New UCS in LGW 744's upstairs..??

Hi all,
Does anyone know if all the LGW 744's are getting the UCS upstairs refit..?
I read on the site that a couple have already got it....

I am off to MCO in June, and it would make a change going upstairs for UCS, not just up the front....[:)]

Thanks in advance...

Unless I've missed something mega the answer is no - LGW 747s only have UCS in the forward cabin on the main deck and no announcement has been made about it being extended, upstairs is, and always has been, all PE.

As to whether the upstairs cabin is getting the PE refit, then probably yes though I don't believe that definite dates are clear.

That said, I think it would be a good idea for VS to make upstairs all UCS and fit in twenty or so suites rather than the 14 downstairs. But that would be a bigger job.

no probs....
it was i checked some cabin pics posted on here, and it showed jersey girl with the new ucs upstairs..???

i must of read it wrong...

thanks for your reply...

regards

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by ucs4me
no probs....
it was i checked some cabin pics posted on here, and it showed jersey girl with the new ucs upstairs..???

i must of read it wrong...

thanks for your reply...

regards

If you are referring to this picture, then the registration was wrong. This trip report by JAT74L who took the photo, refers to the plane as being Lady Penelope which is V-FAB.

In any case the flight was to SFO which would have had a LHR configured aircraft

thats the one..!

thanks for clearing this up....

i had my hopes up and thought i would be in a new suite upstairs..!

kind regards

Originally posted by slinky09
That said, I think it would be a good idea for VS to make upstairs all UCS and fit in twenty or so suites rather than the 14 downstairs. But that would be a bigger job.

I believe this would then go against the policy of providing all classes on the lower deck for reasons of access.

FM

Originally posted by FamilyMan

Originally posted by slinky09
That said, I think it would be a good idea for VS to make upstairs all UCS and fit in twenty or so suites rather than the 14 downstairs. But that would be a bigger job.

I believe this would then go against the policy of providing all classes on the lower deck for reasons of access.

FM

That's correct. All cabins must be available on the main deck as to not discriminate against people who cannot manage the stairs

But it's ok to have PE on 2 levels??? Isn't that also discrimination against those who can't manage stairs - as well as against those who are only a curtain flick away from E???

I booked some flights with the premier team a couple of months back - UC out and PE back - when it came to reserving actual seats, I did specifically ask not to be in the downstairs PE - have had that experience aonce or twice (not willingly), and, as discussed here before, it really isn't the same product as upstairs PE. But I digress - the person I was talking to did make the proviso that seating might change, as UC was going to be moved upstairs on this route (LGW - MCO)....

Originally posted by catsilversword
But it's ok to have PE on 2 levels??? Isn't that also discrimination against those who can't manage stairs - as well as against those who are only a curtain flick away from E???

I booked some flights with the premier team a couple of months back - UC out and PE back - when it came to reserving actual seats, I did specifically ask not to be in the downstairs PE - have had that experience aonce or twice (not willingly), and, as discussed here before, it really isn't the same product as upstairs PE. But I digress - the person I was talking to did make the proviso that seating might change, as UC was going to be moved upstairs on this route (LGW - MCO)....

That would be much better if UC moved upstairs - at least then perhaps UC could be first leaving the plane. I really like the UC product but the 'problem' with the LGW fleet, as has been mentioned before, is the sharing of the loos with PE downstairs (and the resultant queues at times) and not being first off the plane - the smaller PE and economy cabins being let off first, and sometimes it's a scrum with the upstairs PE as well.

Originally posted by catsilversword
But I digress - the person I was talking to did make the proviso that seating might change, as UC was going to be moved upstairs on this route (LGW - MCO)....

I was also told in November that the allocation of u/c seats on the lgw fleet was being expanded as they have no problems selling what they have. (there was no mention of where they were going though)

David

[Neil]

Originally posted by catsilversword
But it's ok to have PE on 2 levels??? Isn't that also discrimination against those who can't manage stairs - as well as against those who are only a curtain flick away from E???

