Anyone who's recently flown Virgin from LGW?

[Just-Pete]

Hi Guys,

Sorry to ask questions that probably get asked all the time, but I was just wondering a few things about what my flight might be like:

Is the In Flight Entertainment really a bit rubbish? Its just that from what I've read on here, and sites like V-Flyer, it would seem the LGW 747's basically have a pretty pants system on board, and as yet. I haven't purchased a book for the flight.

Has anyone encountered much in the way of delays etc at the LGW end??

And regarding food? I know we get a meal, its a nearly nine hour flight, so do they come round again at some point after the meal with a little snack offering or something? And is it really free drinks (including alcohol?) throughout the flight?

Sorry to harp on, but last time we did WDW we flew and booked through First Choice, so I know I need to expect a completely different journey experience this time.

Thanks Guys,
>Pete.

 

[Natasha&Matt]

Morning hun

Sorry i cant be much of help but have alook at this link there is some info for you and you can check out what movies will be showing on your flight

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/whatsonboard/economy/index.jsp

 

[Red-Snapper]

I would not say their entertainment system is a bit rubbish.

It is one of the least modern systems on Virgin aircraft - but it depends what you are used to.

You get a seat back screen that has around 12 channels on it. Showing the usual latest releases and some older "classic" films as well as kids, comedy, documentary and music channels. There is also a skymap showing where you are, how high, jounrney time left etc

The "old" bit is that it is not video on demand i.e each each channel is started at the same time and then they are all replayed again once the longest film has finished.

You get a main meal with alcoholic drinks included, there is then a snack meal (usually sandwich or something) a couple of hours before landing.

Virgin can get hit by delays at LGW but looking at the times recently - things seem to be generally on time at the moment.

The thing about V-flyer etc, whilst its a good site, is that it is mostly frequent flyers/upper class passengers contributing on there -and their comments will be tailored accordingly. There is a lot of talk currently about in flight service cutting but you are still getting a scheduled airline product that competes with the likes of BA etc

 

[Natasha&Matt]

Ooo and i think you get ice cream during the flight.

 

[Just-Pete]

Thanks Red-Snapper,

From what I could tell on the V-flyer website, it did seem like the least modern of the three different IFE systems they have. I flew on an A340 to NYC a few years ago with Virgin, and from what i can recall that had the better system VORT?? On board.... Ahhh well perhaps I will have to get a book.

I'd definitely agree with what you say about V-Flyer being largely a community for PE/UC flyers, which I dont think is much use to the everyday Joe Economy flyer.

One thing is that my friend Jo and I were really looking forward to having some kind of game that we could play against other people on the flight, as it always leads to some kind of mirth... Like on our First choice flight, when I put a semi rude name as my user name, then realised it had my seat number next to it for anyone else on the plane who was playing to see. Or when one guy kept on winning, so I noted down his seat number and went off to do stretches and loud noises by his seat to try and throw him off while my friends attempted to claw back the lead!!

Thanks for the feedback though,
>Pete.

 

[Just-Pete]

Ooo and i think you get ice cream during the flight.

Well that makes it all worth while!!!!

>Pete.

 

[gemmybear83]

Thanks Red-Snapper,



One thing is that my friend Jo and I were really looking forward to having some kind of game that we could play against other people on the flight, as it always leads to some kind of mirth... Like on our First choice flight, when I put a semi rude name as my user name, then realised it had my seat number next to it for anyone else on the plane who was playing to see. Or when one guy kept on winning, so I noted down his seat number and went off to do stretches and loud noises by his seat to try and throw him off while my friends attempted to claw back the lead!!

I loved those games when we flew with First Choice last year

 

[Just-Pete]

Hmmm... Just hunted down one of my friends at work, who returned from ten days in WDW last week flying with Virgin.

He flys with them all the time, and said this was the worst experience he's had with them yet. Apparently the service level really wasn't there, and he was made to feel like he was lucky to be flying with them by some of the staff.

Lets hope I receive a better experience!!!

>Pete.

 

[gemmybear83]

Hmmm... Just hunted down one of my friends at work, who returned from ten days in WDW last week flying with Virgin.

