A Virgin virgin verging on Virgin
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at 19:59 by FlyingCalifornian.
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AnastasiaBeaverhouzenParticipantI am about to book several repeat journeys from London to San Francisco in Premium Economy on Virgin. However a Skype teleconference yesterday had a senior client manager warning me that while the Premium Economy service is good, the staff are terrible, talking with each other, inexperienced and inattentive and he has swapped back to BA.
I have never flown Virgin before. Will I regret it?
8 Mar 2013
at 08:36
VintageKrugParticipantThe big advantage of Virgin is the excellent Clubhouse Lounge in London; you don’t automatically get access flying Premium Economy, but I understand you can purchase access if you book your flights via Virgin Holidays, or using your Centurion card for free:
http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/extras/airport_lounges/info/lounges_clubhouse/default.aspx
Without lounge access, it’s much a muchness, but you might find you can actually cancel and get a better deal in Club World as there’s a sale on right now, not the best ever value, but £2082 in BA’s Business Class might be less than a fully flex in VS’s Premium Economy:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/business-flights/public/en_gb?source=H01
Use quidco for additional savings. BA’s Premium Economy is £1.095 rtn. to SF.
PS impressive “handle”!
8 Mar 2013
at 08:43
AllOverTheGaffParticipantHi AB
I’ve had similar experience to your colleague with both airlines you mention, BA can be equally as bad as Virgin, and likewise, they can both deliver sometimes too! I guess it is human condition that you dwell on the lesser poor experience other than the greater good flight.
Really hit and miss I’ve found and I’ve used them both extensively flying to the USA over the past couple of years. Alas there is no guarantee with either airline that you’ll get a good crew/service so if I had to choose I would stick with Virgin as I enjoy their on-board product more so if I get uninterested team at least I have a good product on-board.
Regards.
AOTG.8 Mar 2013
at 09:44
AnastasiaBeaverhouzenParticipantThank you. However this clients budget rarely lets us use fully flexible fares and they are only down the road by ten minutes from SFO and are always fully accommodating about travel plans (it saves them money so it makes sense).
I’m very reluctant to use BA again, we had a horrible return experience in January where the food tray “exploded” from overheating as several people opened them, the staff had little sympathy and more to the point no food to replace the ones that splattered us! Talking with BA Customer Service is a high road to wasted time I have discovered.
8 Mar 2013
at 09:44
ANDREWYOUNG1ParticipantI’ve always found VS PE to be much better than BA’s WT+ – better seat, better food and a more premium experience all-round with little extras like pre-take-off sparkling wine. Crew tend to me more experienced and conscientious than you would find in Y, but they are still VS crew so don’t expect SQ crew standards!
Agree with VK that the Clubhouse at LHR is the best part of any journey with VS – access to the Clubhouse and the Upper Class Wing check-in facilities is now available for purchase regardless of your class of travel:
http://www.businesstraveller.com/discussion/topic/Virgin-Atlantic-Guest-List
8 Mar 2013
at 10:08
TimFitzgeraldTCParticipantHi Anastasia
If you are going on work and there are several of you in your business who use Virgin make you you are in Flying Club for Personal miles and Flying Co for Corporate miles (minimum 2 travellers in the business who travel VS) – you will earn both. you can then use both for upgrades. After a couple of returns you may have enough points to upgrade a return to Upper Class on the overnight flight (Have a client doing that tomorrow from SFO back to LHR using Corporate miles).
Also definitely check out an agent (I am one) as several of us get much better fares in Premium Economy than booking directly on the website with Virgin – especially for last minute bookings or stays without a saturday night.
8 Mar 2013
at 10:13
AnastasiaBeaverhouzenParticipantThank you. Does this apply where we have to pay for our fares privately by credit card and claim them back? We are not a vast company so we have few of the facilities or the means of managing them that larger corporates do. The chance of this practice changing is very small.
8 Mar 2013
at 10:21
rfergusonParticipantLeTigre could probably comment more on VS Premium Economy. I’ve never flown it but I hear they have nice touches like pre take off drinks etc.
I think a factor is also which aircraft configuration you will get. For example the WTP cabin on the ‘low J’ 747 (which serves SFO) or 767 aircraft is a vastly better experience than BA WTP on the ‘Hi J’ 747 or (non refurbished) 777’s.
I guess VS have probably got some different configurations around as well. I know they used to have one where the upper deck of the jumbo was 50% PE and 50% Upper Class which would have been quite peaceful.
As for the crew, you can always get unlucky on either airline.
Let us know how it goes!
8 Mar 2013
at 10:53
AnastasiaBeaverhouzenParticipantApparently all of the 747 have the new PE leather seats now and I’ve just been told all the SFO have the upper deck fitted as PE.
Either way, at present I think we are going to book Virgin. If we hate it I’ll let you all know in a week!
8 Mar 2013
at 11:08
TimFitzgeraldTCParticipantHi Anastasia
Yes you can book through agents using your own card (we can anyway – and have invoices that show company name). I can then enrol you into the schemes if you don’t have these already. Very easy process. You just need to make sure there are at least 2 travellers per year who fly Virgin for the Flying Co and both be enrolled into Flying Club. Minimum of 20,000 points to earn a year which is about 3/4 returns in premium economy each year. Google my user name which should come up with my contact details – or contact any TMC who specialises in looking after small businesses if you have any other questions.
Tim
8 Mar 2013
at 11:49
ShearerParticipantI have only ever had good experiences with Virgin.
The problem with these things is the same as TripAdvisor – people are subjective and reviews are of the moment.
I guarantee you could find 10 people who would vow never to fly BA for same reasons.
I would add that the PE seat is really great.
8 Mar 2013
at 11:59
rfergusonParticipantI’ve always had decent flights with Virgin. Never flown Premium Economy, only Upper or Economy. And I do have a bit of a soft spot for the airline as I worked for them many years ago.
I think the problem with Virgin is that it totally over-hypes itself with it’s marketing. It still tries to portray an image or uber cool and innovative, providing a truly glamourous and unique flying experience. Which from my experience with them as a passenger in the last five years, it doesn’t. They are a good airline and provide good products but there is nothing that really sets them apart from the other major airlines – apart from the Clubhouse.
This wasn’t the case when I flew for them. Back then they really did offer something new and exciting. But now they are just another airline out there – yet I think they set peoples expectations unrealistically high. Especially if you are traveling in Y with them.
8 Mar 2013
at 14:09 -
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