Is worth paying the extra to fly with Virgin?

[Azza1987]

Now I've booked BC for Oct 14 (yay again). I'm just looking at flights today, I can get Fly Thomas Cook for £517 pp return direct MAN-MCO or virgin economy for £565.

Is it worth paying the bit extra for Virgin? I've heard better things about Virgin then I have Thomas Cook! Do you think prices are more likely to go up or down? I know really that question is unanswerable isn't it! Who knows!

I looked Into PE too but that comes out at £900 pp return

 

[2Tiggies]

If you are flying economy, no

If you are flying a higher class, then you can begin to compare and evaluate

I first make sure I can get the right airports on suitable dates. Then it all comes down to price.

I won't pay more to fly with anyone, anymore, although if the difference is nominal I may pay a little extra if one of those being considered is one of my preferred airlines for any reason.

Of course how many of you are going also has a bearing on what you may consider nominal amounts. A £50 difference per person for 2 is £100. For a family of 5 that's £250 more.

I can't say I've read negative reviews of TC longhaul flights. In fact, value for money wise, they fare quite well compared to the bigger ones

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

My personal opinion is I will fly VA as long as its affordable for our family. One reason is that we all love flying on the 747. We have always had great service from them, so don't feel the need to switch. For the small amount I would fly Virgin.

 

[Azza1987]

If you are flying economy, no If you are flying a higher class, then you can begin to compare and evaluate I first make sure I can get the right airports on suitable dates. Then it all comes down to price. I won't pay more to fly with anyone, anymore, although if the difference is nominal I may pay a little extra if one of those being considered is one of my preferred airlines for any reason. Of course how many of you are going also has a bearing on what you may consider nominal amounts. A £50 difference per person for 2 is £100. For a family of 5 that's £250 more.

Probably just looking at economy for now unless PE prices come down.

Just 2 of us, but some of the reviews online are quite poor for TC but I suppose if it get you there safe & with one stop it can't be that bad!

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

Just to add with Virgins 747 the flight is shorter too ;-)

 

[wayneg]

If you had asked 15 years ago I would have 100% flown with VA over TC. VA used to offer a far superior product compared to TC.
These days its all down to price for me now, not much to choose between them.
I want a 1 way flight after our cruise in Sept, VA £909, TC £292. Not a difficult choice for me.

 

[queendisney]

I was once loyal to VA but they are no different from any other airline in economy IMO. I will go with whoever is the cheapest although I will always pay just a bit extra to go direct to MCO, but not loads extra!
You will find good stories and bad stories about all airlines.

Just weigh up the extras you have to pay with each one when making a comparison ie paying for seats, extra luggage etc.

 

[DCLMan]

Price wins, hands down. VA used to be worth paying extra for, but now it is not worth the extra that they charge.

 

[flortlebap]

I would always pay the extra as I think VA generally offer a better service and all your drinks are included. The IFE is excellent as well, some transatlantic airlines still don't have seat back TVs which to me is awful on a 9 hour flight!

We tend to fly PE now so wouldn't switch from VA

 

[Azza1987]

I would always pay the extra as I think VA generally offer a better service and all your drinks are included. The IFE is excellent as well, some transatlantic airlines still don't have seat back TVs which to me is awful on a 9 hour flight! We tend to fly PE now so wouldn't switch from VA

I think we could stretch to PE but probably only one way, the inbound PE price is the same as the outbound Economy price so I don't mind paying for the PE on the way back but I'd really want it on the way out...!

What's virgin price fluctuation like? I'm happy to wait & jig my dates about if they are likely to move about a bit?

 

[flortlebap]

Inbound PE is always the cheaper of the two, we did Economy out and PE back last time, next time we are doing PE both ways and PE/UC to NY as it's much cheaper!

Re flight fluctuations, cheapest I have seen PE was around the £900pp mark, most expensive £1,800pp so it does fluctuate. £900 is a decent price and I would be happy to pay it. if you can only afford to do it one way I would say go for it, it's worth the experience and you would probably get a better sleep - it's quieter and there's much more room and adjustable head rests which help

 

[queendisney]

I think we could stretch to PE but probably only one way, the inbound PE price is the same as the outbound Economy price so I don't mind paying for the PE on the way back but I'd really want it on the way out...!

What's virgin price fluctuation like? I'm happy to wait & jig my dates about if they are likely to move about a bit?