Not really. As already mention VS have to have access to all cabins on the main deck, the fact the PE is split over 2 decks on the LGW fleet is not discrimination in any way. At the end of the day you get the same seat, same meal and all the other extras whether you are in a PE seat upstairs or on the main deck, so whilst you personally may prefer the upper deck VS are not discriminating against you by you not getting a seat on it.

There really is not much chance of UC moving upstairs on these a/c, and I really wouldn't believe everything someone at VS tells you, I trust the members on here a lot more with the info I get more than what [b]most[b] of VS CS/Premier staff tell me.

Neil

[mitchja]

My guess would be (and I stress this is only a guess) if VS where to add more J seats to LGW/MAN 744's, they could do it like the old LHR 744 config 1 with the upper deck split into J & W with J in the front half. They can fit another 10 J seats up there taking the total to 24 which seems reasonable and they could put the 20 PE seats from the front upper deck section onto the main deck behind the existing PE rows by removing those few rows of Y seats at the very front [:?] That is of course, unless VS plan on adding more W seats as well which does seem to be the trend at the moment.

I cant see VS putting more J seats on the main desk in zone b as that would mean having to move/get rid of PE on the main deck.

Regards

Why do you think there is all this secrecy/ lack of information about the refitting of the LGW fleet from VS?

I'm due to fly PE from LGW-MCO on 9/4/08, and just before christmas I emailed VS's head of PR to enquire about the dates of refit for the LGW fleet. As I assumed such a large task would need some time beforehand to schedule in these refits with the contractors timetable and dates, being as on VS website they state that the commencement of re fit would be from 2008 which could be interpreted to mean from the 1st Jan! I thought she would know what the schedule would be,but the reply I had was 'The Gatwick fleet of aircraft are yet to be upgraded to the new Premium Economy, so it will not be the new product on these flights'.

Basically no information that I didn't know already! Does she know something that she's not telling me?[?] Does that mean they will definatly not be the new seats? Or is she just guessing, and repeating a pre-prepared statement?[:?]

C'mon VS, there are a lot of interested people on V-flyer, who would like to know more about the timescales of these re-fits.

HighFlyer: Edit to remove staffers name

Originally posted by Neil

Originally posted by catsilversword
But it's ok to have PE on 2 levels??? Isn't that also discrimination against those who can't manage stairs - as well as against those who are only a curtain flick away from E???

Not really. As already mention VS have to have access to all cabins on the main deck, the fact the PE is split over 2 decks on the LGW fleet is not discrimination in any way. At the end of the day you get the same seat, same meal and all the other extras whether you are in a PE seat upstairs or on the main deck, so whilst you personally may prefer the upper deck VS are not discriminating against you by you not getting a seat on it.

.

Neil

PE downstairs definitely does not feel as if it's the same service as upstairs - I know this from personal experience, but also I know others on this site feel the same way. It may well be a snobbish thing to say, but if I'm paying more to fly PE, then I really don't want to be flying almost in their laps. Am sure I read on here somewhere that the seats were slightly different as well - certainly, it felt like that to me.

[Neil]

Originally posted by catsilversword
PE downstairs definitely does not feel as if it's the same service as upstairs - I know this from personal experience, but also I know others on this site feel the same way.

And that is fair enough, but it is not discrimination as said before.

It may well be a snobbish thing to say, but if I'm paying more to fly PE, then I really don't want to be flying almost in their laps.

Well I hope you don't have to fly on the LHR fleet on an A340 then because the PE section is only a curtain away from Y on both those a/c

I hope not either - expecially since I'm due to be flying on the LGW fleet!

Originally posted by FamilyMan

Originally posted by slinky09
That said, I think it would be a good idea for VS to make upstairs all UCS and fit in twenty or so suites rather than the 14 downstairs. But that would be a bigger job.

I believe this would then go against the policy of providing all classes on the lower deck for reasons of access.

