Is Premium Economy worth it with Virgin?

[Debs Hill]

I would love to hear from anyone who has flown PE, in your opinion was it worth it? Has anyone flown 'Club Orlando' from Manchester and sat in Upper Class? Love to hear from you all and help me make up my mind!

[pauldents]

Hi,

We got a complimentary upgrade to PE in March( 02 ). We have just booked a 2 week stay at the Hard Rock for October and added PE seating to the reservation.

After having the luxury of PE in march, we felt there was no going back.

Some of the benefits include :-

Dedicated check-in. No queues.

You board after first class.

Big seats with footrests and a nice storage compartment next to your seats.

Cabin crew are more attentive. Meals & drinks come quicker.

Off the plane first(after first class) so you are at immigration and baggage claim first ( your bags come off the plane first)

You are at the car rental desk first.
-------------------------------------------
I wouldn't be to bothered with first class. The prices are ridiculous. Nice to get an upgrade though !

[lisag1]

How much is PE?

Lisa

[pauldents]

£495.00 return each. BUT i think it has come down in price for 2003.

Paul

[lisag1]

You know I would love to go PE but would absolutely hate to pay the upgrade and it would be pretty expensive with us having 3 kids. Plus I doubt any of the other PE passengers would be too happy to see us!!!! But don't you think that it's extra money that could be put to good use on your holiday? The reason I say that is because we added on an extra 5 nights to our holiday last November to stay concierge at WDW Polynesian Resort which is a deluxe hotel and it still cost less than the PE upgrade!!! I suppose I can't really justify the cost in my mind, now if I was offered a free upgrade on the other hand...... ;)

Here's hoping one day.....!

Lisa

ps We were upgraded FOC when we went to Boston in February on a United Airlines flight and I was really excited until I got in the cabin. Somehow I don't think it compared to Virgin's Premium Economy!!

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I've flown in all three of Virgin's cabins, and I don't think that it is worth the extra money for an 8 hour flight plus some nice perks at the airports. The money that you would have to spend on the upgrade would allow you to stay at a more luxurious hotel, buy annual tickets or Unlimited Magic Passes, stay a few extra days, or treat yourself to great meals on most days. Given the choice between a better flight or a better holiday, I would vote for the holiday every time.

Regards

Rob

[Claire L]

I would say PE is worth it because:
1. You start your holiday feeling relaxed (not like a couped up chicken set free ater 8 hours).
2. Quieter surroundings in the executive lounge at Gatwick.
3. Priority check-in.
4. More attention on the flight from the flight attendents.
5. No moaning from hubby who's 6ft 4in and needs the extra space for his legs!!!!!!!!
Well thats my reasons.
Claire :D

[UKDEB]

It's very difficult to say whether or not it's 'worth it', because we all put different value on things. Is it better? Yes, definitely.

I'm a nervous flyer and anything which makes the journey less stressful is 'worth' a lot to me. When I consider Lisa's and Rob's arguments, they make perfect sense, but luckily I'm not in the position of having to choose between PE and luxury accommodation and both are important to me. If I did have to choose, then I guess it <i>would</i> be difficult to choose PE over better accommodation.

The benefits have all been mentioned in other posts. I love not having to queue at check-in and being first off the plane (and thus being able to fly through Orlando International airport). The PE cabin is much nicer - like a private function room rather than a vast hanger-like environment. And the cabin crew/passenger ratio is much higher.

Last July we got upgraded to Upper Class - something you could never hope to do if you book Economy.

***Claire***

I don't think the Executive Lounge is automatic with PE, is it? We were given a pass to the Sir Robert Hardingham Lounge last year courtesy of Virgin Holidays because we'd booked a fly-drive. Usually we book flights only and have to pay to use the lounge. I'd love for you to tell me different! How many times have you got the lounge and in what circumstances?

[kazzie]

ABSOLUTELY:D EVERY PENNY!

[neilybealy]

for those of you that just happen to be flying virgin from gatwick to orlando on 21 sept 2002 @ 11.15...........

if you see a rather pain striken 6'2" bloke with his legs wrapped up round his ears surrounded by screaming kids and he doesn't wave hello back then i'll apologise now !!

