Upper Class - Upper Deck or not?

Hi,

I've done loads of searches on various websites and just don't know what to do as I can't seem to find any recent experiences, so over to the experts on here for their input.

Flying Virgin for the first time in December (LHR-SFO) and back in January (SFO-LHR) both flights in Upper Class.

For LHR-SFO have selected seats in Zone A, but for the flight back when seat selection opens, should I go for seats on the Upper Deck?

Never flown Upper Deck of a 747 before so it's mainly for the experience of it in case I don't get to do it again.

Do flight attendants actively enforce the cabin divider between UC & Y upstairs? Whilst it would be nice to experience the Upper Deck I would also like to get a bit of sleep, I realise that coming from SFO it's not considered a "Sleep Zone" area, but is the Upper Deck any noisier than elsewhere?

Your experience in this matter would be most welcome. Would you avoid the Upper Deck Upper Class cabin like the plague or is it worth it for the experience?

Many thanks.

[Neil]

It really is a personal choice, and for me, I would always choose the A zone, regardless of direction of travel. It feels so much more spacious than the upper deck and with only 14 seats it really is like it's own little cabin.

As per Neil really , haven't flown on the top deck in upper but had a wander up there on a recent flight and the curtain was open , it certainly didn't feel as exclusive as the A zone

Stick to the A-zone if you can, it feels more exclusive than upstairs. If upstairs was all Upper, it would be a different matter but as it's not, stay downstairs at the front in the peaceful area.

Why don't you come home on the upper deck and decide for yourself

Outbound good to be downstairs as two doors used to disembark so off first which is handy for immigration.

Inbound once your upstairs there is no need to leave the uc cabin as have own toilets there.

Also two big wardrobes behind UC seperate the two cabins.

You'll probably come back wishing you had tried the upper deck so may as well do that :-!

The Upper Deck is nice and quiet, and there is a bit of a separation between UC and Y (Y toilets are at the back, so there shouldn't be border incursions!). However, it is a rather different experience, a little bit tight for space, and you are remote from the bar. I'd certainly rather be in the A zone myself, but if it were a choice between upstairs and the horrid B zone on a night flight... well, I think upstairs might win for me.

[Darren Wheeler]

Personally I find the upper deck gets way too hot on an overnight flight.

A zone every time for me

Another vote for a zone

A-Zone for me too.

Did I read once that the UCS upstairs is a touch longer (~2")??

[mitchja]

What you gain in length, you loose in width on the upper deck as the UCS seats are narrower up there compared to the ones on the main deck (the same as the Airbus UCS seats with the small arm rest)

Personally I find the upper deck gets way too hot on an overnight flight.

Why does it get warmer there?

[mitchja]

Warm air rises so the highest part of the cabin will always be the warmest.

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this for me.

Question regarding the comment about it being hotter on the upper deck, do 747 UC seats have adjustable overhead air vents above them?

Have flown NZ Business Premier in the past which uses the same kind of seat but they didn't have overhead air vents and cabin temperature was a bit too warm when trying to sleep. FA's did agree and turned the cabin temp down a bit when I mentioned it.

[Neil]

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this for me.

Question regarding the comment about it being hotter on the upper deck, do 747 UC seats have adjustable overhead air vents above them?

Have flown NZ Business Premier in the past which uses the same kind of seat but they didn't have overhead air vents and cabin temperature was a bit too warm when trying to sleep. FA's did agree and turned the cabin temp down a bit when I mentioned it.

Yes, there are overhead vents.

[Darren Wheeler]

Personally I find the upper deck gets way too hot on an overnight flight.

Why does it get warmer there?

It was warm enough with just 20 UC seats, now it's 10 UC and 22 Y seats, it gets even warmer.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this, I have decided to go with the majority so A Zone seats have been selected.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this, I have decided to go with the majority so A Zone seats have been selected.

Good shout, sorry I didn't reply before. A zone on the LHR 747s is def the way to go in my book. Try for 19a or 19k (if you feel like fighting slinky for it )

Hope you enjoy the flight 8D

Good shout, sorry I didn't reply before. A zone on the LHR 747s is def the way to go in my book. Try for 19a or 19k (if you feel like fighting slinky for it )

Hope you enjoy the flight 8D

Hi, Thanks for the advice regarding row 19, did have seats in 16A & 17A but now moved to 18A & 19A.

Had originally stayed away from there as the seat map makes it look quite close to the galley and thought it would be noisier and my partner would benefit from a decent nights sleep on the flight? I take it that's not the case then as row 19 is apparently quite sort after. If anyone thinks differently please feel free to let me know.

[Neil]

I personally aren't a fan of 19 on a night flight. It is close to the galley and I do find that not only the light and noise from the crew but also the other pax either waiting to or using the toilet and also noise from the busier B zone is intrusive.

12A/K are my personal fav, but otherwise 15/16 would be my choice.

Neil

I tend to agree with Neil -- it's probably better to be a little further forward. Row 19 is nice and tucked away, though, so it's not a disaster.