Upgrade to PE?

I am brand new to this forum and Virgin Atlantic, but I was wondering if somebody could help me with a few questions...

1. Does anybody know how much an upgrade to PE usually costs at the check in counter?

2. Does your original fare code relevant to this cost/your ability to upgrade?

3. Is PE worth it if my flight is from EWR to LHR?

Thanks!

[Neil]

Hi and welcome.

Current on the day upgrade prices seem to be around the £200-250 per person one way. The original fare code is irrelevant for on the day special upgrades.

Is it worth it? Only you can answer that question really. If you want the benefits and are happy with the cost then it is a nicer why to fly without doubt. But if when you step off the plane from your 7 hour flight you would rather have £250 more money then maybe it isn't. Everyone has different wants and ways they prefer to spend their money.

Regarding the upgrade, do keep checking the manage my booking section on the VS site, as they do offer upgrades through there also (this only applies if you book direct with VS)

3. Is PE worth it if my flight is from EWR to LHR?

Is it the day flight (VS18) or the overnight flight (VS2)?

If it's the night one and you would ordinarily fly economy and sleep OK, then personally I wouldn't bother with PE. It's a quick flight and you won't be awake to appreciate the extras. If you don't plan to sleep, then PE is a little more attractive.

If you're on the day flight then PE is more attractive still.

There are lots of other factors, though -- will you appreciate the extra space, priority boarding and bags, more tier points and miles, etc? Those, for me, are the big benefits of PE. Personally I wouldn't get too excited about the onboard service (food, drink, and amenities).

Hope this helps.

Okay, thank you for the input. Unfortunately, I didn't book through VS so there haven't been any prompts to upgrade online. Also, a VS representative on the phone told me at check in they may be able to sell me a pass to the Clubhouse...any experience with this at all?

[Neil]

They do sometimes sell CH passes at £60pp, but it is space limited with a very strict capacity, so don't bank on it being offered.

Also, a VS representative on the phone told me at check in they may be able to sell me a pass to the Clubhouse...any experience with this at all?

I might be getting confused but I didn't think VS sold access to the EWR CH with it being so bijou.

Even if they did I personally don't think that it would be good value due to the lovely but limited facilities.

The LHR CH on the other hand is a different matter ...

Hi there!

I've both upgraded on the website, and at the check-in counter. Both times the price was £190, but that wasn't from EWR. I think sometimes it varies, so well worth asking. My folks also used miles at the check-in desks.

Hope this helps

G

It is obviously very subjective but for me PE is well worth £250 especially on a night flight. The seat is way more comfy and the food and service are much better than Y. It is not - as some believe - the same menu served on nicer plates. It is much better quality/selection/quantity - and yes it is served with proper cutlery and china plates. Even the pre-flight drinks are in real glasses (many airlines can only manage plastic even in biz class), in-seat power for laptop.

This may all sound a bit fancy and un-necessary but if you go from PE to Y you will notice it !!

it is served with proper cutlery

not on my last 2 flights it wasn't - plastic cutlery wrapped inside a PE napkin

It is obviously very subjective but for me PE is well worth £250 especially on a night flight. The seat is way more comfy and the food and service are much better than Y. It is not - as some believe - the same menu served on nicer plates. It is much better quality/selection/quantity - and yes it is served with proper cutlery and china plates. Even the pre-flight drinks are in real glasses (many airlines can only manage plastic even in biz class), in-seat power for laptop.

This may all sound a bit fancy and un-necessary but if you go from PE to Y you will notice it !!

I agree on the comfort, that little bit extra space makes a lot of difference on a night flight. You can deal with an economy seat if it's during the day.

Not sure about the food though, I actually thought it was horrible.

it is served with proper cutlery

not on my last 2 flights it wasn't - plastic cutlery wrapped inside a PE napkin

On all the flights I have taken the main meal was served on china with proper cutlery but the breakfast was, as you say, served with plastic. I better qualify this by adding that all my flights have been to HKG or USA west coast. Maybe the short routes are different.

it is served with proper cutlery

not on my last 2 flights it wasn't - plastic cutlery wrapped inside a PE napkin

On all the flights I have taken the main meal was served on china with proper cutlery but the breakfast was, as you say, served with plastic. I better qualify this by adding that all my flights have been to HKG or USA west coast. Maybe the short routes are different.

