Virgin Atlantic flights from Manchester

[Guest]

David,

   When did you go in 2000? We flew from Manchester in August 2000, and we had the Air Atlanta plane as well. It was like travelling in a cattle truck and the staff were terrible. Im hope you have better luck this time.

  Janice .  .

[Guest]

I am really annoyed about this.  

When they say full Virgin livery I take it they just mean red cushions and blankets etc or will they have the seat back TV's etc.  That is the very reason we've booked with Virgin as it keeps the kids occupied for the flight.   ,

Can we cancel and get a refund on deposits?

[MickeyMcMouse]

Matts Mom - I think it was about the last week in July. we were the first "cattle" on the plane. There was no seat numbers up the stairs, infact we played musical chairs that many times we all stood in the middle of the plane till the stewardess's sorted it out. It was the smelliest dirtiest plane I have ever been on. On the way back the carpet had been changed to a new purple one so at least it didn't smell as bad .!!

Lisa - When she said it was "full virgin livery" I took it to mean that the inside of the plane would be like a virgin plane, but I am not convinced. If you plan on phoning, don't phone virgin holidays as they "officially" know nothing about it, but phone virgin atlantic and they should be able to tell you as there is an official bulletin.

It will be intresting to hear how many different stories we all get told !!

Waiting in anticipation ...

David

[Guest]

Hi all,

I've just been on to VA and they said that it was an Air Atlanta plane with Virgin Crew and full Virgin livery.  I asked did it definately have the seat back TV's and she said yes it will  be exactly the same as a Virgin flight.

Here's hoping...

[Guest]

Press release on Air Atlanta Icelandic website:

Air Atlanta to take on four aircraft from Virgin Atlantic

Air Atlanta has dry-leased four 747-200 aircraft from Virgin Atlantic. The Aircraft with registration G-VSSS, G-VRUM, G-VCAT and G-VBEE will all be assigned Icelandic registrations TF-ATW, TF-ATV, TF-ATK and TF-ATN respectively. Two of the aircraft are ex Cathay Pacific aircraft powered by RB211-524-D4 engines and will be operating for Garuda Indonesia in the upcoming hajj. The 456-seat aircraft are configured in three classes with 12 first class, 32 business class and 412 economy seats. The other two aircraft are ex Air New Zeeland aircraft powered by RB211-524-D4 engines. One will operate hajj for Air Algerie while the other will replace TF-ATS on the Nigeria Airways contract. Both aircraft will remain in the original seating configuration with 28 first class, 36 business class and 358 economy seats.

[Carole]

I'm on hold with VA at the moment and am getting bored so I thought I'd tell you how I'm getting on. I spoke to a young lady who knew nothing so she put me on hold while she went to find out. When she came back she said that it was probably right but neither she or her supervisor could find it in the bulletin. I mentioned how unhappy I would be, as a frequent virgin, if we got the same treatment that some people had got in 2000 and she went away to confer with "training".
The outcome, after 23 minutes on the phone (thank goodness for talk unlimited  . ) is that the plane will have a Virgin registration, will have seat back TVs, will have Virgin food, and the seat configuration will be the same. The difference will be the staff.
They seem to believe that themselves. Me? I'm not holding my breath. She said this will go on right into November, so that's the whole year for Manchester.
Just have to wait and see, I suppose.  ,

[MickeyMcMouse]

The plot thickens...

If we hadn't had such a bad experience the last time I wouldn't be that bothered, but it now kinda looks like Air Atlanta might have the old virgin planes (which seems like they weren't good enough for virgin &#33.

Anyone any ideas?

David

[MickeyMcMouse]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The Aircraft with registration G-VSSS, G-VRUM, G-VCAT and G-VBEE will all be assigned Icelandic registrations </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

These planes that Lisa mentioned are

G-VSS - Island Lady
G-VRUM - Calypso Queen
G-VCAT - Wild Thing
G-VBEE - Honey Pie


Calypso Queen and Wild Thing were definitely planes used on the Orlando route as we've been on them don't know about the other two. I think they are reasonably well kitted out.

Must get on and do some work now , , will log in at lunch time for any more updates.

David .

[Carole]

We were on Wild thing last year. It's one of the newer ones isn't it? I know it had more film choice than we usually get.

[Kazzie]

I do hope you manage to get to the bottom of it .