New LHR 744 config

I think it makes more sense to move UC to the Upper Deck, as I can not see them moving UC back and all the Y class pax going through to Y and the noise factor. I really wouldn't want to be flying UC if they move it back, with the noise and all the Y pax going through. Lets hope the service doesn't go down hill [:?][:?]

[mitchja]

Another option might be:

Put 10 extra J seats where the W seats are now on the main deck = 54J
Remove the front Y cabin upto row 38 as before -82Y = 228Y
Put 6 rows of W seats in that cabin as 2-3-2 = 42W seats, with the 20W seats already on the Upper deck = 62W

Just another guess though!!!

Regards

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Will there be a bigger bar or IFBT area? Possibly locate both in the upper deck to create a lounge mood.....

54 passengers on a 7hr route to east coast surely now means that a 2nd IFBT will be required?? To retain the levels of service in J would have to deem this necessary...

Originally posted by mitchja
Another option might be:

Put 10 extra J seats where the W seats are now on the main deck = 54J
Remove the front Y cabin upto row 38 as before -82Y = 228Y
Put 6 rows of W seats in that cabin as 2-3-2 = 42W seats, with the 20W seats already on the Upper deck = 62W

Just another guess though!!!

Regards

I cant see VS putting 10 extra suits right next the the gally, especially when 10 or so will face directly inwards to the gally. Wont go down well with people who have paid all that money to have all that extra nosie and stuff. [n]

[Neil]

Well according to the CC forum it looks like the upstairs will all be UCS and then the PE will be a 2-4-2 config in the C Zone ([?]), which is a great shame.

Neil:)

[mcmbenjamin]

tallprawn this would be great. And they need the same or better pass to crew ratio.... Dreamland.

[mitchja]

Originally posted by Attitude23
PE will be a 2-4-2 config in the C Zone ([?])

Neil:)

Neil

C Zone is the current front Y cabin (rows 30 - 37)

A Zone = nose section J cabin
B Zone = main J cabin


Rob, Ben

I thought there already where 2 IFBT's on certain VS flights? Sure it was mentioned on here some time ago?

Regards

Part of the reason I choose VS PE is to sit upstairs. If you then have to sit downstairs, flying BA might look a bit more attractive. [:#]

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by mitchja

Rob, Ben

I thought there already where 2 IFBT's on certain VS flights? Sure it was mentioned on here some time ago?

Regards

Ahhh yes James you are correct. IFBT can only do so many treatments. Still on a seven hour flight VS will need an addtional IFBS (station) and then staff so people can get felt.

Some questions.
a. Will the new seat map appear in advance when choosing my seats on the VS website?
b. What flights are most likely to be sacrificed with an Airbus, or LGW 747 during the refits? East coast I assume?
c. When should this project be completed by? Abnd does it mean more legroom for us in Y?

Kev.

To those of you who commented about Y pax trapsing through J. BA do this is nearly all of their 4 class offerings (WT, WT+, Club, First) and it hasn't caused them too much of a problem. Point is, airlines do allow there cattle to see how they could be flying if they save hard (or win the lottery)

Paul

[Neil]

Originally posted by mitchja
Neil

C Zone is the current front Y cabin (rows 30 - 37)

A Zone = nose section J cabin
B Zone = main J cabin

Thanks James[y]

I agree with Paul, what better way to tempt pax into spending more money on their next flight the walking pax a luxury UCS on the way to their Y offering? Some would say very clever marketing:)

All sounds good to me...[y]
Does this also mean getting a reward seat has just become easier?

Originally posted by Attitude23

I agree with Paul, what better way to tempt pax into spending more money on their next flight the walking pax a luxury UCS on the way to their Y offering? Some would say very clever marketing:)

Until they see the price [:0], that is....

Moo.

Paul

p.s. although nothing is certain until the actual layout is published, I give a big [V] to the idea of a constant 2-4-2 for PE. Perhaps it's a service "improvement" (as it will be marketed) we have to get used to but I've always thought the 2-2 upstairs one of the aspects of PE that makes the price differential worth the candle. I don't pay the money to sit in the middle of the aircraft.

Sorry, as pjh thankfully pointed out to me (:D), I meant row 39 not 49 for 228 in Y.

To those of you who commented about Y pax trapsing through J. BA do this is nearly all of their 4 class offerings (WT, WT+, Club, First) and it hasn't caused them too much of a problem. Point is, airlines do allow there cattle to see how they could be flying if they save hard (or win the lottery)

Yes, but BA's seats aren't as hard to negotiate as the suites;)

BTW, 2-4-2 in PE...[n][V][xx(][:(!][:0]

VS.

I agree that it would be a shame to loose PE on the Upper deck... but even in 2-4-2 I think VS Wcl will be a formidable product, with the priority boarding (and work is being done to make sure this works), the champers, new amenity kit, new catering, liqueurs, fruit bowl, dedicated crew, leather seats, priority baggage (more work being done). The latest BA WTP Trip report on this site seems to indicate how lackluster their Wcl is.

