Miami in business class - when to book, who with?

[mathewb]

I'm travelling to Miami next March and want to do so in style. Business class varies between the usual suspects [BA, Virgin, AA, Continental] and also the price. I can't actually get a figure for all of them because it's a year in advance, but I've been looking at equivalent dates a fortnight earlier. Currently its looking approx £2200-£2800 return p.p.

So, what I'm asking here is:

- When is the best time to book? Do you even get deals for business class? Or is it worth the gamble of paying full fare premium economy and hoping there's upgrades available to purchase at checkin?
- Which airline does the best business class on the LHR-Miami route?
- Are there any recommended travel agents for business fares? (I recall reading about a business and first class only travel agent that did decent reductions on quoted airline fares, if someone has it please let me know)

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer

[audidoody]

Virgin Upper Class all the way! You get access to the Club Room at LHR

[Matt Harper]

Virgin Upper Class is a bit of a hybrid in my view - i.e. more like 1st than business - and priced as such.
Example flying from FL to London, which I do with monotonous frequency, costs something between $1500-3000 (depending on time of year) more on Virgin Upper Class, than on US carriers Business - Delta, Conti, United or AA.
I'm a SkyMiles we, but advocate Delta Business Elite in and out of LHR. Not insanely expensive, lie-flat and lots of flights to choose from (though routed through ATL).

[Gilmore]

matthewb,

BA and VS do run sales throughout the year in their business class products, you could wait for one of those.

If traveling alone, VS will probably be the best option, you have the Clubhouse at LHR which is very nice, the seating arrangements on VS is also more private and of course you have the bar to enjoy.

Make sure you sign up to your chosen airlines FF club, you should gain a decent amount of mileage and TP's for a return trip in J class.

[Beardy10]

I had my stag weekend in Miami...we all flew out Premium Economy on BA. Coming back I asked at the desk if there were any upgrades available....$200 to upgrade to business! Sadly for my mates they only had one seat. The business class cabin on the BA flight to Miami is very small compared to some of the other North American routes as is the lounge at Miami...it's obviously not a big business destination....the business class cabin was virtually empty when I flew back but they wouldn't let my mates upgrade because they didn't have enough business class food...even though they said they didn't care about food they wouldn't let them upgrade. Bizarre!

[mathewb]

Thanks for the advice. It's me and the wife going, from what I gather upper class with VA has the cubicle style seats (which is sort of the point for business travellers, the wife of course thinks this is a ridiculous concept).

I think Virgin edges it over BA, particularly because the miles earnt for the flight (+ booking it on the VA black Amex) means a pretty impressive haul of miles for use toward another trip.

I'll hang on another few months for booking, any idea when Virgin Atlantic's sale have taken place in previous years?

[mattdaniels]

As others have said, VA Upper is a bit of a hybrid business / first service. The seats are arranged in "herringbone" fashion which is good for privacy, less good if you like to look out of the window or are travelling with a companion. The service is very very good IMO (although in recent times they have removed the in-flight beautician which means no massages on board, and they have scaled back some of the on board services) but you still get a limo service both ends and the heavenly Heathrow lounge which is worth arriving early for.