TWO aircraft at a time!

Alan

quote:are the LGW 747's smaller than the LHR ones, or is it the lack of Zone "B" that makes it smaller?

Both 747-400s are the same size (a 747-400 is a 747-400 is a 747-400 ) - it's the seating layouts that makes the difference. See, on the LHR routes, you attract more business pax, so you have more UC/PE (48UC/32PE old config, 44UC/44PE UCS config) - on LGW routes, it's more likely to be holidaymakers, so you have more Econ, then some PE and a few UC (28UC/38PE).

I'd think the way that fits into the plane, depending on the type of seats is what determines what space is left for a bar.

Cheers

Michael
(edited cos I hit the button too early - d'oh!)

[Pete]

Exactly. The LGW & LHR 747s are both of type 400, so same dimensions, but the restriction of Upper Class to Zone A means there's not as much room for the bar, which is between the second doors on the LHR fleet.

Thanks Pixuk

Great to see the seat layout for UC. Will have to change my seat position in future, as the row 6 has always been the best seats to have. It would appear row 10 in future would have the most space and next to the bar!

Does anyone know if there will be a change to the entertainment system as well?

there seems to be quite a gap between FAB going in at DUB, and the first gatwick going in.

Could this meant the oddessy 744s will be getting V:port?

[Pete]

There's not such a huge gap - G-VFAB goes in Jun/Jul, then LGW could start in September. August is obviously a bad month to take any of the aircraft out of service, given the peak holiday season.

Pix

When you say all aircraft, does that include the 340-300, and will they be getting vport?

[Pete]

Probably worth doing a recap at this point, for those that haven't been following this topic as closely as others...

The following aircraft have Suites:
G-VAST Ladybird: LHR 747 Odyssey
G-VBIG Tinker Belle: LHR 747 V:Port
G-VEIL Queen Of The Skies: LHR 346 V:Port
G-VHOT Tubular Belle: LHR 747 V:Port
G-VROC Mustang Sally: LHR 747 V:Port
G-VSHY Madam Butterfly: LHR 346 V:Port
G-VTOP Virginia Plain: LHR 747 Odyssey
G-VWOW Cosmic Girl: LHR 747 V:Port
G-VXLG Ruby Tuesday: LHR 747 Odyssey

The following aircraft will enter the fleet shortly with Suites
G-VNAP Sleeping Beauty: LHR 346 V:Port
G-VSSH Sweet Dreamer: LHR 346 V:Port

The following aircraft will get Suites fitted
G-VFAB Lady Penelope: LHR 747 has Arcadia, will get V:Port - due Jun/Jul
G-VFOX Silver Lady: LHR 346 V:Port - due Jun
G-VMEG Mystic Maiden: LHR 346 V:Port - due Jul
G-VGOA Indian Princess: LHR 346 V:Port - due Jul
G-VATL Miss Kitty: LHR 346 V:Port - due Aug
G-VOGE Cover Girl: LHR 346 V:Port - date not known

The following 747s are based at LGW, and may get Suites as soon as September
G-VGAL Jersey Girl: LGW 747 Nova
G-VLIP Hot Lips: LGW 747 Nova
G-VROM Barbarella: LGW 747 Nova
G-VROS English Rose: LGW 747 Nova
G-VROY Pretty Woman: LGW 747 Nova

The following 343s might get Suites
G-VELD African Queen: LHR 343 Odyssey
G-VFAR Diana: LHR 343 Odyseey
G-VHOL Jetstreamer: LHR 343 Odyssey
G-VSEA Plain Sailing: LHR 343 Odyssey
G-VAIR Maiden Tokyo: LHR 343 Odyssey

The following are unlikely to ever get Suites, or may possibly leave the fleet
G-VSSS Island Lady: MAN 742 Odyssey
G-VBEE Honeypie: MAN 742 Odyssey
G-VSUN Rainbow Lady: LHR 343 Arcadia
G-VAEL Maiden Toulouse: LHR 343 Arcadia
G-VBUS Lady in Red: LHR 343 Arcadia
G-VFLY Dragon Lady: LHR 343 Arcadia

Information above is from various sources, and comes with the disclaimer that plans may change. This isn't official info from VS, so make of it what you will

Pix

[buns]

Pix

As usual, many thanks for setting out "Best Available" information which I am sure will be of benefit to most who participate in the Forum.

It is thanks to you and the other V-Flyer Gurus that we are able to make informed decions about our flight plans.

Thanks

Buns

Pix

Where has Ruby Tuesday gone GVXLG ? Not shown on your list!

[Pete]

oops! Missed one. Now in the list.

quote:Originally posted by pixuk
oops! Missed one. Now in the list.

