VS Coach is nothing to write about, in my experience. I don't know what the pitch is in the back, but it feels cramped (maybe the seats are thicker?) and overcrowded. Also, the times I've been on it (just across the Atlantic) it is always packed to the gills with what the British euphemistically call "holiday makers", a.k.a. hooligans-in-training from a number of fine European countries.

Nice amenity kit, though.

I was just able to upgrade our 2 coach tix outbound on VS JFK to LHR. Will be flying back on CO from Paris and have bulkhead seats on a 767? Are those ok?

Also, what benefits do CO Upper Class Tix holders entitled to?

1). Limos to and From the Airport or LHR Express 1st Class tix?

2). Clubhouse at JFK and Revivals Lounge at LHR?

3). The Beauty Therapy:

A rejuvenating massage or expert manicure from our selection of onboard treatments, provided in a dedicated therapy area, is available on most flights:

Stress Busting face and scalp massage
Full Back Up massage to unwind at 30,000ft
Helping Hands special zone therapy
Handsome Hands personal manicure
Armed Force the ultimate stress-relieving shoulder massage

Available on all Heathrow flights.

Is this true for the CO tix agent said that there is a lottery for these services.

Thanx in advance for the info!

The last time I flew VS UC on a CO paid UC fare, no limo. The inflight massage, etc is given near the bar and is available for all in UC. The beauty consultant came by each seat and asked if you wanted a massage/facial. From what I recall, CO seats in UC are near this area as well, very busy and difficult to sleep with all of the commotion. I didn't need the arrivals lounge, so I can't say if you will get access or not. I did get access into the Clubhouse at EWR on departure.

Thanx for the quick response. We are on an A 340 if that is any help. My concern despite the noise, but we are taking the 11:10 out of JFK, is that we are in the last row of UC - 8 - do these seats recline fully -- and are they new fully reclining seats, for that matter?

Thanx!

That's totally correct as to the seats on the Virgin 747's being right by the bar. It's certainly on purpose by Virgin. CO has rows 7,8,9 seats AC on one side, bar in the middle, seats HK on the other side.

Just about correct on the in flight beauty stuff, but note, the attendant can only service a certain number of pax, and if she is oversubscribed, she'll give those passengers who she can't give service to coupons for priority service on their next UC flight. I did not notice anything such as asking all VS pax first then CO pax - it seemed even, and our attendant actually drew names from a hat - I saw her doing it.

For some strange reason, I always get seat 7H when I book through CO. In ALL the flights I've been on (BOS-LHR-BOS,EWR-LGW-EWR, LHR-SFO, number of times each), seat 7H is in the front UC cabin, a bit forwards of the massage therapy. I've never had trouble sleeping, I don't even notice the therapist at work.

As previously noted, the therapist will come and ask all passengers and then draw from a lottery, without regards to what kind of ticket one bought. Sometimes its busy, and if she doesn't get to you, she'll give you a priority card to use on your next flight.

As for limo, Revivals, etc, if you bought your ticket from CO, fuggedaboutit. You can, however, use the CO or CO approved lounges, which aren't too bad. Having said that, I've never had trouble just showing up and being let into the VS lounges anyway.

Thanx Pickles and TheSilb!

However, anyone ever fly the VS A340 and know where the bar is in relation to CO seat's? I am in row 8.

Also, Pickles, when you said you show up and they may let you in, was that in referernce to the Revivals Lounge, after landing, or the Clubhouse Lounges prior to departure?

I believe it's possible to change your CO assigned seats when checking in on the day of departure. Something about how all the seats information from both VS and CO are consolidated so you could request different seats if you desire.

That's absolutely correct. By the way, my personal favorite seats in UC on the 747's are the front row downstairs, row 1. Very dark & quiet with maximum space away from the bar, but still "downstairs in the action."

I am referring to the Clubhouse Lounges before departure. I've never tried pulling that one off on the Revivals, since every time I had access to it (using VS tickets), even at check-in they would ask you when you'd be needing the car, how long you'd be there, etc. When you check in at Revivals, they know who you are already. I don't think they would let me in, so I have saved myself the embarassment and didn't even try... Check this for my latest experience.

Thanx for the further thoughts everyone. I may not need to change my seat assignments b/c I also aked the gurus on the Virgin board about the seats and it appears that although those rows are not especially good or quite on the 747s, those rows should be quiet on the Airbus, as I was told that the bar was between rows 3-6!!

At least I hope so!

So, if anyone else has flown UC on VS in an Airbus, I would love to know your thoughts. However, I will ask at the desk, if this question seems to be pending just to make sure.

By the way, I paid $786 for my fare (and the 20,000 miles) which is UC departure from JFK at 11:10 PM and a regular Coach return on CO's 2 PM flight from Paris. Late May departure, return early June.

Was this a good deal, oh knowledgeable ones??

Compared to what?

It is what it is.

Of course I'm tempted to point out that the upgradeable fare on AA for those dates, JFK-LHR, CDG-JFK is $551.40. So, well, I guess "good deal" is in the eye of the beholder. I assume a full HoKey fare would have been about $1000 or so?

OTOH, it is well worth pointing out that Virgin UC is much, much nicer than AA J. Then again, at your fare you're in CO coach o/w-- and there 'aint nothin' much worse than that, IMHO.

Ahhh, the voice of a convert. No one is more dogmatic than a convert, IMHO.
I neglected to say that I also had a $902 credit that was reimbursed by one of my wife's client's for a cancelled vacation, and that was originally scheduled when you were still singing the praises of CO.

Given that circumstance, we would have been foolish to bail on CO. However, that does not mean I put all my eggs in one basket, for last summer we flew AA to LHR because of the greater legroom in coach -- again, when you were still singing the praises of CO. Moreover, I cashed my Marriott Rewards points for 120,000 AA miles -- again before you defected from CO.

Finally, that fare on AA of which you sing the praises, was $530 on CO yesterday, and hence the reason I upgraded -- and I hate to burst your bubble, but it is still is less than the AA fare, for today it is now $545 -- and it has me returning to EWR, far more convenient for me than JFK. The reason we like the late flight from JFK is the fact that my wife can take a limo home after a certain hour and thus it costs us nothing to go to JFK for that late flight.

Now, you know the rest of the story.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, since I used an AMEX, we will get a 50% mileage bonus on the return from CDG.

So, if anyone would care to answer my query with any productive comments, I would appreciate it.

Thanx.

D2B




[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 05-01-2002).]

-- DUPE --

[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 05-01-2002).]

Wow.

Welcome back?

With all due respect, when you ask the question "did I get a good deal on this fare?" What is the "productive" answer of which you speak? Are you looking for "yes, you're a genius" or "no, you got rooked?" Isn't the "value" of something like this ultimately in the eye of the beholder-- when all is said and done? It's your vacation after all.

Have a nice trip-- hopefully you'll come back "refreshed."

And, finally, I don't appreciate being called a "--DUPE--" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif