Virgin Atlantic
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It has been said the new A350's will be split between LHR and LGW, does this mean specifically those two airports or the fleets? So will MAN see the A350 on its LGW fleet 747 routes? I think its an interesting time for VS at MAN as they have said they see it as a hub, and are adding more routes in the future, on LHR fleet aircraft. Can we see besides whatever will take over MANs beach routes, MAN getting more of the LHR fleet or even maybe the 340's could come up here once the 350's start at heathrow?
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what for the MCO route then? As I said they said the 350's are for LHR and LGW, did this mean LGW specifically or the LGW fleet? If its for the LGW fleet they will probably replace the 744 if they are specifically for LGW then who knows?
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The A350-1000s will replace the carrier's remaining Boeing 747-400s and Airbus A340-600s
will fly initially to US destinations from London Heathrow and subsequently to Caribbean points from London Gatwick.
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Is there any rotation in the a330 fleet? The same aircraft (G-VRAY) has been at Gatwick for a while now, and the two MAN frames (VKSS and VLUV) have been MAN based for similar amounts of time. I thought the MAN 330's rotated through ATL and swapped with an LHR one?
Paxing All Over The World
from 'Flying Club' by email
We all know what that means ... 
We’ve got some great news. We’re introducing exciting new changes to Flying Club over the coming weeks. From giving you a brand new membership number to making it even quicker for you to reach reward flights, there’ll be lots to make your adventures with us even more rewarding.
We’ll be keeping you updated along the way, and letting you know more about your new number before it changes. In the meantime, why not rediscover your Flying Club and find out what these changes mean to you as a Red member.
We’ll be keeping you updated along the way, and letting you know more about your new number before it changes. In the meantime, why not rediscover your Flying Club and find out what these changes mean to you as a Red member.
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'great news'
'exciting new changes'
'response to customer demand'
'make our services even better'
'great new product'
'improvements to our services'
All Newspeak for 'we are going to make things worse for you but lie through our teeth to try and persuade you that worse is better'.
Such is the mendacious corporate world these days.
George Orwell was a visionary wasn't he.
'exciting new changes'
'response to customer demand'
'make our services even better'
'great new product'
'improvements to our services'
All Newspeak for 'we are going to make things worse for you but lie through our teeth to try and persuade you that worse is better'.
Such is the mendacious corporate world these days.
George Orwell was a visionary wasn't he.
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FC member so actually had a look at this and it's win some lose some.
The zoning means that some things become less mileage (East Coast US for example) and some more (West coast US). Yes fewer economy miles, and more flexibility for the airline within inflated tier bands. More overlap with Delta. The introduction of on-peak and off-peak helps if like me you holiday in the winter to get away from the dismal UK weather.
Of course fewer miles for base economy passengers but that's not who the airline is trying to temp with the FF programme.
The old system was dated compared with the competition and didn't really reflect the Delta JV an the US.
The zoning means that some things become less mileage (East Coast US for example) and some more (West coast US). Yes fewer economy miles, and more flexibility for the airline within inflated tier bands. More overlap with Delta. The introduction of on-peak and off-peak helps if like me you holiday in the winter to get away from the dismal UK weather.
Of course fewer miles for base economy passengers but that's not who the airline is trying to temp with the FF programme.
The old system was dated compared with the competition and didn't really reflect the Delta JV an the US.
Paxing All Over The World
Well, I certainly agree with the approach of All names taken when dealing with corporates - hence my own posting. But, as always, you have to go through with a fine toothcomb to see if, as 22/04 says, which side of the comb you land up on. As yet, I've not had time to do that. Mostly, I also travel out of peak time - except next year when I have to go in peak! 
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I've only just joined the company, perhaps I'll have to change my avatar name?
Anyhow, from what I've been told about a/c bases,
• 787- predominantly LHR based, a possibility that it may take the MAN-SFO route during the winter due to strong headwinds and payload restriction.
• A330- these will be mainly based between LHR/LGW/MAN, they're also due for a refit soon as the UCDS is a complete failure from what I've heard and they want to bring it back into line with current/future design. Somebody asked what will run the MAN-MCO high density, I'd take a guess and say that not all A330's will be given UC for such a reason.
• A350- will start by phasing out current A330/340 routes from LHR, before moving down to LGW for the leisure routes. Won't end up at MAN as there won't be enough to cover both base.
A330/350 MFF/CCQ is going ahead as planned.
OMAA
Anyhow, from what I've been told about a/c bases,
• 787- predominantly LHR based, a possibility that it may take the MAN-SFO route during the winter due to strong headwinds and payload restriction.
