Virgin Australia to Reconfigure 737 Fleet - Spend $110M

[anat0l]

Really? There is usually room for them without impacting any pax.
Qantas does precisely this on the same & similar-sized aircraft.

Not sure about new Qantas aircraft (e.g. newer 738s and A220s), but I thought there is a coat locker at the front where a few crew bags can go, as well as where jackets can be hung.

Not sure what happens on Alliance E90s.

The space above 1A is half-width due to medical equipment and I think sometimes headsets and pillows gets stashed around rows 3-4, but I haven't seen any crew bags in QF overheads, except for deadheaders (maybe I don't notice where they put them, I don't walk down the entire aircraft looking at the overhead contents.

There used to be a thing on here where people did complain that VA regularly had crew stow their bags in the J cabin overheads, to the point where it was rather limiting. May be a thing of the past, but then where do they hang coats (unless this is something not offered any more; mind, not sure if QF do this themselves any more).

 

[simmomelb]

Not sure about new Qantas aircraft (e.g. newer 738s and A220s), but I thought there is a coat locker at the front where a few crew bags can go, as well as where jackets can be hung.

Not sure what happens on Alliance E90s.

The space above 1A is half-width due to medical equipment and I think sometimes headsets and pillows gets stashed around rows 3-4, but I haven't seen any crew bags in QF overheads, except for deadheaders (maybe I don't notice where they put them, I don't walk down the entire aircraft looking at the overhead contents.

There used to be a thing on here where people did complain that VA regularly had crew stow their bags in the J cabin overheads, to the point where it was rather limiting. May be a thing of the past, but then where do they hang coats (unless this is something not offered any more; mind, not sure if QF do this themselves any more)

Qantas 737's have flight crew do exactly the same. If you fly J on QF you'll soon see.

 

[EuroKick]

One thing that is absolutely driving me crazy is now that they’ve added and moved seats, they’ve failed to move the overhead vents, lights and placards. It’s all over the shop.

I don’t think I could even see the seatbelt sign in row 1. Surely that’s not legit.

 

[simmomelb]

It’s a question of balance. Has Virgin got that balance right? Maybe not.

You assume that VA has no choice but to take its lounge offerings up-market. You assume that it’s a fait accompli that it will happen. I must admit that I don’t share your confidence!

I don't know, being completely honest.
I just don't see that once those higher value Gold and Platinum members, that will only exist from next year, will accept the current lounge situation.
They are clearly going for a more valuable customer, that part is undeniable (they've admitted this), but with that, naturally comes a higher expectation.
Without any improvements, it simply won't work/retain the type of passenger they are attempting to attract.
They aren't stupid, they have a team behind them that know what needs to be done, but of course now is not the time for that.
Time will tell, I guess

 

[MEL_Traveller]

One thing that is absolutely driving me crazy is now that they’ve added and moved seats, they’ve failed to move the overhead vents, lights and placards. It’s all over the shop.

I don’t think I could even see the seatbelt sign in row 1. Surely that’s not legit.

I’ve been of a few of the reconfigured planes… didn’t notice the seatbelt sign not being visible in row 1?

 

[twinaisle]

So that uses up space that otherwise passenger bags could use? A bit of an ouch.

Since the company is getting stricter with pax bags and gate checking it shouldn't be a problem going forward.

 

[TMP]

Hybrid airlines don't envision cost lockers unfortunately. Crew stash their bags in the hat racks (overhead bins)

Isn't there a little hook on the headrest of each seat for a coat? (I still agree it's sad that you can't hang a coat or suit up any more)

 

[PERLHR]

Since the company is getting stricter with pax bags and gate checking it shouldn't be a problem going forward.

You mean despite the changes they are still.going to penalise hard earned Gold and Plat with a ridiculous 7kg max load? Pah even QF for everyone manages 10kg!!

 

[twinaisle]

You mean despite the changes they are still.going to penalise hard earned Gold and Plat with a ridiculous 7kg max load? Pah even QF for everyone manages 10kg!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Isn't there a little hook on the headrest of each seat for a coat? (I still agree it's sad that you can't hang a coat or suit up any more)

Not in row 1.

And the little hook thingy isn’t really convenient for hanging jackets or suit jackets… they get in the way! (and aren’t optimal maintaining the shape of the garment)

 

[EuroKick]

I’ve been of a few of the reconfigured planes… didn’t notice the seatbelt sign not being visible in row 1?

On the birds I’ve been on, you literally have to stretch your neck to 120 degrees. It’s directly above you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On the birds I’ve been on, you literally have to stretch your neck to 120 degrees. It’s directly above you.

That might have always been the way then? I’m not noticing row 1 has lost any foot space… it didn’t have much to begin with. So the seat shouldn’t have moved forward by much!

 

[anat0l]

You mean despite the changes they are still.going to penalise hard earned Gold and Plat with a ridiculous 7kg max load? Pah even QF for everyone manages 10kg!!

