Not liking the refitted VA planes

[queendisney]

I would rather sit downstairs in the new PE section now where they removed the economy seats and put in more PE. (all seems like change for change sake to me) I think it will be far to claustophobic up in the bubble with all the extra people. Lets not forget that the handluggage room up there is also very restricted for room, so lord only knows where all that extra hand luggage is going to be put on the way back!!!
You can see the curtain in the video so it looks like they will pull this across during the flight like they do downstairs, making it feel even more claustophobic..so no idea about the loo situation.
Bet they also end up charging extra to sit in the economy seats in the bubble as they are going to be sort after. The don't miss a trick nowadays VA and charge extra for the 2 seats together at the back of the 747 where you get an extra 1 inch or so of leg room! (not all the two seats but just 2 from each side) Not impressed and certainly not a loyal fan anymore.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

It's so hard as we've been VA customers for ages and use them as much as possible not only to Orlando but also to New York, Australia and this year to Hong Kong as well. I even have a VA credit card to get additional points to go PE.

Now who knows maybe this year will be the last but I'm not sure about the other options as I won't use BA as I think their service stinks

 

[chunkster20uk]

Seating Plan:-

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourfleet/index.jsp?type=16

 

[Vixster]

Just wondered if anyone has the link for the videos

No worded just clicked on the link

 

[tinkerpea]

We was going on the A330 so it wasnt an issue but now the RAF have decided they want to screw up my holiday we will be flying on the 747, I was excited to fly on the Air bus.....and now pretty upset to be on the 747

Does anybody know how you can sit in the bubble"ECONOMY" IS IT 1ST COME 1ST SERVED or do u pay extra? I just want to figure out all options I actually just want to have window seats for my AS son I pre booked them on the original flight but if i have to move flights i should imagine pre booked window seats will be gone!

 

[Red-Snapper]

In future I think I will not be trying for seats in the bubble - as Deb says the main advantages were a separate cabin and quick off the plane - reading Vflyer it seems the 38 economy passengers upstairs will be coming thru the upstairs PE cabin to use the 2 loos at the front - so the separate cabin idea is rather wrecked now.

Also those PE passengers upstairs may well now be further back in the queue for the "priority disembarkation" perk i.e behind not only the UC passengers and the expanded downstairs PE section but also behind the 38 economy passnegers upstairs who are of course now closest to the stairs and so will be down first. It is usually a lottery as to when the crew member at the bottom of the stairs lets you off - for us recently it has always been after the downstairs PE (and therefore also UC passengers have gone through)

Having flow to Miami last October on Virgin in economy I do still think however it is worth the upgrade to PE.

 

[Constant]

For me the 'perk' of PE is really just the seat and quieter cabin. The bubble was nice but in the past there is a config for a 747 with UC and Econ upstairs which is a bigger issue. Although in that config it has a WC front and back upstairs.

If we can choose any seat we like with a theoretical VA 'fastpass' (I wish ) I am torn now as to what my preference would be. The front row downstairs isn't likely to be available at 24hrs online and they look good, so I am likely to choose 2x2 at the side for a window/aisle combo as we will arrive in the daylight. Coming back not really bothered where we are so long as the last row fully recline.

Maybe that in itself is a perk, that I now don't care where we are as long as we are together and checkin 24hrs online it is highly likely, couldn't say the same for econ now the quiet cabin is gone.

Steve

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm just too annoyed at this to come up with a coherent argument! In one profit grabbing move by Virgin, they've lost more than a few premium customers including us.

I always had a bee in my bonnet when Champagne became cava, with the logic being that did that £2 glass of Champagne really eat into the profits on my £1000 flight. That £1.50 saved for them meant my last drink before remaining sober so I could drive without worrying the family when we get there was a grotty cava. Now if that hacked me off, you can only begin to imagine how annoying it is that one or more much larger benefits are getting eroded!

Don't get me started on bidding for PE either, the thought that I've saved every penny to get nice seats to start my holiday in a slightly more stress free way only to find that the PE cabin is packed and every seat taken with many having paid a lot less than me!

And then I get to Florida and don't care any more but still, July is our last Virgin flight. October we're trying extra legroom on Continental/United and if that goes well, we'll be spending 500 or less from now on.

I was also miffed about the cava! Especially when they tell you that you get champagne! The nerve!!

We flew CO last year and if it hadn't been for the stupidly cheap seats we got with BA, we would have gone with them again. Outstanding service from start to finish. They became our new favorite and that is quite an accomplishment on their part, considering that due to severe weather conditions and failed engine in EWR we were delayed on each and every leg of our trip - significantly (as in several hours). Yet they won first prize in our vote because of the way we were treated.

