Virgin Atlantic

[LadyL2013]

I see VS3 G-VFIT declared Pan Pan Pan into JFK tonight with an engine failure.

[cheesebag]

Bit of advice from people in the know if you don't mind!

flying Premium to JFK in may and the seat map will be released soon.

What are the best premium seats, Outbound we are on an A346, return a 744?

Thanks!

[SWBKCB]

Today's Times is reporting that the European Commission have asked the CAA to investigate whether Delta have undue control over the operation of the airline.

Czech Airlines, Air Berlin and Cargolux also mentioned as causing concerns over non-EU ownership.

[All names taken]

I wonder if someone who works for Virgin Atlantic can help me.

On one of my return long hauls coming up, Delta are suggesting a re-route thru Orlando to MAN on a Virgin operated service which they say is operated by a B744.

I know there are differences between the Main (LHR based) and Leisure (LGW and MAN based)

Now what I don't want after a long and tiring week away is to do the long haul part of the trip in a cabin full of screaming brats wearing mickey mouse ears.

So the question is: Will this flight be operated with a proper Upper Class service with basically a Business Class product?

Thanks in advance

[blackbeard1]

I have only flown VA UC on the MAN/MCO route twice and each time if was the full service. The UC part of the aircraft is small and the service very personal and good. Recomend you take a look at the VA Forum and ask there V-Flyer Forums ? View forum - The Departure Lounge

[rutankrd]

So the question is: Will this flight be operated with a proper Upper Class service with basically a Business Class product?

Leisure fleet are shared between Manchester and Gatwick.

They have just 14 Upper Class seats in very front of main deck exactly the same arrangement as the LHR ones (Their additional Upper Class product is up stairs) all single lie flat and a bar pretty comfy really.

I think the entertainment system differs through

[adfly]

The IFE is a newer and better system on the LGW/MAN 744's as they were recently refurbished throughout.

[LadyL2013]

The leisure fleet has just been refurbishd so should be up to the same standard (although different seating on some) to the LHR fleet.

[All names taken]

Thanks folks for those helpful replies.
Virgin U/C it is then.
Will make an interesting comparison to the Delta Business Class product which I think is the best amongst the US carriers.

[blackbeard1]

Do tell us what you think of UC after your flight, normally I fly DL65/64 BE out of MAN and was impressed with Virgin's UC product. So much so that I am using it again to MCO overnighting in MCO before driving down to near RSW for about a months stay there rather than taking DL to RSW, OK I got a very good deal on the flight from AmEx Plat travel.

[PAXboy]

May be a bit of time before we see them in service but this is on the way ...

How A Redesigned Meal Tray Is Saving Virgin Atlantic Millions | Co.Design | business + design

My concern is not with the tray but the new coffee and tea jugs:

In response to Virgin Atlantic's needs, MAP created an attractive round design with an ergonomic handle and a clever lid with an arrow on it that can be twisted to show what's inside: tea, water, coffee, or hot chocolate.

Oh great, so they will continue to put tea into a jug that has previously had coffee in it. For those of us allergic to coffee, it's one more reason to not drink the tea at FL390 and stick to brandy.

[Cazza_fly]

PAXboy

This new tray format and meal service has been in use for about 2 years now... The exception to the separate hot meal then dessert service is on shorter late night flights where it is all offered together at the same time.


As for the jugs sometimes logistics and the space onboard can make it hard to guarantee either pot can only be used for just a single type of hot drink despite it seeming just a simple task... I can say though most crew will try and separate them however and make sure they are well rinsed before each use so not to be serving the well know inflight t-offee

[Capetonian]

As for the jugs sometimes logistics and the space onboard can make it hard to guarantee either pot can only be used for just a single type of hot drink despite it seeming just a simple task..

Too difficult to have a permanent mark or label then? Or even a different design.
I have also suffered from drinking 'tea' that has been contaminated by coffee, and trust me, it's vile.

[PAXboy]

Thanks Cazza_fly, I've not been on VS for three years but will look out for this in PE in November. The person who sent me the link is usually up to date.

