LGW -BGI 747 V:Port Upgrade

Hey, I just completed VS030 to Barbados a flight I take regularly and I inquired to the FSM when the roll out for V:Port would be done on the route. He explained that Virgin need to replace the aircraft one by one with a A340 to do the very expensive upgrade to the aircraft he estimated this will begin to happen next year 2009. I then read online about the roll out that Virgin most likely have refocused their attentions to the expensive upgrade (with rising oil prices) and have discontinued the upgrade as nothing has been officially published. Does anyone with inside scope have the latest word on this or is the FSM correct in the info he gave me flight was VS030 from Heathrow on Sunday 16th March. Flights to LGW from BGI were going to LHR until end march as they explained was for the best commercial operating interest.

[HighFlyer]

Purely my own thoughts, but i think VS are still planning what to do with their aircraft first, as in whether to keep the LGW 744's, and if so, for how long. I'd love to see V.Port on every aircraft but fitting V.Port will cost a heck of a lot of money that could be better spent on new routes or new aircraft, and if the 787's on the shopping list will replace the LGW 744's then it might not be worth the investment. I am looking forward to seeing the purple leather seat refits for PE go ahead though.

Thanks,
Sarah

...... as if VS are going to put their brand new planes into LGW!!!! ha ha ha ha! They will put the new planes at LHR and transfer the old ones from LHR to LGW and MAN. When the 787 come into service, there will probably be some new amazing IFE service and then we will all be moaning about LGW only having v:port and LHR having the new one!

On my flight over to Chicago yesterday some of the crew I was chatting with were certainly expecting the installation of VPort on the 343s ...

[Darren Wheeler]

Unless VS buy a complete new fleet, there will always be different levels of IFE between bases. The cost of getting LGW/MAN based metal to V-port is put about £3m each, hardly a small sum given the current state of the financial markets.

Lets be honest, in these days of laptops, ipods, DS lite, PSP etc. the IFE is no more than a handy distraction compared to what it was 10 years ago. I'd much rather see £3m spent on the food and service than anything else.

On VS part, they just need to manage the customers expectation a little more.

[Nottingham Nick]

I totally agree with Darren.

Today most people, for whom IFE is important, have iPods, PSPs and / or personal DVD players, so I can't see the point of spending a shed load of money on IFE.

IMHO, VS would be far better installing in-seat power to all seats and letting pax use their own hardware to watch their own choice of IFE.

I accept not everyone has their own personal players, or wants to fill their hand luggage with them; but a supply of machines on board, that could be hired out, would solve this.

The money earmarked for V-Port could then be spent on better food, a clubhouse or V-Room at MCO / MAN, and other improvements. [:D]


Nick

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

The money earmarked for V-Port could then be spent on better food, a clubhouse or V-Room at MCO / MAN, and other improvements. [:D]

Nick

Chrotle, chortle [:p] That's a good one Nick, but shouldn't the last phrase begin with the words 'Once upon a time.......'? [:w]

You're all right, only today I spoke to a Virgin holidays manager she was conforming the priorities of the airline as well.

My issue with this though is the press releases. If VA are saying that they're upgrading their entire fleet some calculation of the cost, time frame and market changes would have been taken into effect, after all we're dealing with a business here. I understand good business practices and agree if its suddenly become financially impossible refocus, as you want to stay in the green, but its a shame for folk like me who check in their ipods,dvd players and laptops to take full advantage of the IFE designed to keep you occupied especially on these long flights. But as you say Nick I have no problem with a power socket at my seat and plug in my laptop and entertain myself.

[Darren Wheeler]

I can see that eventually airline will do away IFE totally and the pax will simply bring their own. Big cost saving to be had. No purchase, no maintenance, less weight, easier seat install/reconfig.

[honey lamb]

Sorry, but I'm totally confused. You have posted about V-port upgrades and on another thread have asked about the PE re-furb. You have also discussed it with a FSM on your recent flight and with a VH manager today. Yet in your profile you write

drezman is Virgin Senior First Officer

I would have thought that in that case you would have been on the inside track with regard to such information. [?]

The Virgin Senior First Officer on my profile was due to the ignorance of not knowing that those statuses are automatically generated when you keep posting, I'm not a Senior First officer obviously else I would know this stuff plus I won't be a Flying Club Red member if anything.

The different threads and the different questions however similar all help to paint the full picture in seeking to get more information and in getting new answers I post them. I questioned the FSM tale of 2009 upgrade as I was reading something different online. Another thread also spoke of the PE seat upgrade and not neccessarily the V:Port. And yes today I spoke with a VH manager and got more information so I updated my thread on that info for more clarity.

Now the defense its all over a few days check the dates and see its all progressive information ending in definate conclusion today.

[honey lamb]

Ah, now I understand. Thank you for clarifying that. [y]

Please do go on posting and hopefully you will make it to whatever great heights of crew is on the Forum. I think it's V-Flyer Flight Service Manager

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

IMHO, VS would be far better installing in-seat power to all seats and letting pax use their own hardware to watch their own choice of IFE.

As someone who tends to fly at the back, I think in-seat power would be a great idea. Especially as I have Dell laptop and I have to take my battery out when on the plane.

The in-seat power would offer so much more flexibility to pax, granted that not everyone will laptops/DS/PSP/MP3/MP4 (delete as appropriate).

Although, IIRC, they have to check they don't burn out Ipods like they did with Honey Lamb's!

[mitchja]

I also agree that EmPower should be installed in all seats (or at least one socket in every group of seats like the new PE), after all, the falling prices of lap-tops means many more pax are carrying them than ever before.

Regards