PE Improvements

Basically PE is expensive...full stop, thats the product and it comes with a price, if you don't want it, choose Economy.

Maybe so egg ... but is it worth 40% more? Brand is one thing, excessive brand is another ...

[Decker]

Might explain why our next trip is CW .

Originally posted by slinky09

Basically PE is expensive...full stop, thats the product and it comes with a price, if you don't want it, choose Economy.

Maybe so egg ... but is it worth 40% more? Brand is one thing, excessive brand is another ...

Remember who you are asking this question of - Mr Gucci/Cartier/.../Mont Blanc. I have a feeling that Egg may be used to paying a premium for brand

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
A BMW is on average 40% more expensive than a similar car from a less prestigeous make, that doesn't make the cheaper one any better "value for money" if you really wanted the beemer.

As with everything that is marketed, you are simply making a calculated decision, ability to afford x desire to own. Usually it is the 'desire' element that becomes the driving force that pushes the consumer into making purchasing decisions when it comes to premium brands.

Of course there are many things which people buy into that are simply not true and border on barefaced lying.... anti wrinkle creams for women is one - regenerist z10 formula my a*** (and now they are targeting men with the same rubbish).

The true bottom line is...... if you enjoy the UC & PE offerings then your money has been well spent.

Jon B

I think I will sign up for a PENTAPEPTIDE drip, though I am sure its a load of BOSWELOX[:o)]

Seriously though my previous post wasn't intended to sound aloof, though parts taken out of context of the whole post might read that way.

Its all down to personal choice really, when I am on the plane either in PE or lucky enough to be in UCS, I often go for a walk around the main body of the plane, when I see 20 or 30 kids chasing themselves around the EC section and people with their knees up around their ears
and the trolly banging people arms, that when I think THANK GOD I AM NOT SITTING IN HERE, and whatever it cost me was money well spent.

And SAILOR, I didn't buy my Mont Blanc with real Mont Blanc Marble, solid silver barrel topped with a 28 facet diamond, it was bought for me, and £1200 of somebody elses money well spent[}:)]

Which is fair enough EGG.

I just refuse to pay £350 quid extra to get away from kids, they dont bother me that much .

Originally posted by londonguy
I just refuse to pay £350 quid extra to get away from kids, they dont bother me that much .

Well said,

The way some people rant on about kids on this forum (on the aircraft, in the clubhouse) - you'd think they were possessed.

I am not sure that VS offer a 'kids free' environment as part of the PE (or UC) price anyway so not particularly relevant.

Phil

I have been in PE when there have been more kids than adults. It drives me NUTS! the screaming, clambering over people and the constand whine of Muuuuuuum and Daaaaaaaad. Ear plugs and eye shades only do so much!

There should be a reserved space in the hold for the little dahlings!

Seriously I have thought for ages there should be a families seating area as there was a smoking section then the little ones can keep each other and their parents amused.

Originally posted by FamilyMan
The way some people rant on about kids on this forum (on the aircraft, in the clubhouse) - you'd think they were possessed.

Well, other people's kids are always possessed; mine have always been models of decorum. To be fair even on the heavily family loaded flights (been on many being restricted to leisure trips in school holidays only due to partner's work) most misbehaviour comes from adults; V-Port is more than enough to keep kids occupied for hours...

Originally posted by FamilyMan

Originally posted by londonguy
I just refuse to pay £350 quid extra to get away from kids, they dont bother me that much .

Well said,

The way some people rant on about kids on this forum (on the aircraft, in the clubhouse) - you'd think they were possessed.

I am not sure that VS offer a 'kids free' environment as part of the PE (or UC) price anyway so not particularly relevant.

Phil

Not sure my post was a rant as such about kids and was one third of the reasons I gave for considering PE worth it for me in that particular post, also to pick out that is just another example of diseminating a post that takes the whole thing out of context hence painting a negative view of the poster to other people reading the thread.

This thread has gone off topic I think, especially if it degenerates to castigating peoples points of view when a point of view has been asked for.

If people refuse to pay for PE or UCS, just don't in which case there is no reason to moan about how much it is because you refuse to pay it anyway.

I have seen quite a lot of demonic kids in airports, planes lounges etc, which sadly is mainly due to the fact that some parents don't pay any attention to them and would rather enjoy their own holiday/flight and inflict their childrens boredom or exitement on others, that probably isn't you, BUT it does happen.

then we get the if your going to a holiday destination we should expect badly behaved kids, which is a totally pants argument, along with the, they pay for our pensions etc etc etc.

Basically going back on topic, I think PE is ok for the price, thats my take on it and that should be enough really if its just an opinion your after, rather than just having a bash at the product or the people who use it.

[Neil]

Well said EGG[y]

Why, just because you think PE is worth the extra, a point Im 100% with you on, do the people who disagree have to turn bitchy[V]. Variety is the spice of life, wouldn't it be boring if we all liked the same stuff, so please people, just respect other peoples points of view, make constructive points if you disagree but lets not turn bitchy

ok, mini rant over[:w]
Neil:)

[fozzyo]

Trying to decide if PE is value for money is very difficult one, firstly you have to be lucky to get a good discounted fare bucket on a cheap flight.

