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[dazzling]

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[wayneg]

Sorry can't help, only flown economy with both but just wanted to say welcome to DISboards.

We flew Biz class Delta this August, can't imagine either Virgin or BA being better, it was outstanding.

 

[ClareH37]

I'm not a regular poster but as I'm also going on my first ever solo trip in May thought I'd answer from a 'solo' perspective.

I've opted for Virgin's UC (although I have flown UC before), I like the set up of the suites, I was tempted by BA's Club but was concerned about being lumbered with a backwards facing seat, and also the fact that you are sitting right next to someone, I just feel the UC is more 'private', certainly on the LGW/Man planes with only 14 suites in the cabin.

Also, the clubhouse is a nice way to start the holiday

 

[dazzling]

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[ClareH37]

Hi Wayne. Thanks for the welcome. Great site by the way! Wish I'd known about it years ago.

And hi Clare as well! Didn't know some of the seats on BA faced backwards, don't like the sound of that! And I liked the look of the way all the seats in UC are separated from each other. Last year I did a solo trip to Vegas to got sat next to an admittedly nice friendly bloke, but he just did not stop talking the entire flight! He just shouted louder when I had headphones on to watch a film!

But anyway, so you've flown Virgin UC before then? Was it actually as good as their website makes out? And what exactly do you get in the clubhouse? I've never flown UC before so have absolutely no idea! Thanks.

LOL, I can't imagine you would have that problem again

TBH I've not really seen how they 'show' UC on their website, but what I can tell you, from my perspective, is it is a fantastic way to travel. From the moment you check in at Gatwick, whizzing through fast track security, up the escalator to the clubhouse, you know you're going to enjoy things. The cabin itself is right at the front of the plane (downstairs) and has just 14 suites, 1 on each side of the cabin, there's a bar (with 2 stools) by seats 11 and 12, I can't comment on the food side as I'm gluten free so never get great food lol but from a service/comfort side I really can't fault UC. When you arrive at MCO and go through to the baggage claim you will probably find the staff have pulled your bags off the conveyor and placed them next to an UC sign, so you don't even have to 'strain' yourself pulling your heavy case off lol

The clubhouse at Gatwick has just been refurbished so again I can't really comment on what it is like now, but from how it used to be, it's a relaxing retreat away from the crowds of the departure area, treatments are no longer available to be pre-booked and most are now chargeable, but if you fancy having one you can just book at the desk (apparently), foodwise, I believe that's changed as well. However, I'd rather have a so-so clubhouse than no clubhouse at all

 

[dazzling]

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[Neoshoegal]

We've done both and they each have their pros and cons.

Virgin has better seats, no doubt, especially when converted to the flat bed.
As others have said, the smaller cabin does make it nicer. Also, you can stay in the flat bed position for landing, lovely!
The BA seats are smaller, but they do have a divider that you can put up during the flight to have all the privacy you need. I had a backwards facing seat, no issues with that whatsoever. It is a slightly different feeling during take off and landing, I thought it was rather cool. So I really wouldn't worry about that.
But on Virgin the inflight entertainment is a let down. The Orlando route still doesn't have an on demand system, no pause or rewind. So on that one, BA wins.

Lounge: pre flight we've only had the Virgin Clubhouse before the refurb and I thought it was better than the BA one. Nothing wrong with the BA one, but the Virgin one had hot food and better drinks rather than the self service at BA.
On the way back, they both use the Delta lounge at MCO which is somewhat disappointing! Comfy seats and a drink, but no food to speak off.

Arriving back at Gatwick, it's full marks to BA with their arrivals lounge. Being able to take a shower and have a decent breakfast, is a world of difference. Virgin doesn't offer an arrivals lounge at Gatwick.

Food wise, although both were good, I preferred the BA food. That might have been just down to the menu when we flew. Also, BA doesn't have the awful Virgin Cola, so that's another plus for them.

Overall, in my opinion, they are both great. But until Virgin has upgraded the inflight entertainment on the Orlando route and gets an arrivals lounge at Gatwick, we'd probably choose BA over Virgin on that route. That said, we will be flying Virgin UC next year, one way but from Miami. That way we have the better inflight entertainment and an arrivals lounge.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Virgin do have an arrivals lounge of sorts at gatwick. they just don't advertise the fact.

 

[Neoshoegal]

Virgin do have an arrivals lounge of sorts at gatwick. they just don't advertise the fact.

it would have been nice of them to let us know when we flew with them

 

[Jets fan]

Have done both and in my opinion Virgin are best EXCEPT on the LGW to Orlando route. They tend to use older planes on this route, that are worn and many have the old entertainment system. Their PE on this route is also the old kind with no plans to upgrade them.

