LGW/MCO Route - A question

I stumbled across this resource and have been lurking since booking my first Virgin flight to Orlando in May (a virgin Virgin[8D]). I have picked up an awful lot of very useful information, so thanks to everyone.

I have a question. I am travelling UC there and back. I used the Availability Tool that I downloaded to check seating etc. I notice on the outbound, the UC is rows 6 to 9 in the nose only. From reading other posts here I understand that this route utilises rows 11 and 12 for PE because of demand. However on the return, it is rows 6 to 9, 11 and 12 and 14 and 15 (?). This seat set up doesn't seem to match any of the seat maps. Any ideas? Other flights back from MCO on the same day have just the 6 to 9 arrangement. Could it just be a mistake on the Availability Tool? BTW I am in seat 7a going and 9a back. Any views here also appreciated.

I enjoy reading the trip reports. I will make sure I post one when I get back.

Thanks.

Phil

Hi philadam,

I assume you are doing the MCO-LGW flight on the VS 28 (1750 hrs)?

Apparently there is a aircraft swap due to one of the LGW fleet going in for maintenance so one of the LHR fleet will be doing VS 27/28 for a few weeks ( I'm doing this flight combination).( The lhr non suite has rows 11-15 in the second zone)

This should mean VS 28 gets the J2000 seats ( no suites) but no beauty thearpist.

I do not know where the bar will be but will post on my return.

Have a great flight.

Regards
TBS

Phil,

when you say the seat availability tool are you talking about the Virgin website choose your seat section?
Are you a Flying Club member?
if you are, you can check, though that seems to be wrong anyway, the seat availability on your flight.
It sounds like again, you are talking about a 747-200 series, they normally do not fly the lGW-MCO route, the aircraft availability section on this website should point you in the right direction.

Thanks TBS and Alan for the replies. Yes it is VS28 back on the 22nd May (outward VS15 15th May)

Alan, no it is the separate website tool (Version 1.63) that I downloaded. I am a Flying Club member and can see my booking, but it won't let me look at the seat map (booked through an agent). Perhaps I am doing something wrong?

I hope it is an LHR and not the 747-200. All will become clear on the day, I'm sure:).

Phil

Phil,

On the availability tool does it say 744 or 742?

Best regards
Alan

Hi Alan.

It doesn't have an aircraft type. I have copy and pasted below. I am not the best at using this availability tool and I self taught so I may have done something wrong:

MCO LGW MAY/22 1700 VS J ->

VS 0028 J 22MAY MCOLGW TOTAL AVAIL SEATS:21
A D G H K
:NWB NAB : 6:/ / : 6:NAB NWB :
: : 7:/ / : 7: :
: : 8:/ / : 8: :
: : 9:/ / : 9:NA :
:NWB NAB :11:NAB NAB :11:NAB NWB :
: :12:NA NA :12:NA NW :
:NW NA :14:/ / :14:NA NW :
:NW NA :15:/ / :15: :
/
1 TOOL MESSAGE:
2 ACTUAL LOCAL SERVER TIME IS 17:36, UP SINCE 16:01, UP FOR 120 MINUTES
3 I.E. UP FOR THE NEXT 0 HOURS 25 MINUTES, LENGTH OF NEXT DOWN TIME PERIOD IS 300 MINUTES

I'll have a look when its back up in a couple of hour

Thanks Alan. Appreciate it.

Regards.

Phil

Phil,
The availability tool says its a 747-400 (744)

MCO LGW MAY/22 0700 VS J ->

MCO LGW 1750 0655 VS 28 J4 D4 Z4 W0 S0 K0 Y7 B7 L7 M7 744
MCO LGW 2025 0930 VS 16 J4 D4 Z4 W4 S7 K0 Y7 B7 L7 M7 744
MCO LGW 2110 1015 VS 50 J4 D4 Z4 W4 S7 K4 Y7 B7 L7 M7 744

Cheers Alan. I have just discovered how to do that search! The more I look at it, the more I think TBS is correct, in that it looks like the LHR set-up without any UC upstairs. Although it could all change I will hope for an LHR 747.

As I said, booked in 7a out and 9a back. 7a seems a good spot on the seat preferences. Anyone been in 9a (either LHR or LGW)?

Thanks for your help.

Phil

Phil,
From that availability, it looks like some PE pax are going to get rows 11&12 as UC isn't full but PE is?

[Pete]

From one of the VS staffer's over at a.net;

quote:
I think the plan is that one (or maybe more) LHR based 744s will be re-config'd and transferred to LGW as the schedule next year will need at least 6 a/c with 3x daily LGW-MCO plus all the LAS and Caribbean flights. I don't know of any plans to bring more of the old Classics back into service, but never say never!

For info there will be LHR based 744s operating VS27/28 LGW-MCO-LGW for a while to cover for the LGW based a/c which are all going to AMS for planned maintenance (not at the same time though!Ê ) G-VWOW will be LGW based for a week or so until it goes to DUB for its Suite input, then G-VXLG will take over.

Pix

Thanks very much for the info Pix. Wish I'd booked VS27 on the way out now, but at least I will be able to compare!

Phil