V-Flyer

Independent view of the two offerings. Last Virgin NRT flight today.

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/new ... 13386.html

Interesting... Personally I put VS PE well ahead of BA's WTP, but then I've only been on 'old' WTP on a 772, whereas I've had 'new' PE (and I mean really new as in refurbed LGW fleet).

Wife was so uninspired by BA's offering that I'm never going to suggest it again on a plane with the old setup, but maybe I need to look at the new offering if they have upped their game...

I have to agree about the food served in the VS PE cabin. On my last 3 or 4 flights the PE food has been rubbish every time. Whilst it's reasonably well presented, the quality is simply not there. It's just basically an economy meal cooked in a proper dish instead of a plastic one and nothing more.

mitchja wrote:I have to agree about the food served in the VS PE cabin. On my last 3 or 4 flights the PE food has been rubbish every time. Whilst it's reasonably well presented, the quality is simply not there. It's just basically an economy meal cooked in a proper dish instead of a plastic one and nothing more.

Interestingly the last time we flew PE (inbound from NYC), we liked the food even more than what we got in UC (inbound from NRT). Seems to be quite hit or miss. The best meal we had was outbound to NRT in Upper, though.

This is also an interesting read for me as it's good to hear that WTP has been improved; I've never flown it but previously heard reports about it not being as good as PE, so it's nice to know we might have an alternative if needed.

Having just flown the new BA WT plus I can vouch for the fact the new cabin is far, far better than it used to be. The seats and IFE are much improved and the main course from the Club menu was very good indeed. On a long flight there were 3 services! Certainly wasn't hungry..

Well worth a try

Seems a little unfair to compare the old PE with the new WTplus, surely a like for like comparison would've allowed us to make a better informed choice.

LHRrules wrote:Having just flown the new BA WT plus I can vouch for the fact the new cabin is far, far better than it used to be. The seats and IFE are much improved and the main course from the Club menu was very good indeed. On a long flight there were 3 services! Certainly wasn't hungry..

Well worth a try

So did you get priority check-in, boarding & exiting? Did you get a welcome drink? and was your luggage delivered onto the conveyor speedily on landing.

BA certainly needed to improve their WT+ service but until it includes all the VS PE benefits as standard, then a bit of good food wouldn't make us go backwards

I didn't really think about it at the time, but yes, the PE food was economy level. It wasn't even close to as good as I remembered from 5 years ago.

Surprised about the screens. I know the Club screens on the Chicago 747 were pretty crappy and really bad quality, earlier this month...

I think its hard to compare as both BA and VS currently have different offerings because of newer and older aircraft. BA WTP on an old 747 is hardly a good comparison with PE on a VS A330 and the same with VS A340-300 and the newer BA A380.

My thoughts are that aircraft aside, BA wins over VS in PE for food - offering something closer to Business Class meals, whereas VS meals in PE are more like economy, but you get the benefit of priority boarding and drinks before take off. Different strokes for different fokes I guess

Having originally not liked the new WTP - I do now. Feels like you have more room and the choice of TV is much better.

The overall look and feel of Virgin is better - but can be quite tight when the seat in front is reclined.

To be fair they are both good - was surprised to hear this week that Cathay are pulling PE on some flights. I think it's a great concept.

I too have often wondered what the point of just having one episode of a good series is when flying on VS and watching Vera. It's dumb and frustrating. BA having boxed sets is a great idea, VS should have done that years ago.

In my experience PE food went through a real dip but then recovered a few years ago. It is a lot better than Y, which really does border on the inedible.

interesting article but how is it possible for him to have already flown the return on BA if the last returning VS flight was today?

Think he was moved to BA as Virgin cancelled the flight on the day he was travelling.

Too much credit to the pre flight drink though. It's a thimble size now. I think less than 100ml...

Virginlondon wrote:Think he was moved to BA as Virgin cancelled the flight on the day he was travelling.

pardon me if im being dumb (which I obviously am) but that still doesnt make sense to me as today was the last flight from NRT to LHR on VS? so why would he have flown BA on inbound flight back to LHR prior to this? if this article was written during next week it would make sense.

Because Virgin have been cancelling flights on certain days recently, and therefore he asked to be put on a BA flight on that day.

LHRules thanks I knew it was me being dumb lol

Ex-UK, gluten free meals are the great equalizer. He's my article comparing the two like-for-like:

BA WT: chicken; but VS EC: chicken
BA WT+: chicken; whereas VS PE: chicken
BA CW: chicken; however VS UC: chicken
BA F: chicken; (VS flight crew GF meal: chicken.)

NYLON wrote:Ex-UK, gluten free meals are the great equalizer. He's my article comparing the two like-for-like:

BA WT: chicken; but VS EC: chicken
BA WT+: chicken; whereas VS PE: chicken
BA CW: chicken; however VS UC: chicken
BA F: chicken; (VS flight crew GF meal: chicken.)

Haha airlines love chicken because almost everyone can eat it, whatever their faith or diet (apart from vegetarians & vegans obviously). And even better, it's cheap!

I think VS response is entirely valid. The new WT+ offering is not, as I understand it, being offered on any of VS 747 aircraft so it isn't a consistent comparison across either fleet,

As to the food, the menu seems to be the same as my flight back from GRU on BA in WT+ and it was possibly the worst food I have ever had long haul. Beef, but not as we know it, Jim. Far below the standard of recent Economy offerings on Turkish, Emirates and BA on the the way out to GRU.