But where PE can quite often, though not always, come in as best value for money is with the use of Companion tickets. You have to buy a full fare ticket, but then if you split the cost with your companion this can result in a cheaper fare each. Though not always the case.

Mat xxx

Sorry was guilty of going off topic here!

PE worth the money? Its hard isn't it For me being in a smaller cabin makes paying more worthwhile.
BUT somtimes a Y ticket can be as cheap or expensive (depends how you look at it) as a consolidated K fare.

As for improvements I would make well what about a larger choice of reading material like Upper get? What about a help yourself snack thing? A slightly different meal service not food but just the presentation?
Something to make us feel a bit special?

[mcmbenjamin]

Is PE a good value for the money? Well there is no one universal choice. I can sleep in Economy so paying for PE would be pointless. On the return (LHR-IAD for me) I book PE as when booking in advance the cost to upgrade that one leg to K from X is only $200.00. I enjoy the benefits. After the meal and other services, I 'Raid the Larder' in the middle or aft Economy galley to stock-up on snacks and Virgin Diet Cola. I enjoy the time watching movies and really enjoy it. Now I personally hated the time I was on PE on the A343 with the old style seats but others will disagree.

Just to clarify

My point EGG was that you were providing a reason for PE which was not part of the PE offering anyway. Sorry if I offended but my first comment was half light hearted and meant more as a agreement with londonguy than a dig at your argument - I did say 'Forum', not 'Post' so I was not at all implying that you were ranting. I agree with your general comments about the occassional unruly kids and their equally reprehensible parents.

I generally think that PE is adequate for the price (as long as you're not paying full W price) but could probably be improved on. However as has been mentioned before there are two reasons why PE will not be significantly improved, at least not soon:

1. The loads are relatively high
2. Improvements would impact on UC bookings

The question of whether PE is 'Value for Money' is another question entirely which has also been addressed here - personally I do not think it offers great value for money.

Thanks

Phil

Thankyou family man, correct you can get kids in all cabins, in fact I was pleased to take my 6.5 year old nephew upstairs in PE last year, he was very well behaved.

It is still relevant though as you are hardly likely to have groups of kids chasing each other in the premium cabins due to there being no room for them to do so and the %age of kids in forty odd seats in PE on two levels or 14 suites in the front is going to be a lot less than the %age in EC with over 300 seats, which was really my point. I have seen this happen on every flight to MCO when I have gone to stretch my legs, the cabin crew must have a high patience level.

So I guess we just got our wires crossed there.

I happily pay the extra for PE, purely for the more rarified atmosphere of 30 to 40 seats in the bubble, compared to the claustrophobic atmosphere of economy. I reckon it is worth every penny. And the uplift isnt that much if you use miles or a 2 4 1

Part of this is the lower liklehood of kids (especially to/from Vegas which is my usual route). I would obviously prefer a child-free cabin, but one or 2 kids in a cabin of 40 is bearable. Wouldnt like to fly to Orlando though [:0]

I will now only travel economy on AA now, because the 2-5-2 formation makes travelling bearable as a couple. 3-4-3 is awful - I wouldnt wish a middle seat on anyone [:$]

Family Man - I disagree that improvements will impact UC loads as the UC suite meaning the flat bed do all the selling they need to for VS UC. In my Opinion of course.

Originally posted by Professor Yaffle
I will now only travel economy on AA now, because the 2-5-2 formation makes travelling bearable as a couple. 3-4-3 is awful - I wouldnt wish a middle seat on anyone [:$]

Agreed. When we were four and booking in Economy I always made a mad dash to the seat assignment page to get the 62 (?) and upwards pair seats. Now that the eldest has flown the coop I just aim for the furthest forward set of 3.

Don't United do a 2-5-2 ? And have a section with extra legroom ?

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by pjh

[i]

Don't United do a 2-5-2 ? And have a section with extra legroom ?

Yea, United has Economy Plus for full Y clients, Premier's (Elite status), and people that join (for a fee) their Economy Plus Access program. Economy Plus is not a different cabin nor does it feature the check-in, baggage, or mileage benefits that Virgin offers.

United features a 2-5-2 on the B772s while Delta has 3-4-3 with no extended legroom area.

I will now only travel economy on AA now, because the 2-5-2 formation makes travelling bearable as a couple. 3-4-3 is awful - I wouldnt wish a middle seat on anyone

I once ended up in the middle of a block of five going from BRU to JNB after my brother's passport expired and although he was able to get a new one in a couple of hours at the embassy, we still missed our flight and had to take any seats we could get the next day[B)]

VS.

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin

Originally posted by pjh

[i]

Don't United do a 2-5-2 ? And have a section with extra legroom ?

Yea, United has Economy Plus for full Y clients, Premier's (Elite status), and people that join (for a fee) their Economy Plus Access program. Economy Plus is not a different cabin nor does it feature the check-in, baggage, or mileage benefits that Virgin offers.

United features a 2-5-2 on the B772s while Delta has 3-4-3 with no extended legroom area.

True on the downsides, but for we folk who work for companies where the travel policy is made by people who never travel (or at least never travel Economy), being offered the extra legroom for 40 pounds (relatively easily lost in a welter of other expenses) makes a difference...

(and the other disadvantage is it's five dollars for a wine or beer...)