Virgin upper - bidding for it

Virgin upper - bidding for it

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Discussion

Panamax

3,933 posts

33 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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These figures may look hard to believe but I've just checked my booking, currently in Economy, and can upgrade right now at the following prices. These are outbound upgrade prices to the US,
  • £512 for Premium Economy, or
  • £997 for Upper Class
Alternatively I can bid for an upgrade. The range of bids available is,
  • £649 - £820 for Premium Economy, or
  • £1,884 - £2750 for Upper Class
Yes, all of these figure are "per passenger".

ecs

1,222 posts

169 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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Do you get the ground product on an upgraded fare with Virgin? They have their own premium 'terminal' and decent lounge at Heathrow which is part of what makes it nice (With Emirates you only get the seat; so no chauffeur, separate check-in or lounge, for example). Check the aircraft you'll be on too - the old Upper seats are ok (not as bad as Club World), but the new seat on the A350 is more what you'd expect for your money these days.

Think the general rule of thumb is, if you 'need' the biz seat, pay for it. If you want it for a bit of fun, stick in a bid at level you'd be willing to spend and maybe you'll be lucky.

sleepezy

1,779 posts

233 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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djc206 said:
He’s right though the US is normally sub £2k return if you book 6+ months out.
And more helpful if you're out there over a weekend - it's the there and back within a working week where it gets punchy, particularly if you're aiming to travel next week

Steve Benson

288 posts

153 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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Louis Balfour said:
Well the good news is that the price has dropped. It's now £3250 per seat. The bad new is that's one way. JFK to LGW.
I flew economy delight JFK to MAN on Monday night. Total flying time 6hrs.

First-hour drinks and snacks. 2nd-hour dinner and more drinks. Next three hours sleep. Last hour coffee and a snack. Comfortable, clean, decent leg room, nice and warm.

I just can't see the value in business at that kind of money., 14 hours I can justify it, 6, no chance.

You could stay downtown Manhatten in a very nice 5-star for 5 nights for the same extra cost.

Griffith4ever

4,146 posts

34 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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I doubt many will argue with you. 6 hours on a non-stag/hen route is easy in economy. I'd only upgrade on a shorter flight like that if it was for burning ar miles, or it was simply not much more money.

You did well for 6 hours. Interweb says 6hours 45 to 7 hours 11. Nice tail wind :-)

Ezra

530 posts

26 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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egor110 said:
The fury of the iconic powerfully built director as he turns left only to find a group of tattooed long haired noisy musicians have invaded his sanctuary .
I used to commute almost monthly between MAN and JFK on business and accumulated loads of air miles. One summer I decided to take myself and my 3 small kids (aged 3, 5 & 6) over on hols and treated us all with biz class seats for the return, using airmails.

The look of horror on the faces of the biz cabin passengers as I led my little troop in was a joy to behold and, I may add, totally unwarranted. As soon as the plane too off they were fast on and slept literally all the way back. So, thats 4 puddings for dad then wink

rallye101

1,865 posts

196 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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Louis Balfour said:
Well the good news is that the price has dropped. It's now £3250 per seat. The bad new is that's one way. JFK to LGW.

It makes me feel poor and like I should have worked harder at school.
Friend got a 2.1 at Oxford, he's a postie.....go figure!

egor110

16,818 posts

202 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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rallye101 said:
Friend got a 2.1 at Oxford, he's a postie.....go figure!
Surely he's not going to carry on much longer ?

djc206

12,250 posts

124 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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Panamax said:
Precisely. I've no idea where those £2k flights are hiding but they're certainly very well hidden!

As it happens, I have some Virgin flights booked so have been following this thread with interest. Frankly it looks to me as though the starting point for bidding is so high you might as well just make up your mind whether you're willing to pay the price for Upper Class and get it booked.
They’re not really hiding they’re all over the BA homepage.

havoc

29,929 posts

234 months

Thursday 16th March 2023
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m3jappa said:
As lord sugar above comments theres currently another thread about this.

