V-Flyer

XLG will be going to DUB on 15th Aug for UCS.

It will keep Oydessy and old style Y and PE seats!

If I were at virgin, I'd push for getting V:port in there with the new seats.

On any flight, V:port makes it go much faster, plus there's a chance to put classics on the system like pulp fiction so there's not just new stuff on there.

Oydessy is OK to a point, but if it was installed on the 3 remaining 747s, they could guarantee v:port IFE on certain flights (like they are doing with UCS and JFK/SFO) Then virgin would have a double edged sword against BA.

a totally biased analysis to prove my point:

Oydessy:

Advantages:
*Requires no money to be spent
*More reliable (to a point)
*Map has wierd images of elvis on

Disadvantages:
*Old system that needs repair (56K on AST, the whole right side of the controler is dead so I had to listen to the simpsons at full volume and I couldn't call the attendant to tell her about it ;o)
*Seats are Uncomfortable and don't have adjustable headrests
*Seats need repairs, especially in premium economy
*Some games crash the system
*Seat pocket is kinda small
*wire on controller gets in the way
*will have to be replaced in the near future

V:port:

Advantages
*Is an AVOD system
*Can create own channel
*has a wider choice of movies
*bigger screen in economy
*seats are silver
*Adjustable headrest
*games are better graphically and are mulitplayer
*greater travel guide
*Controler is bettor ergonomically
*No need to change entertainment contents between flights
*fit it while an aircrafts already out of service will mean less mucking around

Disadvantages:
*Susceptible to having the entire system reset
*controller can be used inadvertantly
*costs a tad bit.

V;port wins 8 to -4

Wow, VS really are tightening the purse-strings..it's almost like someone got to preview the accounts following all the recent refits...

Will this be the only 744 to not feature the new Y and PE seats? Is this because they are pretty new already, because they want to speed through this refit, or save money?

Is this yet agaion, the LGW flights, the money making flights for Virgin getting the shaft yet again?
If Virgin keep treating the B & S pax this way they will lose a lot of custom.

quote:Originally posted by declansmith


It will keep Oydessy and old style Y and PE seats!

This was always the plan - any aircraft that had Oydessy would be keeping it......

Regards

quote:Originally posted by mitchja

quote:Originally posted by declansmith


It will keep Oydessy and old style Y and PE seats!

This was always the plan - any aircraft that had Oydessy would be keeping it......

Regards

Whilst I can understand that reasoning, the comments in this thread
http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp? ... 2138#13697

it does annoy me as a regular user of the LGW-MCO route!
Why should we be treated like third class citizens compared to LHR and by the sounds of it, MAN next year? (expecting MAN to get Oddessy)
Why should we be fobbed off with an "enhancement" of a system which should be pensioned off?
Its like instead of your emploter chnaging your car every three years, at the end of the three years, sticking some fluffy dice in the window and telling you its an enhancement, whilst the office junior is supplied with a new Porsche!

In many forums the comments have been made about the reducing service by VS on the B & S routes, the new airlines and upgraded airlines which have caught up with VS at a cheaper price, so what do VS do to counter this?
"Enhance" a system which will be inferior to other aircraft in their fleet, and keep the old PE & Econ seats and pitch.
Great, UCS but you need more than just a comfy seat for 8 hours!

If VS aren't careful they are going to lose a huge amount of pax when flyblu start flying to MCO.

Feistyblue.

Do you mean FlyBlue or JetBlue[?]. I flew Jetblue from JFK-MCO this year and the IFE was exceptional. Service wasn,t bad either.
As well as live TV you could also go interactive with other PAX on the same flight. We are miles behind with IFE in the UK compared to US. Come on VS, set the standard for the industry.

quote:Originally posted by feistyblue
If VS aren't careful they are going to lose a huge amount of pax when flyblu start flying to MCO.

I'm probably being picky here but flyblu are flying Sanford not MCO;)

Well, flyblu might well get people's votes in Economy -- 38" seat pitch and AVOD ought to swing it in the Birmingham catchment area if the prices are right (and they seem to be). Their "Gold" service also looks appealing. Well, the bit about no small children in the cabin does anyway. [}:)]

Birmingham is poorly served by scheduled airlines, so it will be interesting if flyblu can start taking pax away from VS et. al.

On the point regarding UC B&S routes, to be brutal these routes are not as profitable for VS as others. Don't forget that airlines make their money on J pax, and there are far more people/companies buying flexible J/D fares to JFK, LAX and SFO than there are on B&S planes.

I, for one, am prepared to accept a slightly lower service level in UC... it's not as if the competition has anything better. Sure, we'd all prefer V.Port across the fleet but VS are hardly going to junk the Nova system since it is only 4 years old.

BC

Thanks Declan, with G-VXLG in on the 15th I assume she should return to service pretty quickly as it is a mimimalist refit, just the UCS. That will mean all seven LHR 744's are suited, now for the LGW ones and the airbuses!

quote:If VS aren't careful they are going to lose a huge amount of pax when flyblu start flying to MCO

The planned upgrade by Firstchoice also looks a good product. There's a post somewhere about it, but can't find it at the mo!

Yes Jonathan sorry I meant Sanford - typing quicker than I think as usual!

I do think with the 50" pitch in the gold cabin - they really will tempt VS pax away. I seem to recall that their IFE will be rather good too.

The worse thing for me last year on my VS flights was the IFE. Neither of the childrens films were particularly suitable for under 8's imo. I don't allow ds to watch certain types of films, so that was a problem. Also we suffered an almost 2 hour wait after take off before the IFE was switched on. It's not as important on the inbound leg in my mind - sleep time for all after dinner! Luckily ds is the type of child whom even when he was a baby/toddler will just sit totally still on airline seats and likes to listen to radio or just look out the window! He does not move until I make him get up and walk around the plane or visit the toilet!

I looked on the website
Their products do look promising I'm sure a lot of people north of the M25 will look at this option

I was born in the Midlands and my first ever flight was from BHX
I remember the Maglev (went on it years ago)

It surprises me more airlines dont use this airport as its served by so many links and with the new M6 toll its easier to miss that horrid trafic between j8-12

No details on their FF program Club Blu yet though..

We were interviewed at the Travel show when FlyBlu had a mock-up of their cabin by a documentary team who are following them to get a complete look at the stratup of an airline.
I have been concerned that they seem to be going backwards, with them now not even taking requests for bookings, that the crews have not been taken on, nor any aircraft.
I must admit we were interested until they changed their rukles fopr Gold to not allow children in below the age of 7 years. By doing that I will never fly with them. If my child and my money are not acceptable to them, then forget it ever.
P.s. The Gold seats were just like LGW UC, but the economy setas were smaller in terms of width than VS economy.
The DVD players were the system used by Air Alaska.

sorry to disagree declan but....
XLG's refit looks like it is going to be postponed. It was originally due in DUB on the 15th but i think we are looking at, at least another couple of weeks.