On the international flight home, courtesy of an entire bag of Cheesy Chex Mix my DD devoured in its entirety, DD was sick (yep, literally) an hour into the flight from EWR to EDI The crew ran rings around us the entire flight making sure we were comfortable, bringing DD water and flat coke every half hour .....

I would fly VA again only IF I got a serious flight glitch and it became a cheap way to get there and splurge elsewhere, but I am not rushing out to buy their PE seats in a hurry. I used to feel they were worth the upgrade cost, however - they really did have something good going for them there! Shame they ruined it.

 

[Trevski220]

We was going on the A330 so it wasnt an issue but now the RAF have decided they want to screw up my holiday we will be flying on the 747, I was excited to fly on the Air bus.....and now pretty upset to be on the 747

Does anybody know how you can sit in the bubble"ECONOMY" IS IT 1ST COME 1ST SERVED or do u pay extra? I just want to figure out all options I actually just want to have window seats for my AS son I pre booked them on the original flight but if i have to move flights i should imagine pre booked window seats will be gone!

Firstly you need to be on a refitted aircraft, only 1 of the 7 747's has been refitted thus far, the others are being done one at a time each taking about a month, so it is possible that you will fly on an aircraft that hasn't been refitted!

If you are on a refitted plane it is just first come first served, worth checking your booking on virgins site from 36 hours out, quite often the seat maps are released a good few hours before online check in starts 24 hrs before the flight

 

[Pootle]

I'm with the OP and others who don't care for the PE refit and am pretty sure it will change my travel plans, despite its being the only flexible option available from Manchester.

My next 2 flights are booked with BA using miles to upgrade from PE to Club World and flying down from MAN-LGW. The wait time on the return journey from Tampa before the connecting flight to MAN is pretty good so I'm hoping that this is a viable option.

Not too thrilled with Thomson or Sanford based on my recent experience so doubt I would do that again, but Virgin have definitely lost my custom for now, despite my silver 'status'

 

[UKDEB]

Silver status used to be worth having, but I can't say we've benefitted from it for years. I'd be interested to hear more about your Thomson experience. I like the idea of everything the Dreamliner has to offer, and the 9 1/4 hour 9:15am flight from Manchester (albeit on Mondays which isn't great) piques my interest, but the cost still seems prohibitive compared with Virgin M+M. In economy, you have to pay £50 per case (a necessity when hand baggage is restricted to 5kg) and £30 to reserve a seat on top of the fares which are already greater than M+M. PE seems better value considering luggage and seats are included in the premium.

 

[Pootle]

Silver status used to be worth having, but I can't say we've benefitted from it for years. I'd be interested to hear more about your Thomson experience. I like the idea of everything the Dreamliner has to offer, and the 9 1/4 hour 9:15am flight from Manchester (albeit on Mondays which isn't great) piques my interest, but the cost still seems prohibitive compared with Virgin M+M. In economy, you have to pay £50 per case (a necessity when hand baggage is restricted to 5kg) and £30 to reserve a seat on top of the fares which are already greater than M+M. PE seems better value considering luggage and seats are included in the premium.

Hi Deb, I moaned for England on another forum when, the day before our flights on 28th April, I had a phone call from Thomson giving me the news I had absolutely dreaded (and been reassured that it would be highly unlikely to happen), the aircraft had been taken out for maintenance and they were substituting an aircraft with no premium section. The good news, she told me, was that we would receive premium service, get a refund and it was still a 33" pitch. I immediately doubted the last fact .... and was right to do so .... it was all 28" pitch! DH is 6'2" and DS is 6'7".

In the event, for us it turned out quite well due to a kind member of the ground staff at Manchester who suggested she move us to the rear of the 'dedicated premium service' section (all still 28" pitch) where we had lots of spare seats/rows and could really spread out. The staff were great.

I haven't used Sanford for over 10 years and it was dire. Over an hour in a hot immigration line with a 2.5 year old and a baby and no buggy until baggage reclaim was awful. Thank God for Trunki is all I can say.

I'm absolutely sure we were unlucky and the premium service on the way home was on time and very good. Even economy looked to be pretty good too. As I said, great crew (but then I've never had any problems with any crew of any airline) and I can see why people do like Thomson, but when things go wrong, they just don't have the flexibility to put it right IMO. On this occasion, we were paying for all 6 tickets and so the difference in price with Virgin was considerable. I do think that the Thomson premium service is worth paying for. I'm too old now for the 'I don't care how I get there, I'm going to Florida' mantra

The Dreamliner does look tempting, but I can't get beyond the 'what if it happens again' scenario re the 28" pitch seats.