If you need privacy then Virgin wins as you have your own space. But the food on BA is better, with service about the same.

Whichever you book you will enjoy it

Tina

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Have done both and in my opinion Virgin are best EXCEPT on the LGW to Orlando route. They tend to use older planes on this route, that are worn and many have the old entertainment system. Their PE on this route is also the old kind with no plans to upgrade them.

If you need privacy then Virgin wins as you have your own space. But the food on BA is better, with service about the same.

Whichever you book you will enjoy it

Tina

jets fan.
this has been said many times, the 747's used on the Gatwick routes are NOT old, in fcat they are younger than the Heathrow 747's and a few of the Airbus!
They are only "worn" where the passengers have failed to treat the cabins with some kind of respect (I wonder what their own houses are like!) these aircraft are in constant use and cannot be taken out of the rotation just to smarten the interiors up. in fact some Hathrow A330 passengers complain of the same .
The IFE was ordered by Alitalia and when they cancelled the order and Virgin took them the cost to replace the IFE would have been huge. Yes, the IFE will now not be changed until 2012 when the new A380's start to fly that route. It may also be that the 747's with V-Port on the Heathrow route will be moved to replace the Alitalia aircraft as the upper decks on some of these have been changed to have more economy there. However just because they have V-Port does not make them younger!

 

[barnaby1]

Virgin do have an arrivals lounge of sorts at gatwick. they just don't advertise the fact.

Where is this arrivals lounge? I have flown copious times in and out of gatwick and no one has ever mentioned a revivals lounge. Where do you need to ask to get access?

 

[stoneyloon]

Go with Virgin, if the union and cabin staff get their way, there won't be a BA left to go with anyway......

 

[oceanscape]

jets fan.
this has been said many times, the 747's used on the Gatwick routes are NOT old, in fcat they are younger than the Heathrow 747's and a few of the Airbus!
They are only "worn" where the passengers have failed to treat the cabins with some kind of respect (I wonder what their own houses are like!) these aircraft are in constant use and cannot be taken out of the rotation just to smarten the interiors up. in fact some Hathrow A330 passengers complain of the same .
The IFE was ordered by Alitalia and when they cancelled the order and Virgin took them the cost to replace the IFE would have been huge. Yes, the IFE will now not be changed until 2012 when the new A380's start to fly that route. It may also be that the 747's with V-Port on the Heathrow route will be moved to replace the Alitalia aircraft as the upper decks on some of these have been changed to have more economy there. However just because they have V-Port does not make them younger!

They might not actually BE all that old but everyone knows what Jets Fan means. The planes are in filthy condition and are awful compared to the much nicer Airbus planes that Virgin use out of LHR.

 

[gilld]

Virgin do have an arrivals lounge of sorts at gatwick. they just don't advertise the fact.

They also lie then, because I asked outright when I flew Upper in October and I was told no - by the Premier Team, at Gatwick and on board.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

They also lie then, because I asked outright when I flew Upper in October and I was told no - by the Premier Team, at Gatwick and on board.

I am not going to get into an argument about this.
yes there IS a form of revivals lounge, yes I have used it, no, its not available to all UC all classes of ticket passengers as its too small to accommodate.

 

[CustardTart]

I think it's a US airlines facility (can't recall which one) and you just go there and show your VA ticket to get in.. My DH has used it in the past before going to work post-flight ..

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I think it's a US airlines facility (can't recall which one) and you just go there and show your VA ticket to get in.. My DH has used it in the past before going to work post-flight ..

Yep

 

[gilld]

I am not going to get into an argument about this.
yes there IS a form of revivals lounge, yes I have used it, no, its not available to all UC all classes of ticket passengers as its too small to accommodate.

You misunderstood me - I wasn't suggesting you were lying, but that they were. Rather unpleasant!

Perhaps my Z class wasn't good enough.

 

[MAH4546]

The product that both BA and VS use to Orlando tends to be a little less nice than the product used on "premium" routes. If you really want to get a great experience out of it, see if you can get a good deal with a connection in Miami, because Miami gets the premium planes with the newest product, unlike Orlando.

Sorry can't help, only flown economy with both but just wanted to say welcome to DISboards.

We flew Biz class Delta this August, can't imagine either Virgin or BA being better, it was outstanding.

Virgin and BA blow Delta out of the water. Delta has a sadly outdated product, except for one dozen 764s and 777s in a new lie-flat configuration.

Yes, the IFE will now not be changed until 2012 when the new A380's start to fly that route.

The nearest to MCO a Virgin A380 will get is Miami.

The A380s will be based at Heathrow, not Gatwick.