Virgin Australia Fleet Update Thread.

[smit0847]

Why do Virgin fly a 3 days a week service to Abu Dhabi when their codeshare partner flies there everyday? (and I think daily from MEL too) Does it get good loads or they just can't find another route?

I think its a bit of both. There has been various suggestion for new routes but I think LAX is the only one that has worked really well for them and its a bit risky to try new ones (I could see a SYD-LAS service for bucks weekends etc doing very well).

 

[lovestotravel]

SFO
SFO
SFO

It's Virgin America's hub, so it's quite funny that VA don't even fly to it!

With Qantas pulling out of MEL-AKL-LAX and SFO earlier, the SFO route is very much needed!

UA to SFO is a joke, as the UA product is just pathetic

 

[MadFairlane]

Anyway to know what registration plane will be flying VA11 on Satuday 14th?

Couldn't be so lucky to score the new "refurb" lol

 

[samh004]

Anyway to know what registration plane will be flying VA11 on Satuday 14th?

Couldn't be so lucky to score the new "refurb" lol

I’m guessing you don’t mean simply looking at the tail or nose as you board?

 

[MadFairlane]

I’m guessing you don’t mean simply looking at the tail or nose as you board?

Lol... This is true... but I was thinking of before I get there... hahaha.

 

[Fruitcake]

AusBT has posted a couple of photos on twitter of the refreshed cabins:
https://twitter.com/#!/AusBT/status/190285594792964097

 

[MadFairlane]

Oh damn it, now I want it for my trip lol...

Stop posting these pictures.

Hahaha

 

[MarkD]

I like the old ones better


Excuse the typos, this was sent from my iPhone using Fat fingers

 

[anat0l]

Some of the sentiment on Twitter re the new 777 cabins is not good. Someone said it can be compared to a pair of business socks.

Looks quite sleek; just need to button down the functionality now. And the rest of the product.

 

[LiamR]

Love J, Y+ and Y look horrible.

 

[samh004]

Love J, Y+ and Y look horrible.

Was thinking that too but didn’t want to appear as a hater as I’m solely focused on QF

Glad other people are also saying it

 

[lovestotravel]

Virgin 777s get a sprucing | Australian Aviation Magazine

 

[smit0847]

Some of the sentiment on Twitter re the new 777 cabins is not good. Someone said it can be compared to a pair of business socks.

Looks quite sleek; just need to button down the functionality now. And the rest of the product.

Hahaha - I was actually thinking the Y and Y+ look like the sort of cheap camouflage you would wear to a costume party!

I guess they FINALLY realised how ridiculously firm the Y seats are and are adding more padding (only 4 years too late!). Each time I've boarded a VA 777 I've immediately asked for 2 extra blankets to sit on.

 

[Coathanger]

The exterior looks much nicer now it's fully in the new livery: Photos: Boeing 777-3ZG/ER Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Not sold on the Y+ and Y fabric though...

 

[Fruitcake]

According to ausBT: The new A330s have 2-2-2 lie-flat seats in J and the same IFE as the 777s:

Virgin Australia readies new Airbus A330s with lie-flat seats

 

[Coathanger]

Pleased to read that the new aircraft will be shared between MEL-PER and SYD-PER as I have a couple of the latter coming up in the second half of this year.

Lie-flat would be impressive for a purely domestic aircraft, any ideas if they would be like the 777 J seats?

 

[lovestotravel]

It makes sense having the A330's with the 777 product

It then allows Virgin to use the A330's on Asian or other routes when/if they are launched!

The 777-300ERs are too much for Asia, but the A330's are perfect

What is disapointing, is that the 2 ex Emirates aircraft will not be upgraded, so yet again Virgin has an inconsistent product which is NOT acceptable for business class!

Two A330's with pretty good business and then another two A330's with lie flat....

 

[seven3seven]

lovestotravel - I think the reason they won't be upgrading the older two 330's is that they may be looking at retiring them in the not to distant future and picking up some more fresh ones. No point spending the $$ on something that won't be there for too long.

 

[MarkD]

Qantas operate two different config a330 as well

Lol at the whinging starting already, and the planes havnt even started flying...... Bloody hell the existing a330s are nice planes especially in j. So who really cares????


Excuse the typos, this was sent from my iPhone using Fat fingers

 

[Baguss]

lovestotravel - I think the reason they won't be upgrading the older two 330's is that they may be looking at retiring them in the not to distant future and picking up some more fresh ones. No point spending the $$ on something that won't be there for too long.

I question how happy Virgin are with the "pre-loved" Emirates a330's. Unsure how committed they are to them now and I believe 2 more from Emirates are planned for this year. So it will be interesting to see what they do.
One option is that they wont be aggressive as first thought and use them less or as backups.

Would be interesting to know what the technical issues with the current a330's have been. Remember the a330 is supposed to be the flagship aircraft of Virgin Australia.