Virgin economy or premium economy to NY ?

[Corpulent Tosser]

Looking for experiences of either class, planning on going to New York in may and the price for premium makes it look attractive, £780(ish) return against around £430 economy.

Is it worth it ?
Is standard economy good enough not to warrant paying extra ?

Is there another airline I should be considering ?

Going to visit an elderly relative but planning on taking a bit of time to look around NY so any advice in that would be good too.

Ta
Murray

[miniman]

Depends on the aircraft for me. If it's a 747 then premium will be on the top deck - it feels like a proper step up. On something else, like a 777, it just doesn't seem much of an upgrade.

LA - yes.

NY - no, doesn't seem a long enough flight.

[Mobile Chicane]

The seat's an inch or two wider, and you've an inch or two more leg room.

Personally I'd save the £350.

[jaybirduk]

Always for me

[davepoth]

Unless you're a giant, it's not worth it IMO; economy was fine on the 747 and A340 I went on.

[Druid]

miniman said:

Depends on the aircraft for me. If it's a 747 then premium will be on the top deck

Probably not. First 20 odd rows I reckon.

I always fly economy, drink water eat my own food and sleep as much as I can.

[Olf]

save your money for the better cabin on the overnight flight is my view but other people will think the opposite.

[GlenMH]

In my view, NY is not far enough to justify the extra expense.

I tend to fly premium to Tokyo and would recommend it: enhanced baggage allowance, far better seat, better food etc. Virgin have worked hard to differentiate it from economy, and it shows.

[ChrisBMW]

BA would also be worth checking, I have flown both Virgin and BA and found BA's Premium Economy to be better but Vigrin's Upper class is better than BAs.

[Targarama]

How tall are you? I'm 6ft 5 and find premium on BA and Virgin to be average. I pay for economy then call and buy £30 extended legroom seats on Virgin. Same legroom as premium and fine. If you do want to pay more for Premium then just do it for the return leg, overnight flight usually.

[audidoody]

No brainer for me. VA PE every time. Going out there is the advantage of getting off the plane ahead of Cattle Class and saving half an hour in the passport queue. Coming back when it's a night flight you get a chance of some shut-eye. The Airbus they use for the New York run seems to have smaller Economy seats than a 747. You also get to use a PE checkin/bagdrop counter with much shorter queues.

If you don't want to pay for PE consider getting to the airport three hours early and paying for an exit/bulkhead seat in Economy.

Edited by audidoody on Tuesday 31st January 10:40

[Targarama]

audidoody said:

No brainer for me. VA PE every time. Going out there is the advantage of getting off the plane ahead of Cattle Class and saving half an hour in the passport queue. Coming back when it's a night flight you get a chance of some shut-eye. The Airbus they use for the New York run seems to have smaller Economy seats than a 747. You also get to use a PE checkin/bagdrop counter with much shorter queues.

If you don't want to pay for PE consider getting to the airport three hours early and paying for an exit/bulkhead seat in Economy.

Edited by audidoody on Tuesday 31st January 10:40

You can now phone Virgin and buy the extended legroom seats. Call as soon as you book your flight. They sell some at the airport still too.

Exit row seats are awful if you're broader than the average bear.

Std economy seats on the A340 have the same pitch as the 747, I've flown both. A lot.

[audidoody]

You can do it on the phone or online if you have bought your ticket directly from VA. If you've gone through an agent you have to do it at the airport.

Edited by audidoody on Tuesday 31st January 13:34

[marcosgt]

You might get bumped to Upper Class from PE, you won't from Economy

That said, for a NY flight, it's a lot of extra cash if you're paying yourself.

M

[gmh23]

if its coming out your pocket then just go economy, you'll get there at the same time and be £300 quid better off.

and £300 would buy a pretty good massage if the journeys not comfortable