:(

neil

[Claire L]

UKDEB,
Rang Virgin and asked them about access to an executive lounge which they said was included although it wasn't their own one which we paid extra for last year (able to do as on honeymoon). May call again just to confirm that I got the right answer!! Thinking about it perhaps as we are Frequent Virgins thats why they said it was included.
Claire :)

[Claire L]

UKDEB,
Just made call to Virgin and on check in for PE everyone is given invitation to business lounge. Unfortunately it isn't the Virgin Clubhouse, but at least its better than the normal departure lounge!!
Claire :D

[neilybealy]

sounds lovely
:)

[Boo Boo Too]

Passengers travelling in PE now get access to a Serviceair lounge (this has been introduced during the last 6 months, I believe).

By the way, passengers can get upgraded from economy to Upper Class (that has happened to me on a LHR-LAX flight), but it is very, very rare. We were incredibly late checking in for our flight (some car park mix up - thanks Thomas Cook and BCP! - on Boxing Day), but some really lovely check-in agent found us the last two seats on the plane (which happened to be in Upper Class).... :-) Still UKDEB is correct, you are much more likely to get a an upgrade from PE (apparently this is common on the Gatwick to Orlando route - since very few business travellers use this route...). Beware, though, being upgraded to Upper Class can led to you spending hours searching the internet for bargain UC fares... (is another £400, over PE, for Upper Class worth it??? Depends how spoilt you are...)

As to weather PE is worth it, that is very subjective:
- are you tall?
- is sleep on the return flight fairly important to you?
- do you have a large family (cost can be inhibitive)?
- do you like being treated more like a human being (rather than a piece of cargo)?
- do you have spare money (what would you have to give up to have it - it isn't worth going into debt for!)?

There will probably be less kids in PE than in regular economy (and those kids that are in PE, are in less close proximity to you!), but there will be kids. There were on the LGW-MIA route I flew last year and there will be even more on the Orlando route.

Don't feel peer pressure to book PE. Concentrate on enjoying your holiday.

Boo

[neilybealy]

Originally posted by Boo Boo Too
(is another £400, over PE, for Upper Class worth it??? Depends how spoilt you are...)



according to the virgin atlantic website the price for upper class to orlando in sept 2002 is £4,045.00 each !!!

[Boo Boo Too]

If you buy a Continental BusinessFirst ticket (they codeshare on Virgin flights into Miami - not Orlando, I am afraid), you get Virgin UC check-in, Virgin Clubhouse entry (including use of the salon) and a Virgin UC seat on a Virgin plane. You do not get limo transfer of FC miles (you get Continental miles).

Continental BusinessFirst tickets (LGW-MIA) can be bought for £1599 + tax (so about £1679 total) per person in July. Its still a lot of money, but less than half of what the Virgin Websiste charge...

So depends how much people are paying for their Virgin flights + upgrades to PE. In july maybe £650 + £500 to upgrade (£1150?)? Excuse me if I am over-estimating. So about £500 difference possibly.

Boo

[caroley]

I didn't think I could justify the extra cost of PE but now the prices have come down, and you can do PE one way, I have booked economy going in 2003 but PE for the return journey. It cost us an extra £175 each less my FV 10% discount. The theory is that we'll be able to sleep better on the overnight flight and wake up to morning in the UK and so get less jet lag. Also I find that we feel more confined and cramped on the return journey, which I think is because we've been on our feet all day and our legs are tired.
Whatever, It's booked and I don't regret the extra cost.

[neilybealy]

Originally posted by Boo Boo Too
If you buy a Continental BusinessFirst ticket (they codeshare on Virgin flights into Miami - not Orlando, I am afraid), you get Virgin UC check-in, Virgin Clubhouse entry (including use of the salon) and a Virgin UC seat on a Virgin plane. You do not get limo transfer of FC miles (you get Continental miles).

Continental BusinessFirst tickets (LGW-MIA) can be bought for £1599 + tax (so about £1679 total) per person in July. Its still a lot of money, but less than half of what the Virgin Websiste charge...

So depends how much people are paying for their Virgin flights + upgrades to PE. In july maybe £650 + £500 to upgrade (£1150?)? Excuse me if I am over-estimating. So about £500 difference possibly.

Boo

great tip Boo

when i last went to orlando (with parents back in 1990) we flew pan am into miami and had to get another flight upto orlando

[Boo Boo Too]

Flying into Miami is particularly handy if you are taking a cruise out of Miami/Fort Lauderdale before going to Orlando.

We are staying in Fort Lauderdale before the cruise, 7 night Western Caribbean cruise, leisurely (long) drive up to WDW, 5 nights YC, leisurely (long) drive back to Miami, 2 nights in Miami before the flight back.

