You might be showing your age here, the VS PE Upper deck good experience disappeared around 2012, when it was all PE and only on the LGW bucket and spade routes. You could request the exit row seats at check in for free too, and those were basically across from the crew jump seats so full leg stretch for free.

However, on the LGW it's half economy now, and PE at the front. So the service is a bit spotty, so I'm told, and you're off after the rest of PE and the upper deck economy too, basically with economy so no priority disembarkment. It was economy and upper on the LHR flights though, so never been an Upper deck PE there, and I believe all the LHRs 747s are gone...