V-Flyer

I have almost (but not quite) given up on my quest for two good value UC seats from Man-MCO in June.

I am reluctant to venture away from my beloved Virgin Upper Class suite but having been looking at the BA prices for Club World.

On another thread, someone suggested going via AMS but for us this is not going to be practical.
However BA are selling Club World seats MAN-LGW-MCO for £600 less in total than VS (over £300 each).

We could cope with the extra journey time (about 5 hours extra each way) but do you think that BA CW is an inferior product (it would be a 777)?
Do they have flat beds on this flight or just reclining seats?

Hi Izzy rose, Whilst I cannot comment on the Man - MCo route, I have flown BA club world from LHR to JFK. The Club World cabin is nice, they do have flat beds, though the layout is totally different to Virgin Upper Class. The seats either face forward or backward and if you have a window seat, then you might just have to climb over the person in front of you's feet if they are in bed mode.

To be honest, I was always a BA boi, until I took my first Upper Class flight with Virgin last year to Cuba, I loved it and the service on Virign knocked socks off the BA offering. These days, Virgin is my preferred and first choice. I'm heading back to New York this year with Virgin.

BA CW has a different feel to UC but still great in my opinion. I prefer UC myself, the bar, mood lighting and general ambience is special.

The flat bed on CW is fine although a little narrow. I think the food is actually a little better on BA although the LHR clubhouse knocks socks off the BA offering.

If you do go BA and are travelling with a companion I think you will find it a little more sociable as well. I found the window seats in the bubble fab on the 747 although think you said you would be on a 777. Would still go for the window and aisle combo if day time out and the central pair of seats that face backwards for your night flight home.
see: http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Britis ... 77-200.php

For £600 its a no brainer!!

cheers

alex

Hmmmm, with BA balloting for another strike, additional time taken on the day, risk of a missed connection etc etc then I'd stick with VS.

If you are prepared to change at LGW then I would give flying via AMS another consideration. Flight time from MAN to AMS is not much longer than to LGW.

If you are considering LGW, look at VS from there. For my recent Upper fare to MCO, I saved over £300 by flying from LGW rather than MAN, even with a BA domestic flight + hotel, I was still in pocket.

All great advice thank you. I think I do need to take potential BA strikes into consideration - I don't need the stress. And it looks like, on balance based on your comments, that VS gets your vote....

tontybear wrote:If you are prepared to change at LGW then I would give flying via AMS another consideration. Flight time from MAN to AMS is not much longer than to LGW.

Going via AMS would be too much as there is an extra leg ie. MAN-AMS-LGW-MCO and the journey is long enough as it is, for me and an elderly lady. I would be fine but it would be too much for her I think.

LGW won't be affected in any BA strikes, the staff there are already on the new contracts.

clarkeysntfc wrote:LGW won't be affected in any BA strikes, the staff there are already on the new contracts.

Definitely worth knowing, thank you. That would certainly take the worry out of it.

mitchja wrote:If you are considering LGW, look at VS from there. For my recent Upper fare to MCO, I saved over £300 by flying from LGW rather than MAN, even with a BA domestic flight + hotel, I was still in pocket.

With the heads up about the BA sale,
I thought I'd see what the options were with MCO in Nov, ok outside the main sale period with BA, but often crops up deals:
LGW/MCO/LGW 5-16th Nov

BA Club : £2221
VS U/C : £2530

Would need to transfer down from T'north anyhow so looked..Via AMS (same dates):

VS U/C: £1726

Thats £800 saving for flying to Holland and back first..

Trying to pull European pax or not, thats disgraceful behaviour against UK pax

For me VS UC is by far the better product than BA CW Also remember that you have to pay £60 pp each way to reserve your seat(unless you are silver/gold BA card) I returned from MCO-LGW-MAN in December and agree with previous comments about the strange seating arrangement where you have to climb over the passenger next to you to reach the aisle if you are in a window seat
Also very strangely at LGW despite all the signs for flight connections you have to go through customs, out to the terminal building and back through security to connect with your internal flight

Thank you diamon4 for your opinion on this, it's really valuable. We only go once a year and we don't want to be disappointed.

Now BA are having a business class sale, I'm hoping that VS might follow suit!

IzzyRose wrote:
Now BA are having a business class sale, I'm hoping that VS might follow suit!

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/sp ... sasale.jsp

They are £2010 lgw to mco 7th April to end of August

Utter utter rubbish

David