Aircraft changes for Summer schedule & G-VSUN

Virgin will change aircaft types on the following flights for summer 2008:

VS 601/602 JNB B747-400 01/05-25/10
VS 001/002 EWR A340-600 '
VS 009/010 JFK A340-300 '
VS 055/056 IAD A340-600 '
VS 007/008 LAX A340-600 02/05-25/10
VS 005/006 MIA B747-400 02/05-17/05, 23/06-12/07, 09/08-25/10
VS 011/012 BOS A340-600 02/05-02/06, 06/06-21/09
VS 045/046 JFK A340-600 02/05-19/06, 15/07-07/08

Originally posted by vscss
Virgin will change aircaft types on the following flights for summer 2008:

VS 601/602 JNB B747-400 01/05-25/10
VS 001/002 EWR A340-600 '
VS 009/010 JFK A340-300 '
VS 055/056 IAD A340-600 '
VS 007/008 LAX A340-600 02/05-25/10
VS 005/006 MIA B747-400 02/05-17/05, 23/06-12/07, 09/08-25/10
VS 011/012 BOS A340-600 02/05-02/06, 06/06-21/09
VS 045/046 JFK A340-600 02/05-19/06, 15/07-07/08

Is there a particular date that 'summer' starts for these?

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers, Howard

[Neil]

Thanks for the info. Interesting to see an A343 moved on to the VS9/10, so no V-Port for some NYC pax. Also strange to see a 744 on the MIA flights, guess the loads are very good at the moment.

[Neil]

Originally posted by Howard Long

Is there a particular date that 'summer' starts for these?

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers, Howard

I think as shown in the post, they start 1st or 2nd May and run until the dates as shown.

Neil

[Nottingham Nick]

Many thanks for the info, vscss. [y][y]

Nick

Thanks for the heads up.

Originally posted by Neil
Thanks for the info. Interesting to see an A343 moved on to the VS9/10, so no V-Port for some NYC pax. Also strange to see a 744 on the MIA flights, guess the loads are very good at the moment.

I thought that the 744 was placed on MIA every summer? Or at least you used to be ~2004/5 did it not?

[Neil]

Originally posted by willd
I thought that the 744 was placed on MIA every summer? Or at least you used to be ~2004/5 did it not?

Not sure about 04/05 but last summer it looks like most of the 005 flights were on the 346, pretty sure it has been a 346 route mainly for a while now, but ISTBC.

[HighFlyer]

Cheers vscss [y]

Thanks,
Sarah

[mitchja]

Thanks vscss [y]

When I flew to MIA in New Year 2006, the out-bound flight (27 Dec) was a 346 and the inbound flight (Jan 1) was a very full 744.

Regards

[Darren Wheeler]

Thanks for the info.

*sits back and waits for all the 'Where have my pre-booked seats gone?' posts*.... [;)]

We are flying out to Mia in July and so far in MMB its showing the Airbus, quite exciting really as all the flights we have taken since we 'moved' to Virgin have been on Airbuses so I am interested to see what the 747 is like. When do you think it will show on the VS site so I can change/select seats - it will be good to sit next to each other in the UCS.

Thanks Avalon

My Mia flight is 23rd Dec hope they don't put a 744 on then I want to try v-port and would worry about being bumped given I am on a reward flight.

Originally posted by Neil

Originally posted by willd
I thought that the 744 was placed on MIA every summer? Or at least you used to be ~2004/5 did it not?

Not sure about 04/05 but last summer it looks like most of the 005 flights were on the 346, pretty sure it has been a 346 route mainly for a while now, but ISTBC.

Ahh I see. So its a bit like the LAX flight which seems to chop and change.

Originally posted by Neil

Originally posted by Howard Long

Is there a particular date that 'summer' starts for these?

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers, Howard

I think as shown in the post, they start 1st or 2nd May and run until the dates as shown.

Neil

Hi Neil

Sorry should've mentioned, I'm on the VS55 in May, that had a seat config of an A340-300 a couple of days ago. The dates for that aren't mentioned but I saw the double quotes as an asterisk, which meant nothing to me. Obviously ditto marks. D'oh.

Cheers, Howard

Originally posted by Howard Long

Originally posted by Neil

Originally posted by Howard Long

Is there a particular date that 'summer' starts for these?

