VS5 LHR-MIA on A343 in winter?

Wonder if anyone can help here?

I'm booked on the above flight in January and when checking Expertflyer and the like, it shows as an A343. Indeed even when going into the seatmap on VS and selecting our seats, it's an A343. Are the winter routes set now to the point that this will likely be the case, or would it be unknown at this stage still?

If totally unknown, can anyone hazard a guess at the likelihood of VS5/6 getting A343s this winter? (at least for some days)

One thing I did notice with interest was that changing the day of the week on expertflyer availability tool yielded different a/c types coming up (noticed it scheduled on an A346 one day, and A343 the next - almost as if something has been loaded in for the winter routes already)

Thanks in advance!
Michael.

What does the VS website show for your seat map as this will be what is currently scheduled. Remember this could change. I think expert flyer data is correct cos as soon as you change anything in the VS website this is reflected on expert flyer immediately

Paul

Well remember that if it is an A340-300, then it will most likely have UCS suites by then

VS website seatmap is an A343 too, so I guess that's what it is. Just thought it strange as VS5 has been a very predominant 744 route in the past (even this winter gone from what I can see), so I just wondered whether maybe it might change again. I also thought that the loads to Florida in winter would be fairly high, but I'm just making a joe public assumption there!

I'll keep an eye on expertflyer - not only for my own knowledge as to what it'll be, but more importantly that we're allocated in seats that don't exist on a UCS fitted A343, so they'd probably get (unfavourably) reallocated if it changed to a UCS A343 nearer the time.

If anyone knows any more, I'd be happy to hear

Thanks
Michael

Maybe the 744 is in for scheduled maintenance as they book this in early and put other aircraft on this route. The other reason they may have swapped is if they are getting high demand on a route that was using a 343 on that day, if the VS5 is seriously low on bookings they could swap aircraft to meet demand.

Paul

Am guessing it must be to do with a/c availability,maintenance etc.Winter is prime time for Mia I would think.I have friends that jet off there religiously every year in winter as the weather is great and not as oppressive as the summer months.

Noticed that BA have double daily 744 in winter with a third 744 on 3 other days making a total of 17 flights a week....so the demand is most definately there.Why can't VS make this route work more effectively,I wonder?

Originally posted by Angus Y


Noticed that BA have double daily 744 in winter with a third 744 on 3 other days making a total of 17 flights a week....so the demand is most definately there.Why can't VS make this route work more effectively,I wonder?

Could be something to do with BA's alliance with AA and the fact that AA serve many latin american destinations from MIA.

I booked with VS last year in September for a flight in December and it showed an A340. Upon reaching the gate, it was in fact Ruby Tuesday.