is it really worth it

I have booked really happy BUT
should I really have gone for uc on the return?? am worried after all this that it won't live up to my expectations and I should down grade to pe?

if I down grade will is now save me much? I have to pay £100 for the privilege

tell me its worth it!!

flying pe lon to las
uc las to man

There are two views on this.
One, which is also mine, if you only do one leg Upper make it the journey home and enjoy the flatbed.
The other view is do the Upper on a daytime and stay awake to enjoy the experience.

I'm sure you will enjoy it.

And yes it's worth it.

Dick D

You will save £60 per person in taxes and fees by downgrading from UC to PE but will have to pay the change fee, used to be £25 per person but t&c's now say £30 per person. So you'll save either £30 or £35 (plus the refunded miles). In my opinion UC is definitely worth the extra £30 and miles on a night flight, to be able to sleep on a flat bed with a proper quilt and pillow.

thanks
I had over 300000 miles and £1800 . I've now got no miles and no cash.
I thought I could get 2 trips out of my miles and I've gone and spent them all on luxury

Tbh when I get on that plane I will be so please I did,

only you can decide if it's worth it.
Done similar to you - got UC back from NY & went out PE
Booked UC just for the flat bed on an overnight flight.
Was it worth it? NO
Because of a 5 hour delay in departure it ruined my plans.
Ended up leaving NYC gone 2am instead of 9pm.
I was full of beer at that point, so decided instead of sleep, Id carry on drinking...
There was nothing to enjoy in UC. it's a myth. If it was a 12+ hour flight, It might have its uses, however I did not like the UC experience, i did not like the pod, I did not like the limited control in recline or the option to full flat.
Dont get sucked in by the first class dining experience. For the price thats factored into the ticket, its not of a high standard.

tell me its worth it!!

Well only you can decide that after the flight!
As you point out it is a lot of money and miles. Some will not consider an UC flight vfm but I doubt many on here will share that view But we all have different priorities.
What i can say is I have never flown business or first class on a long-haul flight and felt it was not worth it (But I hate economy long-haul flying). The converse is true for short-haul, it never seems worth the expense for a flight less than 4 hours.
I think you have made your decision now, the flights are booked, so just go with it and let us know how it went after the flight. I look forward to your trip report.

Well I did say most. Clearly eggtastico is not one of them

As I have said before, remember the flight is never as important as the holiday. The money spent on UC seats may possibly be more useful spent on other activities (that again is down to individual choice/ opinion). Premium cabin seats are nice, but at the end of the day they are of course just seats on an aircraft. And eggtastico has a point, the food is better than Economy food but NEVER as good as decent food in a decent restaurant on the ground.

:-O

Well I did say most. Clearly eggtastico is not one of them

As I have said before, remember the flight is never as important as the holiday. The money spent on UC seats may possibly be more useful spent on other activities (that again is down to individual choice/ opinion). Premium cabin seats are nice, but at the end of the day they are of course just seats on an aircraft. And eggtastico has a point, the food is better than Economy food but NEVER as good as decent food in a decent restaurant on the ground.

As you say, it depends on your priorities. After years of suffering rather than enjoying the time spent on aircraft, not being high maintenance on the ground (I really do not understand spending a small fortune on a meal), being time constrained (can't take multiple holidays a year), getting minded to carpe the diem and now there being just the two of us the whole UC experience (on sale or points, to be honest) is important to us as the flights are part of the holiday. In strictly utilitarian terms, is it value for money? Possibly not. But then again I not overly enamoured of an Adam Smith view of the world.

To SM - in my experience there are many times I have booked things and then thought "why the flip did I do that?" Though some of them I wouldn't do again, I don't regret any of them. Yes you've blown your points but remember VS could devalue their scheme tomorrow...

Thank you for all the comments , I'm going to go with it. It might be s one off it might be the way forward . But I have to experience it and why not on a 10 hr flight

[honey lamb]

As others have said, it really depends on your priorities and your experiences.

I'm with pjh, in that I can't see the point of spending what, to me is a king's ransom on a meal - although I will cheerfully admit to enjoying one or two when someone else is paying! I have flown long-haul to JNB (which was my first long-haul destination) in economy enough times to decide that PE was the way to go and when we started flying west to the US, then PE it was from then on. On one occasion, having flown via IAD to JAX and returning by the scenic route from LAX (don't ask!) I considered whether I should try and upgrade on the flight from LAX or save my miles and the consensus was that we should go for the upgrade. It was fortuitous advice as the flight was massively oversold and they were looking for volunteers and so we got a K->UC upgrade at no extra cost! There was an added bonus as we were on the VS23 and having slept our way across the Atlantic we had to wait several hours for our connection to Cork which meant we went to bed at our normal time. Result? No jet lag!!