I did almost mention earlier that of course reward seats will be easier found on these flights.

BA have club world where PE would be on the main deck and it seems to work.

Interesting changes - sitting upper only in the bubble does makes sense. It should mean all PE service is in the same section of the plane going forward - which I guess will makes it easier on the crew.

Plus no more PE pax trying to sit at the bar.

Hope they also increase the number of UCS on the LGW 744 fleet - that is in greater need - especially for reward bookings...

IMO i beleieve that this move to a different config is due to the delay in the A380 which would have held alot more UC and PE. having never flown anything other than econ i cant argue on the effects it will have but i beleive that tis is a good move for Economy passengers as there will be a better CC to passengers ratio

Although purely driven by commerce, I concur this is a good move. Restricting each zone/deck to the same class must make service sense - for example easier to provide dedicated crew to PE and similarly upstairs in UC (which I never choose because I don't think the service levels are as high).

Will PE get dedicated lavs as on the 346s?

And, if it means more reward availability to SFO, LAX and MIA I'm all for it.

Seriously, VS need to get a handle on the LGW/MAN fleet and announce some improvements there too.

Bubble seems to be winning the UC slot. It would make sense if all J perks were upstairs, since that would solve a lot of privacy/access/service problems. Well, Upper is better than anything else I could think of, certainly if the alternative is BA [:0] [n] (I don't think so!!!)

But I do wonder how they'll handle HC bookings - you can't tell pax they have to fly a lower class if they're not able to climb stairs. A few segregated UCS suites in the PE area downstairs for those who can't climb? That would be an absolute service nightmare. Not to mention the absolute media mess that kind of thing would cause. I'd climb stairs if I had to just to get with the rest of J, but some people just can't.

Guess I'll have to have a talk with my Dr. so I have a little more Better Life With Chemicals in my carry-on if this goes through. 'A refill? Already? You said they had beds!' 'Yes, well, it's my knee this time.' 'So avoid the stairs.' 'And give up the suite? The IFBT? No way!'

Guess I'll need to find a new K seat to get comfy in. Carry-on bag? Check! Cane? Check! Prescription antidote to knee complaints from crawling up and down the stairs? Yeah, well, that's the breaks... beats going non-UC!

(vs_i, making some people richer, one UCS trip at a time);)]

Originally posted by vs_itsallgood
But I do wonder how they'll handle HC bookings - you can't tell pax they have to fly a lower class if they're not able to climb stairs.

[:?] The UCS at the front of the plane will still be there.

Originally posted by slinky09
And, if it means more reward availability to SFO, LAX and MIA I'm all for it.

But it reduces the availability for reward/ miles/ select vouchers in Economy

Originally posted by slinky09
Seriously, VS need to get a handle on the LGW/MAN fleet and announce some improvements there too.

What ? When PE rule the bubble ? I think we have the edge, frankly[8D]

Paul

Originally posted by V-Ben
The new 744 LHR config has been revealed... which will be rolling out with the new Echo Wcl seats (though some aircraft may get new seats or config before the other) and due to the popularity of the VS Upper and Premium Cabins we'll be seeing more seats in both.

Upper from 44 to 54
Premium from 32 to 62
Economy down from 310 to 228

Would this be used on the SFO route ?

The reason for asking, is that I must have flown that route ~24 times in the last 8 years and I've never seen the the economy section less than 90% full.

As a business flyer who now can go PE but with the family I only have the option of Economy, all I can see , is less seats, higher pricesfor future trips to CA.

[preiffer]

TBH, Upper Class on the SFO route TENDS to be at capacity a lot of the time - as does PE (attractive for a 10+ hour flight), so I can't see them struggling to fill the premium cabins which would in turn more than compensate for the financial loss of those Y passengers.

Originally posted by vs_itsallgood

But I do wonder how they'll handle HC bookings - you can't tell pax they have to fly a lower class if they're not able to climb stairs. A few segregated UCS suites in the PE area downstairs for those who can't climb?

1. UC WILL still be on the lower deck so i guess if the HC person tell's the agent at the time of booking a seat on the lower deck will be reserved for the passenger.

2. The LGW 747's use'd to have PE on the upper deck only but would use a row of UC as PE if such a situation arised.

All that look's like is going to happen is they will remove the PE seat's from the top deck and replace them with UCS, keep the PE seat's currently on the lower deck and remove some Econ seat's and replace them with PE seat's, having the plane config like that will be no different than being in a 346 you just have some seat's above you in UC.

I know people are not happy about PE going on the top deck but i guess your just have to try and get a window seat, after all most people who end up in the middle seat's are those who dont do there homework.

Originally posted by preiffer
TBH, Upper Class on the SFO route TENDS to be at capacity a lot of the time

Indeed... if only we could get more slots! (For one thing its a real pain getting staff travel seats!).
But VS will still offer far more Ycl seats per 744 that BA so we're not abandoning the Economy pax (and for that matter the Premium Y pax).