Virgin Upper Class
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: South of France
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I'm pleased you enjoyed your experience.
Most Upper Class flights are like this however, over the period of a year (approx one per month) of flying with them, I have been disappointed on a few occassions.
The Virgin experience IS different..I expect it to be more friendly and relaxed than some other carriers however, sometimes the crew need to understand that for £2500-£4000 a pop, they are there for our happiness and contentment and not the orher way round. I know this may sound a bit stuffy but I (and it is "I" because it's my company) don't pay to listen to numerous "happy-clappy" PA's, nor do I want to overhear the shrieks and jokes from the galley about last nights fun and games in the hotel.
When I travel short-haul to Europe, PA's/Briefings are over in 5 minutes. My last flight to Boston had a male Irish cabin manager who just would not stop talking..on and on about routes and the films and Boston. We then had a video of Sir Richard welcoming us aboard, a video about the entertainment system and then,amazingly, a 20 minute fear of flying program made by some of the pilots. An hour later we could watch some films..
Welcome, safety brief 10mins max. Then entertainment, food/drink, pleasant service. Lovely.
Most Upper Class flights are like this however, over the period of a year (approx one per month) of flying with them, I have been disappointed on a few occassions.
The Virgin experience IS different..I expect it to be more friendly and relaxed than some other carriers however, sometimes the crew need to understand that for £2500-£4000 a pop, they are there for our happiness and contentment and not the orher way round. I know this may sound a bit stuffy but I (and it is "I" because it's my company) don't pay to listen to numerous "happy-clappy" PA's, nor do I want to overhear the shrieks and jokes from the galley about last nights fun and games in the hotel.
When I travel short-haul to Europe, PA's/Briefings are over in 5 minutes. My last flight to Boston had a male Irish cabin manager who just would not stop talking..on and on about routes and the films and Boston. We then had a video of Sir Richard welcoming us aboard, a video about the entertainment system and then,amazingly, a 20 minute fear of flying program made by some of the pilots. An hour later we could watch some films..
Welcome, safety brief 10mins max. Then entertainment, food/drink, pleasant service. Lovely.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Australia
Age: 67
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I have just flown Upper Class for the first time, and those seats are truly horrible. I am one of those who loves to look out of the window whenever possible, and with the 45 degree arrangement, that is virtually impossible.
The reading light to me seems to be an unnecessary hazard, its in just the right position to clonk you in the temple if the driver needs to slam on the brakes during take-off
That pop-out drink shelf just below the lamp could have been designed to ensure that if you do manage to knock over your coffee (easy to do), it will finish up in your ear.
I also found the bed to be pretty uncomfortable, but thats probably just me.
Perhaps the above views are a tad jaundiced, my last flight was in Raffles Class on the 380, now thats how business class should be!
The reading light to me seems to be an unnecessary hazard, its in just the right position to clonk you in the temple if the driver needs to slam on the brakes during take-off
That pop-out drink shelf just below the lamp could have been designed to ensure that if you do manage to knock over your coffee (easy to do), it will finish up in your ear.
I also found the bed to be pretty uncomfortable, but thats probably just me.
Perhaps the above views are a tad jaundiced, my last flight was in Raffles Class on the 380, now thats how business class should be!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: South of France
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You see, even after two years, here I am ready to reply....
As it happens, I am flying back to blighty from LAX with VS this afternoon. Some of your points about the seat are very valid. Unkindly, I've often thought they look like a bunch (or whatever the collective noun is) of urinals. The product was interesting when it was launched but perhaps now is a little tired. However, by far the greatest change since my post of two years ago is the reduction in service level around the dreaded washbags, in-flight beauty therapists, menus and wine-lists. Everything, in fact, that goes towards making a premium cabin premium. I fly them because we get a very good coporate deal, otherwise I might be tempted to look around.
As VS do not fly to Brazil, I am going with BA next week who have a little promo on where you fly out J and back F. Actually, I think you can still get a normal J return but what the heck, it's a good excuse to see how BA are getting on with First after a few years since last experiencing it.
As it happens, I am flying back to blighty from LAX with VS this afternoon. Some of your points about the seat are very valid. Unkindly, I've often thought they look like a bunch (or whatever the collective noun is) of urinals. The product was interesting when it was launched but perhaps now is a little tired. However, by far the greatest change since my post of two years ago is the reduction in service level around the dreaded washbags, in-flight beauty therapists, menus and wine-lists. Everything, in fact, that goes towards making a premium cabin premium. I fly them because we get a very good coporate deal, otherwise I might be tempted to look around.
As VS do not fly to Brazil, I am going with BA next week who have a little promo on where you fly out J and back F. Actually, I think you can still get a normal J return but what the heck, it's a good excuse to see how BA are getting on with First after a few years since last experiencing it.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Milton Keynes
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Many of your points are valid; the light is poorly positioned and don't start me about the IFE headset plug positons; but I've never had a problem with the bed or generally CC so long as you like a fairly informal slightly confident style. So I still fly them.
VS will need to do something in the next two years though; the UCS is begining to look tired.
Lured to BA club world by their two for one offer run over a recent bank holiday for my nest trip- I'll see how they comapre.
VS will need to do something in the next two years though; the UCS is begining to look tired.
Lured to BA club world by their two for one offer run over a recent bank holiday for my nest trip- I'll see how they comapre.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 71
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I'm now a retired B747 flight engineer, but having travelled either as a company passenger, or a full fair paying passenger, if there is one thing that I wholly detest about flying it's the full-on blah blah blah over the PA. Some cabin crew, or indeed some flight crew, appear to believe that they are the next 'Airline Crew Have Got Talent' and are God's gift to airborne DJs!
