V-Flyer

we're going in mid Feb - do we know what kind of aircraft they'll be using and also the config...? are they the old AlItalia 747-400s?

sorry ,meant to add we're going U/C with a baby

we wanted to work out which were the most spacious places to sit so the baby can have a crawl and also have a bit of extra room!

Since it's Heathrow it's likely to be an Airbus 343 and if you're lucky you may get a 346.

just found this - has it changed to heathrow as press release said Gatwick?

'Virgin Atlantic will fly to Mauritius on Mondays and Fridays. The route will be operated by a Boeing 747-400 with a configuration of 14 Upper Class seats, 58 Premium Economy seats and 379 Economy seats. '

A dummy booking for mid-February has the flight going from LHR and the aircraft as an A343

I believe initially it went from LGW but is to change later this year

It was originally going to operate from LGW, they have now changed it to LHR and just checked my CRS and it is showing the aircraft of A343, so no VPORT, fingers crossed they don't have the J2000 seats, as I know they are using that for NBO......[:?]

Dominic

We're looking at going to Mauritius early next year and having spoken to the FC can confirm it's scheduled to be a 343....

The latest email I have from FC states that the departure from LHR is due to start on 28 October this year.

Jilly

yep it is 343 as just spoke to FC gold...they've suggested we take first row as has more space for baby apparently...is this true?

i was also told it is suites - apparently it's in the second PR blurb sent out.

The seats in UC on a 343 are a bit more generic than on the LGW 744s and, in my opinion, all have a very similar amount of room.

Then again, I don't have much experience in potential crawling room in UC[;)][:I]

45.

Not a great fan of the 343 - the tables on the seats seem a lot smaller than on the 346, and therefore sharing one for dinner is not as easy...

I can confirm there is plenty of crawling room on a 343

I have crawled back to my seat at 2K many times from the bar!

Hi - any further news on the kind of plane being used to MRU - seems an A340-600 is being used while i've read it is only 340-300s? Also, we are in U/C with our baby - is the second smaller section of U/C in the airbus any quieter than the main section? so, far we've got 2D and 3D but have also been offered 15 and 16K - would it be easier to be with a young child next to the window rather than in the middle of the cabin?
thoughts most appreciated,

Hi jgm20, welcome.

Can't advise you about MRU or A343s but we recently had 15 & 16K on an A346 and they are pretty noisy. Firstly the bar is only 1 seat away, secondly you have the closet door directly opposite you which is used by the Cabin Crew for their personal bags and is therefore opened through the flight from time to time.

Check out my Trip Report here

Never sat in 2D however it is quieter in that area, the only 2 noise points are the IFBT area and the toilet door.

I don't own any kids but I don't think window or middle is much different - if your baby needs a cot there is a bassinet at 8D.

thanks for this - i am pretty sure it will be a 343 from closer inspection so not sure if this has any bearing on your useful info? Also, think my son who will be 13 months exceeds bassinet regulations (up to 12 months i think..?)
best wishes

does anyone have knowledge on the above?

Hi again,

I was hoping someone else may be able to pitch in, obviously the 15/16K advice bears no relation when on the 300, and my bassinet knowledge ends here too! The general rule of the further away from the bar you are the quieter it will be is probably universal and don't forget that the further forward you are, the further you are from the engines too. Therefore in 2/3 the only disturbance is likely to be the same as the A346 ie toilet / IFBT. I also remember someone commenting that the rear section of UC has no divider and you almost fall into the PE section. Having never travelled on a 300 though I can't really help further.

Your flight will be on a -300 with Oddesy IFE, baring any last minute changes.

Your baby will be too old for a sky cot, and as far as I remember there no sky cot locations in Upper on the -300 anyway.

J seats on the -300 are all very similar in the space available and surrounding area space. If I were you I would aim to sit in 2A/D, 1D&2D, or 2K&3K. If not, the small area in B Zone behind the galley has only 9 seats and therefore feels smaller and more exclusive.

many thanks - i am assuming it is suites?

Originally posted by jgm20
many thanks - i am assuming it is suites?

Almost certainly, only G-VSUN is without and it is pretty nuch dedicated to the LOS route. It's due for refit in the next few months.

Originally posted by McMaddog

Originally posted by jgm20
many thanks - i am assuming it is suites?

Almost certainly, only G-VSUN is without and it is pretty nuch dedicated to the LOS route. It's due for refit in the next few months.

G-VSUN is dedicated to the NBO route. LOS is operated by a A346 [:X]

Originally posted by Tinkerbelle

Originally posted by McMaddog
Almost certainly, only G-VSUN is without and it is pretty nuch dedicated to the LOS route. It's due for refit in the next few months.

G-VSUN is dedicated to the NBO route. LOS is operated by a A346 [:X]

Doops! [B)] Getting my African calling points mixed! Cheers for the spot [y]

And as you mentioned, SUN will shortly be refitted with the NEW economy seat, the current (new) Premium seat, the Upper Class Suite, and.... V-PORT!

Which will take it from by far the worst -300 in the fleet, to by far the best!

-------------old AlItalia 747-400s----------

They are not old Alitailia aircraft!!! They are new Virgin Atlantic Aircraft.
Alitalia ordered them but then switched to 777 instead so Virgin got them straight from Boeing!!!

The LGW 744 are alot younger than the LHR 747 and look very smart with the new economy seat covers!