He flys with them all the time, and said this was the worst experience he's had with them yet. Apparently the service level really wasn't there, and he was made to feel like he was lucky to be flying with them by some of the staff.

Lets hope I receive a better experience!!!

>Pete.

I'm not particulary looking forward to Flying Virgin this year - I'm with you their planes seem old and tired compared to other airlines (and much of their own aircraft). But I just see flying as getting me from A to B - so as long as they get me there in one piece I will be fine!

 

[Just-Pete]

I'm not particulary looking forward to Flying Virgin this year - I'm with you their planes seem old and tired compared to other airlines (and much of their own aircraft). But I just see flying as getting me from A to B - so as long as they get me there in one piece I will be fine!

Oh thats the ideal attitude to take. And completely true.... But at the same time, I get sooo excited from the moment I get to the Airport, it would just be nice to experience same buzz all the way through, rather than be disappointed throughout the journey.

>Pete.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I'm not particulary looking forward to Flying Virgin this year - I'm with you their planes seem old and tired compared to other airlines (and much of their own aircraft). But I just see flying as getting me from A to B - so as long as they get me there in one piece I will be fine!

As people know, this is a pet hate of mine
the aircraft are NOT old! also age is not comparable anyway to say, a car. airframes have a life and that depends on how they are used. Cars wear out and major parts are not changed, bodies go rusty, etc etc.

Most parts on these aircraft have been replaced and are not as "old" as the airframe. Rigerous checks are done to these aircraft and no expense spared to replace any part, this includes airframe parts which if they show ANY wear or corrosion are replaced and these are not cheap!
It certainly does not effect the safteyness of an aircraft either, for example, the Air France airbus was a very young aircraft, the whole fleet of Virgin 747's are older.
The Heathrow based 747's are older than the gatwick/manchester/Glasgow 747's and even some of the BA 777's are older!

Sure, the interiors are not 2009 interiors, yet would you prefer an airline to spend millions per aircraft and either recoup the costs (its around £8-£10 million to put in new seats and a new IFE to each 747) from higher ticket prices, or even go bust?
Virgin took the financial decision not to carry out the update to the interiors and personally with the A380's pretty close I think they won't do so now. These aircraft are leased and the airline has to pay any refurbs themselves.
I think you will have a different view once those A380 aircraft come into service!

Virgins safety record is in the highest group, not to jinx it, but when was the last Virgin crash?

You get a seat with at least 31" pithh and its own IFE, much more than many charters and even scheduled airlines give you, you get well, "food" (every airline is the same, they get it from one of two suppliers) and you get to Florida safely.
Some of these touch screen IFE's are not as good as the blurb, both BA and Virgin have many problems with theirs, plus on aircraft with these systems you lose under quite a few seats, the leg room which is taken up by the IFE computer boxes.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Hmmm... Just hunted down one of my friends at work, who returned from ten days in WDW last week flying with Virgin.

He flys with them all the time, and said this was the worst experience he's had with them yet. Apparently the service level really wasn't there, and he was made to feel like he was lucky to be flying with them by some of the staff.

Lets hope I receive a better experience!!!

>Pete.

Pete, any airline can have a bad crew. they are human, not machines. certainly the removal of one crew member on each flight must be putting a strain on the crews, giving them less time to do everything.
BA are doing the same.
Individuals can have a crap day and this can reflect on the service they give making the journey seem bad to those they have looked after. This is not acceptable from them, but we all have an off day at work.
What service level was not there?
There are those in the airline industry that say with justification, that the cabin crew are only there to assist in an emergency, not to act as waiters/waitresses.
CAA rules are that the cabin crew are t5here for this reason, hence the minimum satffing levels applied.

You collegue has flown many times with them, yet this was the worst flight? sounds to me like an off colour crew member.
He should write to Virgin. If you do not them they have no knowledge that a particular crew member is not working to their standards, or that the removal of a crew member is effecting the service.

 

[gemmybear83]

As people know, this is a pet hate of mine
the aircraft are NOT old! also age is not comparable anyway to say, a car. airframes have a life and that depends on how they are used. Cars wear out and major parts are not changed, bodies go rusty, etc etc.

