Upper Class vs. Delta One
 

I'm currently booked on a Virgin Atlantic flight across the bond, but due to a schedule change, I have the ability to change to a flight time that gives my wife and I several more hours to spend in Europe. But if I make the change I'll be on Delta metal, instead of Virgin.

It's my wife's first time to Europe, and she rarely flies up front, so I want the trip to be special. Do your prefer Virgin's Upper Class or Delta One and if so tell me why?

If it is special for your wife, I'd go with VS. There are legitimate arguments for DL being a better product and service, but the VS experience is so unique and so very British, that it is worth experiencing it at least once.

Would you be coming home on VS if you switched? If so, I'd go for it, and enjoy both carriers one-way. Otherwise I'd stick with Virgin.

If possible I'd book DL to Europe and VS back. VS is a great product if you're up to use it. DL offers IMO the better product for sleeping. (Mainly better seats)

More details would be helpful, like city pairs in particular and times and equipment.

If you are flying LHR-BOS, the flight is so short where it doesn’t matter. If you’re doing LHR-SEA, it’s still a pretty short flight, but it’s an extra ~3.5 hours in the air, so changing might have some more impact.

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I sleep just fine in both. I prefer the 787 to the 767 and a330, but I also don’t want any service. Just a bed and to be left alone. I like the 787 business class setup a lot, but some hate it. Course, you might be on an virgin a330, which is why more details would be helpful.

For a more special experience definitely Upper Class. Especially if you get the 1-1-1 seat layout and can get A seats. Nobody is facing you so it feels more private, and there's a bar, albeit very small but still a cool experience.But you won't be sitting together.

Precisely. Not only are Delta's seats better but you'll be able to get to sleep earlier and squeeze in at least an extra half hour of shut-eye as they "get it" on Delta and wait till the very last minute to wake you up - spot on night service for the business traveler and frankly the best way to enjoy London fresh even for leisure. Virgin, on the other hand, prepares the cabin for landing way, way too early which is unhelpful on a short red eye east coast to london. While I tend to chose Delta when I can either way (for the seat + wifi) on the return, Virgin is the better experience - crews on average while there are exceptions either way tend to provide more personal service throughout the flight, food / beverage is better and the bar / lounge is fun. You get the upper class wing and lounge in London either way which is a great way to start the flight home!

both offer access to the upper class lounge at lhr!

It's impossible to answer this without knowing aircraft types. Also, some couples prefer to sit together and talk rather than sitting in separate suites.

VS if you want more attentive service. DL if you want to sleep (better beds).

I've noticed a disturbing trend on DL D1 TATL flights the last 2ish years. About 30 minutes after the meal service the FAs stop coming around. If you're sleeping, no biggie, but if you're like me and can't sleep on planes, I prefer to have some wine (esp on a daytime Westbound flight). Having to take your glass up to the galley less than two hours into the flight for a refill is sub optimal service and makes one feel like a bloody alcoholic. They're really nice in the galley and I've never had a DL* FA cut me off, but still, I think at the very least coming around every 30min or so should be a minimum requirement for your top tier product. Yeah, I could push the button, but I don't want to be "that guy". On VS, even in Prem econ, they are far more attentive throughout the flight.

*Did get cutoff (by association after a friend got intercepted trying to open the closet to take a leak) by a UA FA once flying NRSA on ORD-HKG. Then she cut us back on a few hours later.

OT, but the buddy was lucky not to have NRSA privileges cut off, or you if you were his employee sponsor for a buddy pass.

I would rather be the guy using a button for its intended purpose, than the guy walking his empty glass up to the galley on the regular.

Seconded. I have not flown Virgin but do have a clear preference between various DL aircraft. I try very hard to avoid the 767, for example, especially for night flights but even the day they are narrow like PE seats on other carriers.

But on the flip side, the middle pair might be a good selection on DL for someone's first flight in business class; I remember that excitement and being able to share it with my wife who was on my side. Fast forward a few years now we book two window seats :p

I do think aircraft/route is an important consideration, but I actually like even the old VS herringbone beds better than even DL A330. Head away from the aisle and extra shoulder space given the shape of the seat. Having to flip the seat is a minor inconvenience but you get a more contiguous sleeping surface.

They’re still both good products (hard and soft) and I would definitely encourage VS at least one way.

Comical that you consider LHR-SEA a pretty short flight for someone that hasn't ever been to Europe.

Fair enough. I respect that most people sleep (and trust me I wish I could), so I try to keep the noise to a minimum. The dinging noise is rather loud.