Rumour: XFA & XFB to have cabins refurbished

[Boof1]

Please bear with me this is a rumour only... Normally I'm not one for rumours but in a week I've seen enough other bits around the web and forums to make me think that this may be happening.

A week ago I was in J on XFB on a Coast to Coast service and when I mentioned that the old EK bird needed some love compared to the new ones the bloke looking after me apologised and said that they can't wait for the refurbs to start next month. I naturally asked about this and he told me that it's announced internally, the plan is take one off line in May and one off line in June to have the cabins refitted on the old EK birds to the same seats and IFE as the 4 new 332's. I wasn't convinced... Then the following things have happened or occurred to me:

• XFG was delivered and started service this week.
• The VA565/VA552 SYD-PER-SYD rotation is still a 73H in May and June despite the talk of going all 332 ex SYD.
• Only 2 of 3 BNE-PER services are 332's and only on weekdays.
• The BNE services start 15th of May despite XFG being here for nearly two weeks already.
• Throughout June there is a lot of weekend services MEL-PER and return that are subbed for 73H's
• Prior to XFG arriving there was slack in the fleet for one to be out of action with maintenance with 5x 332's, they now have 6.

and

• JB is supposed to be making an announcement about the 332's this week (mentioned as another rumour on this forum)
• Branson is here this week as well, but that might have nothing to do with this!!

To top it off XFB was ferried to BNE this morning as VA9857 arriving just before 7am.

Again I might be putting a lot of thought into a rumour that a cabin crew member mentioned and we all know what they are like but let us hope!!

Cheers,

Boof

 

[777]

FWIW someone who is well connected to Virgin posted the same thing here a little while back. Seems pretty plausible to me.

 

[Jamesl]

Yes a refit is imminent however it's not what your expecting.

 

[moa999]

Either way its yet another strike against QFs dated product
(and I don't know anything)

 

[LiamR]

Not happening.

 

[mannej]

Either way its yet another strike against QFs dated product
(and I don't know anything)

The 332 skybed is dated, however the newer products on EBO onwards just isn't good enough for transcon business...

 

[bullerdude]

I guess we won't know before an announcement, but given they ended up refurbing all the 737-700's despite saying they weren't going to, it seems plausible.

I guess the main question is will a refurb - should it happen - include the new almost-lie-flat business class seats.

 

[AdMEL]

Not happening.

What makes you say that?

 

[Virgin Bart]

Boof1, I'm being purely self-indulgent here, but I'm in J on 18 June at 1300.. I searched a new booking just then and it says A332. Please tell me it'd show the aircraft changed there if it was in fact a B738!

And for the record, all 4 MEL-PER flights on 18/6 are shown as A332s.

 

[Jamesl]

A/B are due for deep maintenance in Q3/4 of this year, they are planned to complete this maintenance in SIN.. as I said it is imminent but don't expect the obvious.

 

[moa999]

so 2x3x2 configuration in J then...

 

[Tom/PER]

Reconfigured for International services maybe?

BNE/PER-SIN am I on the right track?

 

[Jamesl]

Reconfigured for International services maybe?

BNE/PER-SIN am I on the right track?

The aircraft are already INTL config.

 

[notzac]

Seeing as we're all guessing .. I'd love to see them reconfigured for 3 class international service for flights to Asia.

 

[wenglock.mok]

While obviously cabin crew are not the best source of rumours at times, I heard the same thing on my flight to PER earlier in April. Some other info I got off him -

XFA/B will get the same seats although the configuration may not be exactly the same (no shifting of galleys or lavs for example).
XFH and I after September (might be 2014, not sure).
Brisbane - Singapore planned for October but may be pushed back to allow XFA/B to get the refits.

* Note: these are unverified rumours so please don't anybody take them as the gospel truth.

 

[Fruitcake]

Brisbane - Singapore planned for October but may be pushed back to allow XFA/B to get the refits.

Others have reported this too (although not the date, just the route). And I think it sounds quite plausible, most likely replacing EY's SIN-BNE service (or maybe EY could launch AUH-BNE direct?).

Personally I think Australia-HND would be a good option. Demand for business travel to Japan (well, in my office at least) has picked up dramatically over the past six months, and it's often been hard to get a seat on specific days within a couple of weeks to departure. Those travelling for a week don't find the idea of coming off a QF redeye and catching the train into Tokyo from NRT to be overly appealing, and JAL's Sunday daytime flight is often frustratingly full.

Perhaps a BNE or SYD to HND flight timed to allow same-day connections from the other eastern capitals would be a good opportunity?

(note that this is personal speculation, not a rumour).

 

[Boof1]

Boof1, I'm being purely self-indulgent here, but I'm in J on 18 June at 1300.. I searched a new booking just then and it says A332. Please tell me it'd show the aircraft changed there if it was in fact a B738!

And for the record, all 4 MEL-PER flights on 18/6 are shown as A332s.

All of the weekday services ex MEL are still showing as 332's so I'd guess that you will be ok unless there is a last minute sub for a 73H. Have a look at the seat map on Expertflyer about 3 days before your flight and you will get a good idea of what is happening.

 

[DGW]

I found this tidbit with a bit of Googling indicating XFB might be in Brisbane, at least initially, for the purpose of training Brisbane-based crew. No idea of the veracity of it though.

Virgin Australia's Airbus A330-243 VH-XFB msn 372 "Cable Beach" arrived Brisbane from Melbourne as VA 9857. The aircraft is visiting BNE for crew training ahead of the May 15th launch of regular A330 flights from Brisbane to Perth.

Source here: Brisbane Airport Movements: Virgin A330-200 VH-XFB arrives BNE

 

[Birdblack]

• JB is supposed to be making an announcement about the 332's this week (mentioned as another rumour on this forum)

Boof

Where was this?

 

[Jousams]

Where was this?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?p=816603#post816603