VS 09, Is it gonna be 744/346/343 ??

Hi

I dropped in on the 'will I be on a rubbish plane' thread, and got a good explanation as to why Virgin changes aircraft on an irregular basis. As mentioned I booked with the hope of flying 744 one way, VS 9 June 23. and return with 346, VS 10, July 8. This of course due to the wish of flying two aircraft I have never been on before.

Now I am wondering what the best educated guess is, as to what aircraft we will actually be travelling on those exact days? I see from other threads that there are som pretty well informed, and educated people on this forum[:D]

My other question is that IF it appears to be the 343, would you prefer to try to change the flight to VS 45, (the 744) or stick with the 343? Thinking mostly about comfort and IFE in std economy class.

Appreciate any respons to this!!

If you have booked online (or have a Virgin booking reference) you will know what aircraft you are on from the virgin atlantic website. I would say you are very unlikely to get a 747 on this flight (have a look at the Aircraft Database on this site to see its been some time since they used 747s here), you may get a 343, and I would say try to avoid this in economy if possible as you will get significantly less cool IFE.

VS45 and the 747 is worth considering for the variety, though if you are travelling as a couple the 346 is often better due to its 2-4-2 configuration rather than 3-4-3 (unless you grab one of the twos in the rear of the plane).

Hope that helps. Enjoy the trip.

Yes, I saw from the database that the percentage was about 40/60 for the 744/346 at my time of booking. I trusted Virgins website, which listed the 744 one way and the 346 the other. But soon found out that they mixed around a bit...[n]

We are flying as a family of four, so the comfort and IFE is quite important, yes.

I booked at an Norwegian website, but I actually got paper-tickets, so I guess i will be able to get a Virgin booking reference of them. Is it so that the plane listet on the website then is the actual one, or can they change even more?

And thanks for your kind help.

[Neil]

Is it so that the plane listet on the website then is the actual one, or can they change even more?

The a/c showing on the website (manage my booking section) is the one currently assigned to do your flight. This could change anytime, including the day departure if VS decide they need to/are forced to do so (technical problem/incoming delay etc).

Neil

On the dates of your flight the VS 9 is on a 340-300, whilst the VS 3 and VS 25 are on a 340-600 and the VS 45 is a B744

Of course this could change due to tech a/c etc

We did previously consider the possibility of G-VSUN being dedicated to the VS9 - if that was the case then you might want to be on that!

Originally posted by McMaddog
We did previously consider the possibility of G-VSUN being dedicated to the VS9 - if that was the case then you might want to be on that!

And please tell me why? I am quite a novice here.....Is it because of the V-port system?

Yes, G-VSUN is coming out of refit next week. It will have new Y,W and J class seating with V:Port. This info comes with the usual proviso that until we see it for sure nothing is confirmed.

Ok, thanks again. Seeming nothing is certain, I think I will lay my head to rest, trusting that Virgin will provide us with a nice aircraft after all, it beeing a 346(preferably)or a 343.

The most typical thing would be me changing our tix to VS 045, just to see that VS 9 is getting the better aircraft..... And for my next journey, i will surely pick the routes that are flown by certain aircraft, and not the mixed ones. At least my chances of getting on the desired aircraft might improve....

Stale, if you're really eager to fly a certain type of VS aircraft then there are routes in the network that are 99/100 times a 747 or 340-600. For example SFO (747) and HKG & SYD/NRT/PVG (340-600). Obviously there's the usual disclaimer that you could be on any type but this seems less likely on these routes.

Originally posted by clarkeysntfc
Stale, if you're really eager to fly a certain type of VS aircraft then there are routes in the network that are 99/100 times a 747 or 340-600. For example SFO (747) and HKG & SYD/NRT/PVG (340-600). Obviously there's the usual disclaimer that you could be on any type but this seems less likely on these routes.

My thoughts exactly[:D]Still learning the trade of the game here.....

Next summer we're flying to Singapore, with SIA and will book SVG-LHR-SIN, A380-841, and SIN-CPH-SVG B777-212ER.