Boo

[neilybealy]

very nice too

:D

[Hilary]

I haven't experienced PE, so excuse me throwing in my 2 cent's worth without having first hand experience!

Personally, I'd go along with Deb's comment that PE is better - it's the 'worth it?' that's the hard bit to quantify. Personally, I'd rather make do with two lots of nine hours in economy and have more money to spend for the14 days in Florida (but then I'm not very tall).

I have happily paid extra for the legroom seats on charters, but the kind of prices quoted for scheduled PE upgrades put it into the 'not worth it' category for me, I'm afraid.

[neilybealy]

guess i'll just have to wait til i've flown virgin economy in sept and see if i would pay more money to fly in future

[lisag1]

Rob,

You have an Amex card don't you. Do you still get access to the VIP lounge as a perk of being a card holder??

Lisa

[Theresa Hudson]

Well we are going PE in December 2003.(the other two times were economy). It is a long time to wait!

There are 5 of us, 4 adults, 1 child (very well behaved). As we are paying for all the flights it did work out quite a bit more expensive (but I got 10% flying club discount). I am going to try and keep it a secret from the rest of the family. My Mum has a bad hip and it will be much more comfortable for her and I know the rest of us will enjoy it. Also as my parents are getting older this may be their last trip (mind you they said that last time) and they do so much for us that I like to spoil them and of course that means us too!! :p

The only thing is I am worried about flying economy after, once spoilt!

I don't think there is anyway all 5 of us would get upgraded to Upper Class.

It is more affordable now that the price has been reduced and I suppose it will be interesting to see if Virgin put the price up again, if it is too popular!!

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by lisag1
Rob,

You have an Amex card don't you. Do you still get access to the VIP lounge as a perk of being a card holder??

Lisa

Not that I'm aware of. It's only a basic BA/Amex card so maybe there are perks for Platinum members?

Regards

Rob

[UKDEB]

Yes, I had an offer from Virgin Flying Club recently for a Platimun Amex card and I got quite excited when I saw that you get free access to airport lounges. Then I noticed the fee for the card! :earseek: (about £250 per year, I think).

Claire - thanks for that. Do you know if it applies only to those booking with Virgin Holidays? We've booked flights only with Virgin Atlantic. We are members of the Flying Club, but not the Frequent Flyers Club. I was intending to book the lounge through ABC Holiday Extras, but maybe I'd better give Virgin a ring.

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
Amex Platinum withdrew the offer of the use of the Virgin lounge this April according to Virgin Atlanic only Upper Class passengers or Flying Club gold members can use their lounge.Frequent Virgin Holiday's card holders can use "a lounge" for a fee but not Virgin's own lounge and only if they are flying as a Virgin Holiday customer.We used the Priority pass Lounge on our last trip and it was very comfortable.
One quick question on the new Virgin fleet is PE upstairs or down??

Mick.

:smooth:

[Claire L]

UKDEB,
With regards to PE I was told ANYONE who booked PE had access to the lounge. But it's worth a call to clarify!!

Mickg7wdw,
I think that the seating on the new planes is all upstairs for PE, someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Claire :D :D

[UKDEB]

Thanks Claire - I'll give them a call.

Mick - PE on the new 747-400s on the Orlando route is upstairs.

[JohnW]

I don't know about the Orlando route, but I can tell you that there are some PE seats downstairs on the 747-400s that are on the LHR to San Francisco route. Rows 75, 76, 77 are downstairs, immediatley to the right as you get on, ie Upper Class to your left, the stairs upstairs in front of you and then as you turn right to go toward the back of the plane, the first 3 rows are PE. There are just two seats in each row as there is a solid wall on your left as you walk down (or your right if you are on the other side of the plane!!).

[Fantasia Sam]

Right so where do I by cheaper PE seats on Virgin??

I'm being quoted £1800 on Expedia for a flight in December is that PE ? I'm sure I read somewhere that someone paid less than this?

BA are quoting me £1900 for Club at the same time.

Thanks

[Boo Boo Too]

Try....

http://www.travelselect.com/cheapflights_v3/ (you will need to do an advanced search to get premium economy and budiness fares), and

http://www.airnet.co.uk/

Also try Virgin Travelstore/Holidays: prices the fly drive in economy and then add the upgrade fee for PE. I think the website is http://www.virgin.com/travelstore/index_cl.html (but am sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong) - I think that you can get a discount for booking online.

