Message board

Hi all,

Is it just me or are there a lot less postings about economy travel?

So many postings are to do with travelling Upper class which for a lot of people is an unrealistic option.

I just wondered if the message board could be divided up into smaller sections. Perhaps the trip reports could be split into Economy, PE and UC trip reports.

It's not that I'm not interested in how warm your champagne was, it's just there are so many trip reports in Upper class or PE that us poor little economy passengers are feeling a bit like gate crashers at an exclusive party.

Just my opinion of course.

Andy

Hi bink. The emphasis on UC travel on the site has been noticed before. I think it is fair to say that the number of travel reports about Y travel has substantially increased, which is of course great. However, I do agree that an UC bias remains. Not sure that having separate sections would help to be honest - how do you see it improving things?

Of course we could have the UC forum on the left hand side of the screen and the Econ and premium sections to the right. Not sure how we would organise a curtain to separate the two of course, and how would we keep the Y posters from sneaking into the J section - Honey Lamb would be in there like a shot? :);)

[fozzyo]

Andy, that is a very fair comment. I think that there is a slightly bias towards PE and UC trip reports for a few reasons. Firstly we have a lot of frequent flyers on the site, and a lot of those are some of the lucky ones to get the majority of their travel paid for by their employers so it is quite often UC and PE. I think a lot of people write an Econ TR, they find it harder to write about too much. With PE and UC there is more to the service and experience so more to write about, maybe some people feel that just writing one or two paragraphs about an Economy trip isn't appreciated. Quite the opposite - they definately are, we don't get an accurate rating without them.

There are lots of posts and questions for many of the membership about Economy and B&S routes that we help out with. We want everyone to get the most from their VS experience ... whatever class of travel they are in.

Please don't feel a gate crasher - we aren't exclusive, this isn't an Executives only Club. We are just a bunch of people with a shared interest in flying. Lots of us start here on the forum as Economy only passengers just like yourself and are tempted up the ladder with the use of Airmiles and lots of savings.

Some us, like myself only fly once or maybe twice a year and in May will be posting my Economy trip report for my Heathrow to Chicago flight.

Mat

[ChuckC]

Bink,
Welcome aboard V-Flyer. We're delighted to have you with us. You've already encountered two of our seasoned members, Sailor and Fozzyo, and there are many more who will readily offer their good advice.

We are interested in the total travel experience, on Virgin Atlantic, of course as well as other carriers. We very much encourage the posting of trip reports regardless of the class flown.

Enjoy V-Flyer!

Chuck-

Maybe a filter would be a good idea, so people can quickly find trip reports based on class, type of plane, location, flight number, etc?

Hi Bink and Welcome

So that's the challenge for those of us at the back of the bus - to post TRs about our Economy experiences. I know those I have written have been read and appreciated.

I think you'll find more start to appear around holiday times - I'll be penning an apprecation of the offerings of Easyjet in a few weeks myself.

Paul

Thanks for your replies and warm welcome.

Some very good suggestions there from Sailor99.....

The idea of a filter to make a more detailed selection is a good one.

Please don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with all the UC and PE reports, I think it's fascinating having a glimpse into how the other half travel.

I certainly couldn't imagine spending my own money on flying UC. I would have to really, really enjoy it otherwise it would almost ruin my holiday knowing how much it cost. I can see why some of you are a little unhappy as to the service you receive at times.

Anyway, I'm off to Orlando in two weeks so i'll post a trip report after that.

Regards

Andy[y]

[Decker]

Started this a couple of hours ago and forgot to post

http://www.v-flyer.com/charts.asp

It's not just you - in the past three months there have been 62 UC postings, 33 PE and 8 Y. This IS at odds with the long term trend. The title of the trip report normally indicates which class it is in but I can see that if you're looking for a Y report looking for essentially one in ten reports could get to be a pain. The real answer is of course for more Y people to post but frequently (as has been oft argued) there is less to say about a Y trip as - by definition - there is less of an experience. Also of late we've had quite a few "This is my first time in UC as a treat" postings and human nature dictates that people will be more excited about treats than normality.

I guess you can see what's coming... but you've anticipated it by offering to post a TR

[Nottingham Nick]

This isn't the first time this has been brought up, and so for the past several months I have spent a lot of time 'standardising' all of the headings for the VS trip reports for exactly this reason.

The trip reports are searchable by flight number, three letter airport code and class of travel.

Putting in the search terms 'JFK' and 'economy' or 'eco' SHOULD bring up all of the TRs to and from JFK in Y. The filter idea is okay, but people sometimes fly out in one class, and back in another and then put both reports in one report.

Unfortunately, it is a fact of life, as deceker has alluded to, that flying up the front is more of an experience than down the back, so people are more likely to report on their experiences. Also their expectations are a lot higher, so they are justified in having a moan if the airline don't deliver.