• A330- these will be mainly based between LHR/LGW/MAN, they're also due for a refit soon as the UCDS is a complete failure from what I've heard and they want to bring it back into line with current/future design. Somebody asked what will run the MAN-MCO high density, I'd take a guess and say that not all A330's will be given UC for such a reason.
• A350- will start by phasing out current A330/340 routes from LHR, before moving down to LGW for the leisure routes. Won't end up at MAN as there won't be enough to cover both base.
A330/350 MFF/CCQ is going ahead as planned.
OMAA
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That is a surprise, i find it hard to believe they will replace 744's with 330's as those 744's are full to the brim most of the year and the 330's will be a cut in capacity. So unless they have 3 daily 330's its a real loss.
THE 747'S AT LGW ARE TO BE REPLACED BY A350'S NOT 330'S
Maybe some 330 will do 747 work during the transition - the 330 has taken over already alot of 747 duties such as ANU UVF but the frequencies went up
Maybe some 330 will do 747 work during the transition - the 330 has taken over already alot of 747 duties such as ANU UVF but the frequencies went up
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I've only just joined the company, perhaps I'll have to change my avatar name?
Anyhow, from what I've been told about a/c bases,
• 787- predominantly LHR based, a possibility that it may take the MAN-SFO route during the winter due to strong headwinds and payload restriction.
• A330- these will be mainly based between LHR/LGW/MAN, they're also due for a refit soon as the UCDS is a complete failure from what I've heard and they want to bring it back into line with current/future design. Somebody asked what will run the MAN-MCO high density, I'd take a guess and say that not all A330's will be given UC for such a reason.
• A350- will start by phasing out current A330/340 routes from LHR, before moving down to LGW for the leisure routes. Won't end up at MAN as there won't be enough to cover both base.
A330/350 MFF/CCQ is going ahead as planned.
OMAA
Anyhow, from what I've been told about a/c bases,
• 787- predominantly LHR based, a possibility that it may take the MAN-SFO route during the winter due to strong headwinds and payload restriction.
• A330- these will be mainly based between LHR/LGW/MAN, they're also due for a refit soon as the UCDS is a complete failure from what I've heard and they want to bring it back into line with current/future design. Somebody asked what will run the MAN-MCO high density, I'd take a guess and say that not all A330's will be given UC for such a reason.
• A350- will start by phasing out current A330/340 routes from LHR, before moving down to LGW for the leisure routes. Won't end up at MAN as there won't be enough to cover both base.
A330/350 MFF/CCQ is going ahead as planned.
OMAA
As for the A350's, I'd be surprised if they don't get used on MAN-MCO. I have done this route a few times in the last 2 years or so (twice during mid-September and once early-March, so not exactly school holiday periods) and the 747's were never less than 90% full. On one occasion it was full!
I know it's all about yields as to whether a flight is profitable, but even outside the school holidays the route is clearly very popular.
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MAN-SFO is a summer-only route if I'm not mistaken? Unless there's a plan to make it year-round? I must admit I was expecting this route to be 787's when it was first announced as A330's are certainly not used to SFO from LHR.
As for the A350's, I'd be surprised if they don't get used on MAN-MCO. I have done this route a few times in the last 2 years or so (twice during mid-September and once early-March, so not exactly school holiday periods) and the 747's were never less than 90% full. On one occasion it was full!
I know it's all about yields as to whether a flight is profitable, but even outside the school holidays the route is clearly very popular.
As for the A350's, I'd be surprised if they don't get used on MAN-MCO. I have done this route a few times in the last 2 years or so (twice during mid-September and once early-March, so not exactly school holiday periods) and the 747's were never less than 90% full. On one occasion it was full!
I know it's all about yields as to whether a flight is profitable, but even outside the school holidays the route is clearly very popular.
The MAN-SFO, There talk of it during the winter, and I believe they have permission too, but only 2/3 weekly but it's not been confirmed yet
OMAA
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All the A330s are getting the Upper Class refit and WiFi, VS are not looking for Y only so far as we know. Once the B744s go, the high density leisure routes are going A350, the A330s are only on a ten year lease (as far as I know) and will begin leaving the fleet from 2021 as more A350s arrive.
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 14th Dec 2016 at 12:35.
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The A330's are on a 10 year lease with an option for extension. Likley they'll extends that after the refits have gone ahead.
Problem we have with the A330 is, it doesn't really fit into the fleet and it's stuck with exapansion. I think they like flying the 'shorter' routes we have, great for that but that's the niche, and that's where it's gets stuck when the majority of routes we operate are 9+ hours
OMAA
Problem we have with the A330 is, it doesn't really fit into the fleet and it's stuck with exapansion. I think they like flying the 'shorter' routes we have, great for that but that's the niche, and that's where it's gets stuck when the majority of routes we operate are 9+ hours
OMAA