I normally book my holiday seperately, but it is always worth comparing the prices of booking things independently to booking them as a package...

Good Luck
Boo

(if I the best prices I could get for PE was only £100 less than BA Club, I know what I would go with - Premium Economy is nothing like Business Class)

[Debs Hill]

Thanks for all your comments so far..we've decided to go for it and spoil ourselves! Can anyone tell me more about the lounge that you have access to, is it open for under 12 year olds as well as adults? Is there one at Manchester or just Gatwick?

Has anyone flown from Manchester in the 'club Orlando' seats? Do you know whether PE from Manchester is upstairs or downstairs?

Thanks again!

[rich1231]

I thought the PE upgrade was well worth it. I am only 5'10 and economy seats send me round the bend.

On the subject of Lounge access, Amex Centurion cardholders still get clubhouse access.

Rich

[lisag1]

Rich,

What is the Amex Centurion Card and how does it differ from Platinum???

Lisa

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Isn't the Centurion the black Amex card which is by invitation only? I dread to think what the annual fee is on that one!

Regards

Rob

[rich1231]

£650 a year

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Even higher than I thought. What does £650 buy you?

Regards

Rob

[rich1231]

All the same benefits as Platinum, insurance etc.

Amazing flight offers, but the best thing so far i have found is the concierge service.

i call up with a seemingly impossible rerquest 2 hours later, its sorted. Tickets or tables anywhere etc.

Flight Discounts and upgrades etc

Rich

[Fantasia Sam]

So Boo are you saying to me that Premium Economy isn't as good BA Club. If so I'll just fly BA Club and use my air miles.

On the subject of Amex Cards - I am a Platinum member was not aware of all the benefits - where can I access a list to find out exactly what the benefits are, does anyone know?

[Elaine Guidi]

Under what circumstances would you get a complimentary upgrade. Is it more likely to be issued to 2 people travelling rather than larger groups, and would children ever get it. The reason I ask is because I will be travelling with Virgin Feb 03 with DH and 2 children, basic economy class, and just wondered if there was even the slightest chance of us being this lucky - things like that don't usually happen to us, usually the people in front or behind. TY

[lisag1]

Sam,

You should've got a Platinum "welcome pack". Give Amex a call and ask them to send one or look on their website and that should give you all the information you need.

On the subject of Amex "perks" I used to find them cheaper on accommodation and flights a few years ago, but lately I've been able to find the same flights & accom for less elsewhere. Don't know if I've just been unlucky :(

Lisa

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by Fantasia Sam
So Boo are you saying to me that Premium Economy isn't as good BA Club. If so I'll just fly BA Club and use my air miles.


In my opinion PE is not as good as BA's Club Class, particularly on routes that BA have converted so that the seats fold down to horizontal beds (have they done this on the Orlando route yet?). Given a choice of Club or PE I'd be in Club every time.

Regards

Rob

[Fantasia Sam]

Rob

When we went in May the Stewards in Club told us that the Gatwick to Orlando route was one of the last routes to be converted to flat beds! I have to say it meant that there were a few little superficial problems with the cabin which they were obviously just leaving as it didn't seem worth repairing if they were going to be re-furbished. I wonder if BA's results will have any affect on whether or not they still go through with converting this route?

Thanks for your valued opinion on PE versus Club - I think I'm about ready to book.

[rich1231]

Rob,

any ideas on getting good rates on BA's club seats?

rich

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I've only been in the Club cabin Club when flying on business, so can't help with getting good deals I'm afraid. Paying all that money for a holiday flight is just a distant dream...

Regards

Rob

[Boo Boo Too]

FantasiaSam

Club World is definitely very different to Premium Economy: the former is business class, the later is economy with more space (like BA's World Traveller Plus):
- PE has 38" seat pitch, CW has at least 50".
- PE has reclining seats, CW has cradle seats or flat (if narrow) beds.
- PE serves economy food, CW serves much better food and wine.
- CW can use a proper business class lounge, PE passengers may ger to use a "servisair" lounge if they are lucky.

PE should be quite a bit better than economy, but is nowhere like business class.