Why anyone would spend 7k extra to go to and from new york is beggars belief tbh. Plain fking stupid and i bet you will find the majority of those doing it cant actually afford it (by afford i mean they don't notice they are paying for it) but they like to make out they can so they dont have to sit with the 'plebs' hehe

I mean seriously, a family of 4 could expect to pay 28k on top hehe really?

Like your self i feel i should have worked harder at school hehe
yes

We're flying Virgin this year, and I threw c.£500 at upgrading to Premium for the (overnight) return flight in the vain hope of actually being able to get some sleep rather than being squashed into an economy seat. £500 felt worth the effort...but that was for 4 people 1-way, not 25x as much to get into Upper Class.

DeejRC

5,712 posts

81 months

Thursday 16th March 2023
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Ezra said:
egor110 said:
The fury of the iconic powerfully built director as he turns left only to find a group of tattooed long haired noisy musicians have invaded his sanctuary .
I used to commute almost monthly between MAN and JFK on business and accumulated loads of air miles. One summer I decided to take myself and my 3 small kids (aged 3, 5 & 6) over on hols and treated us all with biz class seats for the return, using airmails.

The look of horror on the faces of the biz cabin passengers as I led my little troop in was a joy to behold and, I may add, totally unwarranted. As soon as the plane too off they were fast on and slept literally all the way back. So, thats 4 puddings for dad then wink
Top pudding stealing smile

Panamax

3,933 posts

33 months

Thursday 16th March 2023
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djc206 said:
They’re not really hiding they’re all over the BA homepage.
I just checked their pricing and, sure, they'll give you a business class flight out of London 4.30 pm arriving USA 9.30 pm for £1,250 but who the hell wants that? BA's more civilised times are charged at £5,000 for business class. No thanks, I'd rather travel at a lower class earlier in the day.

djc206

12,250 posts

124 months

Thursday 16th March 2023
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Panamax said:
djc206 said:
They’re not really hiding they’re all over the BA homepage.
I just checked their pricing and, sure, they'll give you a business class flight out of London 4.30 pm arriving USA 9.30 pm for £1,250 but who the hell wants that? BA's more civilised times are charged at £5,000 for business class. No thanks, I'd rather travel at a lower class earlier in the day.
Eh? First date with a really decent price from their low fare finder I picked was 10th Jan

Same price of £1365 departing at 0825, 0945, 1040, 1045, 1125, 1320, 1400, 1535, 1620, 1630, 1705, 1800, 1830 and 1945. Seems like a fairly good selection of times (ie all of their flights) to me.

Tin Hat

1,370 posts

208 months

Thursday 16th March 2023
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We flew BA first class return to NYC last summer, the cost made my eyes bleed.

Does it offer value for money…. Er, not too sure about that, but there is no denying that it is a very special experience, they really do look after you and who doesn’t want to feel like a rock star once or twice in their life?

Would we do it again - I can think of plenty of other ways to be indulged that would be far less expensive….But yes, I think we would

hilly10

7,076 posts

227 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
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I remember booking early for a trip to HK as Qatar had a seat sale, for my wife and I, economy going out Business coming back £1900 great value for money

fourstardan

4,190 posts

143 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
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u-boat said:
I work for an airline and the answer is often that those people in upper or business class or in expensive hotels are likely paying far less than you.

The only reason they’re in business is that first was full or the airline has some rule about first and staff travel with younger kids etc. (BA for instance)

Same for hotels, massive discounts on holidays and free room upgrades are the norm.

I’d say most people in business/upper etc aren’t paying for it themselves, it’s usually paid by employers or people getting freebies. The ones actually paying for it though are basically subsidising everyone else’s cheap travel.

Go into upper on any Virgin flight and it’s full of crew and other employees who would ever dream of (or likely be able to afford to) pay full whack for it.