No this was to/from PVG 12 hour flight. All 4 meals were served with plastic cutlery.

[honey lamb]

No this was to/from PVG 12 hour flight. All 4 meals were served with plastic cutlery.

Maybe that's because of restrictions going into PVG. I seem to recall that on the HKG-SYD route the cutlery even in Upper is plastic because of restrictions placed on airlines by the Australian authorities

I believe there's been some stock issues recently which has resulted in plastic cutlery in PE on some flights. Should hopefully rectify itself in the next few weeks.

It's only on the HKG-SYD-HKG sectors that plastic cutlery has to be used in all cabins.

"3. Is PE worth it if my flight is from EWR to LHR?"

From my personal experience on this route = No.

We flew out in December 2010 to Newark on an Airbus A340-600. We got allocated into the row of three seats and I sat in the middle seat of this 2-3-2 config. An absolute awful seat. On the return, the config was 2-4-2 on a 747 and this time we had the two middle seats in the row of 4. Once the folk in front reclined their seats, the feeling of claustrophobia was indescribable v(. Give me a side set of ecomony tickets any day, if this is the only PE available.

On another flight we went to Boston, I had the middle seat again going out but on the way back we had the two side seats right by the galley. Interesting & entertaining flight!! but far from relaxing.

IMHO there is no comparision between the upstairs & downstairs PE product. If you have a travel partner then unless you can get the side seats, the downstairs PE is a waste of money. Even on the Gatwick flights, the upstairs PE product with all its faults is far far superior.

VS should have paid me to sit in those awful middle aisle crapped seats. I'd think very hard before paying out a very high premium for very little in return.

Hev - I absolutely agree with you - and probably goes some way to me being highly particular about checking the seat maps and so on for plane/config changes.

If I fly in the bubble, I'm happy to pay the premium - if I fly downstairs in PE I don't think it's wrth it.

I have upgraded at the airport before and it was £150 each, but you can never gurantee this. I personally think it is worth it, especially the bubble. Hope this helps and enjoy your trip

If I fly in the bubble, I'm happy to pay the premium - if I fly downstairs in PE I don't think it's wrth it.

What's wrong with downstairs?

If I fly in the bubble, I'm happy to pay the premium - if I fly downstairs in PE I don't think it's wrth it.

Agreed,79A&C being our faves

NOC

Miss G - nothing is wrong with downstairs percee, it's just the allround experience of the bubble is superior in my oppinion, and that of many others V-Flyers.

[mitchja]

I received metal cutlery on all 4 of my Upper flights to/from SYD

I received metal cutlery on all 4 of my Upper flights to/from SYD

Oooh have the Australian regulations changed? It will mean a lot fewer people on the HKG-SYD sector complaining about the plastic cutlery when they had metal cutlery from LHR-HKG.

I received metal cutlery on all 4 of my Upper flights to/from SYD

Oooh have the Australian regulations changed? It will mean a lot fewer people on the HKG-SYD sector complaining about the plastic cutlery when they had metal cutlery from LHR-HKG.

It changed in late 2009

What's wrong with downstairs?

As I pointed out in an earlier post when discussing our experience of downstaris PE I said... "On the return the config was 2-4-2 on a 747 and this time we had the two middle seats in the row of 4. Once the folk in front reclined their seats, the feeling of claustrophobia was indescribable".

That is what's wrong with PE downstairs IMHO.

However VS do have an obligation to provide the option of a downstairs PE seat to folk who cannot manage the stairs. If these seats are not taken at OLCI, then someone is going to get them.

What's wrong with downstairs?

As I pointed out in an earlier post when discussing our experience of downstaris PE I said... "On the return the config was 2-4-2 on a 747 and this time we had the two middle seats in the row of 4. Once the folk in front reclined their seats, the feeling of claustrophobia was indescribable".

That is what's wrong with PE downstairs IMHO.

However VS do have an obligation to provide the option of a downstairs PE seat to folk who cannot manage the stairs. If these seats are not taken at OLCI, then someone is going to get them.

Must have missed that, apologies. Do you reckon it's worse than economy though?