Cost to upgrade Virgin return journey to premium econ??

[sunshine2blue]

Does anyone know how much it would cost to upgrade with Virgin from economy to Premium Economy for 2 adults and 1 teen (14) on the return journey to Manchester??

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Depends on who you booked with and when you are going. Your child is, I believe, counted as an adult.

If you booked with Virgin Holidays, for example, the cost is from £195 per person, one way. So almost £600 for the three of you. Although, this year, it is more likely to be in the region of £250 per person (so £750 for the three of you, one way). Have a look at http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/brochures/florida/info/flights/virgin_atlantic/upgrades.aspx

SOMETIMES there are upgrades available at the airport and you could leave it until you got there to ask, BUT I believe that it would still be about £200/£250 per person, one way. AND you risk there not being space available to upgrade if you leave it until the airport.

The brochure upgrade prices are actually quite reasonable. Although if you booked flights independently, you would get returns from LGW-MCO (in September) for:
- Premium Economy £878
- Upper Class £1481
(including taxes).

Boo

 

[cheryl.UK]

Yep, we once upgarded at check-in as DH got a bonus we weren't expecting. Cost the same as the brochure but we didn't get the FV discount we would have done if we had bought in advance

 

[Chris and Pooh]

If you decide to do it I would advice doing so as quick as possible, we have just booked flights for Mar 2007 and as a special treat decided to fly upper class on the return and was told when enquiring that there were only 2 seats left

 

[Boo Boo Too]

If you decide to do it I would advice doing so as quick as possible, we have just booked flights for Mar 2007 and as a special treat decided to fly upper class on the return and was told when enquiring that there were only 2 seats left

It could be that you are travelling at a very ppopular time (i.e. school holidays) and/or that the VH quota for Upper Class seats has been reached (it is likely that VH don't have access to all UC seats on each flight - since Virgin likes to keep quite a lot available for full revenue customers...)

But I agree - if you want to upgrade (and you are booked through VH or another TA), book it early. This way you KNOW that you will get it and - as cheryl.uk pointed out - get any discounts available).

But beware! Once you upgrade it is very hard (or impossible!) to go back to economy every again ...

Boo

 

[Frances999]

and/or that the VH quota for Upper Class seats has been reached (it is likely that VH don't have access to all UC seats on each flight - since Virgin likes to keep quite a lot available for full revenue customers...)

Absolutely. I think I read somewhere that VH only have access to around 50% of the UCS and PE seats.

I would book in advance. It's extremely rare to hear of anybody being offered anything but full price upgrades if they leave it until the day of departure. If you're a flying club member (above red) you may be able to get an upgrade, though, depending on the availability and size/structure of your party.

 

[mrs-mac]

We upgraded at check-in at MCO at the beginning of this month and it cost £199 per person for PE back to Manchester. We'd made our orginial bookings with Virgin Holidays on a fly-drive basis

 

[mkmarty]

we go in 9 days - I called the Flying Club and they advised there were 30 (now 27!) seats left in PE on the inbound flight.