VA's retro A330

[ChrisCunard]

Apparently "B" has left the fleet, cabin crew told me she ferried out leaving "A" as the only retro A330 in VA's fleet and I got the J treatment on Monday.

For those interested, trip report here: http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/238040/

 

[markis10]

Think you were told fibs, B operated the inaugural BNE services today.

 

[ChrisCunard]

Ahh! Well looks like I was misinformed as I thought "E" did the PER-BNE rotation today.

 

[elemist]

Sorry to bump up an old thread...

I'm flying rtn PER - SYD on Friday/Sunday. according to the seat selection maps it's a 2 x 2 x 2 layout which means one of the new birds right? Or did i read in another thread a while back that VA were no longer selling the middle seat on the old birds?

 

[KCMil]

222 means new bird. VA def sell all seats on old fit outs.

 

[serfty]

222 means new bird. VA def sell all seats on old fit outs.

Not until a day or so before the flight will you know from seat maps.

Once OLCI opens, the only seat maps available are the new configuration 2x2x2 - if you are to score XFA/XFB than the seat map will change to the 2x3x2.


Happened to me yesterday with a flight for today - and I found out something new to me.

The new configuration has A/C in the left pairs, the old uses A/B - SWMBO who was preallocated 1C beside me was dumped into 3B.:-|

 

[Bofter]

Not until a day or so before the flight will you know from seat maps.

Once OLCI opens, the only seat maps available are the new configuration 2x2x2 - if you are to score XFA/XFB than the seat map will change to the 2x3x2.

I thought that the change to the different seat map was happening around 3-4 days out from departure most times, viewing on ExpertFlyer. This used to be pretty reliable with the long run of flights I had on XFA/B, however I have been luckier of late to not get those particular aircraft so perhaps the normal notice has reduced.

 

[drewbles]

Whilst you have a better chance of the new, it wildly varies. Booked a last minute flight to PER a few months ago and it was A or B (2-3-2). Was truly last minute (T-3 or 4 hours). Got to the gate and it was 2-2-2.

That said, I booked a PER-MEL for a few weeks from now, and it was 2-2-2. Now it's 2-2. Yup. Swap out to a f*$*#ing 737. I'm now considering swapping to the earlier flight as I refuse to use my J upgrades on 737's (and I honestly thought the 5pm flight out of PER to MEL on a Sunday would have been pretty busy down the back of the bus to swap out to a 737?).

 

[serfty]

I thought that the change to the different seat map was happening around 3-4 days out from departure most times, viewing on ExpertFlyer. This used to be pretty reliable with the long run of flights I had on XFA/B, however I have been luckier of late to not get those particular aircraft so perhaps the normal notice has reduced.

I was checking E/F.

On Tuesday ALL 332 Flights SYD/MEL-PER vv were showing 2x2x2,

Early Wednesday 2x2x2, 11:30am Wednesday mine and a few others MEL/PER now 2x3x2.

 

[Lowjhg]

Saw XFB at gate 4 MEL last sunday operating flight 679 to PER. Guess its not out of the fleet yet. And since the seating chart for my flight this saturday sows a 2-3-2, I'm hazarding a guess that it will be XFB operating my flight.

 

[serfty]

222 means new bird. VA def sell all seats on old fit outs.

I guess since there are only 3 seats more in the ex EK configuration, it's not that big an issue sticking with the 2x2x2 until just before the flights.

 

[Jama]

Whilst you have a better chance of the new, it wildly varies. Booked a last minute flight to PER a few months ago and it was A or B (2-3-2). Was truly last minute (T-3 or 4 hours). Got to the gate and it was 2-2-2.

That said, I booked a PER-MEL for a few weeks from now, and it was 2-2-2. Now it's 2-2. Yup. Swap out to a f*$*#ing 737. I'm now considering swapping to the earlier flight as I refuse to use my J upgrades on 737's (and I honestly thought the 5pm flight out of PER to MEL on a Sunday would have been pretty busy down the back of the bus to swap out to a 737?).

I experienced the same, booked the A330 and got a 737, after flying my whole family to Melbourne especially for the A330 flight. I was particular about booking the new A330 too.

The trip back we got a swap to the old A330, which even the crew rubbished. They handed out Samsung tablets because the IFE didn't work for half and unwatchable for the rest. Was still way more comfortable than the 737 though, at least we didn't get that back as well. Just disappointing after the effort and cost to organise a rare treat for the family.

 

[ChrisCunard]

Any idea when VA will start running the A332's BNE-PER on weekends?

 

[MarkD]

I love the fact people are calling the aircraft "Retro"
Its been in the fleet 2 years, and was fully retrimmed when introduced, and painted in new colours
I thought when I saw "Retro" in the title, they had painted one red, but its just another bloody whinge fest
I have flown on the Older A330s and find absolutely nothing wrong with them.
People are getting seriously upset over nothing.

 

[mannej]

I love the fact people are calling the aircraft "Retro"
Its been in the fleet 2 years, and was fully retrimmed when introduced, and painted in new colours
I thought when I saw "Retro" in the title, they had painted one red, but its just another bloody whinge fest
I have flown on the Older A330s and find absolutely nothing wrong with them.
People are getting seriously upset over nothing.

Keep in mind that they were in the EK fleet for a while before that, and fairly heavily used.
Yes they have been re-trimmed, but they have been showing their age in other areas (loop based IFE, small things that need repair etc), and this is exaggerated by the standard of the newer 330's. A re-trim is still only a re-trim.

Whilst they seats may be comfortable enough, it is only natural to be disappointed considering the product available in the new 330's VA have on offer.

 

[Bofter]

loop based IFE

IFE not only loop based, but my personal sample has had my screen working on <50% of occasions and then with less than fantastic quality and some channels missing. I make sure I take a book in case my A330 ends up being one of these birds, although I have used the Galaxy tablets they carry a few times too.

 

[MarkD]

So go book on a 737 next time and try the IFE there.
Again, seriously, the things are not falling out of the sky, they are comfortable.
I guess its human nature, everyone wants the new one

 

[serfty]

After experiencing a 'new' configuration today, unless you can get row 1, the older seat may indeed be more comfortable for a simple four hour transcon.

As for "red" - not sure - the NC certainly didn't work with the headphones, and not touchscreen either ...

 

[Lowjhg]

i am told that these jets will be getting the refurb at their next c-check. This is a rumor so i can't confirm.

 

[elemist]

Ended up with the new planes both ways. Definitely better than the older birds - although found them comfortable enough.

I do find the IFE on the new planes average at best. There is such a lag between pushing a button and it responding on the screen. The navigation is pretty anti friendly - little things like scrolling through a full list requires moving to an up and down button which mean't lots of navigating around to click on different things. Also found the selection quite limited as to what was on offer. In comparison to QF's IFE i watched the week before on a 737 it was pretty poor.

That said, comfy seats and nice food more than made up for it. I was able to amuse myself to and from SYD.