Virgin 737-8 Max Business Class - No Divider

[SeaWolf]

So let me get this right.
Pax pissed off because no divider and Y pax coming up to use the lav.
Pax pissed off because they don't like the curtain, which is a divider to keep Y pax out of the J cabin.

One thing I've learnt over the years is that people on the VA forum here will complain about everything. Virgin could start gold plating the boarding passes and people would be on here loudly declaring that the dazzle from it hurts their eyes!

 

[antycbr]

I do find the whole VA fleet refresh which is basically to squeeze an extra six seats into the aircraft as a bit unnecessary. How often do those last six seats sell, compared to the degradation of the business product and general annoyance factor for passengers and crew?

Having said that it’s been a long time since I’ve seen any substantial number of empty J seats so the product is still in demand (how much of that is bid ups is open to debate). Y passengers will just suck it up as proven by most passengers not paying for Y+.

 

[PERLHR]

Maybe it's because we see upgrade spend figures, then we see constant devaluation in experience,higher costs to pax then we see what comes out as the solution. Let's be honest, it does look somewhat laughable. But hey I'm sure VA know what they are doing ...

 

[PERLHR]

I do find the whole VA fleet refresh which is basically to squeeze an extra six seats into the aircraft as a bit unnecessary. How often do those last six seats sell, compared to the degradation of the business product and general annoyance factor for passengers and crew?

Having said that it’s been a long time since I’ve seen any substantial number of empty J seats so the product is still in demand (how much of that is bid ups is open to debate). Y passengers will just suck it up as proven by most passengers not paying for Y+.

I use expert flyer for showing "available" seats quite a bit while looking for upgrade bids..often on PER routes at least up to 24 hours before departure I would say upgrade available seats are between 50 and 75 percent for biz cabin assuming expert flyer is correct

 

[Mossimo]

Just experienced Business Class Brisbane to Perth return on VA462 from Brisbane on 31 October 2024 and on 5th November 2024 VA471.

Because there is no partition between Business Class and Economy on this plane, you have economy class passengers using the forward toilet usually reserved for Business and Cabin crew.

On the BNE to Perth route the cabin manager to my horror announced after take off that economy class passengers were welcome to use the forward toilet as well as the 2 at the rear.
On the Perth to Brisbane flight the cabin manager did not allow this, but the crew were constantly hassled by passengers because of this.
What on earth was the idea to not fit a cabin partition between business on these planes?

We had people queuing beside our business seats - we literally had business class seats become the 'seats beside the toilet'.

Idiotic.

Know the feeling, had a woman uncomfortably close right next to my seat waiting for the forward toilet, she was third in the queue. She was scanning my laptop work. Had to cease my work which put me behind schedule. Keep economy in the back, if you want the front, pay for it.

 

[travelislife]

I do find the whole VA fleet refresh which is basically to squeeze an extra six seats into the aircraft as a bit unnecessary. How often do those last six seats sell, compared to the degradation of the business product and general annoyance factor for passengers and crew?

Having said that it’s been a long time since I’ve seen any substantial number of empty J seats so the product is still in demand (how much of that is bid ups is open to debate). Y passengers will just suck it up as proven by most passengers not paying for Y+.

Very common for flights to be 100% full at the peak times on MEL-SYD and return. I know this because of attempts at using fly ahead every week last year and checking how many seats available. So those extra 6 seats have been sold at likely max $$. All extra margin, they wouldn’t have otherwise got without those additional seats. As the operating cost doesn’t change.

 

[Saab34]

Which is why the MAX10 will be somewhat important in triangle peak. Might fly not full for half the week but it’s those high margin peak periods that make up for it.

 

[twinaisle]

Which is why the MAX10 will be somewhat important in triangle peak. Might fly not full for half the week but it’s those high margin peak periods that make up for it.

With the 16J planned for it then it won't make a debut on MEL-SYD or short flights with 4 crew. No service would get finished.

 

[Saab34]

16J? Thought the idea was to cram more Y
Pax in. I guess if it’s playing only on triangle or transcon, then that configuration makes sense. Would have thought 12 might be suffice.