CW is more like Virgin Upper Class: if it was a choice between those two, then I would choose Upper Class (although other people may choose Club World...):
- UC is the highest class on a Virgin Plane (on BA, you have First above you).
- UC doesn't have fully flat beds: most planes are fitted with seats which go flat, but at a slight angle (so you can slip down in your sleep... :-( ). Some people prefer BA because its bed seats go fully flat.
- UC has 2-2-2 seating on a 747, CW has 2-4-2 seating on a 747.
- UC has a freedom menu (order what you want when you want it), BA has a more traditionally set menu served at set times.
- UC has Virgin Clubhouses (very nice).
- Virgin FAs in UC are very friendly and relaxed (although with execllent service), BA can be a bit more formal.

CW or UC is down to personal choice.

Still if your choice is Virgin PE OR BA CW, there is no contest.... go for BA CW - you would be disappointed with PE in comparison to a business class product such as CW (although, as I said earlier, it is still a big improvement on economy...).

Boo

[rob@rar.org.uk]

You forgot one Boo - Upper Class gets you inflight massages. Very nice...

Regards

Rob

[Boo Boo Too]

Inflight massages - and inflight bar - only on certain routes (same with "flat" beds): I don't believe that the Orlando flights have the onboard massages (the Miami flights didn't have them last Summer).

Still you could always have a massage/facial/hair cut/leg wax (ouch!)/body wrap etc. in the Virgin Clubhouse, at Gatwick, before you board... :-)

Boo

[UKDEB]

I haven't flown in BA Club, but I have read, 'seen' and heard (f-i-l regularly flies BA Club and First Class) enough to know that BA Club is far superior to Virgin Premium Economy. The only thing I would say is that you're not comparing like with like. You wouldn't normally expect to pay £1800 for PE. We paid £1100 last July and we're paying £767 for this October. Even Virgin Holidays' prices in its latest brochure are only £350 (round trip) on top of Economy prices. I can't imagine you could hope to get BA Club at prices anywhere near those (although if anyone knows better do let on!).

As Boo Boo Too says, PE is comparable with World Traveller Plus (which isn't available on the Orlando route), and Upper Class with Club.

On the new Virgin 747-400s on the Orlando route, the seats in Upper Class are 2-2 right at the front of the plane, increasing to 2-2-2 in the wider part of the fuselage. No bar, no massage, and the seats are not those shown on Virgin's website. However they are new, electronically operated Recaro seats, with enough space for dh to stand in front of me and talk to me when fully reclined! And with a 1:3 Cabin Crew:Passenger ratio, who needs a bar?!

[Boo Boo Too]

and some people may argue that the Recaro seats are more comfortable than the new flat (but angled) seats (featured on the website)...

If miles/money are no object, then I would go for CW (or Virgin UC :-)), if not then PE is good. I think that the best prices you can get for CW of Virgin UC are about £1900 per person (or £1700 if you fly into MIA instead) - although if you own a Amex Platinum, you may get a good companion deal (buy one ticket - although that ticket may not be too cheap - companion flies free)... no idea. As Debbie says, PE is quite a lot cheaper. But you mentioned that you could use airmiles for BA CW, so that could be your answer.

Boo

[***SandieUK***]

We are flying PE for the first time next April. This may seem like a silly question but should we be dressing a bit more smarter than usual?! As you say, there is always the hope that you could be upgraded to UC and somehow I don't think jogging bottoms will fit the bill! :)

[rob@rar.org.uk]

No don't bother dressing up unless you want to, especially on a flight where most people will be travelling to a holiday destination. Choose comfort over style!

I've been upgraded a few times and (with one exception) I was never wearing business clothes, just jeans and t-shirts. In my experience although business-standard clothes are more common in business and first class cabins, it is most certainly not a required dress standard.

Regards

Rob

[UKDEB]

I agree. In both the PE and UC cabins on the Orlando route I didn't see anyone in anything other than casual clothes. We got upgraded to UC and we were wearing casual clothes.

[Andrew Bichard]

Originally posted by UKDEB

Mick - PE on the new 747-400s on the Orlando route is upstairs.

I always travel PE, not because I can really afford it, not because I want the extra luxury (great though it is), but because I am disabled and cannot get into the regular economy seats.

I can't climb upstairs either so it looks like I have to find a new carrier, or give up my visits to Disney altogether - and just when I bought into DVC!

Last trip (October 01) they gave my wife & I an upgrade to First Class, because I already had a booking for PE when they changed their aircraft.

I assume they won't accept aa PE booking from me in future if I can't get upstairs (or evacuate in an emergency).

Andrew