Newbie question...LAX -->LHR, suites?

Hi everyone!

This is a great site that I was referred to and am having fun reading lots of your posts. I need some help.

I recently cashed in my AmEx points for 2 UC tix next July. We're booked on 024 on the outbound. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to have the new suites...and in fact, is one of the reasons we chose to fly Virgin. But now, it sounds like our plans may be foiled.

I understand that as of right now, most of the flights out of LAX DO NOT have the new suites. But, I was talking to an agent (trying to switch our flight to 008) and was told that the plan is to roll out the suites fleet wide by January. Is this true? Are we certain to get a suite?

Thanks in advance for the answers!

Tiffany

Originally posted by tiffnco
Hi everyone!

This is a great site that I was referred to and am having fun reading lots of your posts. I need some help.

I recently cashed in my AmEx points for 2 UC tix next July. We're booked on 024 on the outbound. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to have the new suites...and in fact, is one of the reasons we chose to fly Virgin. But now, it sounds like our plans may be foiled.

I understand that as of right now, most of the flights out of LAX DO NOT have the new suites. But, I was talking to an agent (trying to switch our flight to 008) and was told that the plan is to roll out the suites fleet wide by January. Is this true? Are we certain to get a suite?

Thanks in advance for the answers!

Tiffany

You will have a suite equipped aircraft. Currently, VS08 is operated by a 747-400 with suites although it will change October 30th to an A340-600 with suites. VS24 is currently an A340-300 without suites but that will change to a suite equipped aircraft sometime soon. I am flying VS08 and VS23 (inbound version of VS24) this December and I expect they will both be suite equipped as they both show as such on expertflyer.com.

Similarly I am flying VS 24 on Oct 11 and it is forecast to be a UCS equipped plane. I should guess that by July you would be very, very unfortunate not to have a suite though there will be a chance since I believe VS will still have a few non-UCS 343s.

Hi Tiffany

I don't know whether the UCS 343s will be allocated to certain routes once they are re-fitted, but if they aren't then it's impossible to say whether any particular 343 flight more than a few days in advance will be UCS or J2000. It's like trying to predict which pair of socks you'll be wearing on a certain date in November! If you want to guarantee UCS then best bet is to go for VS7/8. AFAIK some J2000 343s are being retained but I don't know how long for.

Cheers

Originally posted by airchabum
Hi Tiffany

I don't know whether the UCS 343s will be allocated to certain routes once they are re-fitted, but if they aren't then it's impossible to say whether any particular 343 flight more than a few days in advance will be UCS or J2000. It's like trying to predict which pair of socks you'll be wearing on a certain date in November! If you want to guarantee UCS then best bet is to go for VS7/8. AFAIK some J2000 343s are being retained but I don't know how long for.

Cheers

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Airchabum, I'm trying to switch to 008 but as of right now, there is only 1 open seat in UC for my date. I was told to "keep checking" every now and then. 008 is MUCH better for us, but aside from what the agent told me, I don't know how else I can try and get on.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks so much!

Don't worry, by next July all the aircraft will be fitted with the suites, not least such an important route as the LAX one. Keep smiling:D

Hi Tiffnco

From experience it is much easier to get a reward flight on the 24 than the 8, simply because of course people want to be on the 8.

I've been advised in the past that a) you're lucky in any case to get a UC reward flight on the 24, and b) the best time to try and change is 7 days before the flight when the loads are clearer and more reward seats might be released on the 8. I'm on the 24 on 11 Oct, 1 Z fare and 1 reward, and will try to change so will let you know if I have any success.

S

Having reward inventory released seems to be a Gold perk: I've just done this for The Kitten who is flying to LAX on Wednesday: no award seats and plenty of availability meant a quick call to Revenue Management and a seat was released.

BC

Originally posted by BlackCat
Having reward inventory released seems to be a Gold perk: I've just done this for The Kitten who is flying to LAX on Wednesday: no award seats and plenty of availability meant a quick call to Revenue Management and a seat was released.

BC

BC,

Does this mean that, come July, if I still can't get on 008, I can call on you to have those seats released?

Thanks all for the feedback!

Originally posted by s0436
Don't worry, by next July all the aircraft will be fitted with the suites, not least such an important route as the LAX one. Keep smiling:D

Hi s0436

The Arcadia 343s are not being re-fitted and to my knowledge no date has been announced yet for them to leave the VS fleet, so my guess is that they will still be around next summer. I believe these aircraft have been earmarked for Virgin Nigeria but it'll probably be a while before they need all of them.

Hi Tiffany

A lot of services will be shown as 343 in the system until Commercial decide what capacity to send where, so VS23/24 may change to a 346 nearer the time.

Cheers

[ChuckC]

Greetings tiffnco, and welcome to VFlyer:

If both the VS8 and VS24 are scheduled to run on Airbus equipment, the outbound advantage currently held by VS8 operating as a 744 will be reduced, likely evening up your chances of being on VS8, unless only one A/C has the Suites. But Suite rollout continues apace, and I'd be surprised to learn that by next July the fleet hadn't been outfitted.

As has been discussed here before (one such thread appears here), however, many travelers, whether or not trying out the Suites, want to arrive in London in time to enjoy the Revivals Lounge. VS24 has the temerity to arrive a bit late for pax to do this.

Let's both stay tuned for more updates!

Again, welcome aboard.

Chuck-

Originally posted by slinky09
I'm on the 24 on 11 Oct, 1 Z fare and 1 reward, and will try to change so will let you know if I have any success.

S

Which Z fare lets you rebook?!

Also, I have had G released even as a Red member for a mile upgrade 2 days before the flight. They were extremely full in Y and W though, wide open in J. (ended up op-uping 20 people or something like that, J was full on the flight).

Cheers
sky