Premium economy - worth it?
Discussion
Nobody can answer this for you really, it all depends on what you think is value for money. You get a bit more legroom and that really is about it. Traveling any form of Business class usually comes with a load of other things from lounge access through preferential boarding, faster luggage delivery, a very significantly bigger seat and so on. Premium economy is economy with a few inches more leg room. But for you that may be worth it
BA World Traveller Plus is not that impressive to be honest. On the plus side, if there are any upgrades to Club World going, they will go to people with a full-price WTP ticket. If Virgin are using a 747 on that route, then Premium Economy is much better as it is on the top deck and there's loads of space around you and few people. On theie Airbus fleet PE is just another cabin with marginally more room.
Club World flat beds, on the other hand...
Plus, you get on the 'plane first, and relax in your massive seat as all the proles troop past to the cheap seats.
Club World flat beds, on the other hand...
Plus, you get on the 'plane first, and relax in your massive seat as all the proles troop past to the cheap seats. The flight to Boston is a daytime flight, the return is 'overnight'.
Boston is probably the shortest route from the UK featuring PE. I've been on one plane that took only 4h45m back from Boston to Heathrow.
In my opinion (but I'm only 5'10" with short legs) - it's not worth it. 12 hours overnight to JNB, that's more like it...
Boston is probably the shortest route from the UK featuring PE. I've been on one plane that took only 4h45m back from Boston to Heathrow.
In my opinion (but I'm only 5'10" with short legs) - it's not worth it. 12 hours overnight to JNB, that's more like it...
Paying yourself?
It is NEVER worth it. I'm 6 foot and, sadly, "wider" than I should be. I still fly econocheap.
For the difference in cost (which can range from hundreds to thousands) you can usually buy a couple of extra nights in a nice hotel. Time you can use to recover from being stuck in the s
tty little seat but also to do some pleasant activities on holiday....which you would not otherwise have been able to do.
On business? Well. You usually can't afford the extra time to have a night's "recovery" in a nice hotel so business class can be worth it: it usually means you can sleep.
Only you can decide if it is worth it - to YOU. But I've never been able to justify the extra pennies vs something else I could spend it on.
It is NEVER worth it. I'm 6 foot and, sadly, "wider" than I should be. I still fly econocheap.
For the difference in cost (which can range from hundreds to thousands) you can usually buy a couple of extra nights in a nice hotel. Time you can use to recover from being stuck in the s
tty little seat but also to do some pleasant activities on holiday....which you would not otherwise have been able to do.On business? Well. You usually can't afford the extra time to have a night's "recovery" in a nice hotel so business class can be worth it: it usually means you can sleep.
Only you can decide if it is worth it - to YOU. But I've never been able to justify the extra pennies vs something else I could spend it on.
miniman said:
Club World flat beds, on the other hand... Plus, you get on the 'plane first, and relax in your massive seat as all the proles troop past to the cheap seats.
Virgin Premium Economy boards at the exact same time as Upper Class. Plus, you get on the 'plane first, and relax in your massive seat as all the proles troop past to the cheap seats. I'd say that VA Premium is almost as good as some of the US airlines First Class. More legroom, wider/comfier seat, footrest, drink when you board, service of food/drinks before Economy Class.
I HAVE noticed that Virgin seem to be suffering with cutbacks though, in Economy. May be tiny things to some people, but in the last month I've noticed a marked drop in the quality of food service. On 09/04 I took a return flight from LHR to LAX and received 'normal' service. On 02/05 I took the same return flight on the same route.
On the outward flight, I noticed that the regular 'accessories' that come with a meal were less on everyone's plate (that I could see). No cheese and crackers anymore! On the return flight on 09/06 it was even worse. No cheese and crackers again, no pretzels handed out with the drinks, and by the time food service reached the back of the aeroplane, they had pretty much run out of Economy Class meals, and were handing out leftover choices from the First Class menu.
Ok this may not sound that bad, but it's a sign. Wasn't there a famous story about how an airline saved loads of money by removing a single olive from the salad?
shakotan said:
I'd say that VA Premium is almost as good as some of the US airlines First Class. More legroom, wider/comfier seat, footrest, drink when you board, service of food/drinks before Economy Class.
Really? There are US airlines with a First that is that bad? VA Premium is better than economy but I usually fly business and it's nowhere near business standard on any airline I've flown with.Here's a conundrum.
I'm flying to Joburg next weekend and have been offered PE class by the business. This would therefore mean flying BA or Virgin.
However, if I fly SAA, and therefore in economy (as they don't do PE), then I can pick up enough points to get me within touching distance of renewing Gold on bmi/Star Alliance. Without this trip, it's highly unlikely I'll renew as Gold!
I'm flying to Joburg next weekend and have been offered PE class by the business. This would therefore mean flying BA or Virgin.
However, if I fly SAA, and therefore in economy (as they don't do PE), then I can pick up enough points to get me within touching distance of renewing Gold on bmi/Star Alliance. Without this trip, it's highly unlikely I'll renew as Gold!
moles said:
Go with Virgin and get to the airport early and pay £50 extra for a exit seat, you can use the crew jump seats to put legs on and lie out flat. Did it on both trips to Sydney last month.
Most people who pay for the Virgin Exit seats feel ripped off. They are the narrowest seats I have ever sat in (I'm a 6ft 5 beanpole). Some pear shaped (but not fat) women don't even fit in them, never mind larger people.To the OP - if you don't want to pay double (I wouldn't) I suggest using BA Economy and checking in online bang on 24 hours in advance and blagging some exit or bulkhead row seats. BA allow you to book/reserve these. Virgin do not - you have to be at the airport, and usually pay too. Sometimes they offer a cut price upgrade at check-in - certainly less than the 2x fare you're getting quoted.
Another thing is to fly midweek and get a reasonably empty plane and have several seats to lounge across.
Edited by Targarama on Sunday 17th May 10:58
inkiboo said:
I think to be fair he is referring to US airlines domestic First Class, which is rubbish. Virgin's Premium Economy is significantly better than, for instance, United's First Class.
The reality is that very few US domestic carriers (including United) have a 1st class cabin. First class is predominantly long-haul/outside cont. states, which made the comment a bit bizarre.I don't use Virgin much, but their Premium Economy product is pretty much what it says on the tin - an economy experience, with a little extra. I think that Virgins PE cabin upstairs on their 747 routes is very much worth the modest price hike. However the lower deck PE seats are not appreciably different to the coach cabin immediately behind them. As stated, both Virgin and BA are very stingy with legroom in long-haul coach.
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