Virgin Network Changes

me too!
it did take a while to sort out but could have been worse hey!
i now have the BA app, missing the VS countdown lol ironically VS dont have an android app so...
anyways wondering how BA CW will be like, the seat looks a bit tight. first world problem.i know.

Maximus - I noticed mention of a bar when I was doing seat selection for ANA but couldn't see it in the cabin layout, but seatguru identifies a bar at the rear of the business cabin, so who knows...

I suspect that will just be a few soft drinks and nibbles Bretty, certainly nothing like a VS bar.

I know some passengers love the on-board bar idea but I would much prefer my drinks brought to me as I am a lazy-arse and anti-social
Apparently ANA have nine different Sake to choose from in business class. I shall endeavour to try all nine, purely for research purposes of course

Virgin Atlantic - the names says it all really. As an English guy based in Japan who fly's the Narita to LHR route several times a year I am disappointed the route has been dropped, but I guess they never really had a very good Asia partner or good lounge access this side of the world when hoping between other countries. Virgin has now lost me as a customer and I will be moving to ANA and start my Star Alliance earning. It seems the Delta merger is actually reducing their global platform. Start of the end I feel as they chop various routes.

Maximus - I noticed mention of a bar when I was doing seat selection for ANA but couldn't see it in the cabin layout, but seatguru identifies a bar at the rear of the business cabin, so who knows...

I suspect that will just be a few soft drinks and nibbles Bretty, certainly nothing like a VS bar.

I know some passengers love the on-board bar idea but I would much prefer my drinks brought to me as I am a lazy-arse and anti-social
Apparently ANA have nine different Sake to choose from in business class. I shall endeavour to try all nine, purely for research purposes of course

I have often found the bar underused on VS flights. Now the Sake... I love the stuff and am developing a palate for different types, with a particular liking for Junmai and Nigorizake. I too will no doubt try my best to sample all 9 offerings

I am still really hacked off with the way that this has been dealt with, and the fact that we were left with no other option but to use a BA 2-4-1 on a one-way trip to get home, as there wasn't going to be any other direct option open to us, nor were VS willing to guarantee any award seats would open up with FC miles when their flights were released.

I am going to write a strongly worded hard copy letter and see what I can get out of it.

If there's a more senior person's address than the bog standard customer services one in Dunstable, I'd be grateful if someone could let me know what it is.

anyways wondering how BA CW will be like, the seat looks a bit tight. first world problem.i know.

Flew CW for the first time in Jan / Feb and quite liked it. Sat rear facing both ways. Didn't feel squeezed at all - quite a cocooned feeling really. Lots of overhead space (772). Different from a UC but as good. Only thing I didn't like was the stepping over the aisle seat (not your direct neighbour but the one down). I have a small stride and it felt a bit of a stretch plus the dirty look I got from the pax in question - although I am not sure why... Crew were fantastic.


In bound I was very lucky and got 15k which is one of the bassinet positions in the CW cabin and had direct aisle access which was bliss. (I had other problems with the flight but that's a whole 'nother story) But I was glad of that easy access!

I am still really hacked off with the way that this has been dealt with, and the fact that we were left with no other option but to use a BA 2-4-1 on a one-way trip to get home, as there wasn't going to be any other direct option open to us, nor were VS willing to guarantee any award seats would open up with FC miles when their flights were released.

I am going to write a strongly worded hard copy letter and see what I can get out of it.

If there's a more senior person's address than the bog standard customer services one in Dunstable, I'd be grateful if someone could let me know what it is.

I don't blame you clarkeysntfc, I think your situation was certainly not quite as straightforward as mine and the others, so it's worth sending something. I'm happy with how I got it resolved, but of course not happy that it was pax who had to do all the chasing to sort out their mess. However, I'm not going to rock the boat in case they decide not to cover our business class bookings as they have!

Try going straight to the top: [email protected]
Let us all know how you get on.

John

I agree, straight to the top. Of course he is unlikely to reply himself, or indeed even read it, but he will have a team of PAs to deal with such matters. And in all liklihood you will get a swifter response than through other VS channels.

