Does being upstairs on a 747 feel any different?

In the sense of feeling the motion of the plane rather than a sense of being above others or whatever........
I know sitting in certain areas can feel bumpier than others for example,so are you more prone to feeling turbulence etc upstairs compared to downstairs?

Will probably fly PE on my next flight (to gain miles and tier points) and not sure whether to try and get seats upstairs or down.

Personally I find there is less Engine noise here, but you do seem to get more wind noise. I like the upstairs cabin as you generally get more staff to pax ratio.

Paul

I find the upper deck a far nicer environment, the 2-2 seating arrangement is the winner for me, also if you have a window seat you get a small storage area beside your seat. The wc/passenger ratio is much better too [8D]

It's magic upstairs. You can even walk past the trolley when it's going down the aisle.

Regards

John

Originally posted by JAT74L
It's magic upstairs. You can even walk past the trolley when it's going down the aisle.

Regards

John

Hehe! Exactly.. if the question is does it "feel" any different?.. then YES.. it certainly does.

Originally posted by JAT74L
It's magic upstairs. You can even walk past the trolley when it's going down the aisle.

Regards

John

Handy. On one of my internal US flights, the girl sitting next to me went to the toilet about a minute before the drinks trolley came out, and half an hour later she still hadn't got back to her seat despite turbulence/seatbelt signs coming on.

Like the sound of the toilet ratio........surprises me how the second everyone in economy finishes their dinner, they all have to go to the toilet at exactly the same time, and as soon as you think that's it, they're back for seconds.

I did my first PE trip in July upstairs on the LHR 744's, and it was "magic"- to quote John.

There's just so much more room, and it is quieter I think. I do agree with there being slightly more wind noise. I think the only reason you notice it is because downstairs it just gets drowned out by the engines.

The higher staff:pax ratio and nice wide aisles definetly improove the environment too...

The best thing about upstairs on the LGW flight is you cant see into UC and wish you were there[:I] It's that old green eyed monster lurking again;)

Originally posted by stephen
The best thing about upstairs on the LGW flight is you cant see into UC and wish you were there[:I] It's that old green eyed monster lurking again;)

Amen!

My forthcoming BGI trip will be all the more "magic" as it's only costing an additional £300 return per person to fly in PE from MAN with VH.

To me, that's outstanding value.

Regards

John

My forthcoming BGI trip will be all the more "magic" as it's only costing an additional £300 return per person to fly in PE from MAN with VH.

I'm afarid I disagree that £300 is good value to upgrade from Economy to PE.

I have just returned from MCO travelling downstairs in PE. It was an unusual flight as there were only 92 people on the Gatwick 747 and the three of us had the cabin completely to ourselves.

The first time I travelled in PE was about 2 years ago when they had the older elctric seats. The older seats reclined further, they were wider and the cabin felt more spacious than it does nowadays.

The seats now are too hard, narrower and the cabin felt just as cramped as economy.

We all agreed that we won't be forking out for PE again as it was not as good as we remembered.

The only bonus to our flights was that we had the better entertainment system which had the games.

Don't get me wrong, I think Virgin are still very good, just not as good as they were.

Bink

Regarding the question, I'd say that the upper deck is more prone to turbulence as the "leverage," for lack of a better word, is much greater. The centre of gravity on the aircraft is round about where the wings are and everything pivots around that. The u/d has a wider arc around the centre of gravity so may accentuate the turbulence.

Cheers,
VS045

I'm afarid I disagree that £300 is good value to upgrade from Economy to PE.

I have just returned from MCO travelling downstairs in PE. It was an unusual flight as there were only 92 people on the Gatwick 747 and the three of us had the cabin completely to ourselves.

The first time I travelled in PE was about 2 years ago when they had the older elctric seats. The older seats reclined further, they were wider and the cabin felt more spacious than it does nowadays.

The seats now are too hard, narrower and the cabin felt just as cramped as economy.

We all agreed that we won't be forking out for PE again as it was not as good as we remembered.

The only bonus to our flights was that we had the better entertainment system which had the games.

Don't get me wrong, I think Virgin are still very good, just not as good as they were.

Bink

I think my point is that UPSTAIRS is the magic bit (for me). Having looked at the main deck cabin I would not book PE if I couldn't get a seat upstairs.

