Upper Class Average Fares?

I will be travelling from LHR - HKG soon and wondering what is about the "right" or "average" fare for Upper Class Return?

I will be staying for roughly 2 months if that helps... I am extremelly flexible and it'll be about May before I travel...

What is the best (cheapest) method of booking Upper Class Tickets anyways?

Upper class return fares to HKG range from £2,263 (deep discounted advance purchase, no limo) to £5,338 (fully flexible) with fares of £2,762, £3,383 and £4,639 in the middle (plus taxes). Availability of the cheaper fares is limited, so it depends on how many people have purchased them already.

You will usually find that prices are the same across the VS web site, Expedia, Travwlocity et al unless there are special promotions, since airline pricing is controlled by IATA.

BC

BC is correct, also to advise that the lower fares in Upper Class cannot be changed, so if you need flexibility, you must buy the fully flexible ticket. (which DOES come with a CDC...)

Juliet

If you are thinking about UC, Why not do Virgin's great escapade? That way you get lots of other stops in too!! [8D]

Patrick

Is Upper Class really worth it? I at times wonder if I should just fly economy and save the money for other things, i.e. a pair of Berluti Club Shoes... this has been the attitude of many folk I know (that have money, some with serious money) that'd rather just sit in economy and spend the money elsewhere...

[Decker]

That depends what you have to do at the other end...

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by kmhtkmhtkmht
Is Upper Class really worth it? I at times wonder if I should just fly economy and save the money for other things, i.e. a pair of Berluti Club Shoes... this has been the attitude of many folk I know (that have money, some with serious money) that'd rather just sit in economy and spend the money elsewhere...

Welcome to V-Flyer,
I'm certain there are some who have experienced Upper Class who would choose not to pay to fly up front, but who would gladly enjoy the experience if someone else was paying, or if they had booked the trip with reward miles. Why not have a look at our Search function and also read some of the Trip Reports on the various classes of service Virgin offers (Upper, Premium Economy and Economy)? After perusing these I think you'll have a fairly balanced picture of why VS continues to fill the seats in Upper Class, and why it is a popular airline no matter which class of service is chosen.

Chuck-

Firstly, thanks for everyones for responding so quickly! This is by far the most responsive and friendly forum I think I've ever used.

Secondly, I've decided to take the plunge. I now travel with my girlfriend and that has unfortunately made every price double, in that when I buy something, I usually got to get two, i.e. these tickets. I am getting the bottom barrel quotes being the "deep discounted advance purchase, no limo" number but wondering if I enlisted the services of a travel agent, could they bit this generic £2,263 number down?

Also, cause I am paying THAT much more for all the amenities, how much earlier should I check in?

[Decker]

Well that's the cheapest published fare - a ZLAP. So the only way you'll get it cheaper is to find a non-published fare - perhaps upgrades with VH? Do you have any miles? You could then get an SLAP for £1232.00 and upgrade if there was availability.

Personally I'd aim to check in AT LEAST three hours before.

No miles, I rarely fly Virgin - I am based in the UK and fly once in a while to the USA but mostly within Europe to shop or eat - Hong Kong maybe once a year if I feel like it. I really should get my airmiles organized... but anyhow, you boys seem like you zoom about all the time, firstly, how £2500 quid on a flight, I am still struggling to understand, as a kid I use to fly Business all the time when I studied abroad, it seemed like second nature, during a "rebellious" stage, they stuck me in economy and I hated it but soon got used to it and eventually even if I have the money, I'd still stick to economy as the money I saved, i.e. in this scenario I would spend roughly £1000 quid on a bad day for 2 returns to hong kong and spend the other £4000 on shoes or two Savile Row suits... Virgin from my experience treat there Economy customers like dirt, funny the way they look at me when I fly economy sometimes as if I am substandard or if I am steerage, doesn't really bother me but just the fact that they do it.

Virgin from my experience treat there Economy customers like dirt, funny the way they look at me when I fly economy sometimes as if I am substandard or if I am steerage, doesn't really bother me but just the fact that they do it.

Rather than just blanket cover the entire Virgin economy cabin crew with that statement.
What bad experience did you have that made you think like this?
Was it 1 particular member of the cabin crew or all of them?
Did you complain, verbally or by letter?