Most parts on these aircraft have been replaced and are not as "old" as the airframe. Rigerous checks are done to these aircraft and no expense spared to replace any part, this includes airframe parts which if they show ANY wear or corrosion are replaced and these are not cheap!
It certainly does not effect the safteyness of an aircraft either, for example, the Air France airbus was a very young aircraft, the whole fleet of Virgin 747's are older.
The Heathrow based 747's are older than the gatwick/manchester/Glasgow 747's and even some of the BA 777's are older!

Sure, the interiors are not 2009 interiors, yet would you prefer an airline to spend millions per aircraft and either recoup the costs (its around £8-£10 million to put in new seats and a new IFE to each 747) from higher ticket prices, or even go bust?
Virgin took the financial decision not to carry out the update to the interiors and personally with the A380's pretty close I think they won't do so now. These aircraft are leased and the airline has to pay any refurbs themselves.
I think you will have a different view once those A380 aircraft come into service!

Virgins safety record is in the highest group, not to jinx it, but when was the last Virgin crash?

You get a seat with at least 31" pithh and its own IFE, much more than many charters and even scheduled airlines give you, you get well, "food" (every airline is the same, they get it from one of two suppliers) and you get to Florida safely.
Some of these touch screen IFE's are not as good as the blurb, both BA and Virgin have many problems with theirs, plus on aircraft with these systems you lose under quite a few seats, the leg room which is taken up by the IFE computer boxes.

Sorry if you misread read my post I meant the interiors are old and tired

As I said in my previous post all I am really bothered about is getting from A to B - safely

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Sorry if you misread read my post I meant the interiors are old and tired

As I said in my previous post all I am really bothered about is getting from A to B - safely

Sorry

 

[Just-Pete]

As people know, this is a pet hate of mine
the aircraft are NOT old! also age is not comparable anyway to say, a car. airframes have a life and that depends on how they are used. Cars wear out and major parts are not changed, bodies go rusty, etc etc.

Most parts on these aircraft have been replaced and are not as "old" as the airframe. Rigerous checks are done to these aircraft and no expense spared to replace any part, this includes airframe parts which if they show ANY wear or corrosion are replaced and these are not cheap!
It certainly does not effect the safteyness of an aircraft either, for example, the Air France airbus was a very young aircraft, the whole fleet of Virgin 747's are older.
The Heathrow based 747's are older than the gatwick/manchester/Glasgow 747's and even some of the BA 777's are older!

Sure, the interiors are not 2009 interiors, yet would you prefer an airline to spend millions per aircraft and either recoup the costs (its around £8-£10 million to put in new seats and a new IFE to each 747) from higher ticket prices, or even go bust?
Virgin took the financial decision not to carry out the update to the interiors and personally with the A380's pretty close I think they won't do so now. These aircraft are leased and the airline has to pay any refurbs themselves.
I think you will have a different view once those A380 aircraft come into service!

Virgins safety record is in the highest group, not to jinx it, but when was the last Virgin crash?

You get a seat with at least 31" pithh and its own IFE, much more than many charters and even scheduled airlines give you, you get well, "food" (every airline is the same, they get it from one of two suppliers) and you get to Florida safely.
Some of these touch screen IFE's are not as good as the blurb, both BA and Virgin have many problems with theirs, plus on aircraft with these systems you lose under quite a few seats, the leg room which is taken up by the IFE computer boxes.

I didn't for a second imply that the aircraft are old either. I've done my research and always do whenever I take a flight anywhere, and have a keen interest in aviation. I am also aware of the circumstances surrounding a large amount of Virgins 747's and how they were originally pegged for Alitalia, and how Virgin swooped in and picked them up after Alitalia went awry.

I also know that not too long ago Virgin had made quite a fuss of VORT and still do on their website, yet don't seem too committed to rolling it out across their entire fleet, which is fine as I know they have the A380 orders. However that said, I'm not flying on a fancy A380 (as will anyone else be anytime soon with Virgin) I'm flying on a plane which compared to others in their fleet, doesn't offer such a good on board service.