John

Originally posted by JAT74L Having looked at the main deck cabin I would not book PE if I couldn't get a seat upstairs.

John

Really? So if the flight you're wanting to take is operated by an Airbus, you'd just stick with Econ?

I thought the whole point of this thread was about upper decks on 744's?

Not having ever been aboard an Airbus any bigger than a 321 I will reserve judgement but, if there were no seats left on the upper deck of a 744 I would go Y as I do not like the 2 - 4 - 2 layout or the cabin downstairs.

Regards

John

Originally posted by JAT74L
I thought the whole point of this thread was about upper decks on 744's?

Not having ever been aboard an Airbus any bigger than a 321 I will reserve judgement but, if there were no seats left on the upper deck of a 744 I would go Y as I do not like the 2 - 4 - 2 layout or the cabin downstairs.

Regards

John

John that's cool if that's what you want, but why is 3-4-3 better than 2-4-2? It might be a matter of vfm but surely if you're travelling space and comfort are important, where you can afford it?

Originally posted by JAT74L Having looked at the main deck cabin I would not book PE if I couldn't get a seat upstairs.

John

I am of the same opinion Its PE if you can get it upstairs on a jumbo.

But when its an airbus, its the whole hog to UC or else econ.

On the airbus, PE just looks econ and I don't think its worth the extra cash.

For us the advantage of Econ on the airbus is the 2-4-2 configuration, means you can sit together without any 3rd parties!

Robert

So here's my little contribution here. Upstairs - for peace and quiet. Downstairs, the PE cabin is still sufficiently small that you feel part of the Y cabin and can hear all the noise from it (think babies in bassonets in the front row of Y - they're justa few seats behind you!). The galleys! These can be very noisey places - they're just in front of the PE cabin. The UC bar. Also just in front of the PE cabin and only covered by a curtain - with lots of crew moving backwards and forwards. Upstairs - at least on an overnight flight, the UC section is usually the 'snooze zone', so the attendants dont spend their time going backwards and forwards. Attendants tend not to hang out in the rear galley and in any event, its a lot further away from the seats. If you can get the front row in PE upstairs, you end up with more legroom than the UCS. Nice Nice. Its 2-2, which is a bonus. Just avaoid the rear seats of the upper deck. The toilet area can be noisy, smelly and disturbing.

There you go!

Originally posted by bostonbrit
Just avaoid the rear seats of the upper deck. The toilet area can be noisy, smelly and disturbing.

Hmm, I quite liked being in 74C. No one behind you to annoy when you recline, a nice little table next to your seat, and easy to get up and wander round.

i love it upstairs we will only fly this way its great, as for more wind noise.............. i never heard any!!!!!!!

Originally posted by locutus

Originally posted by bostonbrit
Just avaoid the rear seats of the upper deck. The toilet area can be noisy, smelly and disturbing.

Hmm, I quite liked being in 74C. No one behind you to annoy when you recline, a nice little table next to your seat, and easy to get up and wander round.

Maybe easier to slip into unnoticed if you wanted to join the mile high club

Believe me - book suites 1A and B. [:0]

Hi all

We have flown PE for the past two journeys with Virgin. My hubby and I always book these seats Upstairs if possible. The only problem that we find is that the flights that leave LHR have upstairs available going out but they never seem to have the larger planes coming back.

We like the fact that you have the 2+2 configuration upstairs and it feels far roomier and you seem to get more attention from the FA.

I also have been able to experience the UC suite bar by being upstairs as I have come down and sneakily had a drink served from a FA who was working downstairs. Un-beknown to her I just came from upstairs UC section!!

Lovely to meet you all

Sue

[Nottingham Nick]

A very warm welcome to V-Flyer Sue, hope you find the site useful.

Originally posted by sue Barter

I also have been able to experience the UC suite bar by being upstairs as I have come down and sneakily had a drink served from a FA who was working downstairs. Un-beknown to her I just came from upstairs UC section!!

Nobody here would condone or try such underhand tricks. [}:)]

You have to be very careful though, it is clear from reading these boards, that VS spread some sort of magic dust in the suites. Once you have set foot in UC, you become addicted to turning left. [8D]


Nick

Only thing that gets me woeful when flying in PE upstairs is standing at the top of the stairs and looking down at the bar. I think well i was sitting there on the last flight, wish I was there now (fingers crossed for an op up on Friday )

Dean