View Full Version : Virgin LGW-MCO
On a Florida vacation homeowners forum that I subscribe to there has been extensive negative comment on the regular delays and poor quality of service experienced on the Virgin LGW-MCO service.
It has been noted that other Virgin routes have far better timekeeping records.
Consequently there is speculation that because this is a vacation route passenger numbers on it are judged to be less sensitive to delays than perhaps would be the case on other routes - priority being given to these other routes when shortages of aircraft arise.
Would any Virgin staff or others 'in the know' care to comment?
If the perception is incorrect it needs to be addressed as bookings will doubtless be affected by the small in numbers but potentially influential forum members.
Jim
Wycombe
2nd Dec 2008, 07:08
Well, speaking just as a pax who has used this route, there are more flights to MCO than any other VS route from LGW (at least 2 a day, year round I think), so I guess statistically there is more chance of a delay.
MCO can also be quite weather affected, and probably gets more thunderstorm days per year than some of the other VS leisure destinations.
Also VS use MCO to swop the LGW and MAN based aircraft around, bringing the MAN-based aircraft to LGW for maintenance within the schedules I believe.
Fournier Boy
2nd Dec 2008, 07:59
Correct about swapping the MAN and LGW aircraft around on the MCO trips. What really has to be considered is the fact that unlike LHR, the LGW fleet all comes in during the morning, and all goes out in the morning, almost all on 2 hour turn arounds - rarely is there a layover aircraft that isn't already scheduled for a) a hangar check or b) empty ferry flight to MAN.
Gernerally, the last two flights that depart from LGW are both to MCO (the VS27/15) and more often than not are inbound from the Carribbean. Any delays from either the previous days departure to or inbound from outstation (either through tech, weather, medical, or pax/bag related) have normaly escalated enough to cause these routes to run late. Seemingly from the ASRs and diverts, LGW fleet has more than its fair share of medical diverts.
If everyone could see what its like to board a Montego Bay - or get 120 excited children together to go see Mickey on 2 hour turnarounds, they'd be amazed it leaves the airport at all!
FB
LHRKLBD
2nd Dec 2008, 13:10
If I remeber rightly the second MCO from LGW is the inbound LAS flight, which most of the time does seem to have a knock on affect.
On Virgins Intranet site it stats the MCO flight is 44% on-time.
Hi,
From FlightStats - (VS) Virgin Atlantic Airways Historical On-time Performance Rating (http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightRating/flightRatingByCarrier.do?airlineCode=VS)
MCO-LGW 33% ontime
LGW-MCO 23% ontime
Only LAS-LGW at 37% and MAN-MCO at 46% are close to this poor performance.
Regards
Jim
Yep,
Travelled this route four times...been delayed every time!
Generally not major, but on one occasion it was over 3 hours, waiting at LGW for the inbound from LAS.
Also, as stated above, MCO is a regular for lightning. Have sat on the ground after arrival, waiting for weather to pass before taxiing to gate! And it can be slow to get out of MCO too...