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spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 927
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 6:32 pm: | 
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I'm taking a trip soon and flying business class. My "doesn't-travel-much-and-if-she-does-it's-coach" mother wants me to take pictures of the business class section of the plane, so she can see what it looks like. Silly , I know, but is this type of thing allowed in the post-9/11 era? |
Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 376
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 8:10 pm: |
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Typical coach seats:
Next generation business class:
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eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1597
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 8:40 pm: |
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Flew Continental business class to Paris with some friends last fall - it was their first business class travel and no problem to take photos. The flight attendant even took the photos of us champagne in hand. |
Janet
Citizen
Username: Janetcopeland
Post Number: 24
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 9:06 pm: |
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My son and I got bumped up to first class flying back from Rome in April. I took a picture of him as "proof" for his friends and was reprimanded by the flight attendant. Whoops. I had already been feeling like a Clampett in Beverly Hills, trying to figure out all the freaking chair positions.
Elaine Benis (Seinfeld) was right - it's a whole different society up there on the other side of the curtain! |
Miss L Toe
Citizen
Username: Miss_l_toe
Post Number: 558
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 9:26 pm: |
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The British Airways "Club World" business class seats turn into fully flat sleeper beds. Here are some BA photos of their cabin and pre/post flight services:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/cwexp/public/en_us
and 'basic' economy:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/worldt/public/en_us
(It irks me that Continental doesn't have individual TV screens in coach class for most of it routes....and all the US airlines even charge for alcohol on transatlantic and transpacific flights! And as for charging for those dreadful earphones...!)
Some airlines provide an excellent service to their business class pax; Virgin Atlantic, Malaysian Airlines and Emirates provide a chauffer driven limo to and from the airport at both start and end of ones journey.
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is great too...I've only used it in London Heathrow but you can get a free haircut, a shower, a massage - (also onboard head and hand massages), play on playstations or computers with internet, drink whatever you want and can choose from a selection on a menu and dine before boarding....and also onboard too. Singapore Airlines is brilliant for in-flight service too, as is Malaysian.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8603
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 9:39 pm: |
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The Virgin Clubhouse in Newark sucks. But, everyone should do a Virgin Upperclass flight at least once in their lifetime. I used to do the Continental to Amsterdam fairly regularly. Continental's First is more comparable to Virgin's Serf Class, IMO.
The best thing about Virgin Upper at Heathrow, tho, is going thru security. You get driven to a back door (by your chauffer as Miss L says), where you are checked in by a person who greats you in the car. That door is right outside the special security for Upper passengers. You hang out in the lounge, get your massage, go to the piano bar, have sushi, dinner, whatever. Meanwhile, down in the holding pen, all the cattle have been rounded up and gone thru the second security, where they wait for the flight to actually board. No bathroom, no food, no drink. A few seats. It's only an hour or so. Then, after all the peasants are seated, strapped in and ready to go (and, BTW, Virgin locks all the onboard toilets in Serf until after take-off), the Uppers are called. You saunter down to the gate, breeze thru the second security and are into your seat. Once you are comfortable, the plane takes off.
Meanwhile, back in serf class, some poor schnook is in a four-seater next to a family with a mom, dad, 3 y/o and infant who is teething and for whom they forgot to bring baby food. But, hey. It's only 7 hours.
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spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 928
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 10:49 pm: |
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Thanks! I am flying to London on Virgin Atlantic in the Upper Class section. Mom has never flown more than 2-3 hrs (Florida and Bermuda) at a time, and is excited that her daughter gets to fly with the "big wigs". She wants me to take pictures of everything! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8615
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 9:35 am: |
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Are you flying overnight? I'm not sure whether they've finished converting the entire fleet yet, but the Virgin night flight from NWK to Heathrow (or all flights from JFK, I believe) has the Pod. You are in your own little space with an arm chair, table/ottoman and seat for someone to join you for dinner, the whole window/aisle, reading lamp, tv/movie/music set up, etc. When you are ready for bed, the flight attendant gives you a pair of jammies and makes up the bed while you change. The chair flips over into a full bed, complete with down comforter. If you are very tired, you can get into bed before take-off and land still asleep.
