CO BF vs VS UC - what is the difference worth?
 

I know there has been a lot debated in past about differences between CO BF and VS Upper Class - while most have opinions and preferences, not much has been said on what forum memebrs are willing to pay for their preference.

I have a trip between NYC and LHR and could fly to any airport, though JFK and LHR are closer to where I need to be. VS gives me also greater choice regarding flight options especially allowing me to go to work for a full day in NY and travel at night and allowing a near full day in london prior to return. The trip is in summer and the BF sale on both airlines means a 2,040 USD fare on CO and about 2,500 on VS. I am traveling for work (and will have my fare reimbursed) but also travelling with wife and an infant (whose tickets I will buy). I am not bothered about elite mile bonuses.

My question is considering a 500 USD fare difference would anyone consider it worth spending that amount to fly VS UC compared to CO BF or (for those who feel CO is superior) do any see it as such a poor value for money that would not justify any secondary benefits of VS (such as flying out of JFK or greater flight options). For those who feel 500 USD is too much or too small, how much extra would they be willing to pay to have their preferred option (assuming your preferred option were more expensive)?

I have my views on which I prefer but my question really is what value (if any) forum members who have flown both options attach to their preference.

$0. VS UC, IMHO, is wildly overrated.

Agreed. Thier bed feels very narrow and hard. Oh, and don't ever count on the message that they promise you, because you will never get it.

If you have the extra $1000 and are looking for something different then it is worth that much - but not alot more.

I have flown both and certainly CO is a solid if somewhat dated product. VS carries a bit more flash. The beds are actually ok on VS. I am 6'6" and had no problem. VS LHR Clubhouse has no equal

Given that you have no interest in miles I would take VS. I have used VS with reward miles, and travel out or EWR so I will always be paid CO

This is a long link on the differences. I actually agree with the OP

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ghlight=co+lhr

I agree that UC is overrated, but for sleeping I would take UC over BF.

The one thing that I did really like about VS UC is the lounge at LHR – the food and amenities were great.

Also, I recently received an email from VS saying they are doing away with the in-flight therapist. I think too many people were upset that they didn’t get picked.

I would pay the extra $500, but I don't know if it's really worth it. Pre-flight dining so you can get more sleep on board. (OK, so you can eat at the food court for $15)
Fully-flat bed seats with duvets so you can get more sleep on board. (OK, so with a <$1 ambien it shouldn't matter so much).
Full hot breakfast in the arrivals lounge at LHR. (Maybe worth $15-20, or more if you're going to instead have breakfast in some overpriced London hotel...)
Supposedly "true" fast-track security on departure from LHR. (Priceless?)
The VS LHR Clubhouse -- amazing lounge. Here is where I would plan for the massage, haircut, etc., not on board. You can pre-reserve. Great food as well. Maybe worth $50-100.

So the value of what you'd get on VS over CO probably doesn't add up to $500 if you really wanted to look at it that way. But I like the VS travel experience, particularly when I fly solo in part due to the privacy of the Upper Class Suite vs. having a seatmate on CO (well, except I guess the 767s).

VS's limo service is obviously worth a lot, but that requires a J/D fare and would be much more expensive, certainly too much to justify just the car (flexibility would be the other J/D benefit).

Yes this is certainly priceless at LHR - I went throught the new VS upper class wing security last month and it was a breeze and took less than five minutes - they did not ask to take laptops out of bags, taste liquids, remove shoes and the usual brutality one faces at an airport - and that is not mentioning the 30 minute to 60 minute time in a queue one often gets on a sunday evening at LHR even if with a fast-track sticker.

Then my question to you and others who feel UC is overrated, is how much would you pay to fly CO? Lets say CO BF cost 500 USD more than VS UC, would you pay the extra 500 to fly CO? How much better do you rate CO and what price will you be willing to pay for this difference?

Great post. I agree that VS is worth more to me if I am traveling alone. As you are with your wife, CO J will be plenty good. The meal will be better for sure on CO.

NYC/LHR is such a short long-haul flight that the benefits of VS are worth less. If you were flying 10+ hours, VS is quite nice and fun to mingle for a couple hours at the bar and then crash.

VS is not overrated, as the CO flock above cites. It's amongst the best business class products in the air -- better than many airlines' F.

OMG, great post. There is no one of this Earth who would pay more for the CO product vs. the VS product. Very illuminating question!

I've flown both CO and VS several times and my opinion is that while I'm a loyal CO customer, the VS product experience was superior overall and may be worth the extra $$ for the following reasons:

1) The service handling on the ground was exceptional. In particular the limo service was the best for me and my colleague because we didn't have to deal with any hassle in getting to our destination. In addition, they picked us up for our return to LHR, we were checked in and given our boarding passes and there was literally no waiting for any security. We walked right through with no hassle. That was very well worth it for us.

2) The LHR VS Clubhouse is an extraordinary experience. It allows you to get a full meal before your flight and the salon offerings/massage/etc is great.

3) I don't sleep on flights so I'm impartial to the VS lie flat seats or non-lie flat that CO has. CO has a wider seat which is better for me, but the diagonal layout on VS allows you to not be disturbed by other passengers who may need to move around throughout the flight.

Overall, we actually paid less for the VS flight than the CO flight as CO appears to charge a premium on the codeshare it seems. We saved just over $4,000 for two people on the VS coded flight than if we'd purchased it through CO. So it was a great deal.

Interesting thread but I would question this statement. If it's a dayflight, UC is not a great product, food is awful and service varies just as much as other airlines - seat itself is not good for sitting, but that is a personal view!

Where UC wins in a lot of cases is for a night flight, but only if it originates from an airport which has a good lounge and food options - eat, get on the plane and sleep...the seats are great for sleeping.

I would pay $250 more for CO but that would be because I want my 2 segments and CO to have my money.

No more/extra money for CO metal (the VS experience alone!)
I want the segments too
I dont care if CO gets the money - its a business, not a relative

I would pay the $460x2 to fly VS UC over CO BF for a night flight, but not a daylight flight.

But this seems to be a very personal thing. I can get a good nights sleep in a flat bed, but not in lie flat or "pod" type seats. I consistently sleep well in VS UC, but poorly on AF, CO, NW, AA, etc.

If you can sleep well in the CO seat, then I would not pay that much extra - for the lounge, fast track, etc at LHR.