Icebud From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 88 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 years 2 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1127 times:
I am flying to Orlando in July from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic. I know they have a good reputation but has anyone flown this route who can just brief me on service, aircraft etc.?
Dan330 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2001, 439 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1014 times:
I've flown on the Virgin Orlando route a few times, both Gatwick and Manchester and I'll be using the Manchester route again in May.
The service is good, you get a choice of main meal, also a sandwich before you land and an ice cream usually.
The aircraft should now be a 747-400 so you should also get a great entertainment package including the latest movies, nintendo games and moving map etc on your personal TV.
I flew BA on this route as well but I have to say that Virgin are far better, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Lapper From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 1507 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 962 times:
I flew Gatiwck-Orlando last June on a 747-200, and must say I was VERY surprised they operated an aircraft without games etc on a route that is so heavily used by families. As Dan330 says, this is now operated by a 747-400 (which I am pleased about as I am going back in September!) I always rate VS over BA in terms of service etc.
Lekky-Man From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 371 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 948 times:
I must say it's good to hear good things about VS.
I'm on that route in less than 3 weeks with 9 members of my family in tow!! (2 kids too)
It's good to know there'll be stuff for my 11y/o to do because he loves gaming, especially Nintendo!!
After I've returned to the UK i'll put a new post on here and let everyone know what it was like, ok?
Cheers all.
RickB From United Kingdom, joined May 2003, 243 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 945 times:
Dan - I believe Virgin are using an air atlanta aircraft on the MAN > MCO route this summer as opposed to a Virgin aircraft (well its an ex-Virgin 742 I think) which means no PTV's etc.
Lemur2 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 16 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 899 times:
Flew on LGW-MCO route a couple of times last year (last time in November) and even though they were the new 744's they don't have the Nintendo. Those planes have the Nova IFE system. Even without Nintendo, I can't fault the service. When I fly to the US it's always with Virgin as the whole atmosphere seems more fun than any other carrier!
I think the MAN-MCO route is to be serviced by one of the older 742's that Virgin sold to Air Atlanta late last year. Bet they'll even have some of the former VS flightcrew at the pointy end too!
RickB From United Kingdom, joined May 2003, 243 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 893 times:
Matt - one of my colleagues was booked on the MAN > MCO Virgin flight in July but has changed because he was told that it would be an air atlanta flight without PTV's, childrens amenity packs etc.
Does anyone know if the Air Atlanta 742's have PTV's?
Lufthansa747 From Philippines, joined May 1999, 3174 posts, RR: 46 Reply 8, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 889 times:
All five LGW based 747-400s are fitted with the Nova entertainment system without any games. They have 9 channels of Movies/shows if I remember correctly. I flew this route in January - superb service and gorgeous flight attendants. Got an exit row seat on my way to MCO and an upgrade to Premium eco on my way back, so no worries with legroom. Otherwise VS Y is tight (31").
G-VWOW was operating out of Gatwick for a while as one of the LGW based 747-443s was in maintenance. This bird is LHR based and has the newest V-port entertainment system with games and AVOD.
Lapper From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 1507 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (11 years 2 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 876 times:
Rick,
According to a sheet we had in from VS sales, the aircraft will be operated in full VS livery with the Matsushita 2000E Odyssey IFE system. Don't hold me to it though! Best to contact VS themselves and get them to clarify it.
VgnAtl747 From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 1492 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (11 years 2 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 774 times:
The Air Atlanta aircraft are EX Virgin Atlantic aircraft, so they should be configured with the old Oddessy entertainment system. Not as good as the VPort system, but good none the less. Still provides something like 9 movie channels, 7 TV channels, a bunch of audio, and up to 25 games. Providing Air Atlanta didn't remove the system, but I don't see why they would have.
RickB From United Kingdom, joined May 2003, 243 posts, RR: 10 Reply 13, posted (11 years 2 months 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 762 times:
Im sure the flight will be fine - just as i said, my colleague was informed after he had booked the flights that it would be an air atlanta flight without ptv's and the childrens ammenity packs that Virgin give out. The travel company gave him a full refund.
I agree though - the only reasons I can see for them removing the Oddessy system is if the system has been pulled to reduce maintenance costs.
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 14, posted (11 years 2 months 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 742 times:
You won't be dissapointed with Virgin's service. As others have stated,the LGW-MCO route is now operated by 747-400s aircraft that will all be just about a year old this summer. They don't have Nintendo games, but they offer plenty of movie choices and audio entertainment. The food is great also. It will be the best part of the trip!
P.S. The best form of entertainment used to be joining the fellas up in the cockpit for a while. To bad those with evil minds ruin life for the rest of us.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
Lapper From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 1507 posts, RR: 8 Reply 15, posted (11 years 2 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 704 times:
This still makes me ask the question, why operate the MCO service without games when it is the most popular flight for families? You would have thought that the -400s would have more modern IFE systems. Can anyone answer this?
Dan330 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2001, 439 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (11 years 2 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 669 times:
Lapper - I absolutely agree. I've flown this route three times in the last 5 years and everytime it has been full. Plus as you say, it is a family destination with a lot of children onboard.
Every time I think there may well be an upgrade the following year to a -400, but it doesn't happen. I flew LGW-EWR a couple of years ago which was half empty, this probably operated by a -400 now.
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (11 years 2 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 668 times:
There are several reasons why Virgin hasn't operated the 747-400 on LGW-MCO services over the past several years and why they don't have Nintendo. You are correct in stating that LGW-MCO is definately a family flight, but in the overall spectrum of customers, families are your least reliant. They don't fly Virgin over and over and over again. Maybe once a year or once every 2-3 years. They look for the lowest price so maybe they switch back and forth between BA and VS. So, VS doesn't put its "best and brightest" aircraft on that route. These are not return customers. LGW-EWR, LHR-JFK etc are business routes with return customers that spend alot of $$$.
With standardization of Virgin's fleet over the last 6 months, I would expect to see a more "standard" product. Don't get me wrong, the 747-200s were fantastic aircraft and in my opinion better than some new widebodies, but they were from different operators. Several were ex-Qantas, 2 were ex-Cathay and 5 were ex-Air New Zealand. Hard to "standardize" second hand aircraft.
It would seem that the 747-400s operating out of LHR are standardized while the 747-400s operating out of LGW are standardized.
(All of the 747-400s that were ordered by Alitalia are Gatwick based while those who were always destined for Virgin call LHR home.)
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
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