Virgin Upper Class
Supercharged PPRuNer
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Join Date: Nov 2000
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Virgin Upper Class v BA NCW
I’m planning a trip from London to Antigua, and am trying to decide between BA New Club World & Virgin Upper Class (I know, I know, tough choice).
BA are slightly cheaper and their times are more convenient, but I’ve heard very good things about Virgin’s service and am wondering whether to stump up the extra. Would be grateful to hear from anyone with experience of both products, and which they prefer.
BA are slightly cheaper and their times are more convenient, but I’ve heard very good things about Virgin’s service and am wondering whether to stump up the extra. Would be grateful to hear from anyone with experience of both products, and which they prefer.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Waste of money with either...as its not a heavy business user route..its a minimal token of the real thing for honeymooners and flash chavs, generally full of crew....
Last edited by jammydonut; 27th Mar 2006 at 14:52.
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Trying to figure out JDs response....
But
Virgin is consistently better in every department. Better check in, limo service (full price fares), far nicer lounges (breakfast cooked to order last time I used), IFE way better on some(all?) of their planes, sit down bar on board plane, massage and all that.
But
Virgin is consistently better in every department. Better check in, limo service (full price fares), far nicer lounges (breakfast cooked to order last time I used), IFE way better on some(all?) of their planes, sit down bar on board plane, massage and all that.
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Hi,
Whilst the UCS seat and meal service is the same from LHR and LGW, the LGW fleet only has 14 suites in the nose and no other area,no inflight beauty therapist area and the bar only has two stools compared to 4/6 on the LHR 747 fleet.
The LGW IFE tends to be Nova ( about 10 tv channels) compared vport (AVOD) or Odessey ( 20 channels) on the LHR 747-400.
Regards
TBS
Whilst the UCS seat and meal service is the same from LHR and LGW, the LGW fleet only has 14 suites in the nose and no other area,no inflight beauty therapist area and the bar only has two stools compared to 4/6 on the LHR 747 fleet.
The LGW IFE tends to be Nova ( about 10 tv channels) compared vport (AVOD) or Odessey ( 20 channels) on the LHR 747-400.
Regards
TBS
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Perhaps you should concentrate on your career instead of flouting your wealth in front of us wannabees!!
Of course BA is the way - whilst they do not have the limo driver they do have un-paralleled flexi-tickets!!
Massages aren't everything!!
Of course BA is the way - whilst they do not have the limo driver they do have un-paralleled flexi-tickets!!
Massages aren't everything!!
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Virgin Upper Class
Can anyone out there offer any opinions on Virgins upper class service.
Thinking about booking it for our honeymoon in St Lucia next year, but I'm concerned by the lack of personal contact between seats!
Thinking about booking it for our honeymoon in St Lucia next year, but I'm concerned by the lack of personal contact between seats!
Join Date: May 2006
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but I'm concerned by the lack of personal contact between seats!
You want to be concerned at the price more than anything mate!!!
However, It is very nice and extremely comfy!! i was lucky enough to travel to orlando in virgins upperclass suite on the top deck of the 747. There is relevant space for two as there is a seat tht is constructed at one end, if you look on the website it will tell you about it. There is one down side to the whole experience, the cost, extremely expensive, one has to ask ones self if 5K return to the states per person is worth it!! nevermind paying for the rest of the holiday!
Your choice mate.
You want to be concerned at the price more than anything mate!!!
However, It is very nice and extremely comfy!! i was lucky enough to travel to orlando in virgins upperclass suite on the top deck of the 747. There is relevant space for two as there is a seat tht is constructed at one end, if you look on the website it will tell you about it. There is one down side to the whole experience, the cost, extremely expensive, one has to ask ones self if 5K return to the states per person is worth it!! nevermind paying for the rest of the holiday!
Your choice mate.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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I last flew Upper Class LGW-BGI and found it truly superb; hard to imagine what more could have been offered, actually.
BTW - My honeymoon six years ago was also taken using VS, to Antigua, but economy class! Enjoy yours! :-)
BTW - My honeymoon six years ago was also taken using VS, to Antigua, but economy class! Enjoy yours! :-)
Paxing All Over The World
I am biased, as I try and get to the big seat no matter what the occasion! Also, my honeymoon (many moons ago) did not require a flight as we were going to the Lakes!
At one stage, VS were boasting that the partition between the seats could be lowered. However, that would only apply to the 747-400, which has a seat at each window and a pair in the middle (4-across), whereas the 340 aircraft (being narrower) are only 3-across. Check with VS through their website or call centre. Whilst Premium Economy is good, you do not get as much sleep.
Of course, a good reason to go in Upper is that you can take advantage of the opportunity to gain the maximum amount of sleep before you arrive at your destination ...
At one stage, VS were boasting that the partition between the seats could be lowered. However, that would only apply to the 747-400, which has a seat at each window and a pair in the middle (4-across), whereas the 340 aircraft (being narrower) are only 3-across. Check with VS through their website or call centre. Whilst Premium Economy is good, you do not get as much sleep.
Of course, a good reason to go in Upper is that you can take advantage of the opportunity to gain the maximum amount of sleep before you arrive at your destination ...
Join Date: Dec 2004
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I posted this link;
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb...provements.jsp
on a recent thread on beds in planes. Like someone pointed out above, it only applies to certain seats, and as I've not used one recently, I can't say if it still applies. Think it was a trial.
Someone else also pointed out, the partition only gets moved from the top end!