FM

Yes of course - good point! I'm not sure this can be law though - not unless it's UK only and not European, Lufthansa for example only have first on the upper deck of their 747s.

Originally posted by slinky09
Yes of course - good point! I'm not sure this can be law though - not unless it's UK only and not European, Lufthansa for example only have first on the upper deck of their 747s.

IIRC I believe this is covered by UK law only. If it is European law then LH are clearly not following it which in theory could happen as there is still debate on if EC law is binding on domestic courts but that is a whole different story and not worth the debate....


I do have some thoughts for this debate though:

- VS have placed BGI to LHR as a trial to see how well the route operates from there with an increased UCS cabin (this was also to babysit slots but that is another story also).
- VS have hinted at moving LAS to LHR in order to be able to offer more UCS seats.
- We know that VS will eventually move all 744's over to LGW.

So I can see this going one of two ways:
1. VS move routes from LGW to LHR that have high UCS demand (LAS and BGI spring to mind) and leave the rest on the current config at LGW. BUT slots become an issue.
2. VS moves LHR 744 fleet over to LGW but does not reconfig it.

I believe the problems could well surround PE being so popular on the b+s routes. VH sell a lot of the PE seats and if they are to increase UCS seats then PE seats will decrease. The question left is are VS willing to loss PE pax on the b+s routes to FCA/BY/MYT etc in order to fill more UCS seats (many of which may be empty in the off season)?! If they do this on all the b+s routes, I feel VS could loss the customers for life, so once they go PE on a route they won't return to go UCS on VS.

Wild, Just because an increase in J is possible, it doesnt mean that W will be made smaller, for all we know, J and W could be made larger, and Y smaller. Exactly what happened at LHR.

Originally posted by G-VFLY
Wild, Just because an increase in J is possible, it doesnt mean that W will be made smaller, for all we know, J and W could be made larger, and Y smaller. Exactly what happened at LHR.

Yes could well happen but I feel it wont as VH would be left up the creak. One of the major successes of VH to Florida is that they use VS flights. The vast majority of VH customers fly Y, if they book with VH and end up flying First Choice then there is no reason in the future not book direct with First Choice.

Downstairs in PE on a 744 is very different to the cabin on an A340. On the 744s, the main deck PE cabin really does feel like an after-thought.

45.

Hi All, just opening an older thread here, but news from the heathrow press day I was at today, virgin currently are planning to refit the LGW fleet next year now, so nothing happening this year,but the whole plane will be done. Increasing UCS has not been decided, but there is likely to be more premium....... and research into an all new eco service is underway, seat included. (different to current new seat) .... oh and NEW IFE on the LGW fleet, goodbye to NOVA ) . Comment was that other finanicial and business factors may change this, but they are sticking with the metal they have in the short to medium term

Originally posted by VS045
Downstairs in PE on a 744 is very different to the cabin on an A340. On the 744s, the main deck PE cabin really does feel like an after-thought.

The downstairs new PE config on the LHR fleet seems quite nice if you ask me. Doesn't feel too cramped, and it's been fitted with sparkly bulkheads and swishy mood lighting!

I'm sure the downstairs PE on the LGW fleet isn't so nice.

Mike

Originally posted by ofarvoo
Hi All, just opening an older thread here, but news from the heathrow press day I was at today, virgin currently are planning to refit the LGW fleet next year now, so nothing happening this year,but the whole plane will be done. Increasing UCS has not been decided, but there is likely to be more premium....... and research into an all new eco service is underway, seat included. (different to current new seat) .... oh and NEW IFE on the LGW fleet, goodbye to NOVA ) . Comment was that other finanicial and business factors may change this, but they are sticking with the metal they have in the short to medium term

Thanks for the update.

Can I ask though how Virgin plan on doing this as we all know how stretched they are at Gatwick, how can they spare a plane to be taken out of service for the refit?

Im guessing the will do it when routes like the b&s routes are less used such as the winter so they can merge two services into one.