It's Upper Class - but better!

Hi -

I arrived in Wellington, New Zealand today - flying with Air New Zealand (chosen for FC miles and tier points), and was bowled over by their product and service. They use the Upper Class suite (in what they call Business Premier) - it looks like Upper Class, but doesn't feels like Upper Class - it's so much better -the little touches and the service are amazing. It took me back 10 years to how UC used to be. The food was much, much better than VS, the service was attentive, and the team didn't give the impression of being rushed or overworked, despite having a full cabin. There was no-one with a chip on the shoulder, which I've experienced a few times recently in VS UC, unfortunately. And they have this fantastic idea of a Flight Concierge - someone who answers questions and generally helps passengers out. They were super friendly, and rally helpful when I had a question about transit immigration at LAX. This really underlined their approach to service - I was really impressed, they won me over completely. VS had better watch out is Air New Zealand increase their routes - I amy be a switchin' ! Steve Ridgway - time you took a mystery shopper flight and are reminded how it's done!

Thanks for the update on ANZ. A few have on here have spoken equally as highly as you have done about their on board service, and it is good to read that it continues.
One day maybe , one day

Iain

Maybe it's time SR was pushed out of the door, and some new blood brought in, VS has headed one way over the years and that is down the road of style over substance.

If you want to read more about it online here's the web address... was in the LAX Air NZ lounge yesterday and I was equally impressed... In each class they have gone way ahead of VA - sky chef in each cabin, order your food through the entertainment system, and a new class Economy Skycouch...

Take a look at Air NZ PE and UC... it looks and sounds miles better and I for one would give it a go come 2011....

http://www.futuretakingflight.com/

If you want to read more about it online here's the web address... was in the LAX Air NZ lounge yesterday and I was equally impressed... In each class they have gone way ahead of VA - sky chef in each cabin, order your food through the entertainment system, and a new class Economy Skycouch...

Take a look at Air NZ PE and UC... it looks and sounds miles better and I for one would give it a go come 2011....

http://www.futuretakingflight.com/

Yes it all looks great - I'm flying with ANZ next Friday and I was excited at the prospect of those new white PE seats.

....That is until I noticed that it's not coming until next year

I would second the comments about Air New Zealand. I flew from Auckland to Vancouver in Premium Economy a month ago (not on the new style seating), and the service was a class above what I experienced on my recent Premium Economy flight with VS from SFO to LHR.

PE passengers in Auckland can use the Business Premier check-in area, with a lift up to priority security.

Food onboard was incomparable to what I was served on VS, and as a previous poster mentioned the concierge was a nice and useful touch.

Amenity kit was of a much higher quality, for what it's worth.

A member of the cabin crew was telling me all about the 2011-2012 improvements to the service that ANZ have planned -and they are very cool indeed. The Economy skycouch looks amazing, and new, white leather PE looks like something out of The Jetsons. And having a chef onboard? That's up there with 'showers in First Class on Emirates A380' (which a friend has experienced and says it's a bizarre but amazing experience). I remember when VS was light years ahead of the competition - now they are about to be overtaken quite significantly. I heart ANZ!

Maybe it's time SR was pushed out of the door, and some new blood brought in, VS has headed one way over the years and that is down the road of style over substance.

The interesting thing is that the ANZ guy who is responsible for the new cabins & service used to work for VS!

[quote="davidct"]Hi -
I arrived in Wellington, New Zealand today - flying with Air New Zealand (chosen for FC miles and tier points), and was bowled over by their product and service. [/quote

Forgive my ignorance but after reading this great report on ANZ, could somebody tell me, can you choose to use ANZ rather than VS using FFC miles ? We should have enough miles next year to do Upper return to NZ and want to stop off in OZ on the way out and back. I have done a dummy run, as suugest on here, but the flights only came up as being able to use VS.
Help appreciated, thanks

Forgive my ignorance but after reading this great report on ANZ, could somebody tell me, can you choose to use ANZ rather than VS using FFC miles ? We should have enough miles next year to do Upper return to NZ and want to stop off in OZ on the way out and back. I have done a dummy run, as suugest on here, but the flights only came up as being able to use VS.
Help appreciated, thanks

Snomo

I'm sure you can. Have a look at the "Spend Miles" table at: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fr ... bmit1.y=17

Cheers

Martin

The quid-pro-quo of course that it appears you only get 8 points for the return trip, if any at all (as this is a miles spend anyway).

