Originally Posted by
FFMAN
Yep - I don't understand the Virgin policy. The 747 is the wrong plane in the winter. Waaay too much rear end capacity and not enough front end. The 14 UC seats in the Jumbo is around half (?) what you get in the A330 and for that matter the Delta 767s that used to run those routes. In my regular experience of both types, they didn't have any difficulty more or less filling them. They are suppressing their own demand...a strange business model.
I'm looking for alternative options for the next stateside trip (actually working on the SQ/UA option even though it would be self connect)
If it wasn't for the RR engine issues on the 787's, I suspect we wouldn't be seeing 747's operating MAN-JFK/ATL.
For what it's worth, I was on VS127 on 23rd November and VS128 on the 28th, both flights had just under 400 passengers plus crew. It was noticeable whilst waiting for bags at MAN how many cases were for passengers who had connected at JFK off DL flights.