LGW fleet refit - not now happening (18/6/08)

Hi guys

Now that it seems that VS are starting to do something about the LGW/MAN fleet....when each 744 comes back from re-fit will it be totally re-fitted (new W and Y (the very brand new ones or the ones on the LHR 744's) seats, V-Port etc)?? Or is it just maintenace that the new 343 will cover?

Looks like all this starts in 2009 - is it expected that all the LGW/MAN fleet will be on a par (or better [}:)]) than the LHR fleet? When's the target finish date for this project?

Thanks

David

Oh and only 19 days till my first VS flight - VS601!! [:D]












Edit to thread title by mod .........Nick

The a/c will have the brand new w and y seats and be fitted with v-port. Will put them on par with the LHR fleet (which all have the new W seats, though only a few have the new Y seats so far)
The etihad airbus is staying with the fleet for several years to expand the leisure routes out of LGW.
No timescale has been announced for the refit except that all five of the nova a/c (ROS/GAL/LIP/ROM/ROY) will be done by the end of the year (2009).
TOP/VAST and XLG will keep the odyssey system but will also have the new w seats fitted, probably once the other five are done.

Enjoy your first virgin experience!

Thanks for the info. Virginboy.

Any news on changes in the numbers of seats for the LGW fleet?
Rumours of 22 in J, 60+ in W ......
I would imagine that would mean a welcome reduction in Y!
And a potential increase in profitability for the b&s routes

Interesting that the Etihad is staying longterm - that should kill the rumours of aircraft being laid up due to fuel cost.

The 22 J config is interesting as with the UCS it would be close to impossible to work that out (in my opinion anyway), so if they increase it it may well be to 34(?).

I think it is going to be the fourth quarter of the year before all details are confirmed and released for us to know.

I was told by the FSM on my recent flight they were going to put the additional 8 UC suites where the PE seats are now on the lower deck. Two rows of 1-2-1 configuration.

-Steve

We've just been advised that we have cancelled the Etihad 340-300 which was due to arrive next year to cover the LGW refits and the refits will be postponed till a later date. No date set as yet.
This all due to the current climate, price of oil etc
I think this is a real shame and not good news for our LGW pax, but the purse-strings are being tightened all around the company. Recruitment has been frozen as well.

Gutting, though surely one A340-300 could be spared from the LHR fleet to cover this. However I guess it'll have to wait now since HKG is doubling. Cheers for the heads-up.

[Neil]

Hmm that is interesting. With the extra LGW-MCO flight and the 2nd HKG it surely seems that some flights/routes are going to be binned!

The VS 49 only runs for a couple of weeks so they will either rebook pax onto the 15 or 27 or use a LHR a/c if one is available. And of course it's not unknown for the BGI and UVF or BGI and ANU to be combined on one a/c if loads permit.

[Neil]

Originally posted by virginboy747
The VS 49 only runs for a couple of weeks

I thought the 49 was running during the Easter period in April and then again for July/August too? Or has the summer flights been shelfed also?

Well this is a shame but i guess not a huge shock in the current climate.

Thanks Virginboy for the update[y]

The VS 49 was only scheduled to operate 29/03/09 to 26/04/09, every day apart from tuesday. If they dont have too many advance bookings I expect pax will be reprotected onto the 15 or 27

This will probably make Ptarmigan a happy bunny then! link

Ohhh my gosh! Just seen this [:D]

Any idea what plane we are going to be on now then? my ''manage your booking'' thingy still shows the Ethiad seat config.

Ohhhhh I hope we are on a 'proper' Virgin plane, I wont get my hopes up for 'upstairs' but am now considering upgrading again to UC if it will be on a flight that has the suites [y]

I wonder if BA will cut back similarly, i.e. not refitting the LGW 777 fleet with AVOD and NNCW ... on the other hand BA is also apparently moving forward with a refit of WT+ ...

