LHR - JFK Prices anyone?

[MATTP77]

hi guys, i know there are loads of NYC posts, this i hope is a little different.

I am taking my mother to NYC for her birthday, but I hate being long haul cattle class... Im happy to go 2-3 hours on easyjet t europe, but i really dont want to go to NY in economy. The leg room does really really put me off.

So yeah, BA are doing "premium economy" for £550 rtn.

Is this reasonable, and if anyone has flown this premium economy is it recommendable or is it just an extra £250 for the sake of it?

If anyone knows of a better price or a website with decent deals if you could let me know, that would be brilliant. Looking at going first week of December, so i am keen to get it all booked.

TIA guys,
MP

[Dr Jekyll]

MATTP77 said:

hi guys, i know there are loads of NYC posts, this i hope is a little different.

I am taking my mother to NYC for her birthday, but I hate being long haul cattle class... Im happy to go 2-3 hours on easyjet t europe, but i really dont want to go to NY in economy. The leg room does really really put me off.

So yeah, BA are doing "premium economy" for £550 rtn.

Is this reasonable, and if anyone has flown this premium economy is it recommendable or is it just an extra £250 for the sake of it?

If anyone knows of a better price or a website with decent deals if you could let me know, that would be brilliant. Looking at going first week of December, so i am keen to get it all booked.

TIA guys,
MP

Premium economy is worth doing. It's just economy service with a bigger seat but it does allow you to get comfortable.

[zac510]

Virgin do Premium Economy too but I've not flown it. only regular economy. might depend on the plane, though. They do fly some 747 on that route.

[langy]

Dr Jekyll said:

Premium economy is worth doing. It's just economy service with a bigger seat but it does allow you to get comfortable.

Agreed, just flown BA Premium Economy myslef and it'll be difficult to fly cattle again

[bull996]

Virgin PE every time over BA.

Although the seats are better on Virgin than BA,thats not the only benefit of Virgin! With Virgin you get dedicated check in (NO QUEUES!!!), priority boarding (NO QUEUES!!!), priority disembarkation (NO QUEUES and you get to immigration first), baggage off first and from LHR you get the brilliant leather seats (much wider than BA).

I went to JFK this year and it was wonderful to just walk to the front of queues while everyone else waits for an hour. Oh, and the entertainment systems is much better too.

Edited by bull996 on Sunday 31st October 17:48

[ghibbett]

No experience on BA, but last Dec I flew Virgin to Sydney, Upper out there and PE back. Was very impressed with PE; a big step up from Cattle. Also, as said above, priority check-in, boarding and disembarkation too. Seats are far wider than Cattle with an armrest that both people can use and be comfortable. IMO, well worth the extra £££.

N.B. If you really want to enjoy it, Upper is where it's at. And of course at LHR there's the Clubhouse

Edited by ghibbett on Monday 1st November 06:22

[ghibbett]

Oh, and Virgin fly A340-600's from LHR to JFK, if that's of any relevance to you.

[MATTP77]

Its an expedia package i have tailored and as far as i can see there isnt an option for flying virgin on the selected days. i will keep a look out though, and im now mega looking forward to it. I went to NZ in cattle, and i refuse to travel long distance in cattle again.

Thanks for the help guys... and do you think the PE prices are about right there for NY?

550 mark that is... ?

[MATTP77]

ghibbett said:

Oh, and Virgin fly A340-600's from LHR to JFK, if that's of any relevance to you.

Not too sure how this has relevance.. all i know is, that that isnt as big as a 747!!

Is this good in someway for PE?

[K50 DEL]

MATTP77 said:

Its an expedia package i have tailored and as far as i can see there isnt an option for flying virgin on the selected days. i will keep a look out though, and im now mega looking forward to it. I went to NZ in cattle, and i refuse to travel long distance in cattle again.

Thanks for the help guys... and do you think the PE prices are about right there for NY?

550 mark that is... ?

I would say that 550 is a decent price for a PE return on BA to JFK, I haven't had to cough up for a flight to NY in a couple of years (I use airmiles nowadays) but ISTR about 350 in cattle, so an extra 200 for the benefits of PE is well worth it I'd say.

[Puggit]

Agreed - £550 is a reasonable economy price, let alone PE. Take it.

(Virgin PE is very comfortable - never flown BA premium as I generally avoid them!)

[ghibbett]

MATTP77 said:

... and do you think the PE prices are about right there for NY?

550 mark that is... ?

Sounds excellent to me. I'm flying LHR to JFK in late Dec for a New Years getaway, and if I recall Virgin PE flights were around £1100 each rtn.

