Virgin's A320 Hellship, Adelaide-Perth

[jase05]

Keep in mind, the 737-700s are going to be fitted with J as part of the refurb for the rest of the 737-800s

That’s all well and good for future travel but doesn’t help us at the minute. I just find it easier to book QF on that route unfortunately

 

[Saab34]

I thought they kept the Tiger A320s the same? The pitch looks like it has shrunk even further?

 

[jakeseven7]

Just have to say the title of this thread is the absolute best. I chuckle every time it pops up. Hellship. Love it.

 

[Scarlett]

The VARA A320s the family Scarlett flew on the Xmas Is and CKI routes were only acceptable because they weren’t full. I recall most rows had the middle seat vacant. We were booked for row 1 but for all flights were punted back to row 20-something due to the first few rows being reserved for crew.

It is made up of course because you get this sort of thing:



I have however had the full hellship experience DRW-PER with three guys seated A,B,C in a row. Could barely walk on arrival PER. 74cm pitch maybe? (that flight was on -VNF)

The Indian Ocean Territories frames were -VKQ (edit: this was -VNB) and -VNP. I didn’t realise they had both 28 row and 30 row configs. Anyone have a list of which is which?

 

[Saab34]

Tiger cloth seated aircraft had a seat pitch of the below.

28.5’/72.5cm

VKQ is the old VNO which should have leather seating?

 

[Harrison_133]

Tiger cloth seated aircraft had a seat pitch of the below.

28.5’/72.5cm

VKQ is the old VNO which should have leather seating?

VNO had cloth seating.

 

[A321]

Yep my bird was VNR with 30 rows cloth seating (and seating showing its age)

 

[Scarlett]

Does cloth seating definitely mean 30 rows and therefore 72.5cm pitch?

From a review of my other photos, both VNB and VNP had cloth seats.

Airfleets lists 7 ‘hellships’ in the VARA fleet (in increasing MSN order - ie: older to newer):
- VNB (PER-LEA-CCK-XCH cloth)
- VNP (XCH-CCK and CCK-XCH-PER cloth)
- VNJ
- VND
- VNF (not sure - legroom felt VERY tight)
- VNR (per @A321 cloth)
- VKQ (per @Harrison_133 cloth)

 

[Saab34]

The only Tiger aircraft with leather appeared to be VNR, VNQ, XUG, XUH. None of those ended up at VARA however, all fairly new still, went to other operators.

The original Tiger leather VNR went to another operator, and VNK was then re Registered to VNR.

 

[Harrison_133]

Does cloth seating definitely mean 30 rows and therefore 72.5cm pitch?

From a review of my other photos, both VNB and VNP had cloth seats.

Airfleets lists 7 ‘hellships’ in the VARA fleet (in increasing MSN order - ie: older to newer):
- VNB (PER-LEA-CCK-XCH cloth)
- VNP (XCH-CCK and CCK-XCH-PER cloth)
- VNJ
- VND
- VNF (not sure - legroom felt VERY tight)
- VNR (per @A321 cloth)
- VKQ (per @Harrison_133 cloth)

All VARA A320s have the cloth seats used by Tiger, and are in the process of being standardised into the 180 seat configuration.

VNB and VNP are the only two left with 168 seats.

 

[Scarlett]

All VARA A320s have the cloth seats used by Tiger, and are in the process of being standardised into the 180 seat configuration.

VNB and VNP are the only two left with 168 seats.

That makes perfect sense then, as the IOT flights we took on those two frames actually felt okay FWIW. (spare middle seat and just enough leg room)

Thanks for the info.

 

[DC3]

VA Hellship

 

[A321]

It would have been nice if the A320 Hellships had plans to reconfig if they are going to be staying in the fleet for a while, a la the 737 refits of the older birds. I guess they don't want to spend money on "FIFO planes".

I have read earlier in this thread these birds are only on RPT services due to a lack of 737s, doesn't look to be changing any time soon.

 

[Scarlett]

Check out this for ‘hellship’ status:




I’ve flown TAP in Y on an A320 and can confirm it’s properly uncomfortable. For this two hour flight above, maybe just acceptable.

Also note that on this same route Ryanair claim 76cm pitch on their B737s and Easyjet claim 74cm pitch on their A320s.

Modern Y flying really is a race to the bottom…

 

[Saab34]

So have any of the -700s which are predominantly Perth based, been upgraded with the new seating yet?

 

[Obzerva]

So have any of the -700s which are predominantly Perth based, been upgraded with the new seating yet?

Not the all economy 737-700s yet, but I believe one of the original ones (VH-VBY) has been in for an update.

 

[Harrison_133]

So have any of the -700s which are predominantly Perth based, been upgraded with the new seating yet?

VBY and VBZ have been done. Flew on VBZ on its first day with the new seats, felt a lot fresher.

The all-economy 700s should be up soon for refurb from what I've heard.

 

[Saab34]

VBY and VBZ have been done. Flew on VBZ on its first day with the new seats, felt a lot fresher.

The all-economy 700s should be up soon for refurb from what I've heard.

Good to see. When was the first -700 done?

Would be great to see if they invested in new overhead bins. I see some of the American carriers refitted new bins in the 737s. The older 737 bins are tiny.

 

[Harrison_133]

Good to see. When was the first -700 done?

VBY was done a few weeks ago. VBZ followed straight after and returned to service on Friday just gone.