Man-las vs Lhr-lax

Backend of next year meeting up with friends in LAS for 4-5 days.
We have the miles, await release of seats (too early at present). Flying UC
Toss-up between:
Man-LAS direct (very convenient),no transfers needed, but no lounge (to speak of) concerns on UC inflight experience compared to via LHR..
Or transfer to LHR and go in via LAX..
Plus being CH and better inflight UC...?
Downside, lot more messing around with transfers and cost...
Would the MAN LAS flight be really that bad, given rumours of chav tastic party bus?

Well the general seat configuration on the two routes means a better chance of getting reward seats on the LAX route. I also think the CH is a big draw and definitely worth it. It's only a few hours drive between LAX and LAS anyway

rumours of chav tastic party bus?

Ha ha ha ha, what a start to a monday morning y) y)

Personally flown the LGW -LAS and the LHR-SFO-LAS routes.. kind of relatable.

Direct flight was very convenient however got stuck in PE as there was no available space to upgrade into UC small UC cabins on the ex-LGW and MAN fleet is a massive down point.

Transfers at SFO were quite good, we would have been quickly whizzed through the airport although we stayed in SFO for a few days on the inbound and outbound - nice little break to the trip. There was someone on the flight connecting straight through and he was met at the a/c doors and sped through border control. y) y)

By the end of next year the 'leisure fleet' out of LGW and MAN will have a newer IFE and cleaner (hopefully) seats than the LHR one.. guessing you have been keeping an eye on the refits currently happening ?| Also I do think the CH service wise is better at LGW than LHR - not as large and it can get very full in the mornings but still a very good respite before the flight.

In terms of cost - if you are set on UC it will be cheaper to go through SFO (or LAX) and then pick up a connecting flight (not to mention higher chance of reward availability). I hear FIRST on VX is amazing - have yet to fly them yet, so no doubt someone can give you a bit more insight it they are the way forward. 8D

The option is based on having the choice having found G's direct to LAS, or do I turn these down to re-route thru LAX/SFO and then have to factor in LBA to LHR & Interconnects to LAS....
The million dollar (like surcharge cost!) question:
Should I commit my miles to an UC out of MAN especially on the LAS flight....? To be faced with running out of booze, a gang of self employed haulage contractors and their velour clad orange girlfriends propping up the bar all the way there.. Or have I built up a negative image wrongly?

Sorry NH did not factor in the domestic leg of the trip... that is a hell of a lot of flying, especially if you manage to snag some of those elusively mythical 'G's.

Although, if you need to do a TP run and fancy bolstering your mileage balance in the process.... VS MAN-LHR, VS LHR-SFO, VX SFO-LAS - that plus the return would be a very healthy push in TPs and miles..

However if I were you, and you don't need the miles or TPs of course, take the easier route if you get the G reward fares, nothing like a relaxing start to a holiday without having to charge around from airport to airport y)

From personal experience another thing to consider flying ex Manchester is the possibility of a fleet change after you have booked. I was delighted to get a reward seat in upper for December 2nd this year by booking months in advance. Three months after booking I found out (through V-Flyer) that there had been an aircraft change for most of the Vegas flights from Manchester in December. For whatever reason Virgin never contacted me to let me know that the upper class seat was no longer available because of the 2 class configuration Airbus now flying, I had to tell them!
I am now booked LHR – SFO but had to change my dates because of lack of reward seat availability. Having already booked hotels, connecting flights etc.. around the original booking I have been left out of pocket!

Having already booked hotels, connecting flights etc.. around the original booking I have been left out of pocket!

Wow, did VS not offer any kind of compensation as they were the ones who effectively altered your original travel plans??

Wow, did VS not offer any kind of compensation as they were the ones who effectively altered your original travel plans??

Despite several hours on the phone not a thing! To make matters worse when they were able to confirm my Manchester booking was no longer valid I was offered LHR – SFO and a return from LAS – LGW on December 9th. About a month after this new booking I got a text to say my flight time had changed. To my surprise it was by 24 hours, they had now cancelled all LAS – LGW flights on a Sunday from Vegas. Once again out of pocket, I had booked a BA flight from LGW – MAN which I couldn't use!

Kenson, I am fairly certain VS should be covering some (if not all) of these costs.... I would push for compensation if I were you - all the rebooking was down to them.

If you want to avoid dealing with VS customer service, travel insurance? You can then leave it up to the insurance company to decide if they want to fight it out with VS.

Hope you enjoy the 'rerouted' trip to LAS 8D

Mmm that's worth considering given the messing around VS are doing with fleet especially for availability of UC cabins.. Assume it's easy for them to release G's on a route that may well in fact not have an UC on the day. Least with LHR that issue should go away..

Unfortunately I don't have any travel insurance in place, I usually get a single trip policy a week before I go.

I am fairly certain VS should be covering some (if not all) of these costs.... I would push for compensation if I were you - all the rebooking was down to them.

If you want to avoid dealing with VS customer service, travel insurance? You can then leave it up to the insurance company to decide if they want to fight it out with VS.

Virgin say they are under no obligation to refund any privately arranged connections or hotel bookings unless they had been booked through them (or Virgin Holidays) There is some compensation available for forced itinerary changes closer to the time of travel (within 14 days I think) I have just resigned myself to the fact that their customer service department all read from scripts and my time is better spent dreaming of that big Vegas jackpot!

Virgin say they are under no obligation to refund any privately arranged connections or hotel bookings unless they had been booked through them (or Virgin Holidays) There is some compensation available for forced itinerary changes closer to the time of travel (within 14 days I think) I have just resigned myself to the fact that their customer service department all read from scripts and my time is better spent dreaming of that big Vegas jackpot!

That closer to the date compensation is a load of customer service BS, they charge you if you go ahead and need to change dates and routes on them.. this is a two way street - send them a bill for your 'admin' fees

Also sounds like they are discriminating against those that do not book with VH well if I were you and if I had more time on my hands I would fight it... More so for the challenge tbh, although if time was not on my side I may very well do as yourself and accept it... fingers crossed for the jackpot, what's your game?

8D