So for a revenue flight not good for points/miles earned, but for a miles spend looks good if you don't want/need the miles/points?

As a VS employee all I can say is I can't wait until you see what we have in store!

Jay -

Now that's not fair - tell us, pleeeeeeeaaaase!

I do have a question though - in relation to vizbiz's post - I thought I got 8 tier points for this return trip, but yesterday the miles landed in my account and I only got 2 when I was expecting 4 (LHR-LAX, break of 2 hours then LAX-Auckland). It was two flights, although one flight number. I need the tier points! It should be 4 for that whole leg, split on 2 flights shouldn't it? Help!

That's up there with 'showers in First Class on Emirates A380' (which a friend has experienced and says it's a bizarre but amazing experience). I remember when VS was light years ahead of the competition - now they are about to be overtaken quite significantly. I heart ANZ!

Having also experienced First on the EK A380 I too can vouch that taking a shower at 30,000 odd feet is a surreal (but rather nice) experience
NZ are a class airline -for me the whole product is less gimicky than VS, and at my time of life I want substance and consistency over bling and inconsistency (which had been my recent gripe with VS)
DL

I'm sure you can. Have a look at the "Spend Miles" table at: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fr ... bmit1.y=17
Cheers
Martin[/quote]

Thanks for that Martin, think its a case of a telephone call rather than on-line booking tho just to make sure
Snomo

Am I the only one that see this new economy plus seat as flawed? It looks great at first glance from the promo shots. They are keen to push the dine together function but when you look closely, these are some small models/photoshopped as the space in-between isn't generous. The other bean pillow table is also a footrest, this is rather like being given an extra pillow instead of actually installing a foot rest. You also can't really see how close the pods are together, looking at them from bulkhead infinity perspective doesn't do it for me. They are also bantering around price increases to match the decline in seats too. I guess you have to pay for all these things.

I think the economy sky bed is also rather a gimmick. A nice touch if you manage to block off a whole row on a open flight but I can't see people paying for 1 or two extra seats - people normally sit in economy for one reason, budget. If you share you also have to both decide to lie out - one can't watch IFE while another relaxes as there isn't any leg room.

It's nice to see an airline outside of the far or middle east innovating and I really do hope these products in the flesh prove me wrong. The sound of freshly cooked food in the air sounds fantastic!

Yep, I went LAX > AUK early this year in Air NZ Upper, and was mightily impressed. VS has the better lounge at LHR, but thats about all you can say.

Air NZ and others have raised the bar from where we were in 1990. I'm still flying on VS for US>UK and will continue to do so, but wish they raised their game. The UC food just isn't anywhere near as good as it should be, (or the wines) and the lack of innovation over the past decade makes everything feel stale.

Come on VS, you can get back to what you were - shaking up the aviation world with your innovation, service and style!

As a VS employee all I can say is I can't wait until you see what we have in store!

And that's very much what we hope for. I'm eager to see the announcements come through ...

Could not agree more at how brilliant Air New Zealand are. Flew upper with them earlier this year to Auckland and loved it. Keep meaning to do a trip report. I will at somepoint.

Exact same seats as Virgin but a friendly crew, better wine, nicer food and an IFE that lets you start watching from the moment you sit down. Skills

Jay -

Now that's not fair - tell us, pleeeeeeeaaaase!

I do have a question though - in relation to vizbiz's post - I thought I got 8 tier points for this return trip, but yesterday the miles landed in my account and I only got 2 when I was expecting 4 (LHR-LAX, break of 2 hours then LAX-Auckland). It was two flights, although one flight number. I need the tier points! It should be 4 for that whole leg, split on 2 flights shouldn't it? Help!

2 points for LHR-LAX-Auckland is RIDICULOUS! I can't remember why I thought it should be 8 points as the "earn miles/points" section of the VAA web site does indeed show 2 ( :0 )points for "trips over 2000 miles" in Business. That really is ridiculous when I consider I got 20 (yes 20) for SIA to SYD return in Business...