How about G-VFLR "Virgin Flyer"

when did ruby tuesday get suites? according to the site a couple days ago, it was still in J2000

[Pete]

I'm still in the process of double checking, but I've spotted a couple of references to her having the refit. If it's not the case, I'll make an adjustment.

Pix

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanx for that, Pix.

Nick

any knowledge on which way VS are leaning for the new a/c?

HI NEW TO FORUM, VS FAN,
FLYING UPPER CLASS TO HONG KONG ON OCT 2ND AND BACK 24TH SHOULD UPPER CLASS SUITE BE ON THE FLIGHT? USUALLY A 600 AIRBUS ON THIS ROUTE.

WHEN CHECKING WITH RESERVATIONS THEY SAID NO, BUT I THOUGHT ALL HEATHROW FLIGHT WILL BE DONE JUN/JUL?
HOPE ITS THE UCS

AND WHAT SEATS BEST ON A 600 AIRBUS?

Oydessy aircraft will NOT be getting V-port.

The 747-200 used to have a 2-4-2 config in PE!

This is nothing new. Pre 9/11 all the classics were in the config.

I'm having a bit of trouble trying to work out where the extra seats would go on the upper deck unless they decrease legroom.

At the front of the upper deck, the only place where I could think they could add another 2 seats is in front of 70HK if they removed one of the toilets. The other side of the upper deck cannot be touched as it's the flight deck crew rest which is compulsory on long sectors.

As for the back of the upper deck, the left hand side is the staircase and the right hand side is the lift for transporting carts between decks.

Maybe they could squeeze another 2 seats into the wardrobe at the top of the stairs[:p]

quote:Originally posted by declansmith
Oydessy aircraft will NOT be getting V-port.

I know oddessy is a 1st class system with 20 channels of entertainment and games, but isn't it time VS had commonality across the fleet?

or at least the Wash and Kash seats in all A/C. (kash just looks cool )

The plan is to have Oydessy and V-POrt on all aircraft remaining.

Oydessy is fairly new in terms of IFE life cycles!

[Pete]

Tink, yup, one of those lavs is going.

Pix

2 - 4 - 2

Declan is right. The two Manchester aircraft still have this config in PE (all downstairs). I have flown in this cabin and whilst it is not as good as upstairs on the LGW aircraft it is OK and if the Manchester flights are anything to go by it will always be over subscribed. With regards to PIX's comments on Manchester aircraft I hope VS will reflect the lack of suites in the pricing of UC (if this happens!) when the remainder of the fleet has completed the refit. Otherwise we northerners will start moaning again that we were 2nd class virgins

Paul

quote:Originally posted by pixuk
Proper bar, but because of the space limitations it's a bit smaller and only has the two stools.

Pix

With the UCS on LHR 744s and A340-600s, the bar has been made more private than the previous ones, but will the LGW 744s have a more open one (not seperated from the cabin) or a smaller version of the other bars with UCS.

Thanks In Advance

[Pete]

Paul, I thought Club Orlando was already significantly cheaper than Upper Class?

With regard to the Manchester aircraft, the current plan not to add Suites doesn't rule out the possibility of replacing those 742s with some new Suite-fitted models, or Suites finding their way into the 742 schedule if demand grows. If the demand is there for a true Upper Class product from Manchester (and bear in mind, it can't be all at Z fares!), then I'm pretty sure Virgin will tap into it. They've admitted that they've missed a trick on the Caribbean routes that bmi have been developing from MAN, so I doubt they'll be so careless in the future. However, the overriding factor here is commercial; so if they can't fill those seats and get the average revenue at a level which will cover all the frills, then don't hold your breath.

On your next trip, I think you've spotted the workaround for this already. Get a short hop with bmi down to London and get the full service, plus grab some partner flying club miles into the bargain. Personally I'd be tempted to go as far as the short hop to LHR, then to MIA and then an internal to MCO - but then I quite enjoy flying

Pix

Paul

quote:I hope VS will reflect the lack of suites in the pricing of UC (if this happens!) when the remainder of the fleet has completed the refit. Otherwise we northerners will start moaning again that we were 2nd class virgins

I'm still having a bit of difficulty in getting this price vs service differential between Club Orlando and LGW UC. I looked at VTS' site and found a MAN>MCO D fare (Club Orlando) in March (out 17th, in 29th) next year for ~£1370. Now, that's cheaper than a fully flexible PE fare on LGW>MCO for the same dates according to VS' website!To me, it seems that VS have reflected the difference in planes and service in the price already (even without UCS) [?]

Cheers

Michael