routes would these be assigned to I wonder? I would assume that it would be those with the highest UC sales?
cheers
GO

The LGW 744s all tend to rotate -- don't forget that the routes are typically 1-3 times per week, not daily.

BC

I would imagine that LGW-MCO will be the last to be fitted out on the LGW fleet? or does this rotation also include that route?

According to the history database, LGW-MCO was operated by all five of the Alitalia planes in April.

BC

It will be in VA's best interests to have as standard a product offering as possible, especially in their premium products that generate a lot of profit, therefore, I would imagine that the A343 will get refitted, albeit after everything else.

They should be coming up to a scheduled refurb anyhow, and if VA are repainting them and Branson is today quoting a 10% growth rate pa, they're obviously going to keep them for a while yet.

Also as Blackcat mentions all aircraft (basically) operate all flights, therefore if the aircraft have all been standardised it helps the fleet planners and operations guys immensely.

Hi All

Couldn't resist guessing what the LGW 744's might look like post suites. I'm booked UC to MCO end March 2005 so, if 3 are done by the end of the year there might well be a fourth done by Feb and maybe the 5th will be in to be done so higher chance of refurbed plane. Whilst I can't wait to try out the suites I'm more keen to get V:PORT:)

Anyway, I've been playing with potential configs and my best guess is for the front end of the plane is:

Current Zone A with 14 UCS rows 6-12 as the LHR suites - currently there are 16 seats downstairs in UC not counting row 11 & 12 regularly given over to PE.

Then PE seats in the same configuration as the Manchester 742s - i.e rows 17 to 22 in a 2:4:2 layout (although 2:3:2) would be better.
(Economy unchanged starting in row 25). Then upstairs as now, 38 PE seats in rows 71 to 80.

This would give 14 UC, between 71 and 74 PE seats and economy unchanged. Alternatively, if the upstairs was laid out as the LHR suites then this would make 24 UC, 53-56 PE.

My guess is the former as many previous posts have highlighted minimal use of UC on this route whilst high demand for PE continues.

Have done a mock up of this using the seat maps but don't know how to insert/upload this image and I know Pix would do a more professional job anyway - mine's just a cut and paste!

Any other guesses?

On a related theme, people are wondering what will become of the A343s as they are the "last part of the picture". If I was a betting woman [}:)] my money is that they'll go to Manchester to replace the real last part of the picture - the 742s. These could then service the Orlando flights and the recently announced flights to the Carribean. As much as I like Virgin, I think they currently treat Manchester as a lower priority and would have no problem doing so in future - the service would then be uniform from London. Not sure this is entirely the answer - as according to the database there are 10 of the 343s and I'm not sure where the rest might go. Not sure either of the current state of play with the 742s re: ownership.

my money is that they'll go to Manchester


I agree with that one actually, that would be a good move, although im not sure how much better they are than the exsting aircraft!

No personal experience of the Virgin 343s - the seat ratings show a mixed picture but with PE passengers generally not impressed - mainly due to lack of WC for this cabin.

Five of the 343s appear to have Arcadia and five the superior Odessey - the 2 742s flying from Manchester already have Odessey so no improvement there.

Not AVOD thHi, there are now only 9 A340-300s in the fleet! A few months ago, one left the fleet - GVSKY. This had the Arcadia system, so that means now 4 have Arcadia, 5 have Odyssey. There have been rumours that UC will be refurbished on the A340-300s with Suites and Arcadia ones will get v:port! Just like the rest of the fleet, Odyssey won't at the time be refitted probably, but it's a great system anyway!:D Not AVOD like v:port though. This will be good, leaving all UC cabins with Suites, and all aircraft with either v:port and odyssey, so IFE will be superior to most airlines (if not all with v:port!)

It's great though getting rid of Arcadia and Nova, even though I haven't tried them, its good to have the fleet 'standardised' with one of the best newer IFE and UC cabins. If the A343s are kept in the fleet for a long time, then VS may consider giving the a/c a refit, as they will want the fleet to have the same UC cabins, and just two types of IFE and Econ. and Prem. seating. I wonder about the 742s, although they are not FULL Upper Class anyway, so they will probably not do it out though...

Your potential seat-map sounds like a very good idea and what I was thinking! BA has a smaller CW cabin too on many LGW Long-haul services. There are a few a/c with a similar cabin to the LHR BA fleet I've heard. I don't know as I haven't experienced these aircraft! But that just shows what the demand for Buisiness and First is like on B+S routes, BA don't have World Traveller Plus though on many services I don't think! Anyway, your configuration sounds very sensible, although it would be nice if they fitted a bar maybe on the LGW services whilst they are at it! There was a post recently on another topic on here saying LGW aircraft will get a bar- well, I wish VS showed the configuration of what the LGW a/c will be like when they are done!

VSDan,

Virgin have announced that from next year the manchester flights will revert to full UC instead of Club Orlando.

I think there is a call for buisness on the MCO B & S as more and more companiwes have their conventions/sales meetings out there.

AlanA
I am also sure I heard that the MAN services will be operated by G-VFAB next year. A couple of months ago, it was mentioned somewhere on here. Maybe Manchester will get Upper Class Suites after all...

I think UC will be good for Manchester, it will, again bring the fleet and services to a more similar standard. I am sure AA and BA do long-haul from there, with Business Cabins, but I'm not too sure...

From previous sales experience a lot ofpeople from the north travel to london just to use VS so i'm not sure why VS don't expand MAN as part of there growth and add a few routes such as NYC and LAX?

shaun

vs932, those seem like great routes to compete with AA and BA (I think they go there!?) so VS could, or the Carribean. They were going to go to the Carribean, but I think the big problem with MAN VS are having is with bmi transatlanticthey are quite close...(!, codeshare, ect)Then again, bmi can't go Transatlantic from LHR even though they have bid, so I suppose it's bmis only chance to go Transatlantic...

i wonder if anyone out there can help to de-confuse my tiny mind - What with all this talk of re-fits etc, and analysis of forums on DIBB saying that our plane will be a 747 - 200 as opposed to a 747 - 400 and talk of Alitalia planes etc.
Can anyone adise me what plane we might be on ? - we are booked to fly from Manchester on the 29th June to fly to Orlando.

Hi fpblack

From Manchester you will (unless there's a last minute replacement) be flying on a 747-200, with CLub Orlando and Odyssey entertainment.

A seat plan is available via this link
http://www.v-flyer.com/seatmaps.asp
Alex

Hi fpblackk,

The refits are refurring to the new 'Upper Class Suite' cabin, which is rolling across the fleet now, it is on about 5 a/c now, and is being fitted over the coming months. Virgin will also phase out Arcadia and Nova by refurbishing the Economy and Premium cabins at the same time as the 'Suites' are being done. They will fit them with the v:port system, which is already on a lot of aircraft. Odyssey is still a good system, so they will remain (except for the older Upper Class)

The Alitalia aircraft, never went to Alitalia, and were brand new to Virgin in 2001, they were SUPPOSEDto go to Alitalia, but Alitalia cancelled the order before they got them, so Virgin bought them. They have NOVA IFE soon to be replaced by v:port. The a/c are G-VLIP, G-VROM, G-VROY, G-VROS and G-VGAL.

The 747-200 are full Virgin aircraft, and are G-VSSS and G-VBEE, Island Lady and Honey Pie respectively.

Welcome to V-flyer by the way!

June, last time I checked.