Virgin Australia & Virgin America Premium Economy to NY

[Ikara]

Hi guys,

We're doing Melbourne to New York on Virgin Australia and Virgin America in PE in April. I've found a report on Virgin Australia's PE but can find nothing on Virgin America's PE. Has anyone done this trip in PE? Any comments? There will be two of us travelling, so any seating suggestions etc. etc.

Many Thanks
JB

 

[Blackswan]

Last time I checked, Virgin America only had First Class and Main Cabin (Economy) - and also a "Main Cabin Select" - which is economy in the first or exit rows - extra room, with free food and tv.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but if you've booked a Premium Economy seat through Virgin Blue/V Australia, you'll be booked into Economy on Virgin America.

I've flown both Main Cabin/Economy and First Class on Virgin America (upgrading at check-in for $). Main Cabin is similar to Virgin Blue but with black leather seats. Food is for purchase by credit card through the entertainment system. First class is good, nice seats and good meals.

 

[markis10]

The US flights are economy unless oyu pay an upgrade:

Interline / Codeshare flights with US airline partners:

Premium Economy guests connecting to / from a domestic flight in the USA with one of V Australia's interline / codeshare partners will travel in Economy class. If required, fares can be purchased in higher classes. Please speak to your travel agent or call our Guest Contact Centre for more details.

V Australia > International Premium Economy

 

[KSyd]

I flew PE on V Aus from Sydney to Boston last year.

The Virgin America fare was for the economy cabin, but it was one of their "Main Cabin Select" tickets, which is exit row, and you get priority boarding/dedicated hand luggage space. I found this out in advance by putting my reservation number into the actual Virgin America Site, where I was able to select my seats.

I did not end up flying in the main cabin as a paid upgrade was available at the airport... the cost to upgrade from Main Cabin Select to First Class was only $150... well worth it for a Red Eye flight after coming off of the SYD-LAX leg.

 

[notzac]

Tix booked with VA in whY+ connecting to VX should ticket the VX sectors in Main Cabin Select. It's actually pretty decent; there's priority check-in, at least one bag is included (I think the VA baggage rules apply but not sure), security is a mess but you get that no matter where you are in the US. No lounge access unless paid for .. that said, if you have an opportunity to buy your way in to a VS Clubhouse I'd do it without question. On board, it's a whY seat generally in row 3 with a million miles of legroom, though the bulkhead goes right to the floor so there's no underseat stowage. F&B are included. Flight attendants are generally younger than other airlines and generally very pleasant to deal with.

Seats look like this:
https://static.virginamerica.com/images/pkmcs.jpg

 

[xtoss]

I traveled same deal as above, didn't mind Main Cabin select, the business class chairs looked real comfortable though

Just looked for my next trip early next year to New York and there are only Delta flights.

I'm assuming by then SC will be available by then but even then I enjoyed flying VX so a little disappointed to see no option for it at the moment

 

[KSyd]

On a separate trip from the one above, I flew VA Syd-Lax then onwards to the east coast on Delta codeshare - it was terrible, I do not recommend it. (This was in regular economy).

Delta would not let us pre-select seats for the Delta flight and so my partner and I were seated at opposite ends of the plane, in middle seats.

The check in attendant in LA argued that we needed to pay to check in our bags, despite being on a VA ticket... it took a long explanation before she finally checked our bags without fees.

Also, I had to go through submitting paperwork to Velocity for the points to come through- apparently Delta reported that I had failed to board the flight so points were not credited.

I had previously had so-so experiences with Delta, but booked on them b/c of the VA codeshare-- will not make that mistake again!

Maybe try the call centre or your travel agent and see if they can book you on a Virgin America flight instead?

 

[xtoss]

On a separate trip from the one above, I flew VA Syd-Lax then onwards to the east coast on Delta codeshare - it was terrible, I do not recommend it. (This was in regular economy).

Delta would not let us pre-select seats for the Delta flight and so my partner and I were seated at opposite ends of the plane, in middle seats.

The check in attendant in LA argued that we needed to pay to check in our bags, despite being on a VA ticket... it took a long explanation before she finally checked our bags without fees.

Also, I had to go through submitting paperwork to Velocity for the points to come through- apparently Delta reported that I had failed to board the flight so points were not credited.

I had previously had so-so experiences with Delta, but booked on them b/c of the VA codeshare-- will not make that mistake again!

Maybe try the call centre or your travel agent and see if they can book you on a Virgin America flight instead?

Hopefully with the code share agreement they tighten things up in that regard as that doesn't sound the best.

I don't have to book till October-November though so i will reassess then, I just keep an eye on the prices till then in case something good comes up. If not I will definitely try through my travel agent

 

[KSyd]

That trip was in October 2010 - so yes, hopefully they are working on improving things. For future bookings I will still try for Virgin America when possible, though!

