Paying for PE

[DeborahS]

Hi

Saw a few recent messages about people paying money/miles to upgrade to PE.

Was just wondering if any of you just sit in those seats anyway. Friends of ours, Karen and Wayne, normally don't have a problem getting PE seats when they fly: they wait to board towards the last and then sit in any free PE seats never had any problem doing so. Of course they only sit in the downstairs section of PE and they are sometimes out of luck if the PE cabin is full. They have never tried this with First Class though. lol

We are flying Virgin to Orlando in September economy and are thinking of doing what Karen and Wayne do so wondering what your experiences are?

Deborah

 

[Netty]

How can they turn left on the plane when they have economy seats

 

[DeborahS]

They normally picks seats from the very front cabin (turn left at door immediately behind downstairs PE) with online checkin so they always turn left anyways. That way even if there arent any free PE seats, they still get off the plane early anyway.

Apparently it is easier on other Virgin routes where they use the airbus planes (so you walk through the whole PE section to get to economy).

Deborah

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I don't see it myself.
The flight crew have a list of seat numbers and the passengers sitting in those seats. they load on the amount of meals for those passengers.
The cabin has a dedicated crew also?
What they are doing is theft.

 

[floridalol]

I don't see it myself.
The flight crew have a list of seat numbers and the passengers sitting in those seats. they load on the amount of meals for those passengers.
The cabin has a dedicated crew also?
What they are doing is theft.

What they are doing is pulling DeborahS's leg - no one gets into PE or First Class without an appropriate ticket.

 

[Claire L]

Agree with Obi and Floridalol on this one. Have sometimes seen employees of VA (not working) or their family being upgraded but only if there is space.

Claire

 

[wayneg]

After 34 transatlantic flights never seen a PE seat empty, don't they just upgrade people to fill them?
Never heard of or seen anyone doing this before

 

[lagunn]

most of the downstairs P E seats were empty on our flight in 2005 and they wouldnt let anybody sit in them..

 

[floridalol]

After 34 transatlantic flights never seen a PE seat empty, don't they just upgrade people to fill them?
Never heard of or seen anyone doing this before

They will only upgrade if economy is overbooked.

 

[gilld]

After 34 transatlantic flights never seen a PE seat empty, don't they just upgrade people to fill them?
Never heard of or seen anyone doing this before

Last year when we flew PE there were only 9 of us upstairs and none in PE downstairs. The FA made an annoumncement to the effect that ALL passengers were required to remain in their own class. It's only fair that way.

 

[eyoreaud]

Hi Deborah,

I do think your friends are pulling your leg, if not, it's not very fair on the rest of us that have paid the money/miles for their upgrade, only to have someone sit in the cabin without the appropriate ticket and get the same service for free,

It's great if you get a free upgrade and i'm sure most people would jump at the chance, if it was offered, but otherwise it's just dishonest

 

[islandmum]

think its fair and true to say they are completely ********ting you!

theres no way you just snuggle into seats that arent your class.

Flight attendants have a comprehensive manifesto seating list, and indeed do a section by section headcount once the doors are shut which they then take to the Captain to confirm they have all bodies on board as it were.

Once that is done, then staff upgrades or friends of staff on board will happen if theres room.

It is totally impossible that they will just shufty on into a spare PE seat they havent paid for and arent booked in. The staff know exactly how many passengers should be in their area and 2 extra people would be noticed PLUS the 2 missing people from Economy would be noticed and more worrying as they will have been registered as checked in with luggage but where are they??

and if they say they're doing this just call them "Jackanory"!

air travels not like a bus you know - these things just dont happen!

 

[wayneg]

I never knew that with only upgrading if economy is full, but I only fly in School hols so every flight I have been on has been full.

 

[Claire L]

I never knew that with only upgrading if economy is full, but I only fly in School hols so every flight I have been on has been full.

Yes they will only upgrade for free from Econiomy to PE if Economy is full and PE has seats, if PE is full they will upgrade PE to UC if there is space there. These are known as 'Op Ups' - Operational Upgrades to make sure everyone is able to board the flight.

