Virgin Australia to Reconfigure 737 Fleet - Spend $110M

[ben95]

No curtain as they want cabin surveillance

Surely even a sheer curtain like the US carriers have would do just fine. Also they also uses a sky divider from the looks of it.

 

[MarkD]

Surely even a sheer curtain like the US carriers have would do just fine. Also they also uses a sky divider from the looks of it.

View attachment 402826

Haha. that reminds me of one of these.
Good old school fly screen

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Was on my first refurbished flight on Friday from HBA-SYD.

At least a dozen pax in Y tried to go up to the J toilets and were sent back --- crew were polite about it but clearly it gets annoying. Total lack of divider of any kind is indeed weird. New Y seats definitely not as comfortable for me and overall just missed my "usual" Row 3. Alas.

 

[A321]

Silly question, Qantas don't have a rope or stopper do they?
Does the single piece of 1x0.5 Perspex seriously keep the stragglers out?

 

[jrfsp]

Silly question, Qantas don't have a rope or stopper do they?
Does the single piece of 1x0.5 Perspex seriously keep the stragglers out?

They dont, similar on QF where up to the crew to "police" the use

 

[Digicola]

They dont, similar on QF where up to the crew to "police" the use

The advantage of QF is the carts block the path for half the flight on short triangle hops.

On widebodies they use a magical barrier called a curtain to prevent cattle from mixing with the elites. Very effective.

 

[jrfsp]

The advantage of QF is the carts block the path for half the flight on short triangle hops.

On widebodies they use a magical barrier called a curtain to prevent cattle from mixing with the elites. Very effective.

The meal service on QF also forces Y pax to use the forward lav particularly on longer flights where the cart can be blocking access to the rear for 30 mins +

 

[lovestotravel]

The 737 Max is finally on the MEL-NAN-MEL sectors...

 

[MooTime]

The meal service on QF also forces Y pax to use the forward lav particularly on longer flights where the cart can be blocking access to the rear for 30 mins +

I agree on this, when the cart is slowly moving down the aisle, the forward pax need to go lav their only option to go front lav. Could wait but they kick up a stink with "I need to go, busting Yada Yada, are you stopping me from going to the bathroom" that's my right etc.

The 737 Max is finally on the MEL-NAN-MEL sectors...

I was on the Max return from NAN last Saturday, ripping trip, well looked after in J, love the hard product, but steady flow of y pax, especially 1st hour or so cos the cart taking its time to feed all.
A divider of sorts is essential imo.

Was more leg room in row 3 than my row 2, ample space for a divider.

 

[Saab34]

A divider of sorts is essential imo.

Any update on that or is just permanently sidelined for the moment?

 

[MooTime]

Any update on that or is just permanently sidelined for the moment?

I have no info on divider.

Our knowledgeable @Harrison_133 I think posted some info regarding divider above.

 

[lovestotravel]

I was on the Max return from NAN last Saturday, ripping trip, well looked after in J, love the hard product, but steady flow of y pax, especially 1st hour or so cos the cart taking its time to feed all.
A divider of sorts is essential imo.

Was more leg room in row 3 than my row 2, ample space for a divider.

That flight was the first time the MAX has flown MEL-NAN-MEL

Sadly, my trips are in Y for MEL-NAN, as I can't justify $1500-$1900 for the J product and I usually get row 3 anyway We come back on FJ on their A350 in J as the product and service is great and it's around $1250 for a longer flight with a much better product.

 

[MooTime]

That flight was the first time the MAX has flown MEL-NAN-MEL

Sadly, my trips are in Y for MEL-NAN, as I can't justify $1500-$1900 for the J product and I usually get row 3 anyway We come back on FJ on their A350 in J as the product and service is great and it's around $1250 for a longer flight with a much better product.

Cool. Was unaware 1st Max flight, it wasn't scheduled when I booked it.
I took the fj910 on the A350 in J from syd. Brilliant, staff refer to you by name. Enjoyed that product. Pic of FJ meal in J. Ate dessert then took pic.

I agree much rather FJ J cabin at cheaper rate, have seen $1300.
Row 3 on VA well n truly suffices for price.

 

[ozstamps]

How many aircraft now have no dividers?

Agree with others above that it seriously lessens the J class 'private' experience, which in the past has been well protected from Loo Runners - and seeing it is now a lottery, whether the aircraft will have a divider or not, many simply will not pay extra.

THAT hurts revenue if that trend widens. And on the flip side as pointed out above the COST to do the new config is enormous - and unless planes are 100% full makes little financial sense, especially if it forces many J pax buyers to not do so now. LOSE-LOSE overall.

As a Platinum I get Row #3 anyway.

Booking flights tonight, and J generally about $300 a sector more than Choice. Just not worth taking a chance any more to me, as row #3 is pretty decent even if old config.

Adding some kind of barrier you imagine should ALWAYS have been right at the forefront of this changeover. Someone has screwed up here.

 

[Saab34]

It’s quite odd because there is certainly divider options for new deliveries. Many other carriers have it installed. No reason why Virgin couldn’t go down the route that others have taken. Some of them are very stock standard and basic, I mean, that will do, they don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

I wouldn’t think it would take years to order a divider and get them delivered. Alaska managed to retrofit its whole fleet, plus its Virgin America fleet, without any issues, and not needing to done on delivery. The Alaska divider is all Virgin needs, seems like no issue retrofitting to the NG either.

 

[Clayton]

Was more leg room in row 3 than my row 2, ample space for a divider.

Agree row 3 has ludicrous amount of legroom, so ample space to install a divider.

 

[twinaisle]

How many aircraft now have no dividers?

12 x 737-800 so far
7 x 737-800 ex Silk air
6 x 738
3 x 737-700

That's 28 aircraft so far.

 

[AIRwin]

6 x 738

7 x 737-8 Max? (A to G)

 

[twinaisle]

7 x 737-8 Max? (A to G)

Yes. They get delivered with the new seating config minus divider

 

[tmdl]

Will VA ever go back to wide bodied aircraft with flat lie in J?