The next question is, how many seats they can creatively cram into the -10 with a 8/12/16J config. We might see a row like that Jetstar row where the seat is literally sitting onto the back bulkhead with no recline. Squeeeeeze em in.

 

[HS-TQE]

I wonder how long the so called "16J" holds up on the 737-10 before the management turns it back into the standard "8J" with 'moar' Y seats squeezed in at 30 in pitch, turning the remaining -10s into a glorified heavy Budget Carrier machine with a 8-seater Recliner cabin attached.

 

[PERLHR]

With the 16J planned for it then it won't make a debut on MEL-SYD or short flights with 4 crew. No service would get finished.

Do you think the galley will be provided with more ovens on the 10?

 

[Saab34]

The MAX-10 will likely be limited with missions due lower range if they intend to load it heavy config. Bali is seat capped so the extra seat count is pointless unless less they cancel and merge frequencies.

Seems like it will be a:
-Triangle
-Cairns/Gold Coast Peak
-Transcon
….machine

 

[twinaisle]

Do you think the galley will be provided with more ovens on the 10?

No. They've ripped out 2/4 ovens in the rear to make it standard 2 ovens in the back like the max deliveries. They wanted the additional space where the ovens were for more storage space but funnily enough it's full of empty atlas boxes

 

[Mondo]

A couple of pics of the curtain tied up and in use. I've blurred the faces. It goes all the way to the ground and is hooked to the rear of the row 2 seats

 

[ecole16]

Just wondering how many aircraft left now with the old purple perspex divider?

 

[Harrison_133]

Just wondering how many aircraft left now with the old purple perspex divider?

Around 30 aircraft. All 737-800s. The new 31-row configuration is now more common.

 

[azza_1992]

Very common for flights to be 100% full at the peak times on MEL-SYD and return. I know this because of attempts at using fly ahead every week last year and checking how many seats available. So those extra 6 seats have been sold at likely max $$. All extra margin, they wouldn’t have otherwise got without those additional seats. As the operating cost doesn’t change.

Except the six extra seats will be sold the cheapest.

Revenue management already know how many seats they should keep free until last minute, so they can be sold for max $$$. That won't change.

But with 6 more seats in the aircraft, they must discount to coax 6 more people onto the flight - i.e. the 6 people for whom the current prices are just slightly too high.

 

[ecole16]

Around 30 aircraft. All 737-800s. The new 31-row configuration is now more common.

Thanks, have a trip coming up and was wondering what the chances are of scoring the old config before it goes.. that gives a bit of an idea!

 

[Atleastonce]

I have scrolled through this topic and not seen any comments about row 3 so please excuse me if this has been mentioned. My wife and I (both WP) almost exclusively fly row 3, (except when I got a J fare last night when booking some double status flights for 20 cents more than a choice fare), so when in row 3 I normally sit in the middle seat. My wife is a photographer and likes the window seat, I just sit and work or read so doesn’t bother me except for the following.

The problem is with no divider the middle seat doesn’t get a seat pocket in row 3. I can use the seat pocket in front of my wife because it is larger being on the back of the J seat but if travelling by yourself this may not be an option. Poor customer experience when you either pay more for economy X through status or cash upgrade.

 

[twinaisle]

I have scrolled through this topic and not seen any comments about row 3 so please excuse me if this has been mentioned. My wife and I (both WP) almost exclusively fly row 3, (except when I got a J fare last night when booking some double status flights for 20 cents more than a choice fare), so when in row 3 I normally sit in the middle seat. My wife is a photographer and likes the window seat, I just sit and work or read so doesn’t bother me except for the following.

The problem is with no divider the middle seat doesn’t get a seat pocket in row 3. I can use the seat pocket in front of my wife because it is larger being on the back of the J seat but if travelling by yourself this may not be an option. Poor customer experience when you either pay more for economy X through status or cash upgrade.

It will be a shared seat pocket! Also great space under the seat infront for your bags with the no divider