My point was mainly that I haven't flown from LGW with Virgin before, and I know they're operations from there are signifigantly different to those at LHR. And what other peoples experiences have been like.

Thanks to you all for your views though.

>Pete.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I didn't for a second imply that the aircraft are old either. I've done my research and always do whenever I take a flight anywhere, and have a keen interest in aviation. I am also aware of the circumstances surrounding a large amount of Virgins 747's and how they were originally pegged for Alitalia, and how Virgin swooped in and picked them up after Alitalia went awry.

I also know that not too long ago Virgin had made quite a fuss of VORT and still do on their website, yet don't seem too committed to rolling it out across their entire fleet, which is fine as I know they have the A380 orders. However that said, I'm not flying on a fancy A380 (as will anyone else be anytime soon with Virgin) I'm flying on a plane which compared to others in their fleet, doesn't offer such a good on board service.

My point was mainly that I haven't flown from LGW with Virgin before, and I know they're operations from there are signifigantly different to those at LHR. And what other peoples experiences have been like.

Thanks to you all for your views though.

>Pete.

Pete,
I am not too sure what you mean by on board service?
The Economy, PE and UC services are the same whether flying from Heathrow, Gatwick, manchester or glasgow.
They all provide the same meal allocations, one main, one snack, they provide the same bar service, they have the same crew staffing levels (dependant upon the type of aircraft), they provide IFE, whilst not the same IFE, they have their good points and their bad for each system, V-Port is buggy and loss of under seat areas but gives on demand films when working, Odyessy has smaller seat back screens and games, Nova has no games, but bigger screens.
Certainly in PE there is a difference between the PE seats on Heathrow aircraft and the rest, rather like when UC suites were installed in heathrow first and the at airport services are best at Heathrow, followed by Gatwick then Manchester and Glasgow. gatwick has a comparible service to Heathrow, and is not significantly different at all, both have Clubhouses and teh rest of the services are the same. gatwick of course, has the V-Room for VH customers, something that heathrow does not have.

However, the reason is that the Heathrow aircraft are Virgins biggest earners and this airport will always have the first changes to Virgin aircraft, the same way as Heathrow has the first changes to BA aircraft. Gatwick has just about received the New New Club World seats on aircraft staioned there.

The first A380 is scheduled for 2013, not too far away, and to fill in the gap between Virgin are looking at Boeing 787's first due 2011 and A340's.

The Alitalia 747's make up a small amount of the total Virgin fleet, only five aircraft out of a total of 38 aircraft and five 747's out of a total of 13. (these were an order to Boeing from Alitalia in 2001, which then cancelled the order and were leased to Virgin) the other three Gatwick/Man/Gla 747's are ex Hethrow planes refitted to Gatwick seating and these were originally delivered to Virgin around 1997 and have the Odyseey IFE system.

Regarding the flights, many have flown on these on these baords as its the major airline people use, so I am sure many will come back to you Pete with their individual experiances.

Personally I have found every flight from Gatwick to Orlando a fantastic service with great food and comfort. I can even go back to the old days of Manchester and the old 747-200s with the "Club Orlando" upstairs cabin now that was fun!

 

[Just-Pete]

Pete,
I am not too sure what you mean by on board service?
The Economy, PE and UC services are the same whether flying from Heathrow, Gatwick, manchester or glasgow.
They all provide the same meal allocations, one main, one snack, they provide the same bar service, they have the same crew staffing levels (dependant upon the type of aircraft), they provide IFE, whilst not the same IFE, they have their good points and their bad for each system, V-Port is buggy and loss of under seat areas but gives on demand films when working, Odyessy has smaller seat back screens and games, Nova has no games, but bigger screens.
Certainly in PE there is a difference between the PE seats on Heathrow aircraft and the rest, rather like when UC suites were installed in heathrow first and the at airport services are best at Heathrow, followed by Gatwick then Manchester and Glasgow. gatwick has a comparible service to Heathrow, and is not significantly different at all, both have Clubhouses and teh rest of the services are the same. gatwick of course, has the V-Room for VH customers, something that heathrow does not have.