Everybody is entitled to their opinion of course, but a bit more substance in backing up your POV I think is needed!

Rgds
Jon

Originally posted by kmhtkmhtkmht
how £2500 quid on a flight, I am still struggling to understand, as a kid I use to fly Business all the time when I studied abroad, it seemed like second nature, during a "rebellious" stage, they stuck me in economy and I hated it but soon got used to it and eventually even if I have the money, I'd still stick to economy as the money I saved, i.e. in this scenario I would spend roughly £1000 quid on a bad day for 2 returns to hong kong and spend the other £4000 on shoes or two Savile Row suits...

I guess that if your personal belief is that you don't see the value in flying in PE/UC, then it'd be understandably hard for you to justify the extra cost when there's so much else you want to spend your money on.

What I do think you'll find is that most people around here will use a combination of cheaper upgradeable fares in Econ/PE and Flying Club miles to ugrade to PE/UC. Personally speaking, that gives me the best value.

The most I've ever spent on a flight is just short of £2000 (LHR-SFO: outbound PE + miles upgrade to UC, inbound cheapest UC fare) and it was worth every penny - though in my current situation I certainly couldn't justify paying for UC outright.

Cheers

Michael

[RichardMannion]

You have to remember that everyone is different and has their own vices. My friend is really into mountain bikes, and will happilly spend 4 figures on a bike - I on the otherhand will not and can't justify to myself spending 4 figures on it. I like flying and prefer to travel in comfort so will spend more money doing so, the friend referred to previously just views it as a means to get from A to B, so can't justify what I spend.

Each to their own.

Thanks,
Richard

My bad experiences with Virgin Economy was leaving from HKG to LHR, the staff were rude and blatantly non chalant about anyone not flying upper class, I recall specifically that I was flying Premium Economy and they just couldn't care less - I am quite good at reading people as I spent quite quite a bit of time involved with Nightclubs and I could summarise people quite quickly - I assure you Virgin HK staff are rude.

p.s. just checked and I have roughly 16000 miles if that is any good - I have a lot of points stacked up on my American Express if they let me transfer to Virgin, Continental does.

Originally posted by kmhtkmhtkmht
p.s. just checked and I have roughly 16000 miles if that is any good - I have a lot of points stacked up on my American Express if they let me transfer to Virgin, Continental does.

Yes, you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Flying Club on a 1:1 basis. See section "4. Upgrades" of this FAQ for how you can use them to upgrade.

Cheers

Michael

Originally posted by kmhtkmhtkmht
My bad experiences with Virgin Economy was leaving from HKG

Sorry to hear that, I've flown quite a few times on Virgin in Economy out of Hong Kong and always found the staff fine.

Having said that I do tend to find most airlines staff at Hong Kong a little more brusque than in London or Australia. And have flown out of Hong Kong over 30 times in the past 5 years.

As for the value of paying for Upper, I have to say personally I just couldn't justify the cost. However when I (often) travel on business then the benefits of the service levels are imeasurable.

Flying Upper/Business for pleasure truly is a luxury for me, but one that when it happens (through miles or upgrades) it certainly well appreciated!

Originally posted by RichardMannion
You have to remember that everyone is different and has their own vices. My friend is really into mountain bikes, and will happilly spend 4 figures on a bike - I on the otherhand will not and can't justify to myself spending 4 figures on it. I like flying and prefer to travel in comfort so will spend more money doing so, the friend referred to previously just views it as a means to get from A to B, so can't justify what I spend.

Each to their own.

Thanks,
Richard

I couldn't agree more. A lot of people I speak to think my UC or Business flights are a waste of money. We all (or most) work to earn a living and generate disposible income, what we choose to spend our disposible income on are down the individual.

Mrs B could easily spend £4k on a pair or two of Jimmy's and a handbag or two. I remember my first UC flight and Mrs B went mad that I had spent as much as I did on the tickets 'Think of what I could have spent that amount on' she kept saying:D.

Now she won't fly anything but UC or business without giving me severe grief.

It's all relative and down to personal choice.

On the other hand if you fly for business and the flight is over 4 hours I am sure there are several SHE advantages to flying in UC or Busines.

Paul