[MATTP77]

I checked these yesterday and im SURE a return for the first week in december, wasnt even 300 rtn for cattle class...

just checked for peace of mind again, and BA premium economy is 570 rtn.

I am so booking this, this evening! A

From what you guys are telling me, i need to be searching for Virgin Atlantic flights though!!!!

Really appreciate the help guys.

edit: just checked virgin atlantic... literally DOUBLE the price... BA IT IS!! haha

Edited by MATTP77 on Monday 1st November 11:09

[bull996]

MATTP77 said:

I checked these yesterday and im SURE a return for the first week in december, wasnt even 300 rtn for cattle class...

just checked for peace of mind again, and BA premium economy is 570 rtn.

I am so booking this, this evening! A

From what you guys are telling me, i need to be searching for Virgin Atlantic flights though!!!!

Really appreciate the help guys.

edit: just checked virgin atlantic... literally DOUBLE the price... BA IT IS!! haha

Edited by MATTP77 on Monday 1st November 11:09

Nope, Virgin are £577 for the first 2 weeks of Dec

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/specialoffers...

[touching cloth]

bull996 said:

MATTP77 said:

I checked these yesterday and im SURE a return for the first week in december, wasnt even 300 rtn for cattle class...

just checked for peace of mind again, and BA premium economy is 570 rtn.

I am so booking this, this evening! A

From what you guys are telling me, i need to be searching for Virgin Atlantic flights though!!!!

Really appreciate the help guys.

edit: just checked virgin atlantic... literally DOUBLE the price... BA IT IS!! haha

Edited by MATTP77 on Monday 1st November 11:09

Nope, Virgin are £577 for the first 2 weeks of Dec

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/specialoffers...

Won't be on last seat availability though, they will have a potentially small allocation of seats at that price, once the allocation is sold they may still sell the cabin but at higher fares. Means they can market the rate to pull you in but am guessing for the dates the OP needs it isn't there. BA WTP (premium) is pretty good with decent space advantage over Economy, £550 or thereabouts is a good price for it, I'd get it booked before it disappears (which it will).

[MATTP77]

touching cloth said:

bull996 said:

MATTP77 said:

I checked these yesterday and im SURE a return for the first week in december, wasnt even 300 rtn for cattle class...

just checked for peace of mind again, and BA premium economy is 570 rtn.

I am so booking this, this evening! A

From what you guys are telling me, i need to be searching for Virgin Atlantic flights though!!!!

Really appreciate the help guys.

edit: just checked virgin atlantic... literally DOUBLE the price... BA IT IS!! haha

Edited by MATTP77 on Monday 1st November 11:09

Nope, Virgin are £577 for the first 2 weeks of Dec

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/specialoffers...

Won't be on last seat availability though, they will have a potentially small allocation of seats at that price, once the allocation is sold they may still sell the cabin but at higher fares. Means they can market the rate to pull you in but am guessing for the dates the OP needs it isn't there. BA WTP (premium) is pretty good with decent space advantage over Economy, £550 or thereabouts is a good price for it, I'd get it booked before it disappears (which it will).

shall be booking on friday.

Literally refusing to fly cattle class.

[ghibbett]

MATTP77 said:

Literally refusing to fly cattle class.

I know how you feel!! Remember when you're sitting down in your bigger chair enjoying a glass of fizz and all the cattle contingent are boarding through the PE cabin, to have a wry smile on your face. Ha ha!

[MATTP77]

ghibbett said:

MATTP77 said:

Literally refusing to fly cattle class.

I know how you feel!! Remember when you're sitting down in your bigger chair enjoying a glass of fizz and all the cattle contingent are boarding through the PE cabin, to have a wry smile on your face. Ha ha!

LOL - Brilliant.

As i remember, you sir, are the people i hated when walking through my quantas aircraft when i flew to OZ.

hahaha!! Oh im going to mop it up now the boot is on the other foot!!!!!!

[ghibbett]

MATTP77 said:

As i remember, you sir, are the people i hated when walking through my quantas aircraft when i flew to OZ.

<smug> 'fraid not. Last time I flew to Oz, I turned left after entering the aircraft </smug>

MATTP77 said:

hahaha!! Oh im going to mop it up now the boot is on the other foot!!!!!!

You certainly will. Make the most of it. One thing I like to do, which helps me justify the extra outlay, is stretch the old legs by walking to the back of the cabin and peering round the curtain at the lesser classes. Seeing them all hunched up in discomfort makes it that little bit sweeter.

I know, I'm a complete bas***d!!