Let us know what they say and good luck!

It is such a shame for the LHR-CPT flights as now the only airline to fly direct to CPT from London is BA. Not much competition there. The flights are already so expensive, especially over Christmas, so you can imagine how BA are going to take advantage of this too! All the flights I have been on on VA to CPT, they have been completely sold out...

anyways wondering how BA CW will be like, the seat looks a bit tight. first world problem.i know.

Flew CW for the first time in Jan / Feb and quite liked it. Sat rear facing both ways. Didn't feel squeezed at all - quite a cocooned feeling really. Lots of overhead space (772). Different from a UC but as good. Only thing I didn't like was the stepping over the aisle seat (not your direct neighbour but the one down). I have a small stride and it felt a bit of a stretch plus the dirty look I got from the pax in question - although I am not sure why... Crew were fantastic.


In bound I was very lucky and got 15k which is one of the bassinet positions in the CW cabin and had direct aisle access which was bliss. (I had other problems with the flight but that's a whole 'nother story) But I was glad of that easy access!

I dont mind the cocoon feeling tbh.
We have put a seat request for 16J&K, yes these are close to the toilets but not too fussed about. Plus missus wont have to climb over anyone to get to the aisle. I will just have someone who has to climb over me :-(
I did notice tho that the seats are a tad tighter than VS UC :-(
but then again, having a flat bed is more important to me at this stage.

Spoken to BA. They can't release our BA eticket/PNR because virgin haven't given them sufficient info to be able to pass the data protection test.

Absolutely fuming.

i had same problem.
what i did was contact VS and while still on the phone the VS agent contacted BA and we had a conference call. after confirming my details BA emailed the BA reference to me which i received immediately.

Did this just now and the VS agent put me through to BA who gave me the PNR.

Been booked in to I class which is a miles/TP earning class on BA even though we spent FC miles on the original booking...!

Good news on the miles/TPs, but a slightly belated caveat from me (if needed) that a BA I is as inflexible as it gets, no changes allowed at all (does it even allow cash upgrades to 1st), whereas you could of course 'do things' if needed with a VS G. Hopefully won't be an issue though, and I'm sure you were told this information, given what a seamless process it was for you?!

hi ratechaser
ofcourse i wasnt told about that minor detail grrrr
but i know now
well that now explains why mmb doesnt show any upgrade options.
but seriously, you cant upgrade for for cash?
how does that work?

I dont mind the cocoon feeling tbh.
We have put a seat request for 16J&K, yes these are close to the toilets but not too fussed about. Plus missus wont have to climb over anyone to get to the aisle. I will just have someone who has to climb over me :-(
I did notice tho that the seats are a tad tighter than VS UC :-(
but then again, having a flat bed is more important to me at this stage.

Hmm, I'm on the rotund side of things and didn't find them too noticeably tighter. For various reasons (mostly back /neck related) didn't try the flat bed position...

Gfonk - on what are you basing that the BA CW seat is tighter than VS UC?

I find this not to be the case based on nothing more than sitting in both for hours!

Have to comment on this. On the 777 , the CW seats I've always sat in felt much narrower ! Don't think it's because I've put on weight since my last UC flight !!!!

BA have launched KL.

Gfonk - on what are you basing that the BA CW seat is tighter than VS UC?

I find this not to be the case based on nothing more than sitting in both for hours!

Hi Concorde - I only based this on the dimensions I found on seat guru (i think), that BA CW is 2" thinner and 3" shorter.
However - I am obviously more happy to take a persons actual experience of sitting in the seat. What was it like in bed mode?

As the route I mainly fly is now longer served by VS I will naturally be flying either BA or ANA. In my case BA as I can transfer airmiles from my amex card to BAEC.

Gfonk - that's really interesting. I don't doubt the dimensions you read are accurate, but I guess there's more than actual cushion dimensions or whatever involved.

