VS007 - back to 747-400?

[Scrooge]

Those are a couple of the reason's we are flying out of SFO in dec rather than LA,i've never been on a 346,but just looking at the UC seating..well..it sucks,the 744 is by far a better layout and of course LA has no clubhouse,just the AC lounge which suck's.

Just checked our flights on VS007/8 in August and it is also a 747 both ways.

That means we're going upstairs.

Yipeee[8D]

Miopyk

For me, in J, the difference between an LHR744 and an A346 is minimal once you're on the seat. However, in W, I think the 744s make a world of difference. On the airbuses, PE is more like an extension of Y, whereas on the 744s, it is a class in its own right, with completely separate cabin, WC etc...

Cheers,
VS045

Originally posted by mike-smashing
If the 744s go totally, I'll start looking for other options.

When the 744s go the "other option" will have already arrived - the A380!

As to whether it will it be better for pax than the B744, we will have to wait and see what VS have up their sleeve....

Hi Barry,

AFAIK the VS007/008 change to the A346 was a permanent year round change especially with the B744 fleet gradually migrating to LGW. I could certainly be wrong and it was only a seasonal change. Only time will tell....

Hi Sarah,

I agree. It will be a sad day when there are no more LHR based 744s. It'll probably be about 2-3 years before that happens. As Rich has said, we've got the A380 to look forward to...

Originally posted by Jetstreamer
As Rich has said, we've got the A380 to look forward to...

Which, it turns out could be something of a challenge for Heathrow which is already slot constrained.

Current CAA advice is that no aircraft (including a 747!) should be less than 10 miles in trail of the A380.

Heathrow normally works with 3 mile spacing between like-sized aircraft (so 3 miles between two 747s, a 747 and an A340/A330, or a 767 and a 747), and slightly more (5-6 miles) if a smaller plane is following a bigger one.

Therefore, in an arrival stream, an A380 takes up the space of about three "normal" aircraft (including the heavy jets like 747s/A340s).

If there are enough numbers of A380s, Heathrow is going to have serious capacity problems. They are already talking about changing how they use the runways as a stop gap (such as allowing more arrival movements on the departure runway).

There are even restrictions in flight/at cruise for the A380. Normal aircraft can come within 1000ft of each other vertically, but with the A380, you have to leave 1500ft above and below it. It's going to be a real challenge.

So, here's hoping that:

a) The 744s are around for a bit longer.
b) That given the "issues" with the A380, the 744 finds a new lease of life/love within VS
c) When the A380 does arrive, that it's interior is sensibly configured - i.e. VS should be surveying their ranks of FC members!

Cheers,
Mike

Mike, the current 10 mile spacing is only an interim one before proper tests are performed and data is analysed. On full certification there shouldn't be a 10 mile separation issue.

These tests (which also tested the A380 compared to the B744 A346 and B777) have now been done as I understand, and the certified in service spacing will be announced by the authorities in the summer.

I hope too that VS have done some research on the cabin (I'll be shocked if they haven't!).

There is something like 35% more floor space per passenger on the A380, so we should hopefully see better seat pitch and better amenities....

Originally posted by mike-smashing

Originally posted by Jetstreamer
As Rich has said, we've got the A380 to look forward to...

Current CAA advice is that no aircraft (including a 747!) should be less than 10 miles in trail of the A380.

Mike, can i just add that the spacing is TEMPORY for the test aircraft and the final spacing is yet to be finalized and we wont know what it will be till Airbus carry out back to back tests with other aircraft.

Cheers

Phil

[Scrooge]

The other thing to rmember is that they have only sold 20 of these things,so while LHR will be a major hub for them,it's not going to be like the way you see 744's at LHR,btw boeing sold 43 744's last year.

[Bazz]

Originally posted by Jetstreamer
Hi Barry, ...I agree. It will be a sad day when there are no more LHR based 744s. It'll probably be about 2-3 years before that happens. As Rich has said, we've got the A380 to look forward to...

Marc, you are right, it will be a sad day and yes we can look forward to the A380, which I do.

What concerns me is how ill prepared LAX is (see this topicfor a link to an in depth update in the LA Times) with, so far, only two gates in the Int Terminal being made A380 ready and a very congested airport in terms of all the support services. At the other end, as Mike points out, LHR still has mountains of work to do! So I hope that VS don't remove the 744's from LHR too quickly, even though the regular LGW travellers will be the beneficiaries when they do.

Barry

The VS7/8 (LAX) will be operated on a 747-400 from 26/03/06-28/10/06.
The VS5/6 (MIA) will be operated on a A340-600 from 26/03/06-28/10/06
The VS21/22 (IAD) will be operated on a A340-600 from 26/03/06-28/10/06.

Hope this helps!

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by vscss
The VS7/8 (LAX) will be operated on a 747-400 from 26/03/06-28/10/06.
The VS5/6 (MIA) will be operated on a A340-600 from 26/03/06-28/10/06

Hope this helps!

vscss,
That's exactly what we needed to know![y] Many thanks as always for keeping us filled in with the correct information.

Best regards,
Chuck-

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm flying out on 007 on 18 March and back on 008 on 11 April, so have just changed my seat on the return flight now that it's the 744. It's my first trip in UC:D, so it will be interesting to see what the experience is like on the two different planes.