QUESTION

How good is British Airways World Traveller Plus, and how does it compare with Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy ?

Answer

P Jackson

I'm a frequent flyer between London and Toronto using BA's WTP product. It's miles better than Air Canada can offer in economy and clearly better than BA's economy, but it's by no means perfect. I reflect the comments of others - irritating that you have to use the washrooms at the very back of coach. Also having tried Virgin's Premium Economy - much better in terms of service and comfort.

Answer

S Brotin

Recently Flew LHR-JFK RTN with my partner on BA WT+ ticket, I think the extra legroom is woth the extra money, and as the seat configuration, same as Business class is only 8 across as opposed to 10 across in WT. The food was also decent with a choice of Salmon and Beef, and offered wine with meal as well as a full bar thru entire flight. With Virgin you do get a pre take off glass of champagne, which you have to pay for with BA, but at only £4 for a QTR bottle I have no complaints. Although with Virgin you get a premium Check in desk, I always use the online option with BA anyway. 

Answer

Coleen Petrie

I flew Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy from London to Sydney via Hong Kong, and was rather disappointed. Having been allocated an aisle seat G in the last row, the pitch was better, but the downfall was sitting next to the toilet. Thinking to myself "Well at least it is only for the 28 people having paid double the price of an economy ticket" I was sadly mistaken. Despite a curtain this did not stop most of the economy passengers using this toilet, leaning on my seat while waiting their turn, and then enduring lights on and flushing noises the whole night. Do not pay the extra money if all you can get are seats in this last row.

Answer

Brenda Hardman

We just flew to and from Orlando in BA WTP and were most disappointed. We were told when booking the service included priority check in and drink before departure. Nothing apart from a bit of extra leg room. No toilet apart from battling to the back of the plane and the service was not dedicated to that cabin at all.

Answer

Graham Norman

I have flown both WTP and Virgin's Premium Economy on several occasions. The best, if you can get it, is on Virgin 747 where you fly on the upper deck - very comfortable and spacious. On BA and on Virgins Airbus you are in a cabin with eight seats across, 2-4-2. There is very little to choose between them. Sure you get preferential treatment on Virgin with dedicated check in, early boarding and champagne but I think that BA is generally more comfortable and gives better service. One word of warning, you still feel very cramped if you are sat in the centre two seats of the middle four on both airlines.

Answer

Peter Jones

Have travelled BA WTP Sydney / London on 3 occasions. Originally very good value but standard is slipping badly .Recently toilets are dirtier as a result of intrusion from normal Economy. It is only a dedicated cabin if the curtains remain closed. and intrusion is prohibited. Flight attendant service is also slipping and food is not a strong point. BA should remember that most WTP flyers are more mature self -funded passengers who may well decide that full business class on other airlines is much more attractive and not much more expensive. A good product being allowed to deteriorate through poor supervision and service.

Answer

Gary Yip

On a recent flight, I was upgraded to WTP on a flight from HKG, due to a fault in the IFE system in my economy seat. It was a wonderful experience. I regret to have not paid the extra for the extra legroom as on a 13 hour flight, it reall helps. From now on, I am well prepared to pay the extra money for WTP. The separate cabin also works very well, giving a more dedicated service. The seats are very comfortable and ergonomic. The extra advantage I found was the leptop power supply which you don't get in WT. (Adapters cost £75 though). After my surprise upgrade, I found that I will never go back to WT again!

Answer

Jessie Stirling

I have flown WTP with BA return from Australia to London and for such a long haul it was great to have the extra leg room, though with the quite sustantial extra cost for WTP I did object to not having toilets allocated for the WTP cabin. I would probably try WTP again but only because I don't think I would want to travel economy for such a long distance.

Answer

N Richards

I have flown about half a dozen trips with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic in their economy plus cabins - and much prefer BA to Virgin. Virgin win on the ground with dedicated check-in and priority baggage handling but BA win in the air which is where you spend most of your time. Although the seat comfort and catering standards are very similar I find BA to be more consistent in the product they provide. The Virgin experience is a very hit and miss affair - on only 2 out of 12 flights has the IFE worked perfectly, I was once downgraded to economy, they use a lot of older shabby looking aircraft and the cabin crew don't seem to think they should have to actually look after passengers. BA on the other hand are never actually outstanding in any area - they're just consistently good. They're like Ronseal - "does exactly what it says on the tin", whereas Virgin is more Forrest Gump - "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what".