Coming home, I haven't gotten the pod, but the Upper cabin is still amazing.
You will have so much fun. I was quite bummed when I found that, even tho Continental and Virgin are partners, you can't get Virgin Upper with miles. Which reminds me, if you are a Continental FF, make sure that you book the Virgin flight as a Contintal code share. You'll get your Continental miles.
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mtierney
Citizen
Username: Mtierney
Post Number: 948
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 11:18 am: |
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This thread reminded me of a question on plane etiquette I was intending to bring up after our return from Alaska last month.
Going out on Continental, steerage class, the gent in front of me pushed his seat back as far as it could go as soon as we had reached cruising altitude.His female traveling companion did likewise. The seats remained fully back (even while he ate) for the entire trip.
We made noises of discomfort, but they fell on "deaf" ears. We were reluctant to get the flight attendants involved because I really don't know if there are prohibitions about doing this. It might have gotten ugly.
When I got up to visit the washroom, I had to grab the top of their seats and push back just so I could get into the aisle. The dirty look I got from the gal was enough to convince me not to tangle with her.
Now I know that steerage is steerage, but shouldn't airlines impose certain behavior rules? They pack us in like sardines for 7 or 8 hours, I think airline etiquette needs addressing.
Any comments? |
Cougar86
Citizen
Username: Cougar86
Post Number: 24
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 12:25 pm: |
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just push your seat back thus re-gaining the lost space.. |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1600
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 12:47 pm: |
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Some CO pilots actually end their little welcome speech by saying "Sit back, recline your seat and enjoy the flight". WTF? Do they ever walk to the back of the plane?
spw - as everyone says you are going to love your Virgin Upper Class experience. I still have my pj's from a flight to South Africa. I'm not a big fan of BA's business class unless upstairs in a 747 - it is the weirdest setup. You can end up flying backwards and jammed into a 4 across in the middle. Plus they cheap out on meal service by encouraging you to eat in the "lounge" at EWR which is better described as a cafeteria. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8630
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 2:55 pm: |
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MT - unfortunately, they cram so many seats into those spaces that it pits passengers against each other. It's awful to be behind one and it's not realistic to expect someone not to want to recline and get a little comfortable during a long flight. On shorter flights, I try not to reclines too much.
As more and more companies cut back on business travel and go to things like video conferencing (like mine) the airlines are going to keep trying to make up that revenue with fewer flights and more seats. We're going to end up back in old WWI bi-planes, with 20 passengers strapped to each wing. Which won't recline so at least there won't be that problem to deal with. |
spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 929
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 5:06 pm: |
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okay, so I've made the arrangements for the complimentary car service to pick me up at home and take me to EWR. Since this is one of the perks for flying Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class, I know I am going to enjoy the (hassle-) free ride. However, should I tip the driver? Am I responsible for tolls?
Thanks! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8639
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 5:11 pm: |
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Nope. Virgin "pays" for it all. Or the juicy price of your ticket did, anyway. Car services add 15%-18% gratuity to the cost of the ride for Corporate accounts (which this is), so I never tip. |
spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 930
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 5:16 pm: |
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Greenetree, thanks .. I just looked up the price of my ticket online... if I were to book it today , it would be about $9,300 round trip! SH*T. Thank goodness I'm not paying for it (spouse's company is picking up the tab) . Heck, for that price, they should drop me off on the tarmac/jetway!
I am looking forward to the trip, although I'm a bit anxious, never having flown by myself before.. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8644
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 5:44 pm: |
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Oh, honey. Trust me. You will wish the flight were longer....
