V-Flyer

Last Friday's Evening Standard magazine featured a review of five different airlines' "first class" products, written by Victor Lewis-Smith. The main picture featured the writer in BA first, which looked lovely and wood panelled.

IIRC, BA got five stars, VS four, Emirates six, Quantas three and United 2. I think mention was made of the price differential for UCS.

I forgot to keep hold of the mag, but if anyone can get a copy tonight then it might be worth posting a fuller review.

What about CX and SQ which have a much better F Class than BA/QF

My BA obsessed colleague Nick (I keep trying to convert him!) had his mag at home and gave it to me today. VLS only reviewed BA, Emirates, Quantas, United and VS.

I was wrong about the scores, VS got five, equal to BA, and NO mention is made of any prices, other than a blanket "up to GBP12,000".

In summary:
BA - good check in and interior design. Privacy in the cabin with excellent food and wine. Staff in NY not knowing about London limo service.

Emirates - Opulent. Food, classiest amenity kits. Nice airport in Dubai. Limos.

Quantas - Informal service. Kids in first. Iffy interior design, uninspired amenity kits, own reclaim belt.

United - American food, patchy service, who got his name wrong.

VS - Clubhouse is like a luxury liner with lots of diversions. IFBT. Didn't like IFE (V:Port on a bad day I guess since he flew UCS), or the clubhouse in Miami. UCS the most comfortable in the air, with good access to the aisle, though this puts you "on view". No mention of limos.

I couldn't find the article on the ES website, so I can't think of a way to show the full copy.

Thanks for the more detailed post, I couldn't find it on their website either.

Does the piece state that VS offering is Business Class or is it allowing the reader to believe they are comparing First Class products?

I have spoken with ES Editorial department and the piece is not available on line. Any reprint would need to go through Syndication and would have to be paid for. They are going to contact Victor Lewis-Smith to see if he will allow a full or partial reprint to appear on the site.

I will post to this thread when I have an answer.

quote:Originally posted by csparker
Didn't like IFE (V:Port on a bad day I guess since he flew UCS),

Maybe it was Odyssey ??

Cheers

Michael

""Quantas "

I thought it was a very psoitive piece. UC will inevitably get compared to other airlines first class product, after all it is called Upper Class, not Middle Management class.

I feel UC is a half way product - J price for a better than J but not F product. Frequent flyers will realise this but for most people who do not travel J or F the VS marketing certainly sells is as a very aspirational product.

VSlf

My apologies to Qantas.

I won't bother editing previous posts. Embarrassing since I had some Qantas miles that have probably expired now...

Bazz,
Thanks for trying the ES - I'm not in the media but I presume VLS must have some kind of special deal, as I don't think his TV reviews appear on the ES web site either.

The review is incomplete in that prices comparisons aren't there, and nor are the full range of services considered from each airline. The glaring VS missions I noticed were no mention of VS limos, freedom menu, arrivals. The clubhouse was the only lounge mentioned though.

IMO not a brilliant article as the comparison is incomplete and does not look at price, but it did give the writer an opportunity to rack up some serious air miles and wheel out some very old, very bad gags (a piece of cod that passeth all understanding - I ask you). VS does come out well though.

quote:Originally posted by Vslf
I thought it was a very psoitive piece. UC will inevitably get compared to other airlines first class product, after all it is called Upper Class, not Middle Management class.

I feel UC is a half way product - J price for a better than J but not F product. Frequent flyers will realise this but for most people who do not travel J or F the VS marketing certainly sells is as a very aspirational product.

VSlf

If price was not a consideration, I would still prefer to fly UC on VS than F on some inferior metal.

quote:I feel UC is a half way product - J price for a better than J but not F product. Frequent flyers will realise this but for most people who do not travel J or F the VS marketing certainly sells is as a very aspirational product.

There is not a lot of difference on a good VS day honest.Maybe VLS was on a Z ticket & didnt get a limo:D

The UCS is the premium product I want to fly the most, although BA's (just for comparison, obviously), Emirates (stunning!) and SQ are also high on the list..

Dean