Nick

Originally posted by pjh
I think you'll find more start to appear around holiday times - I'll be penning an apprecation of the offerings of Easyjet in a few weeks myself.

SNAP! I'm flying with easyJet tomorrow (if it ain't cancelled because of the snow), maybe we could compare the service we get even though it is only a LCC. Will be interesting to see how much the service differs form base to base.

And yes I will be writing a TR for this to go neatly alongside my Economy experiences on BA, Thomsonfly and Jet2, should be online sometime next weekend for everyone to look at

Originally posted by Decker
The real answer is of course for more Y people to post but frequently (as has been oft argued) there is less to say about a Y trip as - by definition - there is less of an experience.

True enough in terms of frills, fripperies and geegaws but what can beat the experience arising from the sheer scale of people watching available away from the rarified atmosphere of the lounge and the left turn ?

Not, if anyone's listening, that I wouldn't be delighted to spend the rest of my travels behind the driver with all the f,f and g that I could stand but there is fun to be had even in the cheap (ish) seats.

Paul

Originally posted by bink
Hi all,

Is it just me or are there a lot less postings about economy travel?

So many postings are to do with travelling Upper class which for a lot of people is an unrealistic option.

Andy

Hi Andy. After reading your post, it prompted me to post my recent VS2 economy trip report.

Cheers
AF

Hey Bink,

Welcome to V-Flyer, I am sure you will find this site as interesting and fun as I have, I have only been on here for a 6 months or so, and have found it great, with heaps of information, and everyone is VERY friendly.

I look forward to reading your TR soon,

Dominic

Welcome to the site[^].

There are a lot of UCS and PE TR's and threads its true, it might be that people who have flown on a very regular basis and have joined the flying club have got to trying PE and UCS and sort of stuck with it. As opposed to how the other half lives type thing. Virgin and this site in particular I have found to be the least "class orientated group" I have ever come accross, all very friendly and welcoming.

My first couple of flights were in EC, and at that time I thought it was the bees knees, then I discovered flying club and later this site, ever since I have elected to fly upper or pe, but I ain't posh.

I like to read all Tr's in all classes so feel free to type them up.

V-Flyer rocks[oo]

Originally posted by VS075

Originally posted by pjh
I think you'll find more start to appear around holiday times - I'll be penning an apprecation of the offerings of Easyjet in a few weeks myself.

SNAP! I'm flying with easyJet tomorrow (if it ain't cancelled because of the snow), maybe we could compare the service we get even though it is only a LCC. Will be interesting to see how much the service differs form base to base.

Ok then, I'm also flying Easy at the end of the month, so I'll add my 2 pennies worth.

Interesting topic though. The first couple of years I flew with VS , the flights were all in Economy but I hadn't discovered V-Flyer by then. I now fly mainly PE with occasional reward flights in UC.

Bink, welcome to V-Flyer I have just read AtlanticFlyer's Economy TR, it is really good

I take your point as to why there would be fewer economy reports as to the lack of frills to report on.

To be honest I have been perusing these boards for a while and I have had a few flights from LGW - MCO in the last couple of years. My circumstances are a bit different to most as I use a wheelchair which is why I haven't posted a trip report before.

Anyway, I will post one after my next trip. Thanks for all your replies.

regards

Andy

[Decker]

Andy

We look forward to it. You never know who your posting will help!

Decker

Although trip reports and to a certain extent other topics as well are clearly weighted towards the premium products, I don't feel that topics on Y are any less valued by members on the site.

VS.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by bink
I take your point as to why there would be fewer economy reports as to the lack of frills to report on.

To be honest I have been perusing these boards for a while and I have had a few flights from LGW - MCO in the last couple of years. My circumstances are a bit different to most as I use a wheelchair which is why I haven't posted a trip report before.

Anyway, I will post one after my next trip. Thanks for all your replies.

regards

Andy

Hi, bink and welcome to the site.

We really would welcome your trip reports since everyone's take on a trip is different and there is something to learn. Also as a wheelchair user you will be providing huge help and tips to others who are contemplating a trip on VS and wonder what to expect.

Can't see what the issue is really? Those pax travelling Economy have the same access to the site as those travelling PE and UC. They are welcome to lodge trip reports or complaints as well, it's all down to choice that they do not.

We read them all anyway whether EC,PE,UC..So please keep using the site for all issue's.

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
I for one appreciate the Y TRs as they give me a look into a strata of civilization I do not often personally experience. I read them so that I can, when the revolution comes, pass convincingly as a Y traveller and, thus, survive the culling of the aristocracy.

GJ

To damn true GJ, though don't forget Marie Antoinette tried to escape and they lopped off 'er 'ead. Mind that doesn't happen to you [:0]