V-Flyer

I don't intend travelling LHR LAX until mid next year. What are my chances of scoring a suite?Would I increase my chances by flying the 744 service or the A343?

by then, your chances should be 100%. I would go for the 346 as it has V:Port. Some people like the upper deck of the 747 as its quieter, however I've never found noise to be a problem on the 346 and if you get a K seat towards the front, then its a lot more private and arguably just as quiet.

I would always go for the VS007/008 747-400 service but I love the 747-400 and am not over impressed with 340s.The other LA service VS23/24 has been using the non suite 340-300 97%.The suites on the 747-400 are wider the bar is bigger and the galley has a freezer when compared to the 340-600 bus.

Hi airnewzealand,

As jaguarpig has stated, the two aircraft that fly the LHR-LAX route are 747 VS007-VS008 and 340-300 VS023-VS024 not the 340-600 model.

All LHR 744's are now equipped with suites and the 340-300 are now being refitted (the ones VS intends to keep that is). By mid next year you should be assured of a suite fitted aircraft.

Most pax on here state a pref for the 744 but it is a personal thing.

Hi airnewzealand

To be on the safe side go for the VS7/8. The 343 UCS re-fits won't begin until about March next year (once the LGW 744 fleet has been done) and will probably take about a month each, so probably only 4 or 5 will have been done by the summer.

Cheers
Alan

def go for VS7/8. I've spoken to Virgin the other day and the other flight is still expected to be 343 without suite even in July when we're off to LAX.

Hi,

I would definately go for the VS7/8 but not just for the Suite!

The 23 is a very odd flight, especially in the autum as it leaves a around 4pm and it is just getting dark, and then it is dark almost all the way! The cabin crew strangely think that everyone wants to sleep and turns the lights off and disapears like an overnight flight!

Then it gets light again (briefly) and you land in LAX around teatime!
It seriously messes with your body clock.

However the 7/8 is always V.busy with less chance of upgrading at the airport.

Neil.

quote:Originally posted by airchabum
The 343 UCS re-fits won't begin until about March next year (once the LGW 744 fleet has been done) and will probably take about a month each, so probably only 4 or 5 will have been done by the summer.

Alan,

Last I heard the intention was only to refit 5 of the 343s anyway - the Odyssey ones (so by the summer they should be done or being done). I assume there is still a possibility of getting an Arcadia 343 to LAX which will not have UCS.

Phil (Buffy)

quote:Last I heard the intention was only to refit 5 of the 343s anyway - the Odyssey ones (so by the summer they should be done or being done). I assume there is still a possibility of getting an Arcadia 343 to LAX which will not have UCS.

Hi Phil

Yes that's correct. What I was trying to say (although probably not succeeding! ) is that the chances of getting a UCS 343 on VS23 next summer are at best 50/50 since the 'Arcadia 4' are going to around for a while yet!

Cheers
Alan

Will they replace the IFE on the 343s when they fit UCS?

Thanks everyone for your responses. My Plans are to save my $$$$ and fly Bis Class in September:

SYD SIN SQ:D
SIN BOM SQ:D
BOM LHR VS;)
LHR LAX VS;)
LAX AKL NZ[8D]
AKL SYD NZ[8D]

quote:Originally posted by InsertNameHere
Will they replace the IFE on the 343s when they fit UCS?

No they'll keep whatever they've got at the moment.

Cheers
Alan

AirNZ
If you're flying with your namesake Air NZ next summer, they may, just may have their version of the UCS!

quote:Originally posted by ColourPhil
AirNZ
If you're flying with your namesake Air NZ next summer, they may, just may have their version of the UCS!

That is what I am hoping for but the timing will be crucial!

quote:Originally posted by Virgin Lover
The 23 is a very odd flight, especially in the autum as it leaves a around 4pm and it is just getting dark, and then it is dark almost all the way! The cabin crew strangely think that everyone wants to sleep and turns the lights off and disapears like an overnight flight!

Then it gets light again (briefly) and you land in LAX around teatime!
It seriously messes with your body clock.

However, if you don't have to get up early in the morning to get to the airport, and can have a long lie-in, I find the evening flights to the US are much more bearable, and easier on the body clock.

The trick is:

a) pack as much as possible the previous evening, and try to stay up fairly late
b) wake as late as you dare on the day of the flight
c) try and stay up for as long as you can when you arrive, i.e. try and go to bed at a "usual" time for the time zone you are in

Arriving at the destination fairly late in the day definitely makes (c) a lot easier to do, there's less temptation for sneaking to bed early.

I wish VS would move the SFO flight to run later in the day (and depart SFO later on the way back). Maybe a 1300 or 1400 departure from LHR, and a 1900 departure from SFO.

However, with the current unholy 1100 departure, giving an arrival around 1400 local time in SFO, my trick is to get where I'm going, take a shower, and then nap for no longer than about 2 hours, before getting up again, and going out for dinner. It's definitely worth making dinner plans for the evening you arrive, so that you can't weasel out and stay in bed (thus waking up at 3 or 4am!).

I also did the late evening seasonal BOS flight (VS53) a couple of times during the summer, and found it to be great. Get to hotel and straight to bed. No screwing with body clock at all!

Cheers,
Mike

quote:Originally posted by mike-smashing
However, with the current unholy 1100 departure, giving an arrival around 1400 local time in SFO, my trick is to get where I'm going, take a shower, and then nap for no longer than about 2 hours, before getting up again, and going out for dinner. It's definitely worth making dinner plans for the evening you arrive, so that you can't weasel out and stay in bed (thus waking up at 3 or 4am!).

No napping for me - I might get a couple of hours on the plane and that's it. Once at my destination in CA, I'll shower, change, say hi to my friends and then we go out for dinner & beers til around midnight - I find this puts me straight on local time and I'm up the following morning ~0900hrs

Cheers

Michael

Hi,

I like the 1100 dep to SF) clear customs then either head into SFO or get a connecting flight ( been connecting to PHXS or YVR).
I try to stay awake ( easier after a shower at the SFO clubhouse) until 10pm then off to bed ( up at 8am ) and I'm ok the next day.

Regards

TBS

I've seen mention before on this board about using the showers in SFO on arrival. Is that only available to Au members or can it be used as a sort of arrivals lounge by UC passengers? I am flying into SFO in May with an onward flight to RNO. Bearing in mind that I will have been on the road since 05:00 to catch my 07:30 flight out of ORK, a shower would be more than welcome at that stage to keep me awake [|)]

Hi honey lamb,

Technically the SFO clubhouse should only be used by departing pax but I have asked nicely at the reception desk ( having out the AU card and UC boarding pass in my hands) if i could freshen up for a few minutes. It also helpd that the lounge has never been too busy and that I know the staff there ( I got a christmas card last year and a birthday card this year from the clubhouse which was a very nice touch)
If the lounge is very busy then you may well not get in.
Also the lounge will close shortly after the VS 20 to LHR leaves.

Regards

TBS