Virgin Atlantic

[ethanegcc]

View attachment 4493
Spotters (including me) are going to be pleased with this. It is now beginning to show more regularly and bookable on KLM website and VS.

 

[ethanegcc]

Will be great to see this at Manchester!

 

[Dobbo]

A good vote of confidence using the B777 over the B763. Encouraging for DL/VS future at MAN.

 

[ethanegcc]

Yes, I wouldn't have expected the 763 but the 333, but I agree with your point. The 777 is a very exclusive aircraft for DL (as mentioned above) and the fact they are operating it into MAN is a great sign.

 

[David_itl]

Vflyer website got a post from someone booked on MAN-BOS on 8th April has now found it's not operating though the BOS-MAN sector operates and on 15th & 22nd April MAN-BOS does operate but the BOS-MAN sector doesn't.

 

[Dobbo]

That is very odd. Looks like they are playing around with scheduling?

 

[ethanegcc]

Yes, they are playing around with it. Inbound still available, but the outbound on Sat 8th is not bookable.

Also, it is not bookable on the VS website but is on the DL website. It is, coincidentally, the same weekend DL is operating the ATL flights.

Could it be that we see Delta operating this BOS rotation due to VS crew shortages, much like ATL?

 

[Dobbo]

Unless the A333 refurb is not going to plan?

 

[ethanegcc]

It could be either. DL operating that flight is a possibility, if they have the a/c available.

Looking at the vlyer forum, the hyperbole is ridiculous, with the forum starter suggesting the flight has ended before it starts- there is one date not bookable!

All flights are still on Amadeus anyway.

 

[ethanegcc]

Confirmation of VS/DL switch for April http://www.routesonline.com/news/38...-manchester-limited-time-service-in-apr-2017/

 

[LBA787]

When did Delta last regularly operate the 777 out of MAN 2000?

Was it at the same time as Continental?

 

[nick hall]

When did Delta last regularly operate the 777 out of MAN 2000?

Was it at the same time as Continental?

Flew back from Atlanta on a Delta 772 in Nov 2002.

 

[andyc941]

These flights will be the rarer B772LR. The flights back then were B772ER aircraft.

 

[ethanegcc]

Just wondering, we know a lounge would be amazing at MAN, but what is the possibility of VS offering twilight check-in at Manchester, as they do from London Gatwick. Little changes like this would go further in securing MAN as a 'proper base' and providing MAN pax with an experience similar to that in London.

 

[Dobbo]

I imagine twilight check in requires certain facilities at the airport? Without the appropriate equipment to handle the overnight storage of baggage prior to loading on an aircraft, this obviously cannot work.

It should be the sort of product offered to flyers who are on an early morning flight for a number of airlines and I expect it to form part of the T2 infrastructure upgrade.

EDIT: a few airlines do offer this at MAN. Whether the facility is robust enough for a larger operation I don't know.

 

[ethanegcc]

VS/DL are still messing about with their April schedule at Manchester. Many Delta flights are now not bookable - however all are still showing on Delta's timetable website so it is unlikely these have been dropped but just that they are altering the schedule.

There is also some chatter that DL may move the departure time to 1345 of their 77L (which would be great for spotters to see them on 23R) and would coincide with their JFK departure/diversify TATL departures but otherwise unconfirmed.

It is great to see the flights are operating with 77L a/c, but I wish they would just get them bookable, so people will be on the plane!

 

[ethanegcc]

One example of an anomaly is this:
View attachment 4552
Flight departs 1325, arriving ATL at 1730 on Sunday 16th. No flights bookable on google flights for 8th/9th currently.

 

[ethanegcc]

Further proof from the DL website:
DL 157 departs MAN 1325, arriving ATL 1730 on Sunday 16th/23rd.
View attachment 4553

 

[Land23R]

Those fares are ludicrous and I'm less confident about what's actually happening.
The 23rd April flight is showing only a few seats taken - has it ever been bookable?

 

[ethanegcc]

One reason the gates are that much is because I selected a one way ticket (they are always that much). I am not sure if it has been bookable or not. Hopefully everything will become clear soon.