Virgin premium economy advice and photos please!!!

[elkvideo]

Hi All,

Could anyone tell me about the seats in premium economy, we are booked in economy and i am tempted to save a bit more. do you gets more seat/leg room. also do you get different food from economy. also is it better to go upstairs on the plane or down? last one does anyone have any photos of premium economy that would be really helpful. sorry for all the questions i just want to make sure it is worth the extra!!!!

 

[Funky_dino]

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us/whatsonboard/premiumeconomy/index.jsp

you could try there that might help you a bit

Where will you be flying from? the Heathrow Virgin planes have the new style premium economy cabins, whereas Gatwick doesn't.

 

[elkvideo]

Thank you for your post, I will have a look. We are flying from Gatwick.

 

[Funky_dino]

Thats ok This one might help a little bit more it has pics of the older premium economy sections

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.travelquality.com/flights/pictures/cabins/VirginAtlantic/virginatlantic_B747400.010.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.travelquality.com/flights/pictures/cabins/VirginAtlantic/VirginAtlantic.html&usg=__uHGC4QJo2HgG2BAPw_2YpaytPLg=&h=300&w=400&sz=40&hl=en&start=27&um=1&tbnid=EuLbq-jsILsAHM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvirgin%2Bpremium%2Beconomy%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUK321%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1

 

[heatherbelle]

As my DH says, you all get there at the same time, on the same plane. The extra cash it would cost for the three of us return, would pay for us all to fly again! Or for us to stay at the beach club

 

[wickesy]

We like to go upstairs as the cabin is smaller and quieter. I think the food is the same as economy but there is definitely more legroom in the seats.

 

[Funky_dino]

We've got seats upstairs when we go in Oct which i Have been told is better than downstairs

 

[DjdBrit]

I have been considering upgrading to PE for my trip home to Blighty, just for the overnight part. Anyone know what it usually costs?

 

[london75]

Hi All,

Could anyone tell me about the seats in premium economy, we are booked in economy and i am tempted to save a bit more. do you gets more seat/leg room. also do you get different food from economy. also is it better to go upstairs on the plane or down? last one does anyone have any photos of premium economy that would be really helpful. sorry for all the questions i just want to make sure it is worth the extra!!!!

Some people see it as a waste but for us it's part of the holiday. It costs more and I won't claim it's necessairly value for money, PE used to be a lot less than it is now but after we flew PE once, we'll never fly economy again.

There is so much room upstairs compared to economy it's unbelievable, it's not just about seat pitch, there are only 4 seats per row rather than 7 or 9 or whatever it is in economy. The aisle is easily big enough for two abreast and you have 2 cabin crew just for the 20 odd people in the cabin.

It's brill.

 

[DjdBrit]

Some people see it as a waste but for us it's part of the holiday. It costs more and I won't claim it's necessairly value for money, PE used to be a lot less than it is now but after we flew PE once, we'll never fly economy again.

There is so much room upstairs compared to economy it's unbelievable, it's not just about seat pitch, there are only 4 seats per row rather than 7 or 9 or whatever it is in economy. The aisle is easily big enough for two abreast and you have 2 cabin crew just for the 20 odd people in the cabin.

It's brill.

Now I really want to do it!

 

[orangetiggs]

the seat pictch is around 4 inches more so not a great deal but it depends on what you want

I would prefer to save the money to spend out there as economy is fine for us and the seats are not that bad but thats how we feel if you can afford to go PE or Upper then go for it

 

[Claire L]

The food is slightly different and then there are the added extras such as larger baggabe alloance, pre flight drinks, priority boarding and luggage return.

Claire

 

[arielrocks]

Why don't you do it one way to try it (inbound better as you get the luggage allowance!!!) - that will save you some cash!!!

 

[torsie24]

PE is great, you definitely get a lot more room than Economy and the seats are a lot bigger, I can't tell you if the food is different though as I didin't see the economy food....

 

[anthony2k7]

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/flyer_gallery.asp



http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/flyer_...eywords=&category=2&lastpos=90&fromsearch=yes

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/flyer_...ywords=&category=2&lastpos=130&fromsearch=yes

 

[anthony2k7]

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/flyer_...ywords=&category=2&lastpos=180&fromsearch=yes

 

[Danauk]

We flew PE last year; ourward to LA from Heathrow and back from Las Vegas to Gatwick (the same planes as to Orlando.) What we saw was that on the way out we had new seats (the purple leather ones), better food/drink (yummy Goo deserts and Haagan Dans icecream) and better service. On the way back (on the same planes as the Orlando flight) the food was OK, we were upstairs but the seats were narrower dues to the older entertainment system compared to the LA route, plus the seats were old and badly needed a refurb. I decided there and then that on the LA (or out of Heathrow) route PE was worth it, on the Gatwick it was not. We realised that if we didn't pay for PE on our planned trip for Christmas 2010 and instead paid economy we could actually have a trip this year and 2010 but flying ecenomy each time. Needless to say we are going to WDW this year and for Christmas 2010 flying ecomony both times. If the planes were the same as the Heathrow route this might have been a more difficult decision to make!

 

[Red-Snapper]

This question comes up a lot. The answer is actually very simple - if you can afford it then do it !!

The little extras add up to make it a very good choice - you are some of the first off the aircraft so thru customs quickly. Bags get priority at Orlando and often come off first on a separate carousel.

Just make sure you get seats upstairs - it is a very different (better) experience from being downstairs.

As you can see from some of the replies here - if it is a financial big step to pay the upgrade - you wont feel it is worth it in the same way porbably that most of us who go PE dont feel First class/Club World etc is worth the money

 

[elkvideo]

Thank you for all your replies. We are due to travel out economy and back upper. We normally travel upper both ways but are trying to save a bit of money this year. As not flown economy for many years i am beginning to think about premium economy as not so much money as upper. It looks a bit more room than economy so I may give it a go!

 

[virginatlantic]

I think it depends on if you have any children and how old they are. There is plenty of leg room until children get to their teens, we found economy just fine, if your taking young children, its fine sitting with other young children in the cabin, but must admit now ours are 19 and 21 we like the more relaxed and quieter upper deck.

Few years back we were upgraded to premium economy for free, our children were 12 and 15 then. We then realised its now the only way we want to go outward premium economy

There is more leg room,only 20+ seats, food is better, you get on first at Gatwick, and off first in Orlando. You get your bags on the same reclaim carousel as the crew, and therefore get your car and on the way faster, its a thing we think that makes going outward that little more special and adds to the excitement of the day

We now always go outward premium economy. If we want to save a little we come back economy ( holiday is over at that point, you dont really sleep, and Gatwick has no advantages regarding bag reclaim when you arrive.

Hope this helps.