Claire

 

[crabbie1]

I hope this isn't the case. I have had a right game.I was all excited yesterday as booked PE going out to orlando and coming back economy(or thats what I had arranged).Had my e-ticket today saying the total opposite and even the flight number was different,one that went from gatwick when we are flying from manchester!!!!.After another lenghthy conversation with the frequent flyer club I have now got it altered.They wanted another £250 on top of the £355 they had already quoted for there mistakes!!
Hence I was not happy and they dwindled it down to £100.I am still annoyed as if I hadn't of looked,ok I would have had PE on return but for less money and the girl I spoke to this time said the original booking operator hadn't deducted any miles.With there error I don't think I should of had to have paid the extra but the whole thing has given me a migraine so I just paid it.
They ere supposed to of called me back to say all was ok but of course they didn't so I left it 4 hours and checked on line to find they have.No new e-ticket yet though.She did say I would have to wait for the new payment to go through
Not a good start to my first PE experience.
When we went in november there were seats in PE and we were getting married and asked at the desk about a free upgrade or reduced cost and it seems they would rather keep them empty so how your friends have the cheek to just sit there anyway without being offered a place amazies me.They must be winding you up.
If you do decide to go up to PE I would try and do it when you book your original flights as trying to upgrade after is a bit of a chore

 

[Claire L]

I hope this isn't the case. I have had a right game.I was all excited yesterday as booked PE going out to orlando and coming back economy(or thats what I had arranged).Had my e-ticket today saying the total opposite and even the flight number was different,one that went from gatwick when we are flying from manchester!!!!.After another lenghthy conversation with the frequent flyer club I have now got it altered.They wanted another £250 on top of the £355 they had already quoted for there mistakes!!
Hence I was not happy and they dwindled it down to £100.I am still annoyed as if I hadn't of looked,ok I would have had PE on return but for less money and the girl I spoke to this time said the original booking operator hadn't deducted any miles.With there error I don't think I should of had to have paid the extra but the whole thing has given me a migraine so I just paid it.
They ere supposed to of called me back to say all was ok but of course they didn't so I left it 4 hours and checked on line to find they have.No new e-ticket yet though.She did say I would have to wait for the new payment to go through
Not a good start to my first PE experience.
When we went in november there were seats in PE and we were getting married and asked at the desk about a free upgrade or reduced cost and it seems they would rather keep them empty so how your friends have the cheek to just sit there anyway without being offered a place amazies me.They must be winding you up.
If you do decide to go up to PE I would try and do it when you book your original flights as trying to upgrade after is a bit of a chore

Oh dear not good, but as you say at least you checked and were able to get the alteration made sooner rather than later.

Claire

 

[DeborahS]

Spoke to my friend Karen last night, she said that they do do it. Ok Wayne might pull our legs about it but I trust Karen.

She says that normally by the time they board the stewardesses are busy getting the plane ready to go and don't really nottice where they sit. They have never had a problem in the past anyway. Although Karen thinks that now they improving the PE class that maybe they will tighten up on it.

I said that you lot thought it was theft but she said that the seats would only go empty anyway - it isn't costing Virgin anything more and doesn't make any difference to those already sitting in PE. . She asks would you lot be equally mad if the airline upgraded someone into your cabin or if a stewardess moved one of her friends from economy to PE?

She says that they do "dress the part" - Wayne wears troussers and jacket and nice shirt, she wears smart clothes too. Wonder if that has anything to do with it - they look more like they fit in? Karen says if you act confident and poilitely then people don't have any reason to question you or if they do they just give you benefit of the doubt. Maybe they have just been lucky and had nice stewardesses... lol

I think we will dress smartly and ask for an upgrade when we check-in - seems like a good way to go.

Deborah

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Deborah,
OF COURSE its theft!

they have paid for an economy seta and service, they are stealing the premium economy service for a start, the upgraded meals, the drinks and the amenity kits. The costings that Virgin work on, are based upon the amount on the aircraft and the cost of providing the service to those booked in each class. The only time upgrades occur are when economy is overbooked.
By stealing that service, we all end up paying more.
What sort of people are these theives?

Your friends are paying for one thing and taking another.
Though again I do not belive that they are doing what they say to you. You have to show your ticket stub to get on board, why do you think that the FA count the passengers in each class?
If they have 12 people say in PE they have 12 meals, 12 seats shown as occupied. 14 stands out.

 

[CustardTart]

...If they have 12 people say in PE they have 12 meals, 12 seats shown as occupied. 14 stands out.

Agreed - the logistics of this don't add up. Last time we flew with Virgin, they had a checklist with names on and went thro' the cabin counting heads. As it happens, there was an empty seat and a member of another party flying economy came through and tried to sit with his friends/family. The staff insisted he leave as they couldn't cater for him and the rest of the passengers had paid for their upgrades. They were having none of it.

 

[Netty]

I think this thread is a wind up....