From then it was UC all the way (with a minor aberration on my part to IAD in PE) and quite frankly from my perspective, it has been worth it. Since then I have flown long-haul in Business (which includes UC) to several destinations in the world, not only on VS but also on Singapore Airlines, Emirates, BA (both in Club and First) and Aer Lingus. I have had good and bad on VS (mostly good but the occasional bad flight); good, if a tad robotic and mechanical, on SQ; mixed on Emirates - I didn't like the cabins on the 777 flights although the food and crew were good but I did like the cabin in the A380 but the crew were lacklustre. Emirates however, excelled itself by re-routing me to Cork and not Dublin when I missed my connection; on BA, I dislike the CW cabin although on my last flight the service was excellent. In First, I was disappointed apart from my flight on the A380 to JNB when the food was superlative; Aer Lingus surprised me - I was expecting something along the median of the flights listed above. Their food offerings in J are good and plentiful and their staff attentive. My first flight was in the old J cabin configuration but I have flown in the new flat-bed seats which has a configuration which suits both single travellers and those travelling as a couple. I was so impressed that I will even forgive them for thinking I was a nun!!!

I can appreciate where the likes of eggastico are coming from. I don't look for a fine dining experience on an aircraft. I have had the good, the bad and the downright ugly. I have had some better meals in Economy than in UC. Sometimes it is due to the choice that I make (as it does in any restaurant) and other times the lack of choice. What I look for is a modicum of comfort in a flight of more than 4 hours given that, for the most part I would have travelled by plane or by road (or perhaps rail) to get to the airport that is going to transport to my more exotic destinations.

So, is it worth it? For me it is

I guess it depends on if you travel for the destination or for the journey, which can in of itself be a bit metaphysical!!

For me, personally, the travel experience is probably as important as the place I am going, I think it's why I would be well suited to cruising!

I just wanted UC for the Bed.
Because of the delay, it ruined my plans - however, the club lounge was a godsend. Otherwise I would have had to hang around an airport where are all the shops was closed.

I found PE more than comfortable enough for my needs & I would happily go there for anything up to 12 hour flight, depending on the return flight & landing times. I would not fly UC from the UK, due to the ridiculous Tax, that is money I would rather put towards my holiday - £800 extra for a hotel in Vegas is much better value for a few hours of discomfort.
I am one of those who struggle to sleep on a plane. All I want is a window seat & be left alone. Not being bothered every 5mins asking if I am ok or need anything. I am an adult & I can wipe myself & I am capable of asking if I need anything.

I also blew nearly all my miles - but have built them back up & I should have enough for a PE trip (using the vouchers) come Spring.

As others have said it's all subjective and depends what you are looking for in your flight.

Me, I love flying UC home from the US or either direction when flying east (I fly to Delhi quite frequently) I try to avoid UC flying FROM the UK, due to the taxes aspect, but when flying home my miles are usually earmarked for an upgrade from whatever I'm in to UC if I can - work have a tendancy to not book me in upgradable buckets.

I find that the UC experience, when you have a good crew is awesome, if you have a bad crew it can actually be worse than PE in my experience.

I find the seats are comfy, the food is usually good - although I have ordered from the PE menu when in UC before - and the flat bed when on a night flight is great.

In a word Yes.

I'd do it out of LHR again as the clubhouse is amazing. Not sure i'd be so keen for a night flight, its a lot to pay to sleep.

well I phoned up as this is still niggling away at me.
if I down grade it will cost me £120 for the privilege and I will receive £130 cash back But I would end up being credited with 115000 miles!!!!
so I am just going to hang on until I get my upgrades credited on my account and then I will think about it again. nest june so there might not be availability by then.

It has cost £1400 to fly out pe and in uc and 3400000 miles

I could fly return pe to the us again next year if I down grade.

I am really giving myself a hard time here :(

It's up to you at the end of the day. I'd say sleep on it (for many more days) and don't make any impulse decisions. If you have to pay £120 to get £130 then you're only getting back a tenner, not including your miles. If I was in your shoes and I'd ummm'd and aaaah'd over it this much I'd say have some faith in your own decision, what's done is done and just enjoy what's coming up.
If you do stick by it at least you can say you've done it - plus you'll be able to make future choices about whether Upper Class is worth it or not based on your own experience of it, which is far more useful than other people's experiences (in my humble opinion).

