BA World Traveller Plus

[neo's white rabbit]

Anyone have any exerience of BA's version of Virgin's PE and how did it compare?

Thanks

 

[neo's white rabbit]

OK, so 23 people have looked but I must be surrounded by Virgins (PE that is!)

 

[TraceyL]

Wish I could help Jan - but can't afford either

One day................

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I've not used World Traveller Plus (although I have flown Virgin's PE), so these comments are probably not worth the pixels that their made of, but as nobody else has commented I'll try!

In general I think the Economy Plus cabins that Virgin and BA offer are pretty similar, and are way too expensive for what they offer. A seat in Economy+ seems to be at least £250 more than a regular economy seat. For that money you get the same standard of food and onboard entertainment, about six inches of extra legroom, sometimes a seperate check-in desk (saving perhaps 15 minutes of queuing time) and no access to a lounge at the airport. You do get a few extra Airmiles if you collect those.

Value-for-money is purely a subjective measure, but in my book these meagre offerings do not add up to £250+ per person. I've just returned from California, flying on BA (out in Economy, back in Club). I took a good look at the World Traveller Plus seats and they seem to be marginally bigger, and marginally more spaced apart than World Traveller. Other than that, no difference.

If you have a fixed budget, I think there are better ways to spend that money. If you can stretch your buget then I suppose the extra money does buy you some extra comfort (although the same money might buy you a better hotel, bigger car, more theme park tickets, etc).

Regards

Rob

 

[UKDEB]

I have never flown BA World Traveller Plus, mainly because they don't offer it on the Orlando route and that is about the only place I visit.

However, I would very much like to try it out and I have researched BA classes on many occasions. My understanding is that WT+ is located in a separate cabin, which is a definite advantage IMO. The downside is that the seat configuration is 2-4-2. On its Gatwick-Orlando route, Virgin's PE is located in a small, separate cabin and has a 2-2 configuration. This is a winning combination in my book - there are only 38 passengers in the cabin and it has a wide middle aisle. The whole feeling is of privacy and space.

We've been upgraded to Virgin Upper Class (on the Orlando route) twice - once to UC proper (at the front of the plane, downstairs beneath the flight deck and PE), and once to the 'B' cabin which sits between UC and Economy. I would be extremely disappointed if I paid UC prices and got seated in the 'B' cabin. The configuration is 2-2-2 and, although there are only 12 seats, it very much feels like the Economy cabin with UC seats. The reason I mention this is because, on some routes, both PE and UC are split between upstairs and downstairs. If I was flying PE on one of these routes, I would want to make sure I was in the upstairs cabin.

My opinion of the value of PE is at odds with Rob's and is well documented on these boards, although I think we understand one another's points of view. I often analyse my reasons for choosing PE and they make sense for my circumstances, but logically I can not disagree with his argument. This trip we are paying £630 for PE (including airport taxes). We have also booked PE to fly to NYC in December and home from Orlando in January for £530 (again including airport taxes). Last time we flew to Orlando in August, we paid £795 for Economy! My brother and s-i-l flew PE to California yesterday for £475. PE has never been more affordable.

I too would be very interested to hear from anyone who has flown BA WT+. Which route are you considering, nwr?

P.S. Welcome home, Rob. Any trip report in the offing?

 

[neo's white rabbit]

Firstly welcome home Rob. Hope you had a great time and that you'll have time for a trip report at some point?

I've flown Virgin PE back from LA and would agree with Deb that being up on the upper deck is the place to be. I certainly wouldn't be happy with the B cabin.

I'm considering PE (be it Virgin or BA) for New York in November with my children. While I agree with Rob that the very inflated fares for this service are at odds with what you actually get I have got the option of 3 flights PE return which average out at £390 each for the 3 of us. Which, to me, is not too bad for some extra space and peace. I think Virgin's seat config wins over BA as I had noted a 2-3-2 mentioned on BA's site. Which makes me think it can't be that spacious?

I suppose the next move would be to find out what sort of plane and if there is a PE upper deck on the flights we intend to take.

Thanks very much for your comments.

Still leaves us waiting for someone who has actually used BA World Traveller Plus

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Hello I've done both

WT+ to LA and it was similar to PE on Virgin. I personally thought that the food was better on BA and also the choice of programmes and the fact that I could play games was also good on BA.

With PE on Virgin I prefer getting to sit in the bubble oh and the separate check in - you don't get that with WT+

The cabin configuration is different with WT+ 2-3-2 but you still get the same seat pitch etc as you would in the V-PE cabin. With Virgin I always try and check in ultra early so that I get the exit seats which makes the room even better.

I have to be honest and say I could never fly coach again on a long haul direct flight - I am a well endowed person and I can just about feel comfortable in a PE/WT+ seat (as long as I take the remote control out first ) and Paul is 6'3".

All in all they are comparable and I'd go with the best price - I still think it's a shame that BA do not offer WT+ on Orlando flights just for the choice more than anything.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Thanks for the welcome back - I'll do a quick trip report as soon as I can.

At the prices Deb is paying for Virgin's PE the value-for-money judgement would be much easier for me to make, but unfortunately I have to travel during school holidays when seats in the Economy+ cabin costs a lot more than standard economy. I also agree that if you can guarantee travelling on the upper deck of a 747 then that's a major consideration. As far as I can tell, BA's World Traveller Plus is normally located in a curtained-off area between the lower Club seating area and the large World Traveller cabin. Virgin's PE is often split between some seats on the upper deck and some seats in a curtained-off area on the main deck between Upper Class and Economy. It is therefore impossble to guarantee that paying for PE or WT+ will get you upstairs. On BA's Orlando route this is not an option as they operate single deck 777s.

