V-Flyer

Which class do you NORMALLY book on VS (over an average year).

I'm spotting a trend with regard to the fully-flexible options...!

Go cheaps! [:p] Cheapest EC!

It's interesting that although we all seem a loyal bunch, it could be argued that we don't generate that much revenue for VS... Not many Full-Fares going on here!

What I find very interesting is the high proportion of Upper Class (and even PE) flyers which is disproportionate to the number of actual seats on the aircraft.

As a bunch of people, I think we can say we're a pretty diverse group - not necessarily all business flyers, or business owners, or holidaymakers. The only common thread is an interest in flying with Virgin Atlantic. Assuming your visit to V-Flyer is more than by some random Google-induced chance, you've probably experienced VS on more than one occassion (whether on business or pleasure). Over a period of several flights, you may have struck lucky with an operational upgrade, or may have splashed out for a special occassion. Perhaps those flights really are corrupting - as touted in the other current thread at the moment. Your first time in the pointy bit soon becomes the standard you save up for (or demand from your employer - although I wish I was so lucky, given *I'm* my employer ). Perhaps that could explain the bias, although I freely admit this is total speculation based on very little evidence...

Pete

Well I'm a PE person, almost all my flights are cheapest PE available (although that's usually an S ticket so is over a grand a ticket! Occasionally an UC or EC ticket but not that often. I fly mostly business but even when paying myself I fly PE.

EDIT: I have to say that depsite all my bookings being PE, I've only flown once in PE in the last 18 months as have always been op-up or milage upgrage (usually op-up - must be lucky (although not since losing Au))

I'm definitely a fully fledged (cheapo)Economy person. The only time when I set foot in an Upper Class or PE cabin is when I walk through it to reach the back. I prefer the 747s so that I don't have to walk through UC. In fact, when travelling on other airlines I simply half close my eyes when walking through Business so that a) I don't see the smug faces of those sitting in Business and b) I don't see what I'm missing on a 13 hour flight from HKG.

The Strawb

Absolutely agree with you Pix

I first flew in PE in 2002 and have never taken a long haul Economy flight since (or charter for that matter) as i found PE to be fantastic and have always been happy with VS. Since getting op-upped to UC i have tasted the sweet benefits and now have several flights booked in UC.

Go back a few years and i would have laughed if you had told me i would be buying UC flights (albeit Z fares) but there you go. By the end of this year i am in severe danger of getting trapped in the UC only club, although i have earnt enough miles to be able to upgrade to UC from PE on all my flights now (as the PE miles i get just top up what i am spending) so while i have the chance i might as well enjoy it!

Do i worry that i have become spoiled? No ... but my credit card tells another story! [:I]

I'm the same. Since upgrading to PE one way (on a 343 of all things!) I havn't gone back to economy in VS. I did on SQ though. Normally a PE flyer although a couple of times a year I'll try and sneak in UC, be it through rewards or cash, or hopefully op ups!

As for full fare vs restricted - my philosophy is always restricted, the only reason to cut short a trip would be a death or other very serious issue, and if thats the case you don't really care about money then..

Dean

Certainly for us being on personal bucks, it has to be restricted. There is no way I could justify a full fare UC ticket but a Z at around £2k is good value and a reward ticket even better

I try to book Econ out and PE back!! I guess a vote for both then?

With regard to flexability it depends on whos paying the bill - for my personal travel my dates dont change so will generally go for the cheapest ristricted option..

I took worked my way up the cabins. Started flying on VS on Y, then tried Y out-bound and PE back. Then that went to PE both ways then onto PE out-bound and J back. Now it's J both ways usually. [:p]

As has been said many many times before on here, once you do PE and UCS there's no going back!!!

Regards

I tend to know when I am goin and where I am goin long in advance so I like the cheapest tickets in PE or the cheapest available in UC with a limo. If anything goes pear shaped thats what my insurance is for.

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
Absolutely agree with you Pix

I first flew in PE in 2002 and have never taken a long haul Economy flight since (or charter for that matter) as i found PE to be fantastic and have always been happy with VS. Since getting op-upped to UC i have tasted the sweet benefits and now have several flights booked in UC.

Go back a few years and i would have laughed if you had told me i would be buying UC flights (albeit Z fares) but there you go. By the end of this year i am in severe danger of getting trapped in the UC only club, although i have earnt enough miles to be able to upgrade to UC from PE on all my flights now (as the PE miles i get just top up what i am spending) so while i have the chance i might as well enjoy it!

