VS UC v BA CW, which is best (again)

I know, I know there are multiple threads on this old question but since I like to create a bit of mayhem now and again I thought I would just ask. It has been a while since I have flown either carriers premium product, Emirates being our preferred carrier in the most, but having bagged 4 G class reward tickets in Upper for our trip to Washington next April I need to start thinking about the flight over to and back from Blighty. EK are completely out of the picture with tickets in J for 4 coming out at Aed61,000 or in real money about GBP10K, however both BA and VS are identical at Aed39,000 or GBP6.5K for the 4 of us. BA has 2 flights a day, which is slightly better for us as we could leave London at midday day on the Saturday, allowing for us to hopefully meet up at the Pheasant for a few sherbets with some other V-Flyers either on the Thursday or Friday.
So what should it be?

Would appreciate some up to date input.

thanks in advance
Iain

[honey lamb]

My views on CW are well known (or at least they should be given how often I've moaned about it) but I'm going to suggest you try CW and then do your own compare and contrast exercise.

[buns]

As you know, I have used VS to fly to Dubai a couple of times this year

As VS use the 330 on the route, the UC product is the "Dream Suite" and the way the seats have been crammed in means that the cabin does feel quite crowded and the actual suites, whilst they have the latest entertainment, have less space and are as not as priviate as you will have experienced in the past.

The Clubhouse remains the jewel in the crown for VS as far as Mrs Buns and I are concerned.

I am sure the V Flyers who have moved across to BA will be able to "compare and contrast"

buns

buns

.......

I am sure the V Flyers who have moved across to BA will be able to "compare and contrast"
buns

Been there, done it, NOT impressed and now returned to VS

Mrs J and I have traveled in both VS's UC and BA's CW cabins, and I have to say that I do think UC is a far superior service than that of CW.

My mother/father-in-law have been regular BA CW passengers, however have recently moved from 'the dark side' and are now using VS. They are both of the opinion the UC is also better than CW. All their future bookings are now with VS.

Dan

UC all the way for me, although as Buns has said, I try to avoid the 330 at all costs if in UC.

VS UC from me too

As mentioned in my recent Club World TR our flight was 'great'. I take the financial side seriously when comparing VS UC with BA CW. Yes, that flight was fine, from service to food to the flat bed to the IFE. However the Virgin Atlantic funkiness and Clubhouses outstrip BA big time. If money was no object I'd choose VS UC over BA CW but can I buy return flights to west coast USA in VS UC for £550 and 50K miles - no way. The BA reward scheme wins hand down compared to that of VS, especially the companion voucher aspect. VA's companion scheme is pretty much unusable because to derive the 'two for one' benefit you have to buy the most expensive of all fares (J)costing several £K. No cash fare is purchased with the BA scheme, you just redeem the miles for one ticket and get two tickets, paying cash only for the tax/fees.

I prefer VS overall but don't have a bottomless pit of cash or miles, that's why I've started using BA. I still love Virgin and wouldn't have booked an ex-EU to LAS in VS UC if I didn't

I don't like the ying/yang cabin layout in BA CW.

CW LCY is better than normal CW though.

I don't like the ying/yang cabin layout in BA CW.

CW LCY is better than normal CW though.

Agree. I need to look at where I'm going, not where I've been Same on a train, can't sit with my back to the engine end.

I usually fly VS UC but I have just booked BA CW for August next year for our holiday to Orlando. I only booked as for my family of 7, BA was £6k cheaper!!

Agree. I need to look at where I'm going, not where I've been Same on a train, can't sit with my back to the engine end.

What happens if it's a type with an engine at both ends?

I usually fly VS UC but I have just booked BA CW for August next year for our holiday to Orlando. I only booked as for my family of 7, BA was £6k cheaper!!

That's quite a compelling reason particularly as IIRC most of your tribe are well under the age of being able to enjoy a Virgin Redhead in the CH or over generous JD & coke at the bar in flight.

It's personal taste and whether FC miles/Avios are important, whether the club house is important etc....neither are a "bad" product, so it's a little like "what cut of stake do I get" - in the end, you'll need to choose. At it's best, UC in a non-dream-suite plane with crew that happen to be on their game that day beats CW, little doubt about that, but you can't always be sure what "operational reasons" might occur that changes the plane, annd there is consistency of service to consider.

I'd suggest you make a list of important factors for your trip, score VS and BA against those and make your choice.

The advice to try it for yourself is good too, it won't be a "bad" experience...and then you can reply to the many threads like this!!!

My husband has taken several flights recently both UC and CW, his most important point was that in the BA lounge he had to fetch his drink and food, but they did have marmite ... he didn't like the seat config on BA.
Hope that helps ?!

The advice to try it for yourself is good too, it won't be a "bad" experience...and then you can reply to the many threads like this!!!

I've been thinking along those lines for using my Amex points...

