Has anyone flown Upper C virgin from Manchester before? Can you answer some ???

[MrsJobba1]

Hi,

I was hoping someone could answer some questions - we booked our PE flights last year for our holiday July/AUg 09.

I looked today at the manage my booking part and it offered upgrade to UC for both outward and return for £740 DH said he would split it with me.

I looked at the site but I beleive the lounge it shows is one of the London airports.

We are flying from Man - is there a lounge there we would be able to use? Are food / drinks in cluded in price? What other benefits are there?

I would really appreciate any answers - I am tempted but not sure if its worth the price diff.

Thanks

 

[Constant]

Hi there I haven't flown from Manchester before but have been on Virgin in all classes. The lounge in Manchester is a shared service lounge which anyone can book for £20. If you google the Escape Lounge you can find pictures. I guess if it is busy then preference may be given for partner airlines.

I had a quick look online as I couldn't believe the upgrade price, I assume it is for both of you? I have flown Upper Class to India, it is a fantastic experience. The personal space is the best bit along with the more personal service. For overnight legs getting change into your (supplied) pajamas converting to the flat bed and covering yourself with the duvet. Also one hour delays on the runway become a little more tolerable.

The *only* gripe is that the video system on the planes to India is rubbish if you take the 80s bad tracking VHS video look and put it on a bigger screen many of the films were unwatchable (might be the newer systems to Orlando?). I usually take a few films on my iPhone which has a much better look.

For value for money....it's a personal thing, we usually try to go PE an any airline if we can, trying Thomas Cook premium on our next trip. We priced up Virgin PE and UC but it would have been an extra 2 & 4k which just isn't worth it for me this time. However if the upgrade from what we paid was £700 it would be a no brainer for me.

Friends of ours would never consider doing anything but travelling the cheapest route possible never mind how many legs (sometimes as many as 2-3 changes!)

In context though less that 5% of your trip away is spent in the air if my maths is correct. At about $1000 what might you buy with that instead? But then you know that otherwise you would have book it already....right?

Good luck with your choice, you'll have a fantastic holiday whichever you do, it's amazing what problems you can forget when you arrive and not forgetting Virgin PE is fantastic too!

 

[granmaz]

We have flown UC from Manchester a couple of times. Yes, it is the Escape Lounge that Virgin use - we are the poor neighbours to the south and their clubhouses I'm afraid! However, it is a quiet haven from the zoo that is Terminal 2, and we did actually pay for the experience once when not travelling UC for that reason.

There are comfy(ish) chairs, papers etc, TV, and a snack bar. Apart fro coffee, teas, hot chocolate, there are juices, fizzy drinks, bottles of water and, important to some, alcohol, though 7.30 is a bit too early for me for that!!! Food offerings are toast, croissants, pastries, small pre packaged cakes, nice yogurts, fresh fruit(whole and pre prepared), cereals, biscuits and crisps. Enough for a nice breakfast. If you want a hot breakfast you would have to go down to the shopping area.

Usually Virgin fly from a gate just at the bottom of the stairs from the lounges which is great.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Hi there, can I ask that you answer an earlier question/comment.... Is the £740 for both of you or each?

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi Thanks for your replies.

I looked further into the upper class offer. It did not specify wether it was pp pr total. It was only after I clicked the upgrade button did it show a total of £1400.

Sadly we wont be upgrading this time