However, the reason is that the Heathrow aircraft are Virgins biggest earners and this airport will always have the first changes to Virgin aircraft, the same way as Heathrow has the first changes to BA aircraft. Gatwick has just about received the New New Club World seats on aircraft staioned there.

The first A380 is scheduled for 2013, not too far away, and to fill in the gap between Virgin are looking at Boeing 787's first due 2011 and A340's.

The Alitalia 747's make up a small amount of the total Virgin fleet, only five aircraft out of a total of 38 aircraft and five 747's out of a total of 13. (these were an order to Boeing from Alitalia in 2001, which then cancelled the order and were leased to Virgin) the other three Gatwick/Man/Gla 747's are ex Hethrow planes refitted to Gatwick seating and these were originally delivered to Virgin around 1997 and have the Odyseey IFE system.

Regarding the flights, many have flown on these on these baords as its the major airline people use, so I am sure many will come back to you Pete with their individual experiances.

Personally I have found every flight from Gatwick to Orlando a fantastic service with great food and comfort. I can even go back to the old days of Manchester and the old 747-200s with the "Club Orlando" upstairs cabin now that was fun!

Sorry I was a bit unclear, I'm in work today so checking the boards in between random madness and malfunctioning tills/turnstiles/staff members.

My comment about about the on board service was basically more about the fact that the IFE system is not as good as what one could expect, and I had had on my A340 flight to NYC with them. I don't have a qualm with the general plane/ food etc. And I know my friend had a bad experience but like you said, the crew could have been having an off day, that happens.... But still hopefully not to me

Thats pretty much it, my real sticking point is the IFE, I'd just prefer VORT. And for the fun factor, some kind of game I could play against my friends. I am happy to be on a 747 though, as I've never flown on one before, so thats one more plane ticked off

I'm also quite impatient by nature, so a 2013 service date for Virgins A380's is a long time off for me!!! However that said, hopefully by then I'll be further along enough with my career to be flying UC on them!!!

>Pete.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Sorry I was a bit unclear, I'm in work today so checking the boards in between random madness and malfunctioning tills/turnstiles/staff members.

My comment about about the on board service was basically more about the fact that the IFE system is not as good as what one could expect, and I had had on my A340 flight to NYC with them. I don't have a qualm with the general plane/ food etc. And I know my friend had a bad experience but like you said, the crew could have been having an off day, that happens.... But still hopefully not to me

Thats pretty much it, my real sticking point is the IFE, I'd just prefer VORT. And for the fun factor, some kind of game I could play against my friends. I am happy to be on a 747 though, as I've never flown on one before, so thats one more plane ticked off

I'm also quite impatient by nature, so a 2013 service date for Virgins A380's is a long time off for me!!! However that said, hopefully by then I'll be further along enough with my career to be flying UC on them!!!

>Pete.

The great thing about the 747 is its size. Lovely high ceilings, wide isles and a sense of being the "king" of aircraft

See if you can get a cheap upgrade to PE, as the top deck is something everyone should try at least once.

 

[Just-Pete]

The great thing about the 747 is its size. Lovely high ceilings, wide isles and a sense of being the "king" of aircraft

See if you can get a cheap upgrade to PE, as the top deck is something everyone should try at least once.

I absolutely intend to experience the "Bubble". I think it would be really cool, however as I mentioned in my pre-trippy, 3 out of the five of us on this fllight are still at Uni, so cost has been a big consideration for us for the whole trip. I stayed at POP on my last trip, so this time was really keen on moving to one of the moderates. However we're staying at All Star Music.

However with my best mate still over there in Epcot till December, I'm aiming for a trip over there after high season at work, so probably October, and that time it may just be me and one other, so I think that will be the time for me to make the move upstairs!!! Oh don't get me hyped up, I still have to get through this trip!!!

>Pete.

 

[getready]

from what I have seen, most LGW > MCO flights are delayed by at least 1 hour most days. Plus on the return they are often full to capacity ( approx 446) with sometimes mor pax than seats due to kids on laps!!