I do appreciate the space problems and one sectors' pax asking for a lot more of tea/coffee than usual. It's a bug bear across many years and in all catering environments!

[crewmeal]

It seems this lady is trying to make a fortune writing a book about something we all know happens in aviation and has done for decades. So nothing really new about it. I certainly won't be spending money on such rubbish.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...ALLY-like.html

[All names taken]

Blackbeard 1 Quote:/<<<Do tell us what you think of UC after your flight, normally I fly DL65/64 BE out of MAN and was impressed with Virgin's UC product. So much so that I am using it again to MCO overnighting in MCO before driving down to near RSW for about a months stay there rather than taking DL to RSW, OK I got a very good deal on the flight from AmEx Plat travel.>>>

Been meaning to get back to you on this. Flight a couple of weeks back. Orlando - Manchester. I wanted the non-stop Atlanta-Manchester but it wasn't available for whatever reason so they flew me over the short distance to Orlando for the Virgin flight.
I was on a Delta ticket so felt a bit of an oddity.

Boarding was a screw up because I had a Delta boarding pass and they couldn't get their act together. I had to stand like a naughty child just to the side of the main queue for far too long. Sky Priority went out of the window since half the plane had boarded before they could sort my boarding pass out.
So in fairness, I boarded in a grumpy mood.

Onto the plane. UC had a load factor of 100% so I guess the bean counters would be happy.
The welcoming drink had to be placed onto a silly and badly thought out pop out mini table which is awkwardly placed over your shoulder and is compromised by the reading lamp which gets in the way.

The food and service was impeccable. No complaints whatsoever.

My only gripe was that I really didn't like the layout and orientation of the UC cabin. The seats are pointed at too great an angle into the centre and this destroys the concept of personal privacy, which I value greatly in a B Class cabin.
Looking out of your window is more or less impossible and looking across to the windows on the far side as you inevitably do, invites the people over there to wonder why you are staring at them.
Worse than that is that the foot rest doubles up as a seat so that couples can dine together. Trouble is it means that the person is actually closer to you than the person they are dining with. Again - totally undermines any sense of personal privacy.
The seat converts to a lay-flat bed which is good - I had a very decent sleep - however you actually have to get out of the seat whilst the CC actually convert it; which frankly is a pain. It's even more of a pain in the morning when the reverse has to happen.

Overall, I still prefer the Delta experience over the ocean, but the 747 is such a beautiful animal, so quiet and refined. I would probably do the same again one day just to fly her.

[blackbeard1]

Thanks for your feedback All names taken. Many of your points I agree with like the useless drinks tray that won't even take a champagne glass and the difficulty in using the window. I did find the service a little better than Delta where it can be a little hit and miss but I have only used Virgin once so it is not a real comparison. I did like the space on Virgin which does mean you do not feel you are confined to your allotted bit of space and seat. I confess if I have anywhere else to go in the US from Manchester other than the MCO and RSW area it will be on Delta metal.

[SealinkBF]

I agree about the daft "shelf".

I actually find the PE seat on VS more comfortable than the UC one.
But as a fully fledged lush, I like getting moderately hammered at the bar.

[All names taken]

VS UC Product

One more observation for those interested.
The airbridge is connected at both ends of the journey to Door 2.

This means that if you board late like I did, you find it very difficult to get to the UC cabin as you have to go through the PE cabin to get there with the inevitable farting about that people do in aisles and overhead bins (what is wrong with people that they are so disorganized?).

On arrival, the PE cabin disembarks first then the UC pax get off alongside the Economy pax at the back. So if you're at the front of the UC cabin, right in the nose, there could be 60-80 people in front of you at the immigration queue including standard economy pax.
Isn't one of the big benefits of paying for a premium cabin that you get off first and therefore to the front of the queue and out of the airport quicker?
Not with Virgin.

[Skipness One Echo]

I know at LHR, BA seem to disembark from Door 1L and reposition the bridge to 2L for boarding if there's only the one.