Virgin Premium Economy - not in bump

[london75]

Anyone know what downstairs Premium economy is like? I've just done online check in and they've pushed us downstairs!

Can we change this at the airport do you think? One of the nice bits of PE is being upstairs in the bump!

 

[fairytale]

Anyone know what downstairs Premium economy is like? I've just done online check in and they've pushed us downstairs!

Can we change this at the airport do you think? One of the nice bits of PE is being upstairs in the bump!

Although I agree that the service upstairs is possibly slightly more on the attentive/one to one side, we as a family prefer downstairs to up. Especially if you get on the first row of PE, you will find that you have an amazing amount of leg room, perfect for your flight home

My DS 6 slept on the floor the whole way home, until we got terbulance with an hour to go that is.

 

[london75]

What did you find the noise like, was the cabin separated from economy or as some reviews state just a curtain that stays open all trip. Were the trolleys from the galley obtrusive or not a problem and did you get a good service from the cabin crew?

Cheers, Andy

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We flew Premium Economy last month, upstairs > Orlando and downstairs on the way back.

Whilst the service was excellent both ways we prefer being in the 'bubble' as it's much quieter and the aisle is so much wider.
For the same cost I think there is a big difference. It was probably an illusion but the seat felt wider too.

Only thing I would agree with is Julie and Joshua had the bulkhead seats at the window on the way home, and there was an unbelievable amount of legroom - more than the other PE seats both down and upstairs.

I wouldn't count on being able to change your seats - they do not guarantee your choices, we pre-booked ours months in advance yet still did not get our alloocated 'bubble' seats on the return. Apparently we had requested to be in the bulkhead (which is just not true).

 

[Goofysmate]

I agree up stairs in the bubble is better.
In virgins broucher for Jan-Dec 2010 one of the offers they have is if you book a 4 or 5 night stay in a five star resort and up grade to PE you get to enjoy the upper deck experience.

 

[london75]

We're perhaps a little spoilt as we've been 4 times in PE and always in the bump.

Considering the price premium just keeps getting bigger (it was only £150 each way when we first went) it's a bitter pill to swallow to have a worse service than other people that are on the same ticket.

My wife's gutted, it's a big part of the holiday for her. Test booking show that VA seems to have only 1 seat for booking so looks like we're stuck.

The worst thing is I'm actually on a VH booking and can't check in at the moment so god knows where the fifth seat is going to be! At least it will be a rest away from the kids for the adults to take turns.

 

[fairytale]

We never had a problem with the service and to be honest I never really noticed any different in the noise level however, we are a family of 6, 4 been children under the age of 7 so I'm maybe tuned into noise

In all honestly though we once flew back from St Lucia in the Bubble and yes it did appear much quieter than downstairs.

Also yes it was just a curtain seperating PE from E and same again seperating UC from PE. We do however fly out of Manchester so I would nt like to advise you 100% on the plane lay out if the London based aeroplanes used a different seat configuration.

I do still think that if you get that first row in PE downstair you will not be dissappointed and you get considerably more leg room than any other seat on board.

You may want to take a look at this website www.seatguru.com we always use this prior to pre-booking our seats anywhere

 

[Girlsontour]

Just to go up the stairs is a dream of mine Maybe when i win the euro millions tonight my dream will come true

 

[Frances999]

I can understand your frustration and disappointment. Unfortunately I think it's very unlikely you'll be able to change your seats if you've already checked-in. I expect the bubble seats will have been taken by now, especially with people using twilight check-in. Did you not have the opportunity to have a look at the available seats before hitting the check-in button?

It seems to be me that Virgin are trying to CREATE a difference between the bubble and downstairs - what with Virgin Holidays now offering to "guarantee" bubble seats to those who book in a 5 star hotel. It seems unfair that the downstairs and bubble should be charged exactly the same, and run off exactly the same tickets/fare codes, when Virgin themselves seem to be recognising the advantages of the bubble and creating incentives to help guarantee their clients upstairs seats.

Just to go up the stairs is a dream of mine Maybe when i win the euro millions tonight my dream will come true

You won't want to be upstairs, you'll want to be up front

 

[london75]

To be fair we have got row 81 which is the front but as a family of 5 with one infant we prefer the 2-2 of upstairs as it feel so much more private as a family. We've got 2-1 in the front 2-4-2 row and as I said my tickets not checked in yet.

When I checked in I was waiting for the option to choose seats but at the last minute it said seat chooser not available and gave us row 81. Possibly because of the infant spot but we've always got front row upstairs before.

We're flying from Manchester so no twilight checkin and I checked in as soon as the email arrived so should have been pretty much first. Oh well, leg room sounds nice as I'm 6'5"!

 

[wideeyes]

we are down stairs on our outbound flight, I was told by VA to try and get seats upstairs at 24 before at OLCI as they hold back seats till then.

 

[Claire L]

we are down stairs on our outbound flight, I was told by VA to try and get seats upstairs at 24 before at OLCI as they hold back seats till then.

They only hold back the bulk head and exit seats, exit seats are always held for any flight as they need to check person is suitable for assisting in an emergency to open the doors.

Claire

 

[Frances999]

They only hold back the bulk head and exit seats, exit seats are always held for any flight as they need to check person is suitable for assisting in an emergency to open the doors.

Claire

Are you sure? I've always been told that around just half of the upper deck is available for pre-request and the other half becomes available when online check-in opens

 

[Claire L]

Are you sure? I've always been told that around just half of the upper deck is available for pre-request and the other half becomes available when online check-in opens

When I last booked early on in Feb 2008 the only seats not pre bookable were the bulk head and emergency exits in the bubble. When we went in Feb and I booked in Dec most were pre booked and even at Twilight check in 3pm all we could get for upstairs were the emergency exit seats.

Claire

 

[Frances999]

When I last booked early on in Feb 2008 the only seats not pre bookable were the bulk head and emergency exits in the bubble. When we went in Feb and I booked in Dec most were pre booked and even at Twilight check in 3pm all we could get for upstairs were the emergency exit seats.

Claire

Yes, it may well have been the case that all of the seats showed up as available on the seat map originally ..... but once half have been taken it usually "locks up" and doesn't allow any more requests.

 

[london75]

It's my last post now as decided to get into holiday spirit and open a bottle of wine anyway but we're talking proper check in rather than pre-book which we can never do due to having an infant every time we've travelled..

It's finally given me a seat and it's upstairs so most of us downstairs and one up. Apparently there are no other slots available to change to yet I get a window seat! I think the online check-in is a bit rubbish

 

[Frances999]

Have a magical trip!

 

[wideeyes]

The lady I booked my ticket with at VA said half are hold back in PE.

 

[virginatlantic]

Well in a few years time Virgins new Airbus A380s will arrive, and there is a full length upper deck.
So more chance to sit upstairs, but there again it might just look like downstairs

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Well in a few years time Virgins new Airbus A380s will arrive, and there is a full length upper deck.
So more chance to sit upstairs, but there again it might just look like downstairs

Have a look at the Qantas web site to see how great their 380's cabins look!