Say it ain't so IAD-LHR going back to A343

So, we're headed across the pond to sail on the QM2 in September. I'd gotten excited when I discovered that most of the A346s doing VS21/22 since January were scheduled for UCS fits by September. It looked like our odds of UCS were pretty high... :D:D:D

But I just got off the phone with Virgin and they say we're slated for an A343 on September 8 on the VS22... What a downer... The agent said the A346s were headed to the New York, Hong Kong, and probably J'burg routes after refit.

I'm disappointed in the switch to A343 from the A346, but not that disappointed. My second VS flight was on a A343 in PE, which was a massive improvement over my first flight on G-VHOT in "Peasant Class" both flights were in Jan 2003, and G-VHOT was pretty ragged back in the cheap seats... and that was before takeoff! I've flew in US Domestic First Class seats that were in worse shape than the PE on the A343.

Can't answer your question - but I do think its a bit naughty to call economy "Peasant Class"!!! These days I try to fly in PE but it was only a couple of years ago that the most I could afford was economy - and thank heavens there was Virgin economy - our first ever transatlantic flight was on Virgin in 1988 - seat back tv's games etc etc - I know the others have caught up - but as I said - it was great at the time.

I am sure we have all flown economy in our time - but lets clebrate the fact that Virgin still get it right and that not everyone can afford anything more - especially if its a holiday where its better to spend your cash in the resort or wherever!!!

To be fair, even Sir Richard wanted to call the economy cabin 'Riff Raff' when they started

[Decker]

As somebody who still frequents that end occasionally I prefer clapper class...

[RichardMannion]

Yeah, me too - I fly in economy, gypsy, peasant, pauper, cattle, coach, riff-raff, steerage, monkey class if there is a good deal on and its of reasonable flight length.

And the amount of fun flights I have had when flying in Y - I've had whole rows to myself, chatting to staff; whatever your means, it doesn't matter as long as you have an enjoyable flight. The amount of times I have had to fly in PE on a 343 - I look back at the space in Y and curse - last time I spent most of my time out of my seat talking to some crew friends back in the galley .

Thanks,
Richard

Ok, the peasant class thing was a joke... And in all fairness, when Virgin first started Economy was supposed to be called Riff Raff...

I've spent enough time in the cheap seats on the US Domestics (including ATL/SEA non-stop middle seat last row on a Delta 757 and ATL/HNL non-stop on a packed Delta MD-11) that I think I can make the Peasant Class joke...

And yes, for the most part Economy on Virgin is much better than any US Domestic hands down, even our flight on VHOT was still better than most of my US Domestic flights...

OK - let you off then!!!:D:D:D

Agree with Richard - its great in Y if you can get four seats togther - but how the dickens do you plan that??? I saw an interseting post in here from a guy who simply booked a row of three in Y as cheaply as he could so that he could stretch out and sleep!!!

I can't recall exactly which airline it was, but my dad was telling me not so long ago about flying in Y on a Japanese airline, which referred to this area as 'thrift class'. Nice!

quote:Originally posted by MarkJ
I saw an interseting post in here from a guy who simply booked a row of three in Y as cheaply as he could so that he could stretch out and sleep!!!

See if you have the money to do that, you've got to wonder why they just didn't spring for PE or better...

Could it be that on that day the 346 scheduled is in for a refit?
I am on 21/22 in Oct and have been looking forward to Vport and the 346 since booking!!!!

I don't think so. According to the Aircraft Database here, 3 of the 5 A346's that have been flying the route since January will be through the refits will be done by August

Maybe Washington is being punished by VS? Has this administration managed to piss off Richard Branson now too?

Not just a one off I'm afraid,

going to IAD in Nov and it's scheduled to be an A343.

They've got to fly some routes I guess, NYC is too much of a flagship route, and SFO and LAX are that much longer it makes sense to give them UCS. So you are left with BOS and IAD.

VSlf

Looks like the A343's are already coming into DC. Was watching AirNav Flight Tracker yesterday and it showed the 21/22 as an A343...

I understand why the suites are going to NY and LA first, it's just a little disappointing...

I know, I could always move...