I wonder how seriously both airlines check for weight (let alone size) especially if you are in Business Class (esp. on VA where you have reverently monitored priority boarding).

Overhead space is pretty much a size of bags issue (and number of pieces issue), not a weight issue. The latter is really only an issue of safety.

 

[EuroKick]

On the birds I’ve been on, you literally have to stretch your neck to 120 degrees. It’s directly above you.

Perhaps not, but anyway, my main complaint is the now misaligned air vents.

 

[PERLHR]

Min

I wonder how seriously both airlines check for weight (let alone size) especially if you are in Business Class (esp. on VA where you have reverently monitored priority boarding).

Overhead space is pretty much a size of bags issue (and number of pieces issue), not a weight issue. The latter is really only an issue of safety.

Mind you at least, as Twin Aisle reminds me, it's 7+7 kg which is actually not bad.

Yes I know what you mean but there has been quite a few reports of VA increasing the policing.

Post automatically merged: Apr 11, 2025

Thankyou for that reminder...Twinaisle.

 

[Harrison_133]

IJU is the first of the original batch of SilkAir aircraft to be reconfigured. It also had WiFi fitted.

WiFi has also been fitted on some of the older aircraft which lacked it including VUK, VUL, VUX & VUY.

 

[PaulllM]

Birdy tells that the -8 and the dedicated ISH fleet will commence first with curtain fitout at row two in the next few weeks.

Have we got an update on this?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So… first ever fright in economy on VA!

Max8.

Oh my gravy… it was TIGHT. Economy X not an option now I’ve dropped back to gold.

This would have to be the worst economy class product I’ve experienced. Poor seat design means practically no spare legroom if you’re over 6’2… your knees are literally in the seat in front.

The seat in front was already showing signs of wear, with about a half inch of give/recline when the person in front put their weight on the seatback. The seat was locked upright, it was just loose already and had significant ‘give’.

While the crew did an excellent job of pre-briefing the pax at the overwing exit, no attempt was made to stop any of those same pax using their mobile devices during the main safety demonstration.

We had the large overhead bins, but I only saw two or three bags actually stowed that way. Most people just put them in the regular way, severely limiting the space for people coming behind them.

As an aside, regular boarding started after just one priority boarding pax had gone through, meaning every was mixed in the jetway, with long queues. Defeats the purpose.

 

[anat0l]

While the crew did an excellent job of pre-briefing the pax at the overwing exit, no attempt was made to stop any of those same pax using their mobile devices during the main safety demonstration.

Don't know if I've ever seen many crew actually be vigilant about pax watching the main safety demonstration, e.g. tell them to stop using their mobiles, take headphones/earphones out, actually watch the screen or the crew, etc.. Of course there's the usual PA asking people to do so; probably to discharge their responsibilities (viz. "I didn't know there was a safety demo about this, no one told me I should watch it, so it's not my fault I don't know what to do!").

We had the large overhead bins, but I only saw two or three bags actually stowed that way. Most people just put them in the regular way, severely limiting the space for people coming behind them.

That's a shame. You'd think people would know better, particularly as space is limited, period. Guess crew don't have time to right them all up the correct way (unless they were very short of space), and it would be unfair of them to be expected to do this thoroughly.

As an aside, regular boarding started after just one priority boarding pax had gone through, meaning every was mixed in the jetway, with long queues. Defeats the purpose.

That sounds unusual. My understanding is, as is a textbook procedure, general and priority both have lanes, but attendants only board priority passengers (even if this means two machines on them) until the line is exhausted, then process general passengers. If priority passengers arrive at the priority lane, general line is suspended from boarding until the priority line has been boarded and cleared again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Don't know if I've ever seen many crew actually be vigilant about pax watching the main safety demonstration, e.g. tell them to stop using their mobiles, take headphones/earphones out, actually watch the screen or the crew, etc.. Of course there's the usual PA asking people to do so; probably to discharge their responsibilities (viz. "I didn't know there was a safety demo about this, no one told me I should watch it, so it's not my fault I don't know what to do!").

That's a shame. You'd think people would know better, particularly as space is limited, period. Guess crew don't have time to right them all up the correct way (unless they were very short of space), and it would be unfair of them to be expected to do this thoroughly.

That sounds unusual. My understanding is, as is a textbook procedure, general and priority both have lanes, but attendants only board priority passengers (even if this means two machines on them) until the line is exhausted, then process general passengers. If priority passengers arrive at the priority lane, general line is suspended from boarding until the priority line has been boarded and cleared again.

On my last three VA flights it’s been the same… priority and general within seconds of each other.

But that’s a bit OT for this thread!

On topic… the overhead bins are a plus over what QF offers. But a shame pax won’t use them. Crew could make an announcement.

I cannot get over how bad they have configured the plane with such tight seating! BA also has 30 inch seat pitch on their short hauls, but no where near as cramped!