V-Flyer

With all the requests here wishing to gain an upgrade, just thought I'd confess that on VS9 yesterday LHR>JFK, when heading for my PE seat, I noticed how empty the EC was. So I just went back there and DOWNgraded myself into a middle row, just a few behind PE, before take off.

I was tired from 3 days hard work, and stretching out across 4 seats was far better than a single PE.

I did let the crew know, it was not a problem. My glass of bubbly and some papers were brought over, as I'm Au. UC and PE were busy, EC was near empty. what have we come to?!

First time i've ever heard of anyone doing this, but I can appreciate that 4 rows of Y would be more comfortable than a PE seat. Did you still get your PE meal? Any odd looks from other Y passengers?

Atleast you still get the higher miles and TP.

I don't think I got the PE meal, but as I had a delicious crab salad, glass of wine, tea and pudding in the lounge beforehand, it didn't matter anyways. I probably missed out on a few minor perks, but more than compensated by flat bed snoozing!

I think that's very sensible, especially if you have lounge access beforehand. I have lost count of the number of flights I've been on in which PE is crammed full, but Economy is half-empty.

I have also experienced the reverse, where PE is empty but Economy is busy. That is very frustrating, because there is just no way you can lie flat in PE ex-LHR (don't know about the old seats) -- unless you pick the floor!

About 6 years ago, I was leading a party of 29 to New Hampshire skiing. One way back (BOS - LHR) the VS plane got stuck as the airport closed due to snowstorm just prior to us taxiing out. 24 hr delay (story of Virgin abandoning us in the airport, with my 10 week old son, is for another thread). Next day, plane won't start up, so needs a part. 3rd day, plane now only about 70 pax total. Our entire group get moved from EC to UC - inc a UC seat for the baby! One of our group decided to explore as we were on stand, went to the rear of the completely empty rear EC cabin, plonked himself down and announced that the entire cabin was now his. Nobody bothered him for the entire flight home on the A340.