Virgin 747-400 - Ruby Tuesday

[FingersR]

Hi All,

Just a quick question - was on a flight to LA from LHR recently (my first with Virgin) and the a/c was Ruby Tuesday (sorry not got the reg). The interior seemed quite tired and the IFE was not what I had expected from Virgin ie on demand movies, nice big screens etc. Not having a dig at Virgin here at all as the flight was good, efficient and friendly cabin crew and the quality of the food was very good for economy. Was just curious to know if Ruby Tuesday is typical of the Virign fleet or if it is one of the "older" a/c and is in line for an upgrade IFE and seating etc?

Thanks in advance!

Fingers

[WHBM]

Aircraft built 1998, reg is G-VXLG.

I have always noticed how tatty Virgin let the interiors of their fleet get. Recall going Upper Class for the first time ever, that must have been about 1998 as well, and finding so many of the little electronic seat switches for various functions were rubbed through or hanging off, and similar "tired" appearence compared to (say) BA whose aircraft interiors have always seemed immaculate, even at the end of their lives.

Sorry all at Virgin. It's true.

[surely not]

Have you flown with them since 1998 or is that the last time you travelled with them?

[akerosid]

I flew VS in February ('VROM/Barbarella - out and back) and found them superb. Really wonderful experience. I had Premium Economy on the way back, which was very nice. A really, really nice airline to fly with and interiors were clean and very respectable. I've always got the impression that they put a lot of thought into this; they were, in fairness, among the very first airlines to put PTVs into Y class.

A340-600s have the larger PTV screens.

Very happy memories of flying on Ruby Tuesday, back in the good old days - did an article for Airways magazine on a flight to EWR. Unforgettable experience - particularly so as I can't go "up front" anymore.

[WHBM]

Well I think I've been with them on the odd occasion since as well ! Maybe in all classes.

The seating pitch in Y always seems the tightest around, in the days of MRTC on American I used to wonder how VS could be competitive on transatlantic routes for regular Y travellers where fares were often comparable. The same goes for Hong Kong where comparable trips in Y on Virgin and Cathay have shown me the difference.

So many go on about the in flight entertainment but, like many on PPRuNe I suspect, I just snap on the Airshow map and that's it. Actually if you walk down the cabin the same seems to be true for many others. But then I'm probably an oddball. I don't like the Upper Class Suites either.

[FingersR]

Thanks for the info. So fair to say some of the "newer" (ie refitted or just plain newer! :-)) aircraft have a more upgraded interior then?

[sevenforeseven]

Virgin Atlantic premium product is second to none, the new upper class is superb, the premium economy good. To be fair economy seats (new ones) are awful. The seats are very very narrow and very upright the cushions have very little padding.
As for Virgin Atlantic, they indeed are a superb airline I just hope they change the economy seats.
Inflight entertainment is interactive on most of the aircraft and is being fitted to the ones without it.
Virgin is and will be my choice (except Y class).

[FingersR]

thanks for your views everyone!

[Standard Jet Dep]

I agree overall product is superb its really just economy and a few tweaks with the product here and there then with a change of attitude from some of our staff we really can be a great airline.
Take 3 rows of seats out is my suggestion it would help things considerably.

BRGDS

SJD

[Victor Meldrew]

FingersR & WHBM

Had a similar experience a couple of years ago on 'California Girl' MAN-ORL where the feeling was of a 'plane that had reached life expiry - found out later it was new to Qantas in 1974! Service standards not up to the usual for Virgin, crew didn't seem too bothered and spent much of the flight in the galley chatting. Turbulence was horrendous on last 2hrs of flight, CG reeked of full sick bags by the end of it! CG is still going as a freighter in Africa I think.

[skyman771]

and the a/c was Ruby Tuesday (sorry not got the reg). The interior seemed quite tired and the IFE was not what I had expected from Virgin

Most strange, I flew VS LHR-LAX & SFO-LHR last August & I'm sure that one of the two aircraft was named "Ruby Tuesday". I'm not into "reggies" so took no further interest. However I was in "Y" on sectors on the two aircraft which incidentally were NOT the same in config.,though both had IFE with screens in the seat backs, the return sectors 744 was equipped with the enhanced IFE where the "play loop"is eliminated & one can stop start & load own choice movies from large store. The other was more akin to the standard BA offering where there is a more limited choice playing at set times.
As for "Y" seat comfort, as far as I can see, regardless of the airline & less than 32" seat pitch with all 3 seats occupied long haul & you're in for a pretty uncomfortable ride irrespective of the "seat padding" & VS is no different to the many offerings I have experienced "over the pond" ie BA,CO,UA.
Though I am not now going to start on food & service !