V-Flyer

Can anyone tell me when and how does VS decide which aircraft to put on specific routes such as LHR-HKG-SYD?

Virgin and other carriers wont realise which exact aircraft is due to operate the route untill get to the gate. They do this for security reasons.
So you can ask which EXACT aircraft is operating a route once the flight is airborn ONLY.

Hope this helps!!
VFLY

Ctang,
Did you mean specific aircraft types, or a particular registration?

Chuck-

If it's plane types you mean then it is totally down to economics. Some aircraft have more/less range and are designed to be most economic over particular ranges of distances (dependant on such things as engine type/size and fuel capacity. Most airlines may also have to consider the number of engines, as this can limit the area of operation (a safety consideration in case an engine fails). This is however less relavant these days, and of course of no relevance to Virgin who only have 4 engine aircraft. Then of course there is loading - not just commercial cargo, but also "self loading cargo"(passengers to you and me!). Why send a larger 346 when loading dictates a smaller 343 for example. Finally I am sure that availability in the schedule has an impact with some flexibility between the use of 343's and 346's

I meant whether Virgin uses a config 1 or a config 2 346 plane. How do they finalise the online seat plan? For example, VS201 tomorrow was showing a config 2 layout, then changed to the config 1 layout when I checked in.

Originally posted by G-VFLY
Virgin and other carriers wont realise which exact aircraft is due to operate the route untill get to the gate. They do this for security reasons.
So you can ask which EXACT aircraft is operating a route once the flight is airborn ONLY.

Hope this helps!!
VFLY

That's not strictly true as you can generally get the registration from a good few hours before the flight. If the aircraft is known and is specific to a return leg then I have seen this info supplied from the moment the outbound flight is airborne (so up to 11 hours ahead) - But this is NOT always the case.

For example: Todays flight to BOS leaving at 14:30 (2.5 hours away) will be G-VBIG

I had a feeling it was more a question (from the OP) about HOW VS decide. Why choose that aircraft over another, how does rotation work... The answers to which I don't know.

Paul

Yes I was wondering how VS decided.

Originally posted by ctang
I meant whether Virgin uses a config 1 or a config 2 346 plane. How do they finalise the online seat plan? For example, VS201 tomorrow was showing a config 2 layout, then changed to the config 1 layout when I checked in.

A last minute change could be for a number of reasons. We currently have one 340-600 in Zurich for un-planned maintenance so other aircraft have had to be switched around.

Do you know which plane will operate tomorrow's VS201 flight from Sydney?

Originally posted by ctang
I meant whether Virgin uses a config 1 or a config 2 346 plane. How do they finalise the online seat plan? For example, VS201 tomorrow was showing a config 2 layout, then changed to the config 1 layout when I checked in.

I think this is more operational on the day as I doubt they can plan in advance which configuration will be used. Ultimately the difference between the two configs is # of seats between PE and Y (config 2 has marginally less Y and more PE) so I guess if they can they try to put the config 2 on the flight that has more PE - especially if oversold but they also need to consider the in-bound as well.
Eventually all the config 1 will be moved to config 2 so this will not be an issue but I guess there is a switchover point when they will be selling into config 2 and assigning config 1s when PE is undersold.
I doubt there is a lot of this going on at the moment though.

Phil

^I've been told any online/DIY software hasn't been updated with the new config, and wont be til September, eg if you check in using the kiosks say, it'll still show the old config!