Long Haul Flights - Different classes of cabin

[Fr0dders]

I went abroad a lot when i was a kid, and it always used to be the case of it being Economy Class, which was affordable, business class, which was stupidly priced and not really affordable to families with normal jobs, and first class, which was the same but even more so.

Singapore airlines (who we flew with to Australia) still operate this sort of policy.

When we booked flights to go to the US, we fly with Virgin Atlantic who now offer something different - Economy, Premium economy and "upper class"

But Premium economy is actually affordable.Last year we managed to get premium economy for a family of 3 for £2,387 for all 3 of us to florida. Now this is is more expensive than economy, but for us it was well worth it, and not nearly as stupid as massive business class prices. We got to be upstairs in the bubble, something normally reserved for first class on Singapore Airlines. (this on a 747-400)

Now we're looking at flying again and BA also offer something similar - except they offer both business and first class instead of just "upper" class as well as economy / premium economy.

But looking back, Singapore are still offering only Economy, Business and First class.

Whats the reason for everybody having different ideas as to what class of travel to offer ? does it just come down to making more money ?

But what astonishes me is that if PE doesnt make any more money and its better to charge everybody for business and first class, why Virgin Atlantic manages to do so well offering no first class, and only a few business class seats (the 747s that fly to florida from gatwick and manchester only have about 10)

 

[k3v]

Its down to money. I suppose its because BA charge £6-7k per seat in first class. They have 14 seats in first on a 747. BA rely on a premium passangers. Virgins premium economy is better than BA's iirc.

 

[Rotty]

I use PE on Virgin regularly, it's better on the old 747s where you get seats in the "pod" upstairs

PE on BA has the same legroom but the seats are narrower

One not to fall for is PE on United where the putch is 35 as opposed to 38

re the Upper Class, this is Virgin's name for business class, they do not offer a 1st class equivalent

the VA 747s that operate froGatwick are predominantly on tourist routes where there is less demand for UC, the LHR planes which cover business routes hve many more UC seats

 

[NathanE]

Cheapest option is to ask for the wing door seats. Which have more leg room than ANYONE else on the plane (including upper class). Approx 1.2 meters worth.

When I flew with Virgin Atlantic last month I just asked at check-in whether this was still available and they charged a small amount to "guarantee" myself the seat.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I amazed you thought £2,300 for 3 tickets to the East Coast of America was good value. You must have money to burn if you considered it was worth the expense for what isn't a particularly long flight (It's what, 9 hours?).

Just think, had you flown Economy instead (I've paid £900 for two economy tickets to LA with Virgin) you wouldnt have had to sell your Vectra because it needed a clutch

I just dont think the extra classes of travel are worth it until you are wealth enough for the extra to be a non-issue. I'd just keep wondering how I'd rather have spent the extra whilst on the trip, not getting to the trip. Or in your case spent the cash on other stuff!

 

[k3v]

Leg room isnt an issue in virgin upper, BA club class (business) or First. With BA you get a lie flat bed in club or first. Ive flown BA first once last year, and ive got one booked for later this year (San francisco), im a posh seat convert now. Im an airmiles convert too as this is the only way I could ever fly First class. My seats in First were £410 each plus airmiles for tickets that cost £7k each at the time of booking.

 

[Rotty]

Cheapest option is to ask for the wing door seats. Which have more leg room than ANYONE else on the plane (including upper class). Approx 1.2 meters worth.

When I flew with Virgin Atlantic last month I just asked at check-in whether this was still available and they charged a small amount to "guarantee" myself the seat.

they do have lots of legroom but are very narrow and folks tend to stand around in front of you until you kick them a few times

 

[NathanE]

I amazed you thought £2,300 for 3 tickets to the East Coast of America was good value. You must have money to burn if you considered it was worth the expense for what isn't a particularly long flight (It's what, 9 hours?).

Just think, had you flown Economy instead (I've paid £900 for two economy tickets to LA with Virgin) you wouldnt have had to sell your Vectra because it needed a clutch

I just dont think the extra classes of travel are worth it until you are wealth enough for the extra to be a non-issue. I'd just keep wondering how I'd rather have spent the extra whilst on the trip, not getting to the trip. Or in your case spent the cash on other stuff!

I was amazed too that somebody could consider that price a good deal. It was a total rip! It was a 7.5hr flight to/from NYC on Virgin last month. Don't know if it's different for Florida.

Just take a laptop chock full of TV eps and stuff and the hours fly by

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

You all know that the respective marketing departments for these airlines have as their first point of order on the Monday meeting : "Even more stupid names we can give to our flight types! Hey, does anyone think ... no, it wouldn't work ... but does anyone think that maybe we could, I don't know, pretend to upgrade third class to second class? We could call it ... Premium Economy? Why is it 'premium'? Well, that's a good question! It's certainly more expensive! Hey, there's our angle - it's premium because it ... hmmm ... costs you more? Yes, it costs you more! Also, your legs can survive 4 more flights before buckling from the lack of legroom."

