The thing about business class is that you expect it to be full of men in suits. If you're flying to New York, it is. If you're flying to Barbados, it's not - it's full of older, richer people going on holiday. You do get the occasional screaming kid too.
Honeymoon – Virgin Flight (upgrade) ?
- Thread starter kai
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The thing about business class is that you expect it to be full of men in suits. If you're flying to New York, it is. If you're flying to Barbados, it's not - it's full of older, richer people going on holiday. You do get the occasional screaming kid too.
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Yep, when most people plan a holiday they usually have some sort budget in mind. I would always spend money elsewhere rather than on getting the flight upgraded to something above economy... For example, I am going on my honeymoon this month to the Turks and Caicos islands... If I had an extra £1.5k budget I would have either upgraded the hotel we are staying in to something really luxurious or gone somewhere 'nicer' such as some of the French Polynesian Islands (albeit at a different time of the year). If I was going to the US I'd probably hire a Shelby Mustang or do something 'outrageous' with the extra cash.. People will tend to be more interested in hearing about the holiday itself than what the flights were like
I take the attitude with flying that there is always going to be a degree of discomfort associated with it so its better to just 'suck it up' and come out the other end substantially richer than trying to improve the experience by a limited degree... Of course the extra room may well be a godsend for those who are significantly above average weight or height so your mileage may well vary.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
It better be really good to add £1.2k to the price
It's not - Upper would be worth that but it isn't worth an extra £1200 to sit in a different seat if it's PE you are moving to. People can be VERY pretentious about premium travel, everyone in here is telling you it's a no brainer but frankly I disagree. I've binned them this year but I usually fly Virgin to the US and always in Economy. It's nothing like as terrible as people seem to try and convince you it is. Sure, Premium Economy is nicer and for a hundred quid or so I'd probably make the move but £1200 cash? No way.
Spend that £1200 cash enhancing other parts of your trip that'll last a tad longer than the flight there and back.
Once you get into the realms of paying sensible money and using miles etc to upgrade into the proper premium cabins, ie Upper on VS, Club World on BA, then it's perhaps more worth it. But don't pay 1200 quid to sit in Premium Economy unless £1200 is total pocket change to you, which it probably isn't or you'd not have asked.
Do you really find that? I think Virgin are just about the worst for long haul economy, second only IME to Gulf Air! Tiny seats, awful legroom, bad entertainment systems and old planes. I've flown with most major airlines as well.
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The legroom is fairly poor, I'll give you that but no worse than any other airline (I'm only 5'9" though so It's not a major problem for me). The thing is, if all you want is extra leg room then I definitely wouldn't say it's worth the upgrade. You get a little extra but it's not like you can lie back and stretch out.
I've also flown in the economy seats which have the extra leg room which was about the same as PE. I didn't pay for the upgrade to those seats but if leg room is all you're after then it may be a better option.
I don't know about the age of the planes (nor care too much about it) but I've always found the entertainment and everything else very good.
I've also flown in the economy seats which have the extra leg room which was about the same as PE. I didn't pay for the upgrade to those seats but if leg room is all you're after then it may be a better option.
I don't know about the age of the planes (nor care too much about it) but I've always found the entertainment and everything else very good.
Not my experience - I generally seek them out for long haul travel and often pay a little more to use them. The only time I've had bad IFE was when I was unlucky enough to get one of the 3 remaining Airbus A340-300's left in the fleet without AVOD. Every other time it's been great, good selection of recent stuff, too.
[TW]Fox;26553216 said:
Wasn't impressed with my flights to PVG and back with Virgin in PE recently. Last time i flew with them (2009) the food was better and there was more of it and I'm sure the IFE had more choice. You do get a little extra leg room, 38" I think over 32", but to me the seats aren't any more comfy than any economy long haul I've flown (Cathay and Singapore). Not much use to the OP but I'm flying BA premium economy in a few weeks time out to PVG so fingers crossed they'll be better than my recent experience. Better flight times too for me
To use miles to upgrade with Virgin you need to purchase the right type of ticket. If you purchase a fixed price one you can forget about it. You need to buy a flexible ticket. By the time you do that you may as well just buy a fixed price ticket for the next level up.
