Virgin Australia to Reconfigure 737 Fleet - Spend $110M

[kamchatsky]

My family of 4 booked MEL-DPS on VA Y next year on 737-8. Looking at the seat map, it is the new version as only Row 3 and 4 have Economy X. However they are offering $12 for Economy X Middle seats at Row 3 and 4, and standard $95 for the aisle and window seats. So the family of 4 it worked out to be $95 + $95 + $12 + $12 = $214, or $53.5 per person for >6 hours flight.

Has anyone tried them to see if they are much better than the standard seats in terms of legroom? I am thinking of paying for it, but I just want to see people's experiences here.

 

[MooTime]

Wife and young son had 737-8MAX ecoX row 4 from Nadi to Mel last month. 5 hrs. Plenty room and def few more inches than standard.
$200+ a bit of cash but is more comfort.
I did check and compare, I'd pay it, am WP so luckily wouldn't have to.

 

[marcojim]

What’s everyone’s experience with the permissibility of storage in the seat in front for those seated in row 3 in aircraft with the new 31-row configuration?

A flight attendant on my flight this evening has asked all passengers in row 3 to place their bags in the overhead lockers, but I thought that in the new configuration it was allowed to store bags below the seat in front of you?

 

[Human]

What’s everyone’s experience with the permissibility of storage in the seat in front for those seated in row 3 in aircraft with the new 31-row configuration?

A flight attendant on my flight this evening has asked all passengers in row 3 to place their bags in the overhead lockers, but I thought that in the new configuration it was allowed to store bags below the seat in front of you?

I've flown once in row 3 with the new configuration and the passengers in the window and aisle seat both placed their bags under the seat in front with no problems. There's just nowhere for the person in the middle seat to put their bag.

 

[twinaisle]

What’s everyone’s experience with the permissibility of storage in the seat in front for those seated in row 3 in aircraft with the new 31-row configuration?

A flight attendant on my flight this evening has asked all passengers in row 3 to place their bags in the overhead lockers, but I thought that in the new configuration it was allowed to store bags below the seat in front of you?

DM me your flight details please.
Pax are allowed to stow their bags under the row without a bulkhead

 

[marcojim]

DM me your flight details please.
Pax are allowed to stow their bags under the row without a bulkhead

DM’ed you. Thanks

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

What’s everyone’s experience with the permissibility of storage in the seat in front for those seated in row 3 in aircraft with the new 31-row configuration?

A flight attendant on my flight this evening has asked all passengers in row 3 to place their bags in the overhead lockers, but I thought that in the new configuration it was allowed to store bags below the seat in front of you?

Have had a flight where I was asked to put it up and then have had another (more recently) where it was (rightly) allowed to go under. Considering how tough it is sometimes to get overhead space on some flights, it's helpful to have it available.

 

[harryhv]

Peaceful business section today thanks to a makeshift rope separator between biz and economy on VA517 (new config) - hooray, at last someone listened to all the bad feedback

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Peaceful business section today thanks to a makeshift rope separator between biz and economy on VA517 (new config) - hooray, at last someone listened to all the bad feedback

Tell us more!

Was it an ‘official’ barrier, or something constructed by the crew?,

 

[simmomelb]

Peaceful business section today thanks to a makeshift rope separator between biz and economy on VA517 (new config) - hooray, at last someone listened to all the bad feedback

Sure it was VA517 that flew today? Perhaps 516 or 518?

What was it, gaffa tape? That might fit the VA budget.

 

[marcojim]

Curious how many different seating configurations now exist across the fleet?

I’ve flown quite a few VH-VO- aircraft which seem to have been refitted with 31 rows featuring the new J and new Y seats and no divider.

Flew VH-YFS today which also now has 31 rows with new J seats and no divider, but the Y seats remain the same (with a row added), but with USB A and USB C in seat power.

Meanwhile the new MAX 8 aircraft feature 31 rows with the new Y and J seats, but only have USB A ports.

Are there any other variations I’ve missed? Is there a plan to add USB C to the MAX 8 aircraft? Will some of the 737-800s maintain their old Y seats even with new J seats installed and an extra Y row added?

 

[Harrison_133]

Will some of the 737-800s maintain their old Y seats even with new J seats installed and an extra Y row added?

AFAIK, the BSI aircraft, younger VU aircraft and ex KLM 700s are keeping their existing Y seats and having the chargers fitted. Only the VB/VO/older VU aircraft got new Y seats.

 

[wenglock.mok]

AFAIK, the BSI aircraft, younger VU aircraft and ex KLM 700s are keeping their existing Y seats and having the chargers fitted. Only the VB/VO/older VU aircraft got new Y seats.

Interesting... would you happen to know what the plan for the ex-SilkAir aircraft is?

AFAIK, some of them still have the Y seats from Collins Aerospace and additional cabinets scattered around the cabin.

 

[Harrison_133]

Interesting... would you happen to know what the plan for the ex-SilkAir aircraft is?

AFAIK, some of them still have the Y seats from Collins Aerospace and additional cabinets scattered around the cabin.

IJQ and IWQ have the new seats as they were the 'trial' aircraft, but they're yet to be reconfigured to the 182 seat configuration.

The rest of the Silk aircraft have old VA J seats and Silk Air Y seats which were reupholstered into VA colours.

All the Silk aircraft still have the different galley/cabinet configurations which will need to be changed to fit the new layout.

 

[twinaisle]

Interesting... would you happen to know what the plan for the ex-SilkAir aircraft is?

AFAIK, some of them still have the Y seats from Collins Aerospace and additional cabinets scattered around the cabin.

They most likely will be last to be refurbished as all galley space will be need to be reconfigured to VA generic galley which takes time.

 

[Saab34]

Are those orange seats still floating around? I actually found the Silkair fabric seats quite good.

 

[Harrison_133]

Are those orange seats still floating around? I actually found the Silkair fabric seats quite good.

No. They've all been reupholstered with grey leather.

 

[Saab34]

No. They've all been reupholstered with grey leather.

Damn. I guess it’s less maintenance over time. You can see how bad they get though, those cloth Tiger seats on the A320s had been not too bad when they launched, now they are just gross.

The KLM birds just had el cheapo seats didn’t they?

 

[Harrison_133]

The KLM birds just had el cheapo seats didn’t they?

The seats in those were bought new for the Tiger 737s. They are the same type as the new VA seats anyway, just a less inspiring colour palate.

 

[Mondo]

Peaceful business section today thanks to a makeshift rope separator between biz and economy on VA517 (new config) - hooray, at last someone listened to all the bad feedback

Any further updates on this new makeshift 'rope'? Has anyone else experienced it yet?