 

[notmensa]

I've flown LAX-DFW, BOS-LAX and LAX-SFO in "main cabin select" seats (either 'W' or 'O' class) that were booked as part of VAustralia PE fares. First two flights were in Row 3, last flight was in the exit row. The reserved luggage space and extra leg room are great. You also get free inflight entertainment.

I highly recommend the choc-chip cookies from the inflight menu.

Enjoy!

 

[xtoss]

I've flown LAX-DFW, BOS-LAX and LAX-SFO in "main cabin select" seats (either 'W' or 'O' class) that were booked as part of VAustralia PE fares. First two flights were in Row 3, last flight was in the exit row. The reserved luggage space and extra leg room are great. You also get free inflight entertainment.

I highly recommend the choc-chip cookies from the inflight menu.

Enjoy!

I went the choc chip and jelly bellys haha

 

[KSyd]

Yes, I'd definitely go Virgin America over Delta- I keep booking Delta when they look convenient (for times/pricing) but each time I fly the experience is not good!

 

[drewbles]

I've flown LAX-DFW, BOS-LAX and LAX-SFO in "main cabin select" seats (either 'W' or 'O' class) that were booked as part of VAustralia PE fares. First two flights were in Row 3, last flight was in the exit row. The reserved luggage space and extra leg room are great. You also get free inflight entertainment.

I highly recommend the choc-chip cookies from the inflight menu.

Enjoy!

Concur with this. I did MEL-LAX-JFK earlier this year with VA/VX and had front-row MCS (Main Cabin Select) on the LAX-JFK segment. The IFE is good, the food isn't bad and the coughtail 'list' is quite neat. All drink/food orders are done via the touch screen in IFE and it's just delivered to you for free (I believe it lists a cost, but when you 'purchase' it it zeros it out, iirc).

DL isn't bad, but I did like VX. You'll also have GoGo wifi on the VX flight if you want to stay connected. Check out Gogo Inflight for prices (you can buy a pass for a single flight).

My main complaint about VX is trivial, but a little frustrating. When boarding, all the window shades were down, purple lights up, and funky house music playing. That's all good and fine, but I have issues with the US airlines (and possibly FAA) allowing flights to take off and land with the window shades down. From what I believe there are two reasons they should be left up. 1, it lets your eyes acclimatise to the ambient light, so in the event of an emergency, you have optimal viewing for escape and 2, it allows you to see if there's a fire outside the aircraft which may inhibit using any evacuation routes. I feel rather uneasy about not being able to see outside during take off and landing. I guess it's down to the fact most my flying up until the past few years was in Australia.

 

[blackcat20]

Just looked for my next trip early next year to New York and there are only Delta flights.

I'm assuming by then SC will be available by then but even then I enjoyed flying VX so a little disappointed to see no option for it at the moment

VX flights don't seem to become available until closer to the date you travel (about 6 months?); same on their own website which is a pain.

 

[Justinf]

You will get Main Cabin Select on Virgin America for your LAX-JFK leg. I am 184cm and I chose the bulkhead row in row 3, which was the worst decision ever. After 15 hours from MEL-LAX, i couldn't stretch my legs out for the 5-hour trip. Choose the exit row if you can.
It's nothing special, but you can order anything you want from the seatback IFE for free and the FAs will bring it to you.
On the return leg, my wife and i sat next to Farris Durani (much to the delight of my wife)
which made the 6-hour trip enjoyable as he was a ripping fella and so down to earth and the three of us got along really well, and then we got upgraded to business for LAX-MEL so the return trip was more enjoyable than the trip over.
Keep in mind, this was in Feb 2011 so things could have changed since then.

 

[drewbles]

You will get Main Cabin Select on Virgin America for your LAX-JFK leg. I am 184cm and I chose the bulkhead row in row 3, which was the worst decision ever. After 15 hours from MEL-LAX, i couldn't stretch my legs out for the 5-hour trip. Choose the exit row if you can.
It's nothing special, but you can order anything you want from the seatback IFE for free and the FAs will bring it to you.
On the return leg, my wife and i sat next to Farris Durani (much to the delight of my wife)
which made the 6-hour trip enjoyable as he was a ripping fella and so down to earth and the three of us got along really well, and then we got upgraded to business for LAX-MEL so the return trip was more enjoyable than the trip over.
Keep in mind, this was in Feb 2011 so things could have changed since then.

I'm 6'4" and had front row of MCS and it was just fine for me. Particularly liked how the tray tables were in the bulk head and slid forwards towards you. That said, give me an exit row any day over any bulkhead.

 

[Justinf]

I'm 6'4" and had front row of MCS and it was just fine for me. Particularly liked how the tray tables were in the bulk head and slid forwards towards you. That said, give me an exit row any day over any bulkhead.

You're three inches taller than me and i was in pain by the end. Just couldn't stretch my legs out fully and it was really bad. Should have walked around more, but the A320 was chockers and it seemed as though people were just wandering arond everywhere so i stayed put. Not much room to walk around on a narrowbody i guess.
I deliberately chose VA over Delta, and it was much better Delta, which i don't find as bad as what the stories all say.