Virgin Atlantic now my choice of carrier for premium economy
May 30, 2018, 2:18 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,113
For a single trip, the cost attraction is clear in this case.
For getting status in the FFP or using them as one's main airline, one has to be flying mainly to the top-20 metropolitan and premium leisure long-haul destinations from the UK because that's all the route network Virgin have.
For getting status in the FFP or using them as one's main airline, one has to be flying mainly to the top-20 metropolitan and premium leisure long-haul destinations from the UK because that's all the route network Virgin have.
May 30, 2018, 4:48 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: LHR GVA HKG TLV PVG JFK
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,964
BA is now treating its World Travel Plus customers on East coast flights with contempt so I've now booked all my JFK and BOS trips with VS, Premium economy. I have been loyal to BA but the service is rapidly becoming Bl**** Awful so certain routes will no longer get my business.
(Flew QF PE and was blown away by the service. Felt biz class without flat bed)
May 30, 2018, 8:14 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA LTGold; LH Senator; HHGold; Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 1,370
BA is now treating its World Travel Plus customers on East coast flights with contempt so I've now booked all my JFK and BOS trips with VS, Premium economy. I have been loyal to BA but the service is rapidly becoming Bl**** Awful so certain routes will no longer get my business.
Were you a big advocate on this forum? I must have missed that.
May 31, 2018, 10:21 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 373
BA is slowly catching up but its World Traveller Plus is definitely more economy than anything remotely Premium. Other airlines, including VS and Air New Zealand, have invested more into making it a premium experience. The clue, I guess, is in the branding. BA don’t advertise a premium economy cabin but simply call it economy “plus”.
My BA loyalty is high but based on recent VS experiences to the US, their product is superior, particularly the second meal service which was similar to a high quality Club Europe tray. The VS premium economy 787 “wander wall” (snacks and some) gives that sense of added value, too. Maybe I should apply to work in VS marketing team.
My BA loyalty is high but based on recent VS experiences to the US, their product is superior, particularly the second meal service which was similar to a high quality Club Europe tray. The VS premium economy 787 “wander wall” (snacks and some) gives that sense of added value, too. Maybe I should apply to work in VS marketing team.
May 31, 2018, 10:46 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Travel classes
...
Premium economy
Enjoy an enhanced in-flight experience with World Traveller Plus, our premium economy, offering more privacy, space and comfort in a smaller, secluded cabin.
World Traveller Plus - selected international flights
...
Premium economy
Enjoy an enhanced in-flight experience with World Traveller Plus, our premium economy, offering more privacy, space and comfort in a smaller, secluded cabin.
World Traveller Plus - selected international flights
World Traveller Plus
World Traveller Plus is our premium economy service, a more comfortable, relaxing experience on longer routes and proof that a premium service doesn't have to break the bank:
World Traveller Plus is our premium economy service, a more comfortable, relaxing experience on longer routes and proof that a premium service doesn't have to break the bank:
- wider seats and more legroom
- small, intimate cabins with expert, attentive service
- delicious meals and full bar service
- personal entertainment system with noise-reducing headphones
- larger free baggage allowance
- board ahead of economy passengers with priority boarding
May 31, 2018, 12:42 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US/UK - and elsewhere
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,565
I noticed some of these details on recent bookings and trips
- wider seats and more legroom - Indeed
- small, intimate cabins with expert, attentive service - not sure about the 'expert, attentive service' - very much WT service and attention
- delicious meals and full bar service - on East Coast service, really only one meal and then a main or pasta option (the last meal was rather a spread-out WT-ish meal)
- personal entertainment system with noise-reducing headphones - the 'personal' entertainment system is surely the same as WT...
- larger free baggage allowance - Indeed
- board ahead of economy passengers with priority boarding - presumably a higher group (which is generally irrelevant if G/S).
May 31, 2018, 1:43 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver, IHG Spire Ambassador, Accor Silver, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 276
I travel TATL in W a lot, and am doing so again on Sunday. How are BA treating W passengers with contempt? Serious question in case something has changed and is about to ruin my Sunday!
Jun 2, 2018, 5:50 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: UA, BA, B9
Posts: 33
I've apparently had the opposite experience, because every time I've flown WT+ (BOS-LHR) I've had very good experiences. You get placed in a higher boarding group, the food is so much better than WT, you have a more comfortable seat, more dedicated service, and a more private cabin. I have never flown VS PE, but is it wildly better than this? Price is generally the deciding factor for me, but as it stands if both VS and BA have similar prices for premium economy then I don't have any reason to stop using BA. VS's service in the past I've found to be less than professional and somewhat variable.