I'm not sure how the prices compare, but if economy+ in both directions was the same cost as economy on the outwards leg and business class on the homewards journey then that would be my preferred option. The extra benefits of business class make the additional cost easier to justify in my mind.

Regards

Rob

 

[richard3330]

Hi,

We have also been on WT+ before. Coming home we were asked if we wanted to upgrade to BA's First for a small supplement which we obviously said yes too.

Virgin's PE and BA's WT+ are extremely similiair IMO. Like Sam said, with Virgin you do get a separate check-in which is really handy. I can't really say I prefer one airlines food to the other (they were both about the same IMO - not a great fan of airline food !). Other than that they are both virtually the same.

I have always found the cabin crew to be more friendly on Virgin Atlantic and always offering more drinks etc.

JMO
Richard.

 

[neo's white rabbit]

Originally posted by richard3330
Hi,

We have also been on WT+ before. Coming home we were asked if we wanted to upgrade to BA's First for a small supplement which we obviously said yes too.

JMO
Richard.

How small exactly was the supplement Richard?

Thanks for the input from those of you who have done both. I've yet to attempt booking one class level on the way out and another on the return. Can you do that?

At £390 each for PE to NY in November we're also benefiting from not travelling at a peak time...I'd be happy enough doing 'refugee class' on the way out and PE back when trying to get some sleep on the overnight flight is more of an issue. The kids seemingly being able to sleep on a sixpence unlike their Mother

 

[UKDEB]

Couldn't help smiling at your last post, Sam.

With Virgin I always try and check in ultra early so that I get the exit seats which makes the room even better

Ditto- we've always managed to get these by arriving early.

I have to be honest and say I could never fly coach again on a long haul direct flight - I am a well endowed person and I can just about feel comfortable in a PE/WT+ seat (as long as I take the remote control out first )

Ditto! The bit about the remote control really had me grinning in recognition.

Paul is 6'3"

Ditto. Well, except for 'Paul', read 'Matt'.

 

[richard3330]

I can't remember to be exact, but I think it was about £150 each (one-way). I guess it isn't that low, but considering the usual price of First Class we thought we might as well.

We have booked one class one way then another coming back. When we go to St. Lucia we are flying Virgin Atlantic Economy on the way there and PE on the way back, IMO it is always better having the extra luxury on the way home rather than the way there (plus we booked with Virgin Holidays and they were offering a free one-way upgrade to PE or 10% discount when we booked, seen as we are FVC members, we took our own 10% discount and the free PE upgrade!)

Have fun planning

Richard.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Richard, what was BA's First Class like? I've not flown First Class (and probably never will!), but I'm curious about how much better it is than BA's Club class with the new bed-seats.

All scheduled airlines allow you to book in different classes for the seperate legs of the journey. I'm not sure if package tour companies would allow you to do this, and perhaps not charter airlines either. If I was able to afford an upgrade for only one leg of the journey it was always be on the overnight leg to try and get some sleep. It's the not being able to sleep when sitting up in a chair that makes flying so miserable for me. We used airmiles for our recent trip to California, and just about had enough to fly back from LA in Club class (upper deck on a 747). This route has the new BA Club class seats which glide down to form a 6' bed - this was absolute bliss!

Regards

Rob

 

[richard3330]

Rob,

I've flown Club World a few times when travelling on business and the last time we went to Disneyland Paris we flew Club Europe. and comparing the two (Club & First Class) I would say that the major differences are:

I'm not 100% sure, but the Seat - Converting to bed in First seemed slightly longer (about 6'6").

The 'freedom food' of First is a massive bonus, as I have always found the times that they serve food inappropriate when flying WTP. Although Club does (I think?) still offer the service where you can dine before you fly so that you can have a relaxing sleep on the journey home without having to eat. The food in First is MUCH better than that of club - a delicious 5 course(!) meal is served. Also, there are loads of drinks to choose from.

Hand Baggage allowance is more for first, however this doesn't really affect us as we rarely take the limit anyway.

There is an in seat phone and laptop charger in both classes if I remember correctly.

The 'sleeper suit' I don't remember getting in club. This is wonderful - just as comfy as being in your own bed.

More staff in First.

The entertainment system has about the same amount of channels, but there are 30 further videos to choose from in First.

The cabin was also MUCH nicer in first. It was extremely elaborately furnished - incredible.

I haven't flown Club since November/December and it was in January when we upgraded to first.

I think for the price Club is just fine. First seems far too expensive. For the kind of prices that they expect for First I would want my own plane! There are obviously differences, but unless I was flying extremely long-haul I think I would always be happy in WTP/PE or Club.

HTH

Richard.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

We have booked with a consolidator for Virgin in December - Flying out PE and then flying back Upper Class as we fly back on the 30th December and land on the morning of 31st and we thought this would be a nice treat.

The first time I flew Club World was to Orlando in May last year(so I've still never had the flat bed option) we had the cradle seats in the 747 bubble and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. We had fillet steak as our main course which was cooked to perfection shame they served it with gorgonzola risotto I was most impressed with the service and I really enjoyed raiding the larder

In December I flew out with Virgin PE and got my exit seats but then I got bumped up to what I think they call on the Manchester-Orlando route - PE plus, i.e. Upper Class seat with economy food and service but it was still very nice and I was grateful for it. ON the way back I got my exit seat again in the bubble.

This past March we were in the WT+ and they also had the facility for laptops there.

I just remembered one of the things I like more about BA they serve you so much water. On the Virgin flights I've taken I've always had to "ping" for more water.

LOL Deb - it's uncanny