Virgin Australia Fleet Update Thread.

[maninblack]

The aircraft I was on had the new paint scheme a totally new interior, including the new overhead bins and mood lighting, dunny was brand spanking. Crew said it was a new aircraft. But, I am fairly sure it had the dome on the roof (perhaps I'm wrong) but no IFE internally Can't be more help I'm a VA newcomer so not very familiar with their aircraft really.

Think it was called "Bondi Beach"

Here's a (rather ordinary) snap from on board but you get a bit of an idea. Son says there was no dome on roof?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67112946@N07/6110640810/

 

[oz_mark]

Cool stuff, its all happening at DJ! Better grab some PE fares before they turn into J level fares.

Just on that, the timelines for the J rollout in the last presentation (see the 2011 Full Year Results presentation 25-Aug-2011), puts the rollout schedule as

Full transcontinental J class launch: Prior to 31 Dec, 2011
Network wide J class launch: Prior to 31 January, 2012

 

[notzac]

Think it was called "Bondi Beach"

IIRC, Bondi Beach was the first of the new livery/new interior 737s. There's a dome in the ceiling, kinda sorta, that you can see in this pic I found online:

 

[oz_mark]

The new aircraft do have a dome on top toward the rear of the fuselage, but IIRC it is currently used for crew communications.

 

[markis10]

The new aircraft do have a dome on top toward the rear of the fuselage, but IIRC it is currently used for crew communications.

It's part of the Sat 2200 which can work with the aeromobile passenger WIFI, SMS and mobile solution.

http://www3.rockwellcollins.com/ecat/at/SAT-2200.html

 

[Noob]

I have experienced the new cabin in PE, which is certainly what it is. (OOL-MEL a few weeks ago) It is not a J product even by domestic standards. The seat has minimal recline and adjustability, no footrest and the pitch I would guess is an inch or so less than QF domestic J. No personal IFE built in at this point. (digiplayer) Standard Virgin F&B menu. A good PE product...at the price. (The correct product for a 2 hour flight IMO)

Are they going to market it as Business class?

737 Business class of Qantas has identical pitch to the new 737 Business Class of Virgin Australia.

AVOD is to be announced - and it is not a J product yet, the full Luke Mangan designed menu as seen on the A330s will be in place when it is officially sold as "Business Class", along with the crew completing business class cabin training.

To see what kind of soft service will be on Virgin Business class check this out (full silver service etc.):
On board Virgin Australia's first Sydney-Perth A330 flight - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Here is a visual comparison of the two new 737 Business Class hard products, I have not tried the new Qantas 737 product but from these pictures VA's hard product looks better to me - note also new Qantas 737s don't have any hard divider between J/Y they have a curtain which hangs just bellow the back of the head rest...

 

[maninblack]

737
Here is a visual comparison of the two new 737 Business Class hard products, I have not tried the new Qantas 737 product but from these pictures VA's hard product looks better to me - note also new Qantas 737s don't have any hard divider between J/Y they have a curtain which hangs just bellow the back of the head rest...

I have flown both. The new QF seat obviously already has the AVOD (which we hear Virgin is getting) The QF seat has greater recline, more shoulder room, adjustable footrest and the pitch seems greater to me though I am sure it is similar. The curtain provides greater privacy but is neither here nor there IMO. On my flight Virgin did not supply any pillows or blankets though I assume this will come. The Virgin flight attendents were very friendly and attentive. Frankly there is nothing special about either but both are adequate. The fares on QF domestic J are insane so if Virgin keep it reasonable it will be a winner.

 

[Jack Melon]

You sure did fly VH-YFC, the first BSI virgin got delivered, and was at the launch of Virgin Australia. It flew in an all white scheme with the new seats, but without business class, and no coloured headrests.

There are 5 BSI's in service:
1. VH-YFC
2. VH-YFE
3. VH-VFF
4. VH-YVA
5. VH-YIA

VH-YIB is due very shortly.

 

[Jack Melon]

I have flown both. The new QF seat obviously already has the AVOD (which we hear Virgin is getting) The QF seat has greater recline, more shoulder room, adjustable footrest and the pitch seems greater to me though I am sure it is similar. The curtain provides greater privacy but is neither here nor there IMO. On my flight Virgin did not supply any pillows or blankets though I assume this will come. The Virgin flight attendents were very friendly and attentive. Frankly there is nothing special about either but both are adequate. The fares on QF domestic J are insane so if Virgin keep it reasonable it will be a winner.

