Virgin Refits and Amenity Kits

Hello, I am new to Virgin Flyer Forums although I do look regularly and am a member of vsfan.org/vsforum, have been since December (2003). I posted the following on vsfan but I would also like to post on here. Thanks:

I know it has been mentioned on alot of forums but (up to now) when will G-VFAB and G-VHOT be refitted with the new interiors throughout, because I have seen on some posts that one of them will be done in Jan&Feb with the other in June and some say that they both will be Jan and June (if it is January, then one should be done). Will they both have the new Economy, Premium Economy seats and the New UC Suite with V.Port throughout by the 16th February. I am hoping for V.Port for my flight to New York (my first longhaul!) and back with my family. If not, the Odyssey will have to do, but not really wanting Arcadia or Nova, even though they are still better than other airlines.

Also, what does the amenity kits have, both types (the ones from the Uk and the ones to the UK)

Also (not put on my vsfan post), can you keep the headphones from Virgin, and do you get a blanket and a pillow. When does everything get sent out ect.

Thanks for your help.

[Pete]

Hi Dan,

Welcome aboard.

Lots of questions

It's still not clear about G-VFAB and G-VHOT, although current wisdom would suggest one of them is about to get the refit and the other *might* not be until June - although that would be putting back Virgin's plans for re-fitting the whole fleet by a long way.

Whatever the timetable, they will have V:Port when they emerge from the hanger. Which flight number are you on in February?

The amenity kits in Economy & Premium are a drawstring back on the way out (from LHR), and more of a 'pouch' on the way back. I understand this is partly because you need less to keep you amused on the night flight, and partly to keep the costs down. The Upper Class kits are similar in both directions, although the colour of the bags seems to change. A current picture of their contents is below:



Officially, you're supposed to give back your headphones at the end of the flight; but they're not really that strict about it if you really want to hang on to them

Your pillow and blanket will normally be in the overhead lockers when you get on the plane, and your headphones will be in the seat pocket in front of you. You amenity kits should be on your seat. In Upper, the in-flight beautician hands out the kits just before or after take off, depending on how busy things are.

If you want to take your own headphones on board, the entertainment system accepts the standard mini-jack connection you'll find on most headphones. I recommend a pair of noise-cancelling headphones so you can enjoy the movie without the low hum of the aircraft all the way through it. I have the Bose, but there are plenty of alternatives available.

Enjoy your flight, and enjoy the site.

Pix

Pix -- there appear to be two current UC amenity kits. One which is Space:NK with pointless sachets, and one which has Virgin Vie pump containers (infinitely preferable). I've no idea how to determine what you get though! Last year I had both on various flights. The Cats are travelling LGW-ANU on Weds so will actually ask the flight crew this time!

BC

hi folks
just a question are the above kits the same when flying lgw/mco?

we are flying in uc

thanks


steve w hickling

Hi candyman,

Yes the kits will be the same from LGW/MCO ( unless the change them in the mean time) ie either space nk or virign vie.

The colour of the bag could well be diiferent. I have had the cream, the black and the red bag on diiferent flights

Regards

TBS

VS FC Gold

[RichardMannion]

We're back to Virgin Vie now for the UC kits.

I did have lots of them until family took a liking to them. Do ahve a couple of the kits before that with the proper eyemask

Thanks,
Richard

[mitchja]

quote:Originally posted by The_Banking_Scot


Yes the kits will be the same from LGW/MCO ( unless the change them in the mean time) ie either space nk or virign vie.

If you get the Virgin Vie kit you now also get a much better nifty chrome metal pen rather than the plastic type shown in the pic (similar to the short stumpy chrome pen you used to get way back)

James Mitchell

Silver Flying Club member since 2000

quote:Originally posted by pixuk
It's still not clear about G-VFAB and G-VHOT, although current wisdom would suggest one of them is about to get the refit and the other *might* not be until June - although that would be putting back Virgin's plans for re-fitting the whole fleet by a long way.

VAST went off to Dublin on the evening of the 14th, after working inbound on VS002, and doesn't seem to have been seen since, so I guess Ladybird is off for the suite treatment? Maybe as she's already an Odyssey ship, the upgrade can be achieved more quickly, thus getting 3 UCS aircraft into the fleet, as it won't require v:port install work?

VHOT came back from Amsterdam (at KLM for heavy maintenance, I guess) the same day, so maybe HOT just recieved whatever maintenance check she was due, in order to keep flying for the time being?

This does mean that some Gatwick 747-400s have been turning out on the Heathrow routes, with VROY putting in appearances on East Coast routes (Newark and DC).

Cheers,
Mike

Thanks for all your replies. I now understand about the kits.

When I fly on the 16th Feb and the 22nd Feb, we are travelling on a 744, which, is a mix of good and bad. It is good because, as we are travelling in a three, that we can have window seats (as pre-allocated) which, I believe A340's have two by the window. Also, 747-400 aircraft, especially with Virgin colours look great. However, as it is not a A346, this means that we could get all three entertanments - V.Port with Kash and Wash seats (that's what the new Y and PE ones are, aren't they?), Odyssey which is ok, or Arcadia [:(] which is, whilst alright, is not brill. It is my first time with Virgin (and longhaul flights) so I don't really now if Arcadia is that bad, but from what I've heard, they are ok, but not the best.

Also, do Virgin give you a portable IFE system, if your TV system fails - can't go from London-New York and New York-London without good IFE can you?;)

Thanks.

Dan

quote:Also, do Virgin give you a portable IFE system, if your TV system fails

They've given me a portable DVD player before now when I've had IFE problems

quote:can't go from London-New York and New York-London without good IFE can you?;)

Worse to go to SFO without it

Cheers

Michael

Virgin virgin? Try it, you know you wanna

[mitchja]

You will only get the DVD players if your in Upper - you can ask for these on any Upper Class flight - not sure why but they like keeping the portable DVD players quite

I was in PE a few years ago on VS6 and the entire IFS system didn't work - nor did any of the cabin contols - reading light etc - everyone in PE got £20 free duty frees - don't think there was much left though when it came to Economy - they still offered £20 vouchers to anybody that didn't get any duty frees though.

James Mitchell

Silver Flying Club member since 2000

Just thought I'd add my two pennies worth!

I've just returned from the Business Travel exhibition in Olympia, and the crew on the VA stand were adament that the whole fleet would have suites, and new PE and Economy cabins, by the end of this year! I guess they're just reciting the official line!

They wouldn't give aeway any secrets on what the new service types would be[:(]but did say "we'll be adding a few extras."

They do like their secrets;)

Alex

[RichardMannion]

There is no way that the whole fleet will have UCS by the end of the year unless they want to shell out over tens of millions.

V:Port is c £3m per plane alone.

There are a few changes planned for the rest of the service offerings later this year - Virgin do like to innovate

They don't really psuh the DV players too much due to the problems in the past. Rembember the old days of the VideoWalkmans? They new Panasonic DVD players were introduced and then taken away again due to a 'theft' issue. Now they will issue them out and are a lot more rigorous at collecting them back

Yes if IFE does not work, VS will usually compensate either with Duty Free (vouchers) or FC miles - both amounts depend on class of service.

Thanks,
Richard

Thanks everyone for all the replies.
I suppose it is a shame that the fleet won't be standardised throughout this year, but I am still hoping for V.Port or at least Odyssey!

Thank you:)