virgin tv problems

[daffy dill]

Hi all, from what i have just read i am lead to believe that a lot of the seat back tvs that virgin are having problems with are on the Gatwick/Orlando route ? Can anyone give us an update as we fly this route in a couple of weeks and want to be prepared if theres no inflight entertainment.Will have 2 small kids and if its as bad as i was understanding it to be its going to be a very LONG flight.Some people say they were given forms to complete re some form of compensation and others dont seem to have been given anything
I know this subject has been posted before but if anyone with any sort of update can help us out
much appreciated
graham

 

[tashasmum]

My t.v did not work on the way back. Dh and DD both worked and i was sat in the middle. I was offered £25 of duty free. Don't usually buy duty free off the plane but i treated myself to some perfume. Don't usually watch the tv as i take my own things to do plus it was night time anyway and i was intending to sleep.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

We flew Gatwick route in July in economy with me and DW swapping outer seats of the 4 on the way back. Headset connector was very intermittent for me, really annoying, mentioned it to DW and she said it was the same for her on the way out Wish she had mentioned it before we checked in.

On a business trip in Oct in upper, the whole one side of the cabin had no entertainment at all.

I normally refuse the duty free compensation, I much prefer the option of miles which can be much better value in the long run, (M+M for example)

 

[nannyj]

Just got back on Tuesday - TVs both ways worked well. Its the luck of the draw I expect.

 

[jen_uk]

On our flights this year and last year there have been problems with the TVs, I would definately take something with you to keep the kids entertained! We got £25 last year but nothing this year.

 

[Claire L]

Our flight out on Oct 10th had alot of tv problems apparently they were waiting for spare parts from the US and had been for a couple of weeks. Hoping it is sorted soon.

Claire

 

[DisneyJo]

Our flight home my DH's sound didn't work he got offered £25 duty free, not much compensation IMHO! The row beside me had no TV's working and their light wouldn't switch off, they were only offered £30 each

 

[Goofyish]

We had problems with the entertainment system a few years ago - the films started and them stopped after about 5 minutes. They had to 'reboot' the system quite a few times - managed to see the first 5 minutes of the film about 5 times LOL

The entertainments system in the 5 planes that are regularly used on the Orlando route is the Super Nova system. These planes were obtained after Alitalia cancelled their order, hence they are different to others in the VA fleet.

We were lucky in December 2005 to have one of the other VA 747s with the Odyssey system with the Nintendo games

The best system that VA uses is the V-Port system that's in most of the Airbuses and other 747s etc.
This system has larger 9" screens (10.4" in UC), movies on-demand and games.

Charter companies like First Choice and Thomsons have upgraded their entertainment systems to ones that look similar in functionaility to V-Port, so hopefully VA will upgrade the old Super Nova in the near future (or put better, newer planes on the Otlando routes!)

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

There are problems with two 747 aircraft based at gatwick. It is spare parts for the Nova TV system that is causing the problems.
On the high capacity routes (i.e. the flights with the most booked passengers) they are juggling aircraft to make sure whereever possible the faulty systems are not on those routes.
Nova is an old system, it was not Virgins choice, but was fitted to the aircraft on instructions of Alitalia who were the orginal buyers of these aircraft who then backed out and so Boeing did a deal with Virgin. They have been upgraded once already (i.e the "super" Nova) but they do need changing. However, this is not a cheap thing to do, we are talking Millions of pounds to fit out an aircraft with a new IFE.
Its not just Virgin who are having problems with IFE systems, BA also have major failures.
Just one other thing, these 747's are NOT old Goofyfish, they are much younger than the 747 aircraft used on the Virgin routes out of Heathrow and are the youngest 747's in Virgins fleet.

 

[the colonel2]

This is starting to concern me even more after reading other sites.IFE was something I was banking on to get a 3 year old in some semblance of order. His sister at 11 would no doubt moan if there was no service but quite quickly would bury her head in a book.

Can I use a portable dvd player on board and if so is there access to a power source

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

This is starting to concern me even more after reading other sites.IFE was something I was banking on to get a 3 year old in some semblance of order. His sister at 11 would no doubt moan if there was no service but quite quickly would bury her head in a book.

Can I use a portable dvd player on board and if so is there access to a power source

Yes,
If you are flying Upper Class.

 

[the colonel2]

I'm not so I can't

Oh happy day.

Apologies in advance to all passengers on VS027 on November 1st for the 3 foot tall bundle of mischief in the Ospreys shirt

 

[tashasmum]

There are a certain number of personal dvd players handed out but once they are gone thats it.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I'm not so I can't

Oh happy day.

Apologies in advance to all passengers on VS027 on November 1st for the 3 foot tall bundle of mischief in the Ospreys shirt

Unfortunatly not then. The power to seats is not on these planes yet in Economy and PE but will be fitted in the seat upgrade starting next year.

 

[Goofyish]

Just one other thing, these 747's are NOT old Goofyfish, they are much younger than the 747 aircraft used on the Virgin routes out of Heathrow and are the youngest 747's in Virgins fleet.

I don't think I said they were older Obi San Kenoto (sic), just had a different entertainment system compared to other planes in the fleet due to the planes not being originally ordered by VA

 

[the colonel2]

But a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

DVD players with their own battery power are acceptable?

4 to 5 hours of battery powered peace is better than nothing!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I don't think I said they were older Obi San Kenoto (sic), just had a different entertainment system compared to other planes in the fleet due to the planes not being originally ordered by VA

Ah I see.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

But a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

DVD players with their own battery power are acceptable?

4 to 5 hours of battery powered peace is better than nothing!

Yes, you can take your own.

 

[luke]

one of our two headphone jacks didn't work outbound, and my fiancee's tv was dodgy on the way back (tho she slept anyway), so she sent an email to them, making it clear that we would like to use them again in the future but would hope for no such problems, and they sent us £100 in Virgin vouchers

 

[babystar]

From the inside information that I have recieved (I know someone who works for Virgin) all but one of the aircrafts IFE systems are now working properly-this can obviously change from day to day so anyone relying on them I would take some back up entertainment for children etc!!