Pillows, blankets and other exciting stuff will be available when business class goes on sale. At the moment, you pay for premium economy, and get a BSI, you get the seats but premium economy service.

Jack

 

[maninblack]

You sure did fly VH-YFC, the first BSI virgin got delivered, and was at the launch of Virgin Australia. It flew in an all white scheme with the new seats, but without business class, and no coloured headrests.

There are 5 BSI's in service:
1. VH-YFC
2. VH-YFE
3. VH-VFF
4. VH-YVA
5. VH-YIA

VH-YIB is due very shortly.

Economy had the colored headrests and externally it was painted in the new Virgin Australia livery by the time I was on it.

By the way, I prefer the Luke Mangan New York style Pastrami sandwich to any of the horrid food in QF J class.

 

[Jack Melon]

Actually, can someone remind me whether VA have definitely said that they are fitting out their fleet with some kind of new IFE product. I believe i saw reference to it around the time of the "Virgin Australia" rebranding launch but i can't remember where and i've seen not much since. Was there ever a timeline or can anyone in the know just give us a simple yes/no as to whether a new IFE product is in the mix at the moment?

At the launch, during Q&A, someone asked "What is your solution to in-flight entertainment?"

JB replied, ahah, were not going to announce that today, were working on something very very exciting, but we will just let that hang for a while.
SRB: But it will be very good
JB: Absolutely it will be.

I think it will definitely be seatback from all the sites, forums etc. But i could be wrong, fingers cross it gets announced next week!

 

[Jack Melon]

Economy had the colored headrests and externally it was painted in the new Virgin Australia livery by the time I was on it.

By the way, I prefer the Luke Mangan New York style Pastrami sandwich to any of the horrid food in QF J class.

Before yfc was painted it had the same seats but all blue headrests, otherwise it would reveal the new colours for the company, but the launch day it got painted, J seats put in, and the new headrests and menu's etc etc.

 

[Noob]

Economy had the colored headrests and externally it was painted in the new Virgin Australia livery by the time I was on it.

By the way, I prefer the Luke Mangan New York style Pastrami sandwich to any of the horrid food in QF J class.

I actually have not tried it yet, I am way too addicted to the banana bread and the beef Pie

 

[777]

BZG is the first aircraft that has been retrofitted with the new J and Y seats, bulkhead and new carpets. It is going to be flying in the next day or so. The rest of the rogues are being fitted out one at a time and should be completed in the next six or eight weeks. These aircraft are being fitted out in Christchurch.

So, anyone seen this yet? Would love to see a photo. I assume the paint job is being done at the same time? So we need to be on the lookout for a plane with the business class seats and mixed with the old style lockers/ interiors.

I had always assumed that the refits would begin when the IFE plan was resolved so there may (or may not) be a clue to any coming IFE hidden in there somewhere - no sign of seat back would lead me to think they're not doing it (after all, why refit them twice?) while any sign of power outliets or wifi infrastructure would be a useful clue that they were headed in that direction.

 

[markis10]

Maybe we will all see it Thursday, seems a popular day for launch's.

 

[777]

Maybe we will all see it Thursday, seems a popular day for launch's.

IF they are doing something with IFE that would make sense. If it's just a quick refresh to bring it up to date with the already launched product then they may not bother.

 

[markis10]

IF they are doing something with IFE that would make sense. If it's just a quick refresh to bring it up to date with the already launched product then they may not bother.

That's what I am thinking, to be it would make sense to do the refit and IFE at the same time, especially with facilities fully booked.

 

[777]

That's what I am thinking, to be it would make sense to do the refit and IFE at the same time, especially with facilities fully booked.

Logically the "rogues" should be first in line for enhanced IFE too. If it isnt being done as part of the overhaul it would likely rule seat back out.

As an aside, one potential thing in favour of a seat back system is that it would make the complexity of the current meal service issues a lot easier if people ordered from their seat.

 

[markis10]

Seat back ordering would only need three buttons at present, the "Can I have a pie please", "can I have a Pastrami SW please" and "Can I have Spirits please" buttons .

BZG is operating having done DJ362 yesterday, maybe she is done and being held as a spare.., same for the day before operating one flight, none for the rest of the month.

 

[jaspon]

so we need to be on the lookout for a plane with the business class seats and mixed with the old style lockers/ interiors.

VH- BZG

tuesday 6 sep

mel bne dj 309
bne cns dj 779
cns mel dj 1294
mel syd dj 865
syd bne dj 981
bne syd dj 998