Do i worry that i have become spoiled? No ... but my credit card tells another story! [:I]

Ditto! completely the same, in 2001 we i was upgraded to PE and never looked back it was always PE until i got upgraded agian! And now it's always Z for me[:I].I agree with Pix's post as well, we do seem to be a diverse group with most of us going for the cheapest option in each class though.

quote:Originally posted by sean modi
In 2001 we i was upgraded to PE and never looked back it was always PE until i got upgraded agian! And now it's always Z for me[:I].

... and people say Op-Ups cost airlines money...!

I am going to buck the trend here. I am that rare commodity.. a happy Y flyer [:0][:0]. Don't get me wrong, if I wasn't paying, it would be J all the way, but... there's the rub.

I love to travel, I love to fly, but all of my long haul flying is leisure based. I work very long hours and my reward to myself, and my family, is quite a large travelling budget.

I am then faced with the choice... Do I have 1 big J trip or 3 or 4 smaller Y trips each year[?][?] I have to say, that I have no regrets in taking the frequent Y option

Add to this an infrequent, but very special and eagerly anticipated, reward trip in J and I am more than happy with my lot.

This also gives me the advantage that.. on the occassions that I manage a trip in a premium cabin, it is a big thing. I often read, with not a small amount of envy, the TRs of the frequent J flyers for whom even the suites have seemingly become 'a bit of a chore'.

Once you reach that level, what makes a flight fun, or special? These fliers will never have the buzz of anticipation that I am feeling about our J trip to LAX / SFO in July..... but then..... I would love to swap places with them, and be given the chance to be blase about UC [8D][}:)];)

Nick

but Nick aren't you worried you get a taste for J as many people do and not go back to Y?:D[8D]

quote:Do I have 1 big J trip or 3 or 4 smaller Y trips each year

The other half asks me that every year - so we have several trips in PE and are utterly skint each month!

Nick makes an interesting point. I'm primarily Z or S->G and having travelled back with my companions who are normally Y on Saturday I can see that I have lost some of the pleasure of travelling. In a way I resent UC as, ironic as it is, it means you don't enjoy v:port that much. Too many others things to distract. Incidentally EGG why not just book a Z and book Tristar direct? That'll save you quite a bit

quote:Originally posted by Decker
Nick makes an interesting point. I'm primarily Z or S->G and having travelled back with my companions who are normally Y on Saturday I can see that I have lost some of the pleasure of travelling.

You know, that's exactly what I should've said in this TR, rather than being blasŽ about UC

Cheers

Michael

Sadly, the golden touch of PE or even the holy grail of UC is lost on me (ok, ok, get out the smallest violin in the world to play the saddest song....blah blah). But I've never been out of the confines of Economy. Like many others, I've tried to look away from the smug faces in PE, but I don't dislike them for having the extra room and benefits, I just think 'Good for you! Maybe next time I'll be there...'. I think it's just a bit of a shame that you do have to walk through PE - maybe they could have a back door for us daydreamers! But then that would be no good for their marketing would it - you're not so likely to pay to upgrage when you ahven't actually seen what you get for your $$$.

I've got MCO booked for October (Economy of course!) and am now looking to book LA, Las Vegas and San Fran for June next year. I'm guessing this might be a good time to go for PE as it's a relatively long flight. What are people's thoughts on this? I just need to bite the bullet and bend the plastic. As I always say...you're here for a good time, not a long time. So, if that means going PE, then so be it. Have I convinced myself yet? I'm not sure. perhaps I'd better just ring em up again and check some more prices

Jackie,

Just make sure you reserve the seats at the back of Y.

On another tack, it is for the likes of yourself that free op-ups should be given out. Then Y will become history!!

Thanks, Ian. An op-up would be a dream come true. But my impatience has now got the better of me and I've upgraded to PE for MCO in October for £225 each outbound and £199 each inbound, minus 10% FC discount. :D:D Is this a good price? I just couldn't resist!

It's an H fare - does that mean that I will get less miles or should I still get 150%?

And how long does it take for the PE seats to show as available on your booking manager on the Flying Club website? The woman on the prebooking line said it could take 48 hours. The suspense is going to kill me!!!

Hello, this is my first time on your forum, so i felt it right to vote as the more the merrier.....
I usually fly PE, but in October we are taking our very first UC flight to Miami, Having reviewed some of the posts on the other topics re food etc i am a bit anxious if we have made the right choice???? But as long as i can stretch my legs i don't mind...
Any pointers or tips to searching this site for info would be grateful...[8D]

Hi Lee,

If you use the search function here and type in whatever subject you might be interested in, in this case Upperclass, you will find very useful threads such as this one or this thread.