DJs new 737s, pretty impressive.

[Noob]

Read more: Rebranded Virgin prepares for a tough battle | News.com.au
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Thanks Markis, I was trying to find a link!

 

[LiamR]

RED in every seat back would well and truly win over alot of pax from other carriers, I wonder if they would go down the path that VX did...ordering from the seatback etc..

It would be great, but the problem is VX aircraft are made to order, so the IFE can easily be fitted at the factory when seats are installed.

For Virgin to do that in Australia, they would have to pull each aircraft offline one by one and refit them. Cutting holes for wiring, IFE boxes and holes for screens.

But wait? Aren't they refitting all aircraft with new seats, J area and a repaint soon? I thought it would be a smart idea to do it at the same time. I guess not.

But wait.... Maybe this is why there is a hold up with the refit of existing aircraft?

Only time will tell.

 

[markis10]

All the aircraft are made to order, there are non in the warehouse ex stock :mrgreen:.

And the IFE is not done at the factory in most cases, its usually installed with the seating, in the case of VA it was done at Victorville after delivery!

 

[LiamR]

All the aircraft are made to order, there are non in the warehouse ex stock :mrgreen:.

You mean they don't sell floor stock anymore? Damn.

And the IFE is not done at the factory in most cases, its usually installed with the seating, in the case of VA it was done at Victorville after delivery!

The Factory where they make the seats? Either way, I believe its easier to install IFE when you are fitting the aircraft, than refitting an entire fleet.

Missing from the 737 was a seatback in-flight entertainment system, but Mr Borghetti said an innovative entertainment option would be announced shortly. This could suggest the airline is looking at iPads or similar devices.

Maybe I need to think outside of the box?

 

[Misha]

And then there is Row 3, WOW:

Totally wow.

I was on it last night and doesn't it sem so much bigger than the normal 737-800?!!! I have been waiting to get on this plane. I have had the A330 three times - and am constantly looking out the window for the BSI bird. So last night when flying back with some friends - we go to board and "WHAT!" - I couldn't believe my luck.

They were all in row 8 and I was in row 3. :mrgreen:

Misha, would you like to come sit with us?

Ummm - hell no! Row 3, with extra leg room and an empty seat next to me (on a full plane) will do just fine

And here is the obligatory foot shot!

And mine


Leg room in row 3.... at 180cms tall.

Friends in cheap seats

Look out!

Misha just sent me a txt saying he scored YFC. Please don't burn it down.

According to someone sitting in Row 3 right now. They are regular seatbelts.

Humphf! :evil:

And yes, the seat belts are same as in all other planes...

It seems Ewing also took same shots as all of us... aren't we sad? Before I joined AFF I would never have thought to take a photo of my legroom on a flight

 

[Ansettaddict123]

But wait.... Maybe this is why there is a hold up with the refit of existing aircraft?

Seems that way to me all things considered.

If it were something like VX's product however you would think it would have been easy enough to do all at once (as the design could pretty much have been copied) - maybe VA will indeed wow us with something completely outside of the box... That said maybe they're just keeping us waiting

*shakes fist at VA*

 

[Ewing]

It seems Ewing also took same shots as all of us... aren't we sad? Before I joined AFF I would never have thought to take a photo of my legroom on a flight

I only did it because I posted on Twitter that I was about to board one of the new aircraft, and I had about 5 different people reply asking for photos

 

[loobloke]

Quotes from Australian Aviation Interview with JB .. pretty good read

"by December 31 every 737 flying domestically will have the new interior, we will have 20 aeroplanes painted in the new livery, we will have new lounges in potentially five ports"

"Virgin Australia does not plan to add too many new seats and capacity to the market [sic] I don't know any airline that has gone broke because of too few planes. We don't want to be the biggest airline in Australia."

"At the end of December 2010 [sic] 89 aircraft comprimising of 62 737's, 5 773 and 21 Embraer. [sic] Fleet will have only grown to 106 aircraft by June 2013, largely through the addition of A332, with five to be in service at June 2013 [sic] ATR turboprop to the fleet with eight to be in service by June 2013. The 737 will increase by a new seven [sic] 777 fleet remain at five."