I think this is a great shame - a full 747 to MCO must make VS a whole heep of lolly and the pax deserve the same standard as elsewhere.

Ahhh yes, sorry [:I] Just realised what this actually means, all the folks that fly out of LGW are now not going to have re-fit planes at all are they?

Sorry - got a bit caught up in the ''we've cancelled the Ethiad plane'' and in my joy and haste didnt register what this would mean for everyone else [:I]

Ptarmigan, basically you're 99.99% likely to be on one of the LGW 747's with either Nova or Oddessey entertainment, and no re-fitted PE seats.

To be expected I suppose silly to flash the cash when its not really there.

I notice on the schedule search that if I type in 10th Jan MCO-MAN it says sorry its too far ahead, whereas before it showed both flights times etc for Jan 09 on the VS076 and 74. i am returning on the 10th on VS074 seatmap just shows us and two others as having selected suites, should I expect a bumpdown[:?].

My actual online booking just comes up as normal and its specified that the VS074 stops on the 16th Jan on the news bit..

With the current climate do you think the LGW fleet will ever get a refit before the new aircraft come (787's)? On my most recent trip to MCO PE did look very worn tbh, i might actually start taking BA[:(] and first choice seriously for Orlando next time![:0] Just when i thought it was going to get better!

Everyone will think I am mad but I really like the old squishy worn n torn PE seats upstairs.[:I]

Not when its got half of yesterdays egg mayo sandwich in it though...[ii][:$]

Does anyone know when they are likley to change the seat map on the web site? I tried to pick seats today but its still showing the 343. I also phoned VH and asked about upgrades to UC and they said there wasnt any available, but VA will let me book 4 UC seats on their website - whats the chances of being able to snag an upgrade at the airport and is it usually cheaper or more expensive to get a last min upgrade at check in?

OK so I had a quick look on EF. VS49/50 are still on sale with the Etihad seat config showing. Already it seems that in general only flexible fare classes are left on some flights.

eg LGW 03/29/09 3:00 PM MCO 03/29/09 7:25 PM 343
J7 D0 R0 Z0 W7 S0 K0 Y7 B0 L0 M0 Q0 X0 N0

MCO 04/06/09 10:15 PM LGW 04/07/09 11:05 AM 343
J6 D4 R0 Z0 W7 S7 K7 Y7 B7 L7 M7 Q7 X7 N7

Originally posted by G-VROY
With the current climate do you think the LGW fleet will ever get a refit before the new aircraft come (787's)? On my most recent trip to MCO PE did look very worn tbh, i might actually start taking BA[:(] and first choice seriously for Orlando next time![:0] Just when i thought it was going to get better!

We made the decision not to book with Virgin again. They have been advertising the 'new PE' since October 06 and now another delay. We decided to do Vegas and LA with BMI in PE instead. They were £2400 cheaper than MAN-MCO for our family of 4. The blatant lie they told me about using remote stands from MAN was the last straw.

Originally posted by G-VROY
With the current climate do you think the LGW fleet will ever get a refit before the new aircraft come (787's)? On my most recent trip to MCO PE did look very worn tbh, i might actually start taking BA[:(] and first choice seriously for Orlando next time![:0] Just when i thought it was going to get better!

Is it only worth while flying Virgin if your in UC? I see from your comment and Tinks that you dont think its worth the £ to fly PE anymore?

I was doing a bit of checking around and found I could have the exact same holiday with First choice (same hotel and room cat, transferes etc) flying in their version of PE (star premier I think?) and it comes out at £878 cheaper for the exact same holiday.

The benefits I can think of with Virgin is - It's not a charter flight - people always say that but I actually have no clue what that means or what difference it makes [:I]

I get to use the V-room

Online and twilight check in

2' of extra leg room


With First choice -

on demand IFE

Newer seats

bigger seat back tv screens

I think the food/free drinks will be pretty much the same.

So, is it still worth the extra to fly Virgin if your not in UC???

[:?]