Answer

T Perkins

BA WTP is a good product but the price is creeping up, I've done SYD and IAD in WTP and found the seating comfortable and the extra leg room a real boon. But I think BA see this as a cash cow, booking to SYD for 3 weeks in Jan 2005, GF biz is £100 less than BA WTP, OK you get an extra stop on GF, but 50" seat pitch on a A340 in 2-2-2 config, it's going to be more comfortable than WTP.

Answer

Peter Jones

Have flown World Traveller Plus return between Sydney and London twice in the past two years and am doing it again in June 2004. The only advantage is the seat pitch of 38", seating 8 across instead of 10, a bigger more comfortable seat and proportionately more cabin baggage space. Exiting a/c is easier as the cabin position is immediately behind Business. Provided curtains are pulled to prohibit Economy encroaching, the toilets remain cleaner. The food and cabin service are similar to Economy but WTP passengers are served first. Individual service is little better than Economy which is pretty ordinary. For really long haul journeys {say 12 hours +) the additional comfort is welcome, but it is an improvement on an Economy Class that is pretty poor by major airline standards. The additional cost brings the price close to some airlines Business Class. Generally WTP is favoured by more mature travellers who are paying their own way.

Answer

K Parton

Have not flown WTP but have used Virgin Premium Economy to Miami several times. On the 747 with seating upstairs its quieter, better seats than the airbus and provides more room overall. Flew last week in Premium Economy to Boston on the older style airbus and did not rate the extra room. Seats felt hard, no proper foot rest and same cabin crew as economy. Shame they have now replaced the Miami route with an Airbus.

Answer

S Maxwell

flew LGW-MIA-LGW with Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy and had upper deck there and back. The reduction in cabin noise (even with a few small children around) was significant. Seat pitch is only 38', but the overall feeling of space, coupled with Virgin Atlantic seat back screens, was a vast improvement on Economy. Given that you can pick up a  Premium Economy seat for less than price of a "full fare" economy, it is well worth the money.

Answer

C Robinson

Virgin Premium is great value for money for comfort mid-way to full business. Airbus seats not so good with no leg rest (only foot). Upper deck on 747 fantastic with larger aisle and gap to side of plane meaning more room to stretch out with comfortable leg rest. Dedicated crew member (ie not doing economy too) and friendly. Exit row 70 best.

Answer

Werner Oosthuizen

Have used both BA and Virgin premium economy in the last 6 months on long haul flights. Virgin definitely leads the pack as they have more room to move than BA does. Seatback recline from seat in front is pretty bad on BA and very much in your face, whereas Virgin offers really good comfort. BA seats much harder than Virgin. Virgin closes curtains between PE and normal economy, not BA. BA footrest an awful invention that makes sitting / sleeping a mission. Overall, both pretty good, but my money is on Virgin.

Answer

Peter Macaulay

British Airways WTP class is spacious but that's all you get. No check in perks, no food perks, no drinks perks and predictable service attitude. Toilets were dirty and people from the back always come through. I prefer the Asian carriers. Pick one with the best leg room and save your cash.

Answer

John Frewen-Lord

I have not flown British Airways WTP, but I did fly Virgin's Premium Economy last year to Chicago, and found it excellent. Priority checkin, and priority baggage reclaim were very much appreciated, as was the extra room and very good service. I thought it a very good compromise between economy class and full business class, and would recommend it highly.

Answer

BJN

I flew BA World Traveller Plus this past December and January from Singapore - London.  I though that overall it is a good product, making long haul much more comfortable. The seating pitch is very good, as is the ergonomics of the newly redesigned seat. While its not business class, it is a vast improvement on any standard economy product. Since you are flying in World Traveller Plus, there is no reason to dread your flight. 

Answer

M Harvey

I have flown with Virgin to Chicago, New York and Orlando, always in their Premium Economy Cabin. What can I say apart from fantastic. On the last 2 trips Premium has been in the upper deck and its worth the extra few pounds to feel more relaxed when leaving the plane. The crew were brilliant, inflight entertainment was superb and the best airline I've flown with. I recommend Premium Economy to anyone. I travelled with BA in their World Traveler Plus which is similar, but not as comfortable and BA's crew are still the same miserable madams as usual. So I'm more than happy with Virgin and look forward to my employers putting me on a Virgin plane as soon as possible.