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers, Howard

I think as shown in the post, they start 1st or 2nd May and run until the dates as shown.

Neil

Hi Neil

Sorry should've mentioned, I'm on the VS55 in May, that had a seat config of an A340-300 a couple of days ago. The dates for that aren't mentioned but I saw the double quotes as an asterisk, which meant nothing to me. Obviously ditto marks. D'oh.

Cheers, Howard

Damn, it's changed to an A340-600 now. Was in 1K on the A340-300, someone snagged 2K already so it's relegated me to 3K. I'm a big boy, I'll get over it. I hope.

H

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
My Mia flight is 23rd Dec hope they don't put a 744 on then I want to try v-port and would worry about being bumped given I am on a reward flight.

EGG as its a LHR 747 it will have VPort and more UC suites than a 346 - so you should be safe if that happens, but by Dec it'll be back to a 346.

I'm highly disappointed to see a 343 on the VS009/010 - that'll be one to avoid for me for the summer months.

Neil, MIA always used to be a 747, year round. I think it started to switch around 05/06 which always surprised me as the 747 trips I used to have were always busy ones.

[Neil]

Originally posted by slinky09

Neil, MIA always used to be a 747, year round. I think it started to switch around 05/06 which always surprised me as the 747 trips I used to have were always busy ones.

I always wondered about this route being a 346 route lately, I just thought it was obviously a good steady route but not enough demand to take a 744 away from another route but obviously VS are aware they can sell more seats, and it is better utilised on a MIA rather than on one the many flights to NYC (plenty which aren't anywhere near full).

Originally posted by slinky09

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
I'm highly disappointed to see a 343 on the VS009/010 - that'll be one to avoid for me for the summer months.

It is abit strange putting a A343 on the JFK route. Definitely one for me to avoid too unless its V:Port fitted. Went on the 009 last summer and it was an overkill using a 744.

[Neil]

Originally posted by sky0000547
It is a bit strange putting a A343 on the JFK route. Definitely one for me to avoid too unless its V:Port fitted.

None of the 343's are fitted with V-Port.

Damn - just had my perfect 15K/16K combo on the 747 to LAX changed to less than perfect near the bar 15k/16k on the 346. All the low numbered K seats have been nabbed, so have quickly moved to 10/11A.

Thank God for this thread allowing me to spot this early.

Should have twigged when VA phoned me yesterday to tweak the landing time by 15 minutes - presume the 346 is a bit slower [:?]

Originally posted by Neil

Originally posted by sky0000547
It is a bit strange putting a A343 on the JFK route. Definitely one for me to avoid too unless its V:Port fitted.

None of the 343's are fitted with V-Port.

Surely G-VSUN, the newest, best interior A343 will be dedicated to this when it comes back from its Pimp My Ride treatment.

Originally posted by McMaddog
Surely G-VSUN, the newest, best interior A343 will be dedicated to this when it comes back from its Pimp My Ride treatment.

Exactly, G-VSUN has been touted around that it could be V:Port equipped. We will have to wait and see. I don't mind the A343 but it just doesn't have V:Port.

I have a PE booking for May in VS009/010 and have to admit I am disappointed that a newish A346 has been replaced with a 10 year old A343. From a passenger's point of view are they any differences between the two aircraft other than the lack of V-Port on the A343?

Originally posted by mph1703
I have a PE booking for May in VS009/010 and have to admit I am disappointed that a newish A346 has been replaced with a 10 year old A343. From a passenger's point of view are they any differences between the two aircraft other than the lack of V-Port on the A343?

According to http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16393 the A343 has new PE seats fitted. Think the only difference is probably no dedicated toilets in the PE cabin and also no V:Port.

Originally posted by mph1703
I have a PE booking for May in VS009/010 and have to admit I am disappointed that a newish A346 has been replaced with a 10 year old A343. From a passenger's point of view are they any differences between the two aircraft other than the lack of V-Port on the A343?

This is from my experience - I am sure VS staffers may clarify ... the difference in PE between the 343 and the 346 is: no VPort, no dedicated loos and I have observed that the dedicated crew idea is a bit flexible, aka they mix around with economy when it suits. I definitely think its a (Slightly) inferior service but the seats are the same.