If I'm a company passenger... well, I have to accept it. However, as a fair paying pasenger... grrrrrrrrr; it gets on my t**s!
If turbulence is expected up ahead on the route the pilots quite rightly put the seatbelt signs ON; possibly followed by an explanation as to why they have done so. But then, we have to hear it all over again from the cabin crew! All of this despite the PA announcement from when the seatbelt signs have gone OFF... "Please, when not moving around the cabin, keep your seatbelt loosely fastened in order that the cabin crew don't have to disturb you if and when the signs have to be switched ON again." It would appear that it's mandatory for all of the 'Muppet passengers' to unbuckle their seatbelts just because the signs have gone OFF! Why? The reason is quite simple... 'Muppet passengers', who seem to think that there is a distinct difference between an aeroplane and a car! Why would you remove your seatbelt in a car? Same deal in an aeroplane... the ride sometimes gets rough!
I'm sooooo pleased that I'm now retired, because I no longer have to be polite to those passengers who don't have an ounce of understanding. Nor do I have any patience for those 'frequent flyers' who totally ignore cabin safety briefings; they like to give everyone else the impression that they 'know everything'; cos they're frequent flyers; the Telegraph Crossword is more important! So, because of the 'crassness' of these 'know-all' people, the crew have to go to the extremes of repeating every single instruction... so, I guess I'm venting my spleen not at the airline crew, but at YOU... the so-called 'veteran traveller'.
Except for the odd occasion, I choose not to fly... why? Well, if it's a Bank Holiday weekend I'd rather stay at home than queue for hours at an airport check-in. Shell Suits and smelly trainers... no thank you! Actually, I'd like to watch the Shell Suit wearer throw him/herself down the escape chute... ouch! That lovely nylon fabric melting against the buttox due to the friction of the escape slide; despite a successful emergency egress... off to hospital with severe burns to the arse!
Frequent flyers huh?
TCF
If I'm a company passenger... well, I have to accept it. However, as a fair paying pasenger... grrrrrrrrr; it gets on my t**s!
If turbulence is expected up ahead on the route the pilots quite rightly put the seatbelt signs ON; possibly followed by an explanation as to why they have done so. But then, we have to hear it all over again from the cabin crew! All of this despite the PA announcement from when the seatbelt signs have gone OFF... "Please, when not moving around the cabin, keep your seatbelt loosely fastened in order that the cabin crew don't have to disturb you if and when the signs have to be switched ON again." It would appear that it's mandatory for all of the 'Muppet passengers' to unbuckle their seatbelts just because the signs have gone OFF! Why? The reason is quite simple... 'Muppet passengers', who seem to think that there is a distinct difference between an aeroplane and a car! Why would you remove your seatbelt in a car? Same deal in an aeroplane... the ride sometimes gets rough!
I'm sooooo pleased that I'm now retired, because I no longer have to be polite to those passengers who don't have an ounce of understanding. Nor do I have any patience for those 'frequent flyers' who totally ignore cabin safety briefings; they like to give everyone else the impression that they 'know everything'; cos they're frequent flyers; the Telegraph Crossword is more important! So, because of the 'crassness' of these 'know-all' people, the crew have to go to the extremes of repeating every single instruction... so, I guess I'm venting my spleen not at the airline crew, but at YOU... the so-called 'veteran traveller'.
Except for the odd occasion, I choose not to fly... why? Well, if it's a Bank Holiday weekend I'd rather stay at home than queue for hours at an airport check-in. Shell Suits and smelly trainers... no thank you! Actually, I'd like to watch the Shell Suit wearer throw him/herself down the escape chute... ouch! That lovely nylon fabric melting against the buttox due to the friction of the escape slide; despite a successful emergency egress... off to hospital with severe burns to the arse!
Frequent flyers huh?
TCF
TCF, but why, being retired, would you want to travel on a Bank Holiday weekend in the first place. The joy of being retired is that you can choose to travel off-peak and experience the minimum of hassle.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: United Kingdom
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Virgin Upper Class
My wife and I have happily been loyal to Virgin Atlantic with upwards of 250 transatlantic flights, mainly in Premium Economy. Shortly we fly LHR-MIA return in Upper Class, A340-600 out and 747-400 back. We are looking forward to it but have not had a good start!
Special occasion, so booked well in advance when virtually no seats were allocated. Upon advice from the Flying Club booked seats 2A and 3A outbound.
Yesterday, providing API, I was shocked to find my wife was still in 3A but I had been kicked out or 2A and moved to 9A, well away from her! Of course I know all seat allocations are subject to operational factors etc. etc., but if they needed to move me they could at least of told me and, if they cared at all, they could have kept my wife and I together.
Do not imagine there is any shortage of seats. Today there are still 23 unallocated seats available for reservation in Upper Class on the flight. Naturally I have ensured we are together, 9A and 10A, unless they decide to seperate us again, but the whole incident leaves a nasty taste and confirms we really are nothing more than SLF to Virgin Atlantic.
Special occasion, so booked well in advance when virtually no seats were allocated. Upon advice from the Flying Club booked seats 2A and 3A outbound.
Yesterday, providing API, I was shocked to find my wife was still in 3A but I had been kicked out or 2A and moved to 9A, well away from her! Of course I know all seat allocations are subject to operational factors etc. etc., but if they needed to move me they could at least of told me and, if they cared at all, they could have kept my wife and I together.
Do not imagine there is any shortage of seats. Today there are still 23 unallocated seats available for reservation in Upper Class on the flight. Naturally I have ensured we are together, 9A and 10A, unless they decide to seperate us again, but the whole incident leaves a nasty taste and confirms we really are nothing more than SLF to Virgin Atlantic.
