V-Flyer

Hi,

My wife and I are planning to fly to Las Vegas in May 2010, and I'm considering paying for Premium Economy tickets but I wanted to know what type of seats we'd likely have.

I have travelled on the 1st generation seats on a flight from Gatwick to Jamaica and they were great, but my wife has travelled on the 2nd generation seats on a flight from Boston to LHR and said they weren't much better than economy. The 3rd generation seats look ok.

I looked on the which aircraft list and there is no data for flights to LAS for some reason??

Basically, I wouldn't want to pay the extra money for the 2nd generation seats and want to find out what the most common type of PE seats are on that route.

Appreciate the help.

Thanks,

Julian

Hi

You may be a generation ahead of me here. I'm only aware of the two - the 'cloth' covered seats which are used on the Gatwick fleet (and therefore on the LAS run) and the 'purple leather' seats on the Heathrow fleet.

I like both, and thought that the LAS trip (upstairs, cloth seats) we did in April this year was great -just like being in an executive 40 seater plane

Can anyone else out there comment on the 'third' generation?

There have been 3 different PE seats. The ones that are currently on the LGW/MAN fleet, the ones that used to be on the LHR fleet, and the new purple leather ones on the LHR fleet.

LAS will have the older, first gen PE seats, which are still really good IMO. LAS flights are operated by the LGW/MAN config a/c (there are 2 ever so slightly different configs) but they both operate all flights.

In the photos on this link, I call the one on the left 2nd generation and one on the right 1st generation.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/whatsonboard/premiumeconomy/otherseats.jsp

The one on the left is not much better than economy - so my wife tells me!

quote:Originally posted by bowerjc
In the photos on this link, I call the one on the left 2nd generation and one on the right 1st generation.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/whatsonboard/premiumeconomy/otherseats.jsp

The one on the left is not much better than economy - so my wife tells me!


See my reply above. But the 2nd gen, which weren't that great, are no longer in use by VS, they have been replaced by the purple leather ones, but they are only on ex LHR a/c currently.

Neil

Thanks - I was obviously asleep during the second generation....

But I still like the first generation, particularly if you're upstairs - much more restful than being in economy downstairs

quote:Originally posted by PeterStansfield

But I still like the first generation, particularly if you're upstairs - much more restful than being in economy downstairs


Totally agree, and if you can bag the exit row seat also, it makes for a fantastic flight and experience.

quote:Originally posted by Neil
See my reply above. But the 2nd gen, which weren't that great, are no longer in use by VS, they have been replaced by the purple leather ones, but they are only on ex LHR a/c currently.

What are the ones downstairs on the LGW fleet? Are they not 2nd? Dunno myself as I always take the bubble [}:)]

Those 'plastic horror' 2nd generation PE seats are still in use on the main deck of all the LGW/MAN 744's so avoid those.

Regards

quote:Originally posted by mitchja
Those 'plastic horror' 2nd generation PE seats are still in use on the main deck of all the LGW/MAN 744's so avoid those.

Regards


They are, I meant to say that, although I would avoid flying downstairs at all costs anyway (the seats being one of many reasons), so was removing that section from the thought process.

I'm sure this has been asked many times, but what are the tips to getting the exit row upstairs? When does it become available?

thanks

quote:Originally posted by bowerjc
I'm sure this has been asked many times, but what are the tips to getting the exit row upstairs? When does it become available?

thanks


Only at airport check in. Best and only tip is to get to check in as early as possible really.