How Many UCS Aircraft now Flying?

[mitchja]

Just wondering how many UCS aircraft are now in service?

Am I right in thinking:

4 x 744 (G-VBIG, G-VROC, G-VTOP, G-VAST)
1 x 346 (G-VEIL)

Regards

[Pete]

Yup, you're right.

Using the Active Lookup tool above, select 'Virgin Fleet' then type 'suite' into the entry box. That'll show the current Suite-fitted fleet.

Pix

[mitchja]

Just had a look on Availability Tool and the following VS flights (for today - Monday)are showing as 74S (UCS):

VS1
VS3
VS45
VS19

Hi,

Arrived back into LHR on G-VBIG this morning from SFO ( flew out on G-VROC on wednesday). Will post a trip report in due course.

Regards

TBS

The plan is to get all JFK flights equipped with Suites ASAP as this is a massive business route.

Eventually all new york flights should get suites, the problem is the VS17 to Newark which is on a A340-300 which are not due to get suites.

I know this was a couple of months ago, but when I flew to Newark (on the VS001) it was on G-VTOP with Suites (I think the first one with UCS)although on the way back it was VS002 on G-VWOW with J2000.

Does anyone have any shots of G-VEIL - would be keen to see the config of suites on this craft.

jonathan

[Pete]

No internal photos that I know of yet, but there is a seatmap on VirginFlyer. Take a look under either Seat Ratings or Aircraft Database.

Pix

[mitchja]

Just had an email from VS saying that if all goes to plan, VS19/20 on the 18th April will be G-VTOP and VS19/20 on the 26th April will be G-VAST. Both UCS but not V:Port.

Regards

Thanks Pix

Your seatmaps are awesome. Just really want to see what 3 across looks like. Do we know which routes its on?

Jonathan

Hi,

Flew VS02 Mar25 and was UCS. Flew VS17 back and was non-suites. Both were the "odessy" IFA, which is a shame for the UCS, since apparently V-port in cattle class was announced. How come? I clearly see why "Everyseat an aisle seat" slogan is so important. Trip report soon.

TS

[Decker]

quote:Originally posted by thescientist
which is a shame for the UCS, since apparently V-port in cattle class was announced. How come?

I'd be surprised (but happy to be so) if there were different equipments in different parts of the plane - the logistics (and computer control) would make it a nightmare. Unless I'm misunderstanding you?

I'm confused also. Are you saying that Odyssey was available on the UCS while the rest of the plane had V:Port??

I agree with Decker. That sounds very unlikely...

There was a thread (can't remember which one) that mentioned a similar thing, where V:Port was installed on the aircraft, but it appeared with Odyssey-like menus and content etc.

It turned out the V:Port has some kind of 'fall-back' mode, if the system encounters an error or something, where it loses all of the propriatory V:Port functions and reverts to an Odyssey-like menu and vastly reduced content.

Perhaps it was something similar?....

I read that here somewhere too. It was v:port installed, but it didn't have the AVOD (Audio Video on Demand) function and went into cycles like Odyssey. Maybe, Upper Class IFE was on fallback mode, whilst the rest of the plane was fine. Maybe...

[Bazz]

This is the thread you are referring to

http://www.virginflyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=482

[mitchja]

Sure I read somewhere that the aircraft with UCS that still have Odyssey have the V:Port hand-set though just to confuse matters [?]

Hi,

Well both journeys had the same handset, and were odessy. I have used vport on a trip before, so know the difference. I heard over the PA that "You are lucky since this plane has V-port fitted,so please refer to docs or ask for help".

Sitting in UC hearing this, I was confused also. I would have followed up, only was otherwise distracted.

Having read about the fail back mode, this may not be a contradiction.

TS

[Decker]

quote:Originally posted by thescientist
I heard over the PA that "You are lucky since this plane has V-port fitted,so please refer to docs or ask for help".

Has anybody been on a plane where they announced that people were "unlucky because you still have Nova" or similar? [8D]. As an aside has anybody ever been able to converse seat to seat with v:port - or SMS seat to seat?

quote:Has anybody been on a plane where they announced that people were "unlucky because you still have Nova" or similar? [8D].

ROTFLMAOPMP!

quote:As an aside has anybody ever been able to converse seat to seat with v:port - or SMS seat to seat?

Nope, but I've beaten a few folks at Trivia if that counts? [:p]

[Decker]

Nah kept trying to surprise the missus who was engrossed in Little Britain on the v:port. Must send the Radio Show CDs to some American friends... so funny.

quote:Originally posted by Decker
Nah kept trying to surprise the missus who was engrossed in Little Britain on the v:port. Must send the Radio Show CDs to some American friends... so funny.

LOL - I do like that show. I keep trying to get my friends up to date with Coupling, but they've not managed to find the hack to make their DVD player multi-regional yet, and I'm &%^^ered if I'm taking my laptop all the way over so they can watch all 3 series on its player

Cheers

Actually the UK Coupling is available in the US... (The US version of coupling did really bad and didn't last)

BBCAmerica still shows series 1-3 occasionally... The DVD's of Series 1 and 2 are available through the BBCAmerica website (for US DVD players) and you can occasionally find them on the shelf at Best Buy.

In addition PBS sometimes airs Coupling as well... We've got series 1 and 2 on DVD, will get Series 3 when it's released, and are eagerly awaiting Series 4 to air.

LOL - I do like that show. I keep trying to get my friends up to date with Coupling, but they've not managed to find the hack to make their DVD player multi-regional yet, and I'm &%^^ered if I'm taking my laptop all the way over so they can watch all 3 series on its player

Cheers
[/quote]
try this site
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdhacks

RadioactiveMan - yeah, I know BBCAmerica keep showing it now & again, but my friends keep missing it. BTW, Series 4 is now filming here, so it shouldn't be too long before it's screened.....well, in the UK at least

AlanA - tried that one thanks, haven't found a s/w fix for them yet, looks like they might need a hardware mod - although I don't think they're that bothered about it

Cheers

Michael

[Decker]

Bullet bitten - Amazon now shipping multiple "Little Britains" so I can ship on to unsuspecting US friends...