One tip: on your return trip, as soon as you get to the lounge at Heathrow, go right to the registration desk to sign up for a spa treatment. I walked around, checked the place out, got settled and then went over to sign up. All the good appointments were filled. |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 1666
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 5:20 am: |
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I'd like to know how many of you would be flying like "snobs" if you were paying for the trip yourselves. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8666
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 7:04 am: |
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Not me. And I cheerfully admit it. What's funny is that most of the people in Upper/First aren't paying for it themselves. Airlines live to prey on businesses which, as I said before, are all cracking down.
I'm amazed that SP's ticket is paid for; I've never worked anywhere that would pay for spouses, even coach. And everyone that I know who travels for business has rules about coach - it's required unless it's international travel. Or, unless they are consultants and can charge the ticket back to a client.
The closest I've come to paying for my own First ticket is using miles. Until recently, I've flown enough to get 8 free First tix over the last few years. I have 200K miles left to use up. Which I had been hoping to use on Virgin Upper for me & TS. |
spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 931
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 9:05 am: |
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Quote:I'm amazed that SP's ticket is paid for; I've never worked anywhere that would pay for spouses, even coach. And everyone that I know who travels for business has rules about coach - it's required unless it's international travel. Or, unless they are consultants and can charge the ticket back to a client.
Not sure , actually, who is paying for the ticket, except it's not me. Husband could be using miles, or charging it back to the client. He has been away for 7 weeks now, and is flying me over to join him. London is not my final destination. I have a layover of 2 hours there before I have to get my connection to HK. Is that enough time to partake of the spa treatment that greenetree suggested? |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1605
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 9:43 am: |
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I would never pay cash for Business class (unless I was a gazillionaire) but when you fly it internationally you can really rack up the points - 150% for business class, 125% bonus for platinum elite etc so I have used points for the front on occasion. In fact points are probably one of my favorite perks of my job - it's allowed some great vacations we would never have afforded otherwise.
spw - if you are flying onwards to hkg on Virgin? |
spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 932
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 2:50 pm: |
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yes, eliz. |
mtierney
Citizen
Username: Mtierney
Post Number: 949
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 4:51 pm: |
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I was so miserable squished like a slab of ham between two stale pieces of toast, I really didn't have the heart to slam my seat back into the seat behind me.
Even if I could afford it, I don't think I could in good conscience pay $9300 for a ticket I can get on coach for under $400.
(Two wrongs don't make a right, but two Wrights can make an airplane!) }Sorry! |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1607
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 5:19 pm: |
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You'll definitely get the suite on the lhr-hkg leg even if it's not on the Newark flight. If you don't have time for the spa treatments at Heathrow sign up as soon as you board for one of the on board treatments - they book up fast. Have fun! |
Miss L Toe
Citizen
Username: Miss_l_toe
Post Number: 561
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 8:05 pm: |
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Hmmmm....just remembered something. When Virgin Atlantic first started up in the mid-eighties, all Upper Class passengers would get a free voucher for an economy class flight for each leg of a journey. My husband used to fly Virgin a lot so was always coming home with the vouchers.
I found some stuffed at the back of a drawer and they were very close to their expiry date. Unfortunately I couldn't fly as at the time I was heavily pregnant. I used up the vouchers (they were worth about 20 pounds each if not being used for air travel!) at the Virgin Megastore in Oxford St. London and bought some CDs. The staff were incredulous...no-one had used them in this way before!
We also gave away vouchers to my sister and brother-in-law when they got married (enough to get them to JFK) and they then bought their own internal US flights for their honeymoon.
It was such a pity when they stopped the vouchers and launched their 'Flying Club' FF scheme instead....
I once met Richard Branson at Stansted airport in Essex when we were both waiting for passengers coming off the same flight. What a lovely, genuine man he is...no airs or graces. My husband often saw him on the Virgin flights...he makes a point of chatting with passengers to find out what they like and dislike about flying with Virgin. |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 1669
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 4:39 am: |
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I'm glad to hear that companies are cracking down on wasted travel dollars. Maybe if they start saving money, the end consumer could save a little also. |
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