I'm also in the camp for "its worth it". I'll admit I can be high maintenance at times as I like nice things and to travel in comfort, and for me the travelling is part of the holiday. Especially as, for long haul, you spend almost a whole day or longer at airport / onboard a flight. And if, like me, you prefer to travel and stay overnight at the airport (because I hate travelling on the day to the airport, I don't want to rush), then you're looking at a day and a half or 2 days travel before you arrive at your holiday destination.

A few years ago I got tired of travelling long haul in economy and booked PE for a trip. I hated being cramped up like sardines in a can, having other PAX recline all the way back so I couldn't eat my meal easily or watch the IFE. I was also growing steadily and didn't feel comfy in the seats!. I was excited by the extra comfort available in PE, more leg room, slightly better food. That and Pam Ann lured me with a promise of real cutlery and glassware! Only I never did it because I was offered an upgrade price to UC and took it, and we loved it.

I like the comfort of a seat that I can recline as I wish without having to think about other PAX, of being able to convert to bed and lie down on a day flight if I want to (I don't sleep well on flights, just lightly, even on a redeye). I enjoy dining without worrying about being jabbed in the stomach by the person next to me, or me them, or having my drink knocked down me as I'm drinking it (these are all things that have happened). I like having direct aisle access and more room to settle down and actually enjoy the flight rather than it be a chore and leave me feeling like I want it to be over asap.

Along with that I very quickly appreciated the little extras - a lounge away from the hustle and bustle of the terminal, decent food and drinks in the lounge, decent, though not necessarily restaurant quality food onboard (apart from on ANA, the Japanese airline food was exquisite).

After that first trip in UC with VS, my husband said that whenever possible he would like to travel business class. I'm glad he did because I'd been thinking it for a while, but he's the grumpy one who's cautious with money. And I don't mind paying extra for it. That first time, travelling with VS in UC on Z fares I paid a pretty penny. But then I got caught up in collecting miles and learning how to get the best deals possible, and how to upgrade. I learned most of it here, and it's been invaluable (and I've made new friends I've never met but whose advice I trust).

I've just paid for an ex-DUB trip roughly the same as I'd pay for an M economy fare to upgrade to UC with miles. I took this option after doing my first ex-DUB this year, and also because after looking for weeks there were no UC rewards available for the routes I wanted over a selection of dates.

I'm also aware that it's just me and him travelling, not a family of 4, 5, or even 6 with children in tow. Those things may affect travel choices hotel, budget etc. I don't know, I don't have that experience. But for me, and my OH, travelling UC or in Business class generally is worth it. And right now I'm working towards flying in First for a trip in a couple of years.

Finally though, to echo what one or two others have said to the OP, it may or may not be worth it to you. But you've booked it now. And whilst you could change the flights, you'll never know if you don't go!

Happy travels

well I phoned up as this is still niggling away at me.
if I down grade it will cost me £120 for the privilege and I will receive £130 cash back But I would end up being credited with 115000 miles!!!!

£120 wont go far & 115k miles would barely be enough in a seat reward sale, flying to the west coast for a 2nd trip for a family of 4 flying economy.

I found PE more than comfortable enough for my needs & I would happily go there for anything up to 12 hour flight, depending on the return flight & landing times. I would not fly UC from the UK, due to the ridiculous Tax, that is money I would rather put towards my holiday - £800 extra for a hotel in Vegas is much better value for a few hours of discomfort.

The UK APD tax is the same for PE and UC?

I found PE more than comfortable enough for my needs & I would happily go there for anything up to 12 hour flight, depending on the return flight & landing times. I would not fly UC from the UK, due to the ridiculous Tax, that is money I would rather put towards my holiday - £800 extra for a hotel in Vegas is much better value for a few hours of discomfort.

The UK APD tax is the same for PE and UC?

I got things a little wrong - Reward taxes are approx :-
UK E = £187 PE = £281 UC = £334
USA E = £64 PE = £85 UC = £138
so nearly a £800 difference between UK & USA tax for UC (based on 4 people)
Only £200 more from PE to UC though.

I'm in the it is worth it camp. A bed on a night flight is the best way to arrive having had a good comfortable sleep especially on longer flights such as LAS-MAN. I'm sure if you downgrade you will be envious of those in J where you could/should have been.

After flying PE and UC I thought I'd dread going back to Y, but I flew from EWR to CDG in Y and slept just fine with a seat next to the window. It's not as bad as I had imagined and I think the fact I knocked back a fair amount of vino in the Delta lounge prior to boarding probably did the job. Given the return flight to NYC cost me all of £300 I am now going to be saving my FC miles for UC flights further than the East Coast. Would I like to spend all my UC money on a flight where I slept for most of it? Not really.