Iv flown with afew airliners and id say try upgrade when possible to Premium economy or business class atleast i don't like sitting in cattle class at all if i can help it 
Did two longhaul flights from Amsterdam to Houston and back one in business and one in economy. And the difference the few extra inches of legroom and service made was unreal trust me. This was with KLM also
Its ur honeymoon, splash out enjoy yourself
Did two longhaul flights from Amsterdam to Houston and back one in business and one in economy. And the difference the few extra inches of legroom and service made was unreal trust me. This was with KLM also
Its ur honeymoon, splash out
enjoy yourselfDeleted member 66701
Deleted member 66701
It originates from the fact that on the early jumbos it was located on the upper deck. - hence "upper" class.
I would rather spend the extra 1.2K on some luxury pampering while abroad than on the flights to/from. Maybe that's why I'm not married
Or spend the £10-20k they spent on the 12 hours of their wedding upgrading to first for 16 hours of luxury, and then enjoy the rest of the money elsewhere!
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Or spend the £10-20k they spent on the 12 hours of their wedding upgrading to first for 16 hours of luxury, and then enjoy the rest of the money elsewhere!
Thing is that first class isn't luxury at all, its just the best possible arrangement in what most consider a somewhat non-pleasurable experience (flying). Most one bedroom flats are far more luxurious than 1st class. It really boils down to how much you value making the experience more tolerable, it's far from great either way.
I agree with fox Its too much money, I love to fly business / upper class but generally I fly economy.
My view is PE is worth 30 to 50% on top of economy. Business class on a good airline is wroth 100% on top of economy. Any more and its just not worth it. I would rather spend the money on a better hotel.
My view is PE is worth 30 to 50% on top of economy. Business class on a good airline is wroth 100% on top of economy. Any more and its just not worth it. I would rather spend the money on a better hotel.
Pay for extra legroom seats in economy, better value.
Virgin also offer Seat Plus, they will sell you a spare seat, can be quite cheap. Then you have more space.
Purchase some noise cancelling headphones, and you will be more comfortable.
Goldring NS1000 are about £70 and work great on planes.
Virgin also offer Seat Plus, they will sell you a spare seat, can be quite cheap. Then you have more space.
Purchase some noise cancelling headphones, and you will be more comfortable.
Goldring NS1000 are about £70 and work great on planes.
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Most one-bedroom flats don't come with a near unlimited supply of champagne.
Also, those first class seats cost more to make than the average one-bedroom flat.
It's a tough call and it depends on a few things. Economy certainly isn't bad and I find it ok to travel in. It depends on how tall you are though. I'm 6ft and only just fit comfortably. Any taller and you may struggle. An option is to book the extra leg room seats.
PE is very nice, however the main benefits are the extra leg room, with only slightly better food. Upper is a great experience and flying over night it is great to have the flat bed! The food is also excellent. I assume it would cost a lot to upgrade to upper tho!
Enjoy the flight and Mexico!
PE is very nice, however the main benefits are the extra leg room, with only slightly better food. Upper is a great experience and flying over night it is great to have the flat bed! The food is also excellent. I assume it would cost a lot to upgrade to upper tho!
Enjoy the flight and Mexico!
Virgin have been going downhill for a few years, they are pretty awful in most respects these days
Way better things to spend £1.2k on unless it's pocket change as mentioned.
Nobody really enjoys flying, flying in the premium classes just makes an unenjoyable situation slightly more comfortable. You generally forget how bored/uncomfortable you were the minute you get off the plane so my vote is to spend £1200 on something fun. Heck spend it on a feast via room service and breakfast in bed every day for however long you stay in the hotel, that would be much more fun!
Enjoy the honeymoon regardless of what you decide to do!
Nobody really enjoys flying, flying in the premium classes just makes an unenjoyable situation slightly more comfortable. You generally forget how bored/uncomfortable you were the minute you get off the plane so my vote is to spend £1200 on something fun. Heck spend it on a feast via room service and breakfast in bed every day for however long you stay in the hotel, that would be much more fun!
Enjoy the honeymoon regardless of what you decide to do!