Virgin Premium Economy LGW - Orlando - quality?

[Jimlad1]

Hello all,

We're looking at booking flights on Virgin P/E to fly from LGW to Orlando in January. We've previously flown to SFO and JFK from LHR and loved the experience, but we've never flown from Gatwick before. I know that some of the LGW fleet are older than the LHR fleet, but are the P/E seats the same as on the LHR fleet, or are they older?

SLightly concerned we may end up paying same prices for inferior product - if so, can anyone recommend any good alternatives?

Thanks!

[fincastle84]

If you are visiting Disney then Orlando is obviously your best destination. However, if you're travelling around Florida then Tampa is a much better entry airport & the plane won't be full of screaming kids!

BA operates LGW-TPA 4 or 5 days a week using a 777. Their WT+ product is fine.

[PAXboy]

Not done that Florida run with VS but folk sin here do say that the whole service is slightly less than it should be. There is a forum dedicated to the 'v flyer' experience.

As to PE against WT+ on BA, I would take the PE myself. I don't work for any airline, just a pax.

[BillS]

The 747 fleet (http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Virgin%20Atlantic-active-b747.htm) that Virgin use on the Orlando run are actually newer than all but one of the LHR fleet.
The PE seats are not. The LGW seats are being replaced during the refits from May 2011.
One big advantage of their LGW 747s is that most of PE is upstairs in the "bubble".
As Paxboy says above check out v-flyer.com for trip reports. Some of these say that some people prefer the older PE seating!

[rogerg]

I did LGW/ Orlando a few years ago in PE with the wife and kids and we had a great trip. Almost like our own private jet. We were in the "bubble"

[Pax Agent]

However, all of BA's 777 on this run are fitted with AVOD (on demand entertainment) which will be much more benefitial to the children trevelling than sitting upstairs.

[doubledolphins]

Jim what on earth is wrong with First Choice? Down the back is just as good as Branson Air and up the front much better. :ok:

PS. Don't forget your ID Shipmate. It will get you and your family into Sea World and Busch Gardens free.

[airbourne]

I have done LGW-LAS and LGW-MCO with PE on virgin. Now there is Virgin Heathrow, and then this completly different Virgin flying out of Gatwick.

Both times, I requested and got 80k/80h. This is on the upper deck, and the last 2 seats on the right hand side, so there is nobody to your left so its even more private than being on the main cabin. Plus you get off first. Thats where the good things about it end. The IFE is SH1T! The seats are old and tatty and just because you pay for PE, dont expect for any real extra service. Both times I got crew that just couldnt wait to get away for a few days to the sun. I asked for Jack Daniels, NONE Smirnoff, NONE. Eventually got Barcardi that was poured from a big bottle with a V-mix cola. I should have drank paint stripper instead! Overall I was very disappointed with the service, maybe its the leisure routes!

On the trip to LAS, I return from SFO to LHR and it was a different product altogether! The crew much better, the seats, the IFE, the whole package.

Overall, I would avoid VS out of LGW if you are looking for something special!

[Jimlad1]

Thanks for all the helpful tips - much appreciated. Will look about a bit more - may also see if I can use FC miles to upgrade the PE seats to J seats if possible.

thanks again!