Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy
 

I did a search but it looks like a lot of the posts are older. Anyone flowen VA PE to Nairobi (JBO)? Price wise it's certainly a lot cheaper than the business class seats on other airlines. Thoughts?

Sorry, can't answer the question but look at http://www.airlinequality.com.

Unfortunately, this website does not separate reviews for different cabin classes, so you'll have to skim over economy and business class reviews to find more information about premium economy.

Virgin PE is a lot cheaper because it's not remotely like international business class. Seat pitch is about 38 inches with 8 inches recline. It's comparable to WT+ on BA. More like short-haul First in an American Airlines MD-80 or a United 757. Comfortable, but not Business.

I was going to add in my last post that I have flown BAs premium economy. Thought I'd try it, once was enough, never again. My next BA long haul was in business class. Honestly, IMO you cannot compare the two products. I find First class seats on AAs MD 80 fleet are much more comfortable than BAs WT+. Honestly, if you are used to business class you won't like premium economy.

My original post was one of those "I knew what I meant but didn't express it quite right" posts. Sheesh. Will teach me to be in a hurry.

I agree BC isn't the same as PE. Normally DH and I do fly BC on international flights to Europe. Just for chuckles I picked some dates (can't check our actual as too far out) and ran the BC fair in a couple of airlines. Price was right around $10K for 2. Yikes! Of course Nairobi is a ways. I had heard some good things about VA's PE, so took the same dates and in VA's PE it came back at $5,000 for 2. We've never flown with VA but I had heard that it was better than BA's WT+. Interestingly enough VA's schedule coming back has an OVN in London (which is the only plane change each direction too) which we thought might minimize the angst of not being in BC too.

So now that I have hopefully cleared that up a little. Any input/thoughts? Of course I guess another option would be to try to use miles for one BC ticket and purchase the other.

If you can't afford business class, then Virgin Atlantic has a top-tier premium economy product. It isn't nearly as good as business class, but it is better than coach by a decent amount.

I would go for the one redemption + one paid if that is an option.

I fly VS premium economy a few times a year (and sometimes upper) and think it is great. I've not flown to NBO but have flown on many other routes. You have a bit of extra legroom with footrest, a better seat although you cannot move the armrests and the meal service is a notch up from an economy. The PE sections tend to be quite small which gives it a more private feel.

<i>"If you can't afford business class, then Virgin Atlantic has a top-tier premium economy product."</i>

travelgourmet - that's what the OP is asking about - VA PE.

patandhank - If you have BA miles, you can take that $5000 to pay for 2 seats WT+ and upgrade both to Club (flat-bed business class) for 45,000 miles each.

<i>travelgourmet - that's what the OP is asking about - VA PE.</i>

Which is why I mentioned that it was top-tier... The OP also mentioned that they normally fly in business class, so didn't want to mislead them into thinking it was business class. Didn't mean anything by my post, but the wording is a bit awkward.

Thanks everybody.

Julia1 - Wish we had the milage on BA, but it's on UA and Continental.

travelgourmet - I appreciate the comments re the PE in VA and it sounds like if we end up doing PE it may be a good way to go.

As we get closer I'll see how the BC seats run - 24 hours travel time and not to do BC makes us cringe, but you do what you have to do!