Virgin and video games

[cheryl.UK]

Do the Manchester flights to Orlando still have nintendos? Last time we flew from Manchester they did but it's not showing in the brochure.

 

[lagunn]

we have never had these from gatwick

 

[Cochise]

Depends when you go Cheryl. 32 days time should mean yes.

The 747-200 (aka 747 Classic) at Manchester still has that system, from May this wont be the case as Manchester will get one or two Gatwick config planes. I think these currently have the Nova system that may be upgraded to the Nova + system by then (few extra channels over the present Nova system)

Anyone who has travelled from Manchester on the 747 classics may be interested to know G-VBEE Honey Pie has been withdrawn from Virgin Atlantic service as of last week. This is the case due to a new A340-600 G-VSSH "Sweet Dreamer" entering service. This just leaves G-VSSS Island Lady left of the classics which will be the case until May.

End of an era for these planes with VS.

 

[lilyjosh]

Cheryl, there is a brilliant website http://www.v-flyer.com - this site tells you everything you could ever want to know about Virgin and the forums are really useful.

 

[lagunn]

great

 

[Cochise]

Cheryl, there is a brilliant website http://www.v-flyer.com - this site tells you everything you could ever want to know about Virgin and the forums are really useful.

Spot on lilyjosh,

Great source of Virgin Atlantic info

 

[alisonbestford]

We've just returned home having flown with Virgin.
Yes, they did have the Nintendo on the outward flight but none of ours were working. On the return flight we were delayed and Virgin chartered a Jumbo that wasn't in their fleet so they weren't available.
Luckily we'd packed DD's Gameboy in her hand luggage....

 

[Cochise]

Doubt Virgin will pay any costs to maintain the Nintys now, just aint worth it. Sounds like your plane was late, was it due to repairs?

 

[alisonbestford]

Ah, only 36 1/2 hours delay 'Mechanical fault' apparently.
Still, meant an extra 2 pool days as we found out at DownTown Disney checkin before we got to the airport - the night on the floor at the Hyatt wasn't too good tho!
Still, compensation letter to ins gone in and Virgin have offered 50% off flights so not too bad.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Thanks for the advice guys the Vflyer site was very helpful. Just have to keep our fingers crossed that our seats aren't the ones with broken ninendos!

 

[Cochise]

It would be nice if they work, if they dont it's just 8 hours of entertaining

 

[AndRu]

Ahh, we flew there and back on "Island Lady" and the entertainment system was a bit dodgy! The controls were unresponsive, some of the games didn't work, the video channels kept packing up and I kept seeing Unix errors on the screen! Wish they'd let me have a play!! As I've mentioned in my trip report, the Skymap feature wasn't working - just as it wasn't 18 months ago. We had also packed Gameboys for the kids and I hope the new planes have better systems!

 

[alisonbestford]

Well, another way to look at it is that you're off on an exciting holiday on the way there, so have lots to look forward to, and will be pretty shattered on the way back so might sleep lots ;-)
There again, if you have anyone you can borrow a game console off 'just in case' I'd go for it ;-)
I was given a portable dvd player to watch on the way out by the staff. They knew there were problems with some of the consoles and carried several for passengers.

 

[MazdaUK]

Slightly off thread, but is it worth buying games for PS2/ GBA in Florida? In other words, do they work on UK-purchased consols?

I thought PS2 wouldn't (otherwise you could play region 1 DVDs on them) but what about GBAs?

My kids have got an allowance to spend, and I'd rather they bought a few expensive things than hundresd of small bits of plastic!

Any info gratefully received!!

 

[Disney_Jedi_Jon]

Mazda, GBA games bought in USA work fine on GBA's bought in the UK

 

[Disney_Jedi_Jon]

Oh and PS2 games bought in USA won't work on UK PS2's (unless you have had it illegally chipped to accept them)

 

[AndRu]

Don't buy any PS2 games as they will not work in the UK, at least not unless you've had your PS2 modified and your TV can handle the display!

As for GBA stuff, as Jedi Jon has said, will work fine. We bought a Gameboy SP for my daughter ($70) and the games were, on average, $30 each. Considering that new GBA games in this country retail at £30 the savings to be made in America are considerable. Its the one time my kids have been let free in a video game shop and basically told, "choose what you want".

The value is even better when you look at 2nd hand games. We visited two Electronics Boutique stores in the Orlando area which sold new and used games. They both had a very good range of titles and when the 2nd hand stuff is costing < $15 (well under a tenner) it's outstanding value!

The two we visited were at Mall At Millenia and The Florida Mall. Of the two, I'd reccomend the latter as the Mall At Millenia, whilst being nice, is very 'up market'. The Florida Mall is has more down-to-earth stores where as MAM has stores without prices labels, i.e. if you have to ask the cost, you can't afford it!

 

[MazdaUK]

Thanks! That's good to know

 

[alisonbestford]

As I understand it yes GBA but not PS2.
They're about one third of the price of over here.
Alison