Originally posted by McMaddog
We did previously consider the possibility of G-VSUN being dedicated to the VS9 - if that was the case then you might want to be on that!

When do you expect to have more info regarding this?

Originally posted by stale

Originally posted by McMaddog
We did previously consider the possibility of G-VSUN being dedicated to the VS9 - if that was the case then you might want to be on that!

When do you expect to have more info regarding this?

Well G-VSUN is due out of refit in the next few days so I guess we'll soon know. There was no insider info behind this theory. It just seemed convienient that a 343 was to start operating to NYC and at the same time a 343 was in refit to receive a complete new interior including V:Port.

okidoki. I'am eagerly awaiting what aircraft we will be on then, and maybe post a question as to any news about G-VSUN

BTW, I found this in another thread;

As of 24/05/08 G-VSUN (A343) is back in service with UCS, the new PE seats, the new Y seats and V:Port

Is this the same refit that u talked about?

it certainly is - I wasn't aware it had returned - a VS employee posted last week that it was expected out around today.

Oki, funny what you pick up from just browsing around here

Now the good question is if it's going to be allocated to the VS 9...

As a follow-up - the ac database on V-Flyer has been updated to June 3rd and still showing no movements for G-VSUN so it doesn't seem she returned to service in May.

G-VSUN's return has been delayed due to a strike by the fench workers who do the refits. She was due back this week but depends if the strike continues.
As for being dedicated to the VS 9 this is very unlikely, as no a/c is ever dedicated to a specific route unless it has a core crew (crew just trained on this a/c doing one particular route - as we had with LOS and air atlanta a/c)

Originally posted by virginboy747
As for being dedicated to the VS 9 this is very unlikely, as no a/c is ever dedicated to a specific route unless it has a core crew (crew just trained on this a/c doing one particular route - as we had with LOS and air atlanta a/c)

G-VSUN was supposed to be dedicated to Nairobi prior to refit - at least to ensure that only one group of travellers was disappointed! It didn't work 100% though.

Hi.

I was interested to see this topic here as I am on the same VS 9 flight on June 23rd [:)]

LONDON LHR VS 9 N 23JUN 1600

... According to amadeus.net the bird is the A343. Too bad there is no place to find what the registration will be for that flight.

This is my first flight on Virgin and the A340-300. Hopefully she will have the new V-Port installed.

Is there any chance that the she would parked next to the SIA A380 at LHR ?? I am flying all the way from HEL on the morning and have about 6 hours to kill at Heathrow [:0]

Hi you Fin:-)

Maybe we'll meet then? Travelling from Norway in the morning, arrive at 11 am....

As far as I know, the 380 departs at 1155, so i guess you'll have to go look immediately after you land.

Originally posted by AY005

Is there any chance that the she would parked next to the SIA A380 at LHR ?? I am flying all the way from HEL on the morning and have about 6 hours to kill at Heathrow [:0]

Yesterday my SFO flight departed from gate 5, at gate 7 was the SIA A380 and at gate 1 was G-VSEA, a 343 ... it is possible but VS planes use many gates and these new ones seem to get the bigger birds usually ... so no way can it be guaranteed. As you have some time to kill take a walk to gate 5 - the A380 is usually parked there in the mornings (can't remember the flight times ... arrives something like 7 am departs early pm I think?) and there's plenty of glass to take it all in!

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by AY005
Hi.

I was interested to see this topic here as I am on the same VS 9 flight on June 23rd [:)]

LONDON LHR VS 9 N 23JUN 1600

... According to amadeus.net the bird is the A343. Too bad there is no place to find what the registration will be for that flight.

Hi and welcome to V-flyer.

While it is possible to predict with some accuracy nearer the time which plane will be assigned to a flight, that information is not published on public sites for security reasons. In any case you can never be sure of which plane you will be on until it is in the air as planes can and do go tech at the last minute.

Originally posted by AY005
Hi.

I
This is my first flight on Virgin and the A340-300. Hopefully she will have the new V-Port installed.

As far as i can tell, only V-SUN has the V-port system, out of all the 343's that VS operate, so I guess we'll have to settle for something less....