We used to do PE but don't think its worth the prices nowadays. We are so used to the flight it just wizzes by. We went PE out in November because we had VA miles to use but the food is nothing special, you get the same inflight entertainment and a few inches of extra space. But if you are going to go PE then def go on the way out. The prices can fluctuate a lot and you may be able to get a good deal on the day or you can bid for it as well. Our flights this year are with VA in economy and are £422 each which is good but PE was still way to much for what its worth to us.

 

[Azza1987]

We used to do PE but don't think its worth the prices nowadays. We are so used to the flight it just wizzes by. We went PE out in November because we had VA miles to use but the food is nothing special, you get the same inflight entertainment and a few inches of extra space. But if you are going to go PE then def go on the way out. The prices can fluctuate a lot and you may be able to get a good deal on the day or you can bid for it as well. Our flights this year are with VA in economy and are £422 each which is good but PE was still way to much for what its worth to us.

Sorry can you explain bid for it for me? I've never heard of it! Can u tell I've never flown with Virgin, always been KLM or United for USA! But given we are currently only booked for 7 nights (maybe 9!) I want to fly direct definitely.

If I get a next Quarter Bonus I think I might use it and definitely book PE both ways but I can't rely on it so I don't want to spend what I might not have!

If u book Eco can u upgrade to PE at a later date?

Thanks guys for all your help as always.

 

[tinks86]

Sorry can you explain bid for it for me? I've never heard of it! Can u tell I've never flown with Virgin, always been KLM or United for USA! But given we are currently only booked for 7 nights (maybe 9!) I want to fly direct definitely. If I get a next Quarter Bonus I think I might use it and definitely book PE both ways but I can't rely on it so I don't want to spend what I might not have! If u book Eco can u upgrade to PE at a later date? Thanks guys for all your help as always.

I think with the bid for it you input how much you are prepared to pay for the upgrade and then they contact you before the flight if they are prepared to offer you an upgrade at that price - at least that was my understanding when I saw the option on our booking last year.

You can upgrade after you book as well (provided there are PE seats available) we were rung the day before our flight last year asking did we want to upgrade for a reduced rate (albeit not reduced enough to convince us to upgrade!!!) can also sometimes get offered a deal at check in if there are empty seats as well!

 

[queendisney]

yes you basically pay for your flight ie we went PE out and economy back, but I put in a bid on line under our VA booking (you'll see it on there) for what I was willing to pay to upgrade on the way back. I obviously bid to low as they refused it (let us know by email)and we came back economy! They do 'suggest' a minimum bid.

 

[Azza1987]

yes you basically pay for your flight ie we went PE out and economy back, but I put in a bid on line under our VA booking (you'll see it on there) for what I was willing to pay to upgrade on the way back. I obviously bid to low as they refused it (let us know by email)and we came back economy! They do 'suggest' a minimum bid.

Ah I see! I suppose that's quite a good system, do the bid offers get accepted often?

 

[queendisney]

Ah I see! I suppose that's quite a good system, do the bid offers get accepted often?

I don't know really. I suppose its far more likely out of season when the flights have space as any extra income is better then none. I may put in a bid for this year but only for the way out and only the minimum I can I don't expect to win that bid

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

Just a word on upgrading after you've booked the flights, depending on your flight code you may not be able to upgrade to PE . Each flight has a set of codes, generally the more expensive seats have the most flexible codes eg upgrades cancelling allowed etc, then the cheaper seats have very inflexible codes eg no upgrades allowed. You can go to VA a website and they list them all .

 

[tinkerpea]

Is their a reason people prefer to upgrade on the way out? Instead of the way back?

I'd want something g better on the way back as on the way over I'm excited and don't care as much lol
I've upgraded for the way back as we had to change our tickets due to deployment,and the June ticket was alot cheaper that we only had to pay £26 pp to upgrade to PE on the way home!

 

[wayneg]

Is their a reason people prefer to upgrade on the way out? Instead of the way back?

I'd want something g better on the way back as on the way over I'm excited and don't care as much lol
I've upgraded for the way back as we had to change our tickets due to deployment,and the June ticket was alot cheaper that we only had to pay £26 pp to upgrade to PE on the way home!

We have always upgraded on way back or both ways, really don't care how we get there when looking forward to a holiday, its the depressing flight home thats the worst for us, if we can upgrade it makes it far easier to sleep(execpt when you get a child with toothache 2 rows in front, 7 hours solid crying without a break, how I wished I was in economy). On the other hand I can see how people benefit more going out when they usually stay awake most of the flight.