Don't forget, upper class also has a sit down bar in UC, which is nice on long flights, and you can both get an inflight massage, and eat together, if you want/when you want. I always think Virgin is better for these 'fun' things. Hope you have a great time.
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb...provements.jsp
on a recent thread on beds in planes. Like someone pointed out above, it only applies to certain seats, and as I've not used one recently, I can't say if it still applies. Think it was a trial.
Someone else also pointed out, the partition only gets moved from the top end!
Don't forget, upper class also has a sit down bar in UC, which is nice on long flights, and you can both get an inflight massage, and eat together, if you want/when you want. I always think Virgin is better for these 'fun' things. Hope you have a great time.
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Many thanks for all your replys. Sincere and cheeky
The double bed option with the partition removed is a trial on 3 or 4 LHR aircraft not on the caribbean routes out of Gatwick.
Price will be travel industry price so it doesn't sting so bad!
I guess the real question is do I go for BA club flat beds where I know the partition drops or go for the 'better'? product with Virgin but run the risk that it's difficult to hold a concersation with the person sat next to you unless they get up and sit on your ottoman foot stool!
The double bed option with the partition removed is a trial on 3 or 4 LHR aircraft not on the caribbean routes out of Gatwick.
Price will be travel industry price so it doesn't sting so bad!
I guess the real question is do I go for BA club flat beds where I know the partition drops or go for the 'better'? product with Virgin but run the risk that it's difficult to hold a concersation with the person sat next to you unless they get up and sit on your ottoman foot stool!
Está servira para distraerle.
I've flown Virgin Upper Class and BA First Class a couple of times each to and from Barbados.
It's the night flight back that's the cruncher and on each and every occasion the Virgin Upper Class flight was pretty horrendous.
The cabin crew seemed to regard any available space, such as that at emergency exits, as being stash ground for black plastic rubbish bags. The toilets were installed to be used as storage tables for empty trays? The so called clever little 'whenever you like' food was pretty mediocre and seemed to consist of a variety of sandwiches, which ran out in the midnight hours. The cabin crews left something to be desired in their attitudes toward running anything approaching a ship shape aircraft. I am sure that all the Virgin girls had had a lovely time in Barbados but the function of the company is surely not really to act as a holiday carrier for its employees?
It is some four years since I last flew that route with Virgin but I have no intention of doing so again. Branson's little clever dick marketing does not counter balance the quality of service provided by BA on the same route.
I fear that I am no longer athletic enough to worry too much about climbing over the seats for close counter excercises but I have always found that, were I so inclined, BA provide one with seating facilities which are more conducive to avoiding a hernia with the commensurate cries of agony which might have disturbed my fellow passengers and inhibited the passionate ardour.
The inevitable letter of complaint to Virgin on the worst occasion, produced no response at all, whereas a moan to BA when Condorde was five hours late ex Bridgetown to London produced two First Class round trip tickets.
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Cavortingcheetah,
Are you comparing Virgin Upper class with BA First?
As I understand it, the choice here is between BA club and virgin upper (as the two are more comparable in price). The only thing I can add is that if a person is big, then the virgin beds are better for sleeping - I find the BA club seats too short, when flat. But like many people point out, the experience often depends on the crew you get on the day.
Are you comparing Virgin Upper class with BA First?
As I understand it, the choice here is between BA club and virgin upper (as the two are more comparable in price). The only thing I can add is that if a person is big, then the virgin beds are better for sleeping - I find the BA club seats too short, when flat. But like many people point out, the experience often depends on the crew you get on the day.
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You could see if you could get the 2 seats in the nose of the aeroplane. I have travelled in this seat and my better half in the other. Although the seats are not that close (compared to the middle seats on the LHR aeroplanes) they are closer than the rest and you can still have a decent non shouting conversation.......Reckon thats your best bet..
Está servira para distraerle.
Fair point that!
Not fair at all to compare Virgin Upper Class with BA First.
Will still, however, take BA business over Virgin Upper as being less trashy but admit that there is a degree of prejudice in my thought.
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Once again many thanks for your comments.
I looked at row 6 A and K in the nose and they do look the best bet on the 747. After reading the reviews on airlinequality.com Virgin gets many bad reviews for upper class, mainly on poor staff attitude, in my experience this has always been a BA bug bear!!
I think Club wins, esecially for Mrs Yellow Snow
I looked at row 6 A and K in the nose and they do look the best bet on the 747. After reading the reviews on airlinequality.com Virgin gets many bad reviews for upper class, mainly on poor staff attitude, in my experience this has always been a BA bug bear!!
I think Club wins, esecially for Mrs Yellow Snow
Paxing All Over The World
You can't go wrong with BA Club. Even if you have poor cabin service, the seats are good and you know what you are getting.
When reading web sites with 'customer reviews', bear in mind that people are more likely to 8itch about their one bad trip in 20 years, than the 19 years of good! Unfortunately, variable staff response and behaviour is now standard in all lines of business.
When reading web sites with 'customer reviews', bear in mind that people are more likely to 8itch about their one bad trip in 20 years, than the 19 years of good! Unfortunately, variable staff response and behaviour is now standard in all lines of business.
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Hi PAXboy,
I always thought that only those that feel wronged complain but the airline quality website has loads of positive BA reviews!!
The BA seat does seem to tick all the boxes.
I always thought that only those that feel wronged complain but the airline quality website has loads of positive BA reviews!!
The BA seat does seem to tick all the boxes.