Julie_Hurst

I see their Premium Economy prices are good. Anyone flown that class or seen the seats?

How does it differ from US airlines business/envoy class? We're too old to fly coach from the US to Europe any more! Too uncomfortable.

I priced first class on many airlines (kayak.com & cheaopair.com) & cheapest is about $2700. Virgin Premium Economy is about $1200 from CHI to LON RT 4/23/08-5/21/08.

We really wanted to fly into AMS & out of LON, but LON to AMS would be easy to do separately.

Thanks, Julie

rkkwan

Premium economy seats on Virgin or other airlines for international flights are similar to domestic first class, or a little bit worse.

Typically 38" pitch (coach is 31-32", business 55"+), and seatback that reclines a little more than coach, but no where near flat like business.

On Virgin's Airbus A340, seating is 2-3-2, (vs 2-4-2 for coach); on their Boeing 744s, it's 2-4-2 in the lower deck (vs 3-4-3 for coach), or 2-2 in the upper deck.

Photos on the 340-600:
www.airliners.net/open.file/1221279/L/
www.airliners.net/open.file/1174894/L/

Dukey

We flew on Virgin in Premium Economy two years ago.

The seats do not in any way, shape, or form match the usual "business class" seat in terms of recline.

What Virgin advertsied as a "leg rest' was nothing more than a foot rest attached to the seat in front.

We were able to board along with the Upper Class passengers.

We were served a "mimosa" prior to take-off..do NOT ask for more than one!

The food was exactly the same as that served in regular economy.

Julie_Hurst

thanks, rkkwan. Doesn't look like the seats could recline very much. If they did, you wouldn't be able to see the TV in the seat in front of you!

Also, unlike envoy/business/first class, there are 3-4 seats in a group. I wouldn't like it if we got stuck in anything other than a 2 seater.

Obviously, the seats couldn't be too much wider than economy with 7-8 across.

Thanks again, Julie

rkkwan

If you want discount fares on something nicer, go to New York and fly Maxjet or Silverjet to London. Or L'Avion to Paris.

rkkwan

BTW, $2,700 is a great business class fares, especially if they're for going to AMS and out of London.

Jed

I have spent a lot of time checking Virgin PE fares for a different itinerary. I have learned that the fares differ greatly by the day, time, and how many times you search for the same itinerary.

As to your itinerary, I have just looked on the V site, and my findings at this time show a fare of $1409 which is the total of $1042 plus 367 for taxes. Did your total include taxes?

RM67

PE usually means a drink prior to take off, plus magazines and papers to read.

Seats are slightly wider than economy, but not much.

Usually toward the front of the plane - tends to be the area you board. You always think its economy and then you walk pass the Curtain of Separation, and realise (heart-sinkingly) that it isn't.

Odin

The meal service in PE is not the same as in regular economy. It has recently been upgraded to a different menu plus cutlery/china is different. On the ORDLHR route, they fly A340-300. PE is not a business class product, for comparison to business class it would be upper class.

Julie_Hurst

Dukey, I am sorry, but you must have posted while I was typing, so I missed your post (I was watching TV!). But thanks for the info. The foot rest is very important to me, because my feet swell when sitting so long.

Jed, no I didn't include taxes, just the base price.

Thanks RM67 & Odin for the additional info.

Doesn't sound like what we want. Price looked good though! Now I know why!

Julie