 

[Justchecking]

Past row 3, these new aircraft become considerably less charming and cool. There's at least an inch of leg room missing compared to the older planes. Fine if you are a midget, but I wouldn't want to be approaching 6ft and sitting down the back. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[Noob]

VA has an inch more legroom in Y than QF

 

[mannej]

VA has an inch more legroom in Y than QF

According to Seat Guru, it is much of a muchness.

The only difference is the 32' in the A330 that DJ have.

Seatguru is not the gospel in this area though.

 

[Justchecking]

From memory I think DJs Y seats used to be quoted as 31" pitch, hence just pipping QF on seatguru. But I think the pitch in Y on the Sky aircraft matches QF at 30". At least I noticed it was less on the new ones compared to the older aircraft. Hard to know with a tape measure, their e-jets seem a lot roomier than any of their 737's.

 

[wallaby1]

What is the pitch for the new Business class seats?
Are there only two rows (8 seats) in Business?

 

[Sprucegoose]

VA has an inch more legroom in Y than QF

important for some, unfortunately!!

 

[pshepvic]

From memory I think DJs Y seats used to be quoted as 31" pitch, hence just pipping QF on seatguru. But I think the pitch in Y on the Sky aircraft matches QF at 30". At least I noticed it was less on the new ones compared to the older aircraft. Hard to know with a tape measure, their e-jets seem a lot roomier than any of their 737's.

According to Seat Guru, Qantas seat pitch in a 73H is 31": SeatGuru Seat Map Qantas Airways Boeing 737-800 (73H) In this aircraft my knees almost touch the seat in all rows (except row 4 of course!)

Virgin "Blue" 73H is 30-31": SeatGuru Seat Map Virgin Blue Boeing 737-800 Vers. 1 (738) In this aircraft my knees almost touch the seat in rows 4-7, and from row 8 back they are against the seat (I think confirming there is more room further forward)

Give me an A330 or B763 any day! Much more room in both of those, even down the back. Even though Seat Guru says it's only 31", I think it's actually more than that - my knees are a good 2 inches away from the seat in front (still not enough in my opionion though!)

 

[simongr]

RED in every seat back would well and truly win over alot of pax from other carriers, I wonder if they would go down the path that VX did...ordering from the seatback etc..

Really? I do not recall the last time I watched IFE on a dom flight.

 

[docjames]

Really? I do not recall the last time I watched IFE on a dom flight.

On QF that'd be because it's the same repetitive programs on a coughpy CRT or drop down tiny LCD. Seriously the individual screens on the new 738s and on the 330s are bigger than the fold down screens with better viewing angle!

If you have a choice of progrmas, you'd definitely watch it more. Some pax love being able to make time pass watching tv - distract themselves. Individual on demand is an expected feature from a "premium" carrier. No IFE / paid IFE is equated to a LCC.


YMMV

 

[simongr]

AS an FYI on my recent CX flight I plugged my iPad into the IFE and watched Game of Thrones rather than ANY of the IFE - and CX has much more than QF int'l so just because it is there doesnt mean I would use it. And in fact I am sure I wouldnt use it SYD-MEL ever no matter what they had.

 

[docjames]

AS an FYI on my recent CX flight I plugged my iPad into the IFE and watched Game of Thrones rather than ANY of the IFE - and CX has much more than QF int'l so just because it is there doesnt mean I would use it. And in fact I am sure I wouldnt use it SYD-MEL ever no matter what they had.

Judging by the last few times I wandered around Y on long haul QF, you'd be in the minority. :shock:

Also, wont hurt you for everyone else to have it!

 

[samiam]

AS an FYI on my recent CX flight I plugged my iPad into the IFE and watched Game of Thrones rather than ANY of the IFE - and CX has much more than QF int'l so just because it is there doesnt mean I would use it. And in fact I am sure I wouldnt use it SYD-MEL ever no matter what they had.

Ummm... I would have watched the same over any IFE/AVOD on any A/C!!