For me, the UC suite always felt quite cramped (so lord alone knows what I'd have made of the dream suite). I was forever banging elbows on the sides of the suite and found it quite narrow in general (I am fairly broad though).

The CW seat as a consequence, feels more airy and spacious to me. True, you don't get the privacy you might in the UC suite, and you still have a partician close in on one side.

The one thing I really like is the superb leg room. In a UC suite, I never was able to fully stretch out in seat mode, the otterman thingy always got in the way! In fact, I used to get better leg room in PE than in UC.

Whereas, in BA CW, you have loads of space in front of the seat.

In bed mode, the CW seat is fine. I'm 6ft tall and don't feel at all cramped. In the UC seat in bed mode, the shape meant that I was frequently needing to find less than comfrotable positions in order to get the max bed length - if you see what I mean.

All just personal opinion, of course.

Hope that helps a little.

Actually I disagree on the BA seats - I find my broad shoulders have issues at times on BA CW, and I have nowhere for my arms - where on VS UC and UCDS I just seem to fit more naturally. I think it's the BA armrests (those that sink into bed) that are my issue. It's far worse on the aisle seats than the window ones.

I even prefer UCDS to BA's CW personally. Sure it's personal taste thing though. I *do* like the private cabin feel of CW when sleeping compared to Virgin though - but as a seat the CW seat isn't as good for my taste for a day flight. Sleeping on virgin isn't as good, but is acceptable to me.

Very much a first world problem though - any airline with a bed in sky is better than being in back.

As an aside on my first joint venture DL BE xatlantic next week from T4, so will do a TR on my findings on that seat!

Look forward to hearing about it!

Fascinating isn't it. This all just goes to show how there is no blanket good/bad, right/wrong - it's all personal tastes in the end.

Suffice to say, I am more than happy with my choices and like the BACW product; I remember some flights with VS in UC where the CC were on form etc and give me pangs of nostalgia. In the final analysis though, you're only on the plane a few hours and does it really matter that much? I look at the whole package in terms of an airline, and BA works fo rme - but might not for others.

It really must be how you sleep. Some people like the curved UCS but I am with Concorde RIP, the CW seat in any position is far better, I am 6'6" and 19 stone and it fits me perfectly. On UC my feet are constantly banged by cc and on the upper deck CW is almost as good as First. On the bright side for those now collecting BAEC Avios not only will you have better availability but the option to go first.on my flight to GND last week (TP to follow) at least two couples had upgraded from CW to First. I can only see BA adding more routes (rumoured to be four more US cities) whilst I believe Delta will eventually use all VS slots across the pond.

It really must be how you sleep. Some people like the curved UCS but I am with Concorde RIP, the CW seat in any position is far better, I am 6'6" and 19 stone and it fits me perfectly. On UC my feet are constantly banged by cc and on the upper deck CW is almost as good as First. On the bright side for those now collecting BAEC Avios not only will you have better availability but the option to go first.on my flight to GND last week (TP to follow) at least two couples had upgraded from CW to First. I can only see BA adding more routes (rumoured to be four more US cities) whilst I believe Delta will eventually use all VS slots across the pond.

Hi Paul
Well you are certainly taller and bigger than me so perhaps I will be fine in BA CW. I did also find that in VS UC my feet were hanging over the end.

Have to comment on this. On the 777 , the CW seats I've always sat in felt much narrower ! Don't think it's because I've put on weight since my last UC flight !!!!

If seatguru is to be believed, BA 777 CW has a seat width of 20" compared to VS UC at 22", so no hiljil, you haven't put on weight which gives you permission to have a large glass of wine or maybe a cream cake?

Have to comment on this. On the 777 , the CW seats I've always sat in felt much narrower ! Don't think it's because I've put on weight since my last UC flight !!!!

If seatguru is to be believed, BA 777 CW has a seat width of 20" compared to VS UC at 22", so no hiljil, you haven't put on weight which gives you permission to have a large glass of wine or maybe a cream cake?

Excellent news, Whiterose ! Thank you for that. You've certainly made my day