One other thing is that BA fly direct to so many more places than VS.

That is why we have booked to go with them to Calgary in May, and now VS have finished the Vancouver route which is such a shame. Shall do a comparison then, mind you its on a dreamliner which seems to have a better seat configuration than some of the other aircraft and much smaller cabins. It has actually amazed us that they can offer rewards in each cabin as they are so much smaller capacity then VS. When we booked the agent said they try and offer 2 rewards in premium and club on each route.

We are aiming for a try in first at some stage, something we would never afford normally. Lin

I don't like the ying/yang cabin layout in BA CW.

CW LCY is better than normal CW though.

Agree. I need to look at where I'm going, not where I've been Same on a train, can't sit with my back to the engine end.

I'm exactly the same. Sitting facing backwards would be a very bad idea for me. Given the choice of sitting backwards in CW or forward in Y, I'd rather be in Y.

Thanks everyone for the feedback,I had completed the formalities on BA website only to be hit with "choose your seat for Aed400" which is about60GBP each. Eh no thanks and without wishing to be strung all over the cabin at checkin I stopped right there. All booked on VS. Old habits die hard. Now when can I select my seats :-) :-)

Thanks everyone for the feedback,I had completed the formalities on BA website only to be hit with "choose your seat for Aed400" which is about60GBP each. Eh no thanks and without wishing to be strung all over the cabin at checkin I stopped right there. All booked on VS. Old habits die hard. Now when can I select my seats :-) :-)

Yes BA charge for seat selection in all cabins apart from First. This is where one world status is really helpful (get to choose for free). Does mean though if you are left to choosing your seats at online check in, there is a lot more choice (if you're quick!).

I'm exactly the same. Sitting facing backwards would be a very bad idea for me. Given the choice of sitting backwards in CW or forward in Y, I'd rather be in Y.

We are travelling to Phoenix next year as part of our west coast trip and did consider BA CW but chose instead to fly VS UC into Los Angeles and take another short flight to Phoenix The prospect of all those hours facing the wrong way - no thanks!

A lot is made of this sitting "the wrong way" in CW.

Honestly, the only time you notice it is on take off and landing - whilst flying along, there is no accelleration or decelleration, so the only thing you'll notice is that you are looking down the plane towards the back - it feels no different in flight.

By the way, many studies have shown that it's safer to face rearwards - the RAF still do it for that reason, but it's never been rolled out by airlines as they feel it would be unacceptable to passengers - probably validated by lots of responses on this thread!

But really folks, sitting backwards is no big deal, and is certainly less weird than sitting diagonal with UC which I find most disconcerting at take off and landing.

It's not the sitting backwards thing that bothers me in CW, it's the proximity to your neighbour and the necessity to keep the screen closed, which then makes an already cramped seat even more cramped. I don't like the way food is shoved through the screen for window seats, the climbing over people to get to you seat at times, the so so service, and nowadays BA's superiority in food is being matched or bettered by VS.

Add to this the traditional VS advantages of the clubhouses and onboard bar, the much more relaxed vide et al and wherever there is a choice, it's VS hands down over BA.

That gap is narrowed by the UCDS fiasco but won't IAD be a 787 next year?

[honey lamb]

It's not the sitting backwards thing that bothers me in CW, it's the proximity to your neighbour and the necessity to keep the screen closed, which then makes an already cramped seat even more cramped. I don't like the way food is shoved through the screen for window seats, the climbing over people to get to you seat at times, the so so service, and nowadays BA's superiority in food is being matched or bettered by VS.

Add to this the traditional VS advantages of the clubhouses and onboard bar, the much more relaxed vide et al and wherever there is a choice, it's VS hands down over BA.

I agree with everything that slinky has said in this post. The only reason I have chosen CW is because of my destinations which were not on the VS network.

Even BA First wasn't the mind-blowing experience I had hoped it would be and currently the only reason I would choose to fly BA over VS in CW is because of price

A lot is made of this sitting "the wrong way" in CW.

Honestly, the only time you notice it is on take off and landing - whilst flying along, there is no accelleration or decelleration, so the only thing you'll notice is that you are looking down the plane towards the back - it feels no different in flight.

By the way, many studies have shown that it's safer to face rearwards - the RAF still do it for that reason, but it's never been rolled out by airlines as they feel it would be unacceptable to passengers - probably validated by lots of responses on this thread!

But really folks, sitting backwards is no big deal, and is certainly less weird than sitting diagonal with UC which I find most disconcerting at take off and landing.

My brain understands that but my inner ear tries too hard to adjust which makes me travel sick sitting facing backwards on any moving vehicle...

That's quite a compelling reason particularly as IIRC most of your tribe are well under the age of being able to enjoy a Virgin Redhead in the CH or over generous JD & coke at the bar in flight.

That is correct, 5 kids!! And I dont drink so it will just be the missus enjoying champagne at CH!