Sidenote, but I despise 747's as I'm not a very good flyer. I much prefer the 777 which is essentially like being in your living room if your living room was 36,000 feet in the air and took 28 hours to get to where you were going.

 

[Rotty]

Sidenote, but I despise 747's as I'm not a very good flyer. I much prefer the 777 which is essentially like being in your living room if your living room was 36,000 feet in the air and took 28 hours to get to where you were going.

a 777 is a quieter and more comfortable plane than a 747 ( subjectto seat config ) however if you are in the pod on a 747 it is very quiet and private

 

[Fr0dders]

I use PE on Virgin regularly, it's better on the old 747s where you get seats in the "pod" upstairs

thats the reason we took the PE seats, really enjoyed the whole experience. I've flown economy every other time i've flown, and it was nice to try something different.

Was a completely different feeling up top, felt like you were on a bus more than it did a plane. Was immensely quiet with only about 30 of us up there.

I was amazed too that somebody could consider that price a good deal. It was a total rip! It was a 7.5hr flight to/from NYC on Virgin last month. Don't know if it's different for Florida.

i was comparing with Singapore airlines, who would normally charge you First Class prices with 5 figure ticket costs EACH, to sit up there. Obviously its not a good price compared with economy, but we didnt want to sit downstairs with the rifraff in economy

You must have money to burn if you considered it was worth the expense for what isn't a particularly long flight (It's what, 9 hours?).

money was never really a problem in the first place. As i said at the time the vectra went - all the bills got paid. It was more a mental thing with the mrs.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I love the way you keep going on about being 'in the pod' as if its some sort of First Class experience irrespective of seating type. Yes Singapore charge 5 figures to sit 'in the pod' but they've also fitted 'the pod' out with a First Class cabin with first class service and first class seating!

Did you know that Singapore charge 5 figures to sit on the normal floor on a 777? And that Malaysia Airlines charge £6k+ for a First Class seat on the bottom deck of a 747? Both these little quips are as relevent in my opinion. You don't really pay for the location on the plane (Upper deck Economy on an A380 is no more expensive) you pay for the class of cabin/service.

In your thread before you told us that you had to spend the kids christmas money on a clutch replacement, cut down on the premium air travel and fly coach like everyone else and you'll be better off all round.

Premium Economy is Economy with a marginal amount more legroom. It's really nothing special and it absolutely isn't worth £2300 for 3 tickets to the East Coast. Bonkers spending that at any point really let alone if you are not swimming in money.

If you are bothered about legroom, which you are absolutely right to be, you are far better off simply picking a carrier which offers more legroom as standard anyway - Malaysia Airlines, Air New Zealand, selected Air Canada flights, etc.

As for your original question, I would be amazed if BA were even within £100 of being competitive for whatever flights you have planned next. I have never, ever seen them within £100 of the best price when I'm flight-buying.

 

[Fr0dders]

who said anything about legroom

and who said anything about the kids christmas money. If you recall the problem was "leaving little left in the savings"

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=15453358&postcount=39

You need to stop making assumptions old chap

 

[Von Smallhausen]

I highly recommend easyJet business class.

You get a seat.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Why else would you pay extra for premium economy if you don't want more room, what's the point?

And it was you who said about the presents

 

[Cosimo]

I highly recommend easyJet business class.

You get a seat.

Yup, in the lounge as the flight goes off without you.

 

[Fr0dders]

Its so much quieter upstairs. You have to try it. Its wonderfull.

*edit*

you get a better seat pitch, wider seats (you have met me irl haven't you ) and fewer people upstairs to walk by you all the time. Because theres only about 30 of you up there, theres far less people getting up and down beside you / walking past you etc.. its really relaxing. You also get storage at the side of your seats too, so dont have to get up to reach you hand luggage. Oh and complimentary champagne on take off doesnt harm either

Its not just one thing - its a combination of things. Helps with my other half who is nervous of flying too.

 

[Sp00n]

I highly recommend easyJet business class.

You get a seat.

Do you know what the extra pricing is on this, every time i do a search it seems to go through to the normal site.

 

[Cosimo]

Its so much quieter upstairs. You have to try it. Its wonderfull.

It's a haven and keeps you away from all the riff-raff.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Its so much quieter upstairs. You have to try it. Its wonderfull.

That's because its upstairs not because its premium! What would you do if the plane isn't a 747? The Virgin A340-600 doesn't even have an upstairs and makes up much of the long haul fleet!