How does PE Virgin work?

[jtlover]

As we have never flown PE before do we just go straight on the plane as soon as they tell you which departure gate or do you get called to go on the plane?

Getting excited now

 

[JohnnySharp2]

You get called like everyone else, not sure whether you get called before Economy as we try and board as late as possible anyway.

Apart from the nicer seats there are other advantages in that your luggage comes off first and also you get a seperate queue at the DTD check in.

We too are flying PE both ways next March.

 

[mushumadness]

we are in pe both ways september and november I cant wait!

 

[ERICS MUM]

They usually call people to board in a particular order:
first, people with babies and anyone needing special assistance (people with walking sticks etc), second, people in Upper Class, thirdly people in PE and finally economy.

You will find that by the time they reach PE, it is usually a bit of a scrum, as people in economy get a bit fed up waiting!

Another benefit is that there is a separate queue at check-in which obviously moves a lot quicker.

enjoy your flight!

Linda

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

One of my BIG niggles at Gatwick this is!
There is supposed to be a seperate line for Upper class, PE and Gold Card holders but there is only ever a scrum which you have to fight your way through to board, complete with comments being made by some of those in the queue.

At Orlando, there is a seperate line with a red carpet which is nice.

As has been said, you will be called at the same time in my experiance as UC and Gold pax and just before children.

In PE you will get a glass of champagne/ Orange juice when you board, a special PE inscribed ameinity pack and food choices served in china plates and real cutlery.
You will be one of the first off the aircraft (in fact as Virgin only use one door to disembark, you could be off before us poor UC passengers!! )

 

[AliceGardner]

One of my BIG niggles at Gatwick this is!
There is supposed to be a seperate line for Upper class, PE and Gold Card holders but there is only ever a scrum which you have to fight your way through to board, complete with comments being made by some of those in the queue.

That is normally why they call the flight in the Clubhouse late - i.e. when everyone else has boarded. So UC passengers are normally amongst the last to board (and don't need priority boarding). BA does the same. I think it is rather a nice way of doing it: would rather have more time in the lounge and less in the gate area anyway...

Alice

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

That is normally why they call the flight in the Clubhouse late - i.e. when everyone else has boarded. So UC passengers are normally amongst the last to board (and don't need priority boarding). BA does the same. I think it is rather a nice way of doing it: would rather have more time in the lounge and less in the gate area anyway...

Alice

Well, I am purley selfish on this point.
As we always sit in 6A, K and 7A, I want to get on early to grab the overhead lockers as I dont want to be having to go to the back of the cabin or get the FA to keep having to bring me my case whenever I want something out of it.

As priority boarding IS a perk of UC and PE and advertsied as such, then it should be operated correctly.

 

[scottishsue]

There's nothing worse than not having the locker above you free, is there?
And especially if you are UC or PE as Obi says - you are paying extra for your services and expect the best.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

There's nothing worse than not having the locker above you free, is there?
And especially if you are UC or PE as Obi says - you are paying extra for your services and expect the best.

Yes Sue. The major problem with the Upper Class suite refit was that there are no lockers above 6 A & K and if the flight is full (as it normally does get ) and you arrive after everyone else, then you end up with your things up above 12 A & K, disturbing those people, or your bags stuffed into the wardrobe, having to ask all the time to get you stuff out.

 

[AliceGardner]

Have never travelled on a suite configured LGW plane, so have never had that issue... have NEVER had an issue with overhead locker space on any international Business/First Class flight for that matter... (especially since the current handbaggage restrictions). So never see a rush to get on the plane.

US Domestic First Class flights are a different matter, though. They always offer pre-boarding to First Class and you need it - since the plane loads from the front doors, economy passengers will use the lockers above First Class seats to stow their bags (if you don't get your bags in their first).

Alice

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I think that there are only 6 lockers for 14 seats on LGW planes.

US Domestic First class has always struck me as more like World Traveller Plus than First Class.

 

[wicket2005]

One of my BIG niggles at Gatwick this is!
There is supposed to be a seperate line for Upper class, PE and Gold Card holders but there is only ever a scrum which you have to fight your way through to board, complete with comments being made by some of those in the queue.

)

It was the same at Manchester Airport, the UC clients had to push their way through hoards of Economy to get to the boarding gate. It didn't help with them announcing boarding at 12 and then not actually boarding till 1 pm. There were loads of people just standing near the entrance as Manchester doesn't seem to have that many seats for people to go and sit in to wait for their rows to be called. Newcastle was a lot better, they have plenty of seats in the departure lounge, then when you go to the gate area there are loads of seats again. Manchester just had the departure lounge with gates off that so it was very congested.

Next year we are just staying in the executive lounge for as long as possible.

 

[AliceGardner]

I think that there are only 6 lockers for 14 seats on LGW planes.

That is criminal...

US Domestic First class has always struck me as more like World Traveller Plus than First Class.

Depends on the airline, type of plane you fly and duration of flight.

Flying on an AA 757 for 5 hours in First Class is generally very good: the seats are quite a lot bigger than economy, you get fed and watered, the service is excellent (in my experience), you get seperate check-in, pre-boarding and priority luggage delivery. It is a LOT better than intra-European Business Class... Given a choice of 5 hours in US Domestic First or 5 hours in US Domestic Economy, I know what I would choose

You can't really compare US Domestic First Class with International First Class. It is like comparing Virgin Upper Class with other airline's First Class products - you are not comparing like for like...

Alice