Virgin Atlantic 'premium economy' - renamed business class?

Hatter The Mad · 15 Dec 2010 at 13:13

I'm flying to the US in the next few months. I can pretty much pick my airline, and I get the sense that Virgin Atlantic is A+ (compared to BA and god forbid... US Airways).

However, they no longer do a business class, just economy, premium economy and upper.

In terms of service and amenities, is premium economy equivalent to anyone one else's business class?

Virgin Atlantic the right choice?

Bes · 15 Dec 2010 at 13:15

No. Premium economy on VA is like World Traveller Plus on BA.

Upper Class is (a nice) Business Class. They don't do a first class product AFAIK.

Smitho3 · 15 Dec 2010 at 13:16

iirc Premium Economy is a front of section set of seats with a lot more leg room within the standard economy seating area.

Hatter The Mad · 15 Dec 2010 at 13:19

Bes said:
No. Premium economy on VA is like World Traveller Plus on BA.

Upper Class is (a nice) Business Class. They don't do a first class product AFAIK.

I thought this might be the case, but their upper class seems a tad more swarve than regular business class (a walk-up bar and beds?)

Bes · 15 Dec 2010 at 13:20

Hatter The Mad said:
I thought this might be the case, but their upper class seems a tad more s****y than regular business class (a walk-up bar and beds?)

It's no worse. It has lie- flat seats and I think the 747's have a bar.

Hatter The Mad · 15 Dec 2010 at 14:54

I meant s w a n k y, but it thought I was trying to swear

Pestilence · 15 Dec 2010 at 14:58

"Suave".

EDIT - That might have seemed cheeky, but I'm just helping out with the word you intended.

Westyfield2 · 15 Dec 2010 at 14:58

Hatter The Mad said:
I'm flying to the US in the next few months. I can pretty much pick my airline, and I get the sense that Virgin Atlantic is A+ (compared to BA and god forbid... US Airways).

However, they no longer do a business class, just economy, premium economy and upper.

In terms of service and amenities, is premium economy equivalent to anyone one else's business class?

Virgin Atlantic the right choice?

Erm no, in a word

. First off I'd definitely rank BA above Virgin. Every day of the week.

Secondly you've got the classes wrong.

Bes got it spot on IMHO.

Put simply:

Virgin Economy = BA Economy
Virgin Premium Economy = BA Premium Economy
Virgin Upper = BA Business
BA First

Nexus · 15 Dec 2010 at 15:45

Hatter The Mad said:
I thought this might be the case, but their upper class seems a tad more swarve than regular business class (a walk-up bar and beds?)

Well BA has bed seats in Business Class on long haul routes, so it's not like you are gaining more with Virgin Upper.

As for the Bar... My Father flies a lot on business and said he's never been a fan of that feature on Virgin flights because it means you sometimes end up with people drinking at the bar for ages which gets really annoying if you just want some quiet or to sleep.

Hatter The Mad · 15 Dec 2010 at 15:50

Thanks for the advice! BA it is

jas72 · 15 Dec 2010 at 16:24

Hmm I had a friend who said in VA upper he had a bed and got a neck massage from a beautiful blonde stewardess of course this is from a friend but he said it was great and better than BA's 40+ stewardesses. He could have been telling porkies but ... well you asked for opinions.

Skidder · 15 Dec 2010 at 16:28

virgin's been a bit jaded looking for me of late, prefer BA, but I am a BA miles whore too

Virgin certainly has better looking stewardesses on average but they're not exactly going to nosh you off, so who cares.

Barks · 15 Dec 2010 at 16:50

Just get the peasant seats and then get your GF to pass out so you get upgraded free to premium economy with your in flight meal served before anyone else, albeit at the cost of a delayed flight and angry passengers!

Yes that actually happened and there were spare seats so we were treated!