Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - First refurbished Gatwick 747 flies today

G-VROM (Barbarella) has had it's refurb completed and re-enters service today. VS have uploaded video and it looks like one hell of an improvement over the current state of the Gatwick fleet, especially in Y and Y+

http://youtu.be/k1sfeX99_rc

Y cabin looks really nice, a huge improvement, well done VS.
Really looking forward to experiencing the updated LGW B747 fleet very soon.

Agreed, it looks very stylish, with one of the best IFE's in the sky, and new PE food service to come to add to the recent improvements to UC and Y. VS is on a roll!

I'm not sure they've made the right decision about splitting the UD between Y and PE and there's still such an emphasis on Y. VS seems to underperform on these routes relative to BA in J/F (unless BA has a lot of redemptions).

Nevertheless, it's a very good Y/PE product now.

I'm not sure they've made the right decision about splitting the UD between Y and PE and there's still such an emphasis on Y. VS seems to underperform on these routes relative to BA in J/F (unless BA has a lot of redemptions).

Nevertheless, it's a very good Y/PE product now.

Based on what information? A very good product offering by VS and (imo) VS now has a better Y and W class comapred to BA (combined with better lounge and check in facilities). I have always preferred VS J class, but I know this is a matter of taste/preference. ^ I agree that VS is on a roll! Well done. Now I need to persuade a travel department to allow me to once again fly VS J as opposed to BA F!!!

Based on what information? A very good product offering by VS and (imo) VS now has a better Y and W class comapred to BA (combined with better lounge and check in facilities). I have always preferred VS J class, but I know this is a matter of taste/preference. ^ I agree that VS is on a roll! Well done. Now I need to persuade a travel department to allow me to once again fly VS J as opposed to BA F!!!

Based on the fact that BA has at least 40 J seats (and F on some routes out of LGW) compared to Virgin's 14 seats in J.

I agree and don't like the split upper deck, and why put Y behind PE there? However I understand that VS know how many PE seats it can sell (and frequently does fill) and that the space between the doors on the main deck plus half of the upper deck was the best compromise.

Based on the fact that BA has at least 40 J seats (and F on some routes out of LGW) compared to Virgin's 14 seats in J.

A difference in the number of seats in J is not "underperforming", it is simply a reduced capacity in J class compared to BA. Presumably this is a result of several factors, including aircraft, class configuration etc.

A difference in the number of seats in J is not "underperforming", it is simply a reduced capacity in J class compared to BA. Presumably this is a result of several factors, including aircraft, class configuration etc.

I'd say it's a a pretty good indicator of underperformance in the J/F market to the Carribbean/Orlando/Vegas (unless BA has an overwhelming majority of redemptions).

I'd say it's a a pretty good indicator of underperformance in the J/F market to the Carribbean/Orlando/Vegas (unless BA has an overwhelming majority of redemptions).

It's a different business model and strategy and, for obvious reasons, VS cannot "underperform" in the F market. I take your point, disagree and leave it at that!

Well done, VS! ^

Let's hope all the toilets get a refresh/refurb as well. ;)

It's a different business model and strategy and, for obvious reasons, VS cannot "underperform" in the F market. I take your point, disagree and leave it at that!

It could be said that with only 14 UC seats on these aircraft, this enables VS to sell a greater percentage of them for a higher fare than the 40+ BA has. It also means redemptions in that cabin are very difficult.

Remember that the majority of VS' routes out of LGW are 'holiday' routes and therefore demand for Economy is going to be strongest.

Also VS will get much of its feed from tour operators (inc Virgin Hols), and it could be argued that VS' main competition out of LGW/MAN/GLA are the charter companies rather than BA. Therefore VS can sell its Econ and PE as a step up above the charters who don't even have Business Class. I believe PE is a real cash cow for VS.

It could be said that with only 14 UC seats on these aircraft, this enables VS to sell a greater percentage of them for a higher fare than the 40+ BA has. It also means redemptions in that cabin are very difficult.

VS can be more expensive on these routes but the fares are often similar to BA. Admittedly, if one airline is more expensive it's more likely to be Virgin.

I would only use the term 'underperform' if VS had set out initially to sell a 'full' J cabin and then had to readjust the config because it found it impossible to sell the tickets. I don't think that's what happened? So presumably it is just a different revenue model. Would be interesting to know the truth about who makes more (or loses less!) money on these routes....

I would only use the term 'underperform' if VS had set out initially to sell a 'full' J cabin and then had to readjust the config because it found it impossible to sell the tickets. I don't think that's what happened? So presumably it is just a different revenue model. Would be interesting to know the truth about who makes more (or loses less!) money on these routes....

Presumably the current choice of a small J cabin is the most profitable for VS (especially now they've just had the opportunity to adjust it) but I equate more J with being better. :D

I don't like that BA is able to make a larger J cabin work when VS feels that it won't.

The only route that I know of where you can directly compare BA and VS in passenger numbers is LON-LAS because the CAA gives the figures by route so you can compare LHR-LAS (BA) to LGW-LAS (VS). This year BA have more passengers than VS despite using an aircraft with fewer seats and 52 J seats to Virgin's 14.

I know loads are not necessarily correlated with profit but...

Remember that the majority of VS' routes out of LGW are 'holiday' routes and therefore demand for Economy is going to be strongest.



I would say that most of BAs route to the Caribbean are also 'holiday' routes (Trinidad being the exception) and while there are lots of dire places in the region threre are also some of the world's most expensive hotels and villas hence BA is able to sell First and have a large club cabin (and once had concorde), but Virgin has only a very small UC one. Maybe its revenue management is quite different but i would be surprised if it wasn't similar to BA in that PE is best, then business and finally the seats at the back.

too bad beardie didn't make more of an effort to get the bmi slots and move all operations to LHR, then BA might have had a run for its money.

too bad beardie didn't make more of an effort to get the bmi slots and move all operations to LHR, then BA might have had a run for its money.


He made the effort he wanted to make (not very much really - probbaly spent more time on the press releases complaining about BA than they did on preparing a proper VS bid) so he got out of it what he put in = zilch

I'm not sure they've made the right decision about splitting the UD between Y and PE and there's still such an emphasis on Y. VS seems to underperform on these routes relative to BA in J/F (unless BA has a lot of redemptions).

Nevertheless, it's a very good Y/PE product now.

I guess they can make more money selling 3 Y seats than a discounted J seat.

The Y seats are almost exactly yht esame as the new BA ones they are introducing on thr 77W although tray table and IFE are different - but the new VS Y seat on the 774 at Gatwick appears to be different to the new Y seat on the A330????

I don't have the slightest clue what any of the above means :D, but DH and DS flew on Barbarella on 1 June out of LGW and loved it to bits. The on-demand movies were a big hit...

The Y seats are almost exactly yht esame as the new BA ones they are introducing on thr 77W although tray table and IFE are different - but the new VS Y seat on the 774 at Gatwick appears to be different to the new Y seat on the A330????

Quite possibly - the different fuselage width may mean they have to use different seating in the 747 then they do in the A330 in order to make them fit right across :)

Quite possibly - the different fuselage width may mean they have to use different seating in the 747 then they do in the A330 in order to make them fit right across :)

Very true just thought the trims would be the same colours?? - black tray tables on the refurbed 744 to hide the extra dirt caused on the leisure routes lol

He made the effort he wanted to make (not very much really - probbaly spent more time on the press releases complaining about BA than they did on preparing a proper VS bid) so he got out of it what he put in = zilch

Ha ha, well said !