787 on European routes?

[MitchT]

Just watching (on FR24) G-TUIC descending into MAN after a flight from PFO.

[jinkster]

I'm off to Muscat from Qatar (1.5hr flight) in a few weeks in a B777-300. Its a regular occurrence around the gulf because of the high density flights.

[tfin]

For those interested, it was a 787. It was lovely

[onyx39]

tfin said:

For those interested, it was a 787. It was lovely

and It didn't spontaneously combust???

[Munter]

tfin said:

For those interested, it was a 787. It was lovely

Good. Because I'm taking one to Mexico in a month or so.

[Otispunkmeyer]

tfin said:

pushthebutton said:

Thomson's 737 fleet range from fairly to very new. There aren't any battered old ones left afaik.

I flew on one last year, wasn't the best to be honest. The seats were worn and tired, none of the drop down screens were working and the whole thing just felt a bit past its sell by date.

Better than walking though.

Don't fly on say, United to the US. Last time I went the 747 was older than I was and in premium economy we had the good old projector screen on the bulk head, replete with weird burn in mark and uneven lighting. Was unlucky though because some of their fleet have had WiFi retrofitted which, if you connect with an iPad or something, gives you access to a media server that works like a seat back unit would. Quite a neat solution really because most people will have something like that these days on the plane. No way to charge them up though!


Re the 787... I often see the Virgin 787 coming into EMA. Not sure what route it runs or what they are actually doing with it (seen some flights on FR24 where it was just doing loops of the airport or flying to scotland and back). But you definitely notice it coming in. Much bigger than the usual 737 and Dash-8 fair coming into EMA. Its so slow on the approach it just looks like its hanging in the air too. Very surreal to watch it.

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Friday 26th June 14:05

[onyx39]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Re the 787... I often see the Virgin 787 coming into EMA. Not sure what route it runs or what they are actually doing with it (seen some flights on FR24 where it was just doing loops of the airport or flying to scotland and back). But you definitely notice it coming in. Much bigger than the usual 737 and Dash-8 fair coming into EMA. Its so slow on the approach it just looks like its hanging in the air too. Very surreal to watch it.

Sounds like training flights.

[J4CKO]

Munter said:

tfin said:

For those interested, it was a 787. It was lovely

Good. Because I'm taking one to Mexico in a month or so.

And me, cant wait !

[thehawk]

I take 777/787/A330 flights in Asia all the time that are <2 hours. Singapore-Bangkok route flown by SQ/TG/TZ is entirly widebody and about 2 hours.

Then in Thailand many domestic flights use 777/A330 for 50 minute flights. e.g. BKK-CNX, they even used the 787 on that route for it's introduction.

[Puggit]

Some of the US airlines are/were known to reposition 777s (especially) and 747s in the past from AMS-LHR. You could book in on these flights.

[alangla]

onyx39 said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

Re the 787... I often see the Virgin 787 coming into EMA. Not sure what route it runs or what they are actually doing with it (seen some flights on FR24 where it was just doing loops of the airport or flying to scotland and back). But you definitely notice it coming in. Much bigger than the usual 737 and Dash-8 fair coming into EMA. Its so slow on the approach it just looks like its hanging in the air too. Very surreal to watch it.

Sounds like training flights.

Saw this landing at Prestwick yesterday. Flightradar indicated that it was due to head back to EMA, but I didn't get to see it take off. Looks good in Virgin livery.

[Boozy]

I just flew on a Virgin from Newark to Heathrow, lovely aircraft to be in.

[ChrisR99]

That's great to hear! I'm flying on a Virgin 787-9 from LAX to LHR on the 15th.

[IanUAE]

Flown 787 from Doha to Dubai (1 hour flight!). Prefer the A380 though.

[OMG_TURBOZ]

Testaburger said:

Yup, all about demand. We send 777s, 747s and A330s on 50 minute flights, many times a day.

Demand for some of the short routes is so high that it makes sense, rather than getting some smaller aircraft.

We?

[alangla]

Puggit said:

Some of the US airlines are/were known to reposition 777s (especially) and 747s in the past from AMS-LHR. You could book in on these flights.

Noticed recently on FR24 a Virgin 747 doing a Belfast to Glasgow flight, presumably the Orlando holiday aircraft repositioning. It doesn't come up as bookable on Virgin Atlantic's website, assume this actually runs empty & there's no way to book on it?