 

[UKDEB]

I'm too old now for the 'I don't care how I get there, I'm going to Florida' mantra

Funnily enough, we're going the other way. We used to be dyed-in-the-wool PE-ers, but we're finding it increasingly difficult to justify the cost. The more times we go, the more we're inclined to feel that the flight is just a means to an end. We feel the same about staying at the airport the night before the flight. An evening at the Sofitel used to start the holiday off on the right note, but now (even though the room itself is free thanks to Avios) it just seems that we'll be dropping £100 for a meal and drinks in a ho-hum environment. Ditto the Gatwick Virgin Clubhouse Lounge. At £35 per person it was a no-brainer, but at £65, it's just not worth it for a couple of hours. We've been spoilt by BA's Terminal 5 at Heathrow and Ramsay's Plane Food.

Thomson would have to be significantly cheaper than Virgin for us to consider it, even if the Dreamliner were guaranteed, and I can't see that happening. I've searched any number of date/departure airport combinations and they all come out significantly more than Virgin M+M. That's why we always end up flying Virgin or BA - with loyalty fares, nothing else can come close. And with scheduled flights you can fly any day you like. We often do 18 nights (a compromise between Matt's preferred two weeks and my preferred three).

It's years since we flew into Sanford and, whilst it wouldn't be a deal-breaker if everything else fell into line, I don't really fancy it.

 

[bazzanoid]

It's years since we flew into Sanford and, whilst it wouldn't be a deal-breaker if everything else fell into line, I don't really fancy it.

We don't mind flying into sanford as we always have a hire car and stop off at a Denny's on the way to the villa for an evening meal, so the extra drive doesn't bother us, and aside from the fewer immigration staff, it's a smaller terminal so suits us better. Plus you get the great feeling of being baked by the florida heat for 30 seconds as you cross to the car hire building which leaves you warm and fuzzy while sorting out the car hire!

Flying back on the other hand, good lord there is nothing to do there!!!!!!! Thank goodness for the lounge..........

 

[queendisney]

Personally I also think that the flight is just a means to an end and the more you do that journey the less time it seems to take. I think the PE on VA are far to expensive nowadays to justify it..yes its nice but plug me into my IPod and I'm fine. The food isn't that good on PE, you get the same inflight entertainment and a few more inches of space and a quieter cabin (well until they squeeze a load more people into it when the upgrades are done on the 747's). On the other hand the airport hotel is a very important factor for me and we really splash out on it.
I also hate flying into Sanford but again not a deal breaker. I used to be so loyal to VA but now think they are just ok, nothing special. I for one would def not want to be stuck up in the little bubble in economy, nor as a PE passenger either.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

I for one would def not want to be stuck up in the little bubble in economy, nor as a PE passenger either.

That is totally how I feel. I don't want to be flying into Sanford as I just don't want the extra driving. We're doing a package deal this time round as it worked out better for us so VA flights were included. Having said that as we're loyal to VA I'm really not happy with the re configured seating as having the "perk" of the bubble dedicated to PE was one of the main reasons we used VA as DH is really NOT a good flyer.

We'll see what happens on the flights in Sept/Oct and then make a decision about future flights.

 

[marlouwrig]

Another one here about the new mixed bubble. Main reasons being the 'loo situation' and losing the advantage of a fast exit.

However I am wondering how much choice there will actually be when booking direct with VA as VH are still claiming that their customers get priority in the bubble. Will this now apply to Economy as well as PE?

 

[XAVIER]

I emailed Virgin about the new set-up and the situation with the toilets and getting out of the bubble first. here is their reply:

"In regards to the lavatories, our Economy passengers would not be permitted to use the Premium Economy lavatories, and the cabins will be sectioned off from each other.

With disembarkment of the aircraft, again there is no need to worry. We have exit doors within the Premium Economy cabin in the bubble of which you will be using."

Not sure about the disembarking bit. How would they do that?

 

[bazzanoid]

The bubble on those planes have a set of standard (not emergency only) exit doors in the middle of it, presumably they will be using a double gangway (one up one down) but it seems excessive just to accommodate a badly designed refit...

 

[queendisney]

oh good grief...that really will feel claustophobic up there then!

Not sure how the disembarkment is going to work either..are the airports capable of having two gangway thingies up to the plane? Maybe they are going to bring steps to it!! Pretty high for that I would have thought..

So economy passengers will have to go down stairs for the loo then?

This is so Change for Change sake!!