It always amazes me all these PHs threads about who travels first or business or PE or how to get upgrades etc, they’re usually full of utter nonsense, I think if you all could see what everyone around you was paying you’d be shocked.

I’m sure there’s great perks in most industries though so it’s not just an airline/travel thing. Some people get free tickets to sports events or shows or the company box at the O2 or whatever, others might get huge discounts with certain brands etc. maybe if you own your own business there’s tax efficient ways of paying for things, it’s all swings and roundabouts.

I certainly never look at people and wonder how they afforded something as they might either be well off and not look it (in the traditional sense) or simply not be paying much at all.
+1 on this.

I worked for Virgin for 5 years...absolutely brilliant going into UC for 100 quid return. A hire car booking needed?..yes that'll be 50/60% off... Hello travel partner can you do me a quote for St Luica....yes, All Inclusive 600 quid each for a week. Also, you get other airline tickets on standby (or did)...so we used to do city break (Say Washington and then onto Florida) if the seat volumes were low in Premium/upper and we wanted some luxury. Just bloody marvellous BUT pay awful.

Before I worked for them I flew Upper and Premium on business....and during the period when the USD was on its arse at about 2.10 to the pound and we had disposable income we did Premium return which was perfect.

They brought in this bidding system as I was leaving, and it never felt like it was anything more than a pyramid scheme lol. You have as much chance as the flight being overbooked and being offered a new flight with upgrade than getting a decent deal to me on it. They have systems that work out the margins/losses on seats.

hilly10

7,076 posts

227 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
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My neighbours lad worked for Virgin in 2013 he took me for a trip to Sydney via HK with a stop over for 3 days in HK. All four flights were Upper, it was a fantastic trip, cost me the taxes £400 I think. I was away three weeks as he booked me a flight on Virgin Blue from Sydney to Perth cost zero. He works for Quantas now.

gtidriver

3,335 posts

186 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
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I took my Wife to NewYork for her birthday just last week. Business class both ways, the cost of the return ticket was £14960 for that you get your own check in desk, fast pass through security and late boarding to the plane.. We sat next to each other onboard so had the little door between us. The food was great, the service was great the staff were fantastic, but I really couldn't see myself paying nearly £15000 for it. I paid £700 plus a companion voucher and points. Some one in my local pub commented that airmiles etc was a complete waste of time and money. Well, I think I did very well. My daily spend plus to my managers annoyance all my business purchases go though amex as well, so my points ad up with a constant trickle..
Im waiting for Qatar to accept companion vouchers as well as avois.

Virgin do a Credit Card that gains points for Virgin Atlantic Reward +

phil-sti

2,668 posts

178 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
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Louis Balfour said:
Some of us are off to NYC and, when checking our seats earlier, Virgin offered me the opportunity to upgrade to Upper Class for £3500.

I ummed and ahhed for a bit and thought, "hey, what the heck, it's only £3500". Clicking through on the offer, it turns out that it's £3500... per person. The sum of this exceeds the current cost of flights, the hotel cost and a good chunk of spending money. I cannot justify it.

There is the option however to bid for a seat. Has anyone done this?

I realise that bidding may consign me to the "A bit Council" thread, but I am not proud.
I flew economy on Vrigin to NYC last year and it wasn't that bad, beer was free and plenty of films, food was shocking though. Upper did look nice but i'd rather spend the money on something nice from the trip.

RichardAP

276 posts

41 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
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Yes, we did on flights to and from Barbados last year. We had originally discussed trying for return flights only but 24 hours before the bid closed I looked at how many seats were available in upper class and decided that as only a handful were booked it was worth a cheeky bid for the outbound leg, not too low but certainly nowhere near the top.

We were successful, as clearly were plenty of others, as it was full.

We bid more on the way back but saw the same from a seating point of view, clearly the vast majority were allocated at the last minute.

I’m not usually fussed about upgrading, although will always look for extra legroom, however I suspect it will be hard to go back now as we loved the experience and i got off in London fresh enough for a 2 hour drive home and a full days work.