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Having been pampered in UC and Premium for the last few years courtesy of a combination of points and work funded trips I was bought back to earth recently taking a points based flight in Economy Classic in an A330 from JFK to LHR. I thought 6 and a half hours on day flight in economy would be ok. As someone who is 6 foot three, maybe I should have known better. The seat is really cramped, the entertainment screen tiny, which I should have envisaged given the age of the aircraft.
The food and drink offering is pitiful. Breakfast served after 2 hours on cardboard dish, one sausage, 2 small mushrooms, some mashed up tomatoes and a small dollop of scrambled egg, a blueberry yogurt and a bit of fruit. This came with cardboard spoon! How do you eat a sausage with spoon? (A bit like Alan Partridge eating a cup of beans using the sausage as a spoon I presume!) Tea coffee, or juice was offered.
Second “Meal” 90 mins before landing consisted of a a bag of potato chips, a chocolate and chili cake, and a sandwich with a tomato, pesto and slice of Mozzarella in it, not surprisingly it was sodden and really unappetising. A chap nearby asked for a Gin and tonic, which was refused, apparently only tea, coffee or soft drinks for the plebs in the cheap seats. No issues at all with the crew who were splendid as always I give them an A, seat C, IFE C Food E. Overall D. I checked the cost of a one way in Classic if I had paid cash it was $1470. I think I’ll pass.
Get what you pay for I guess.
Not everyone can afford PE or UC. I wouldnt fly economy long haul again but have done before. Virgin staff are always fantastic whatever cabin.
It’s been a *very* long time since I flew Virgin economy (the days of the A340s and 747s out of Heathrow!) but they used to have a decent amount of seats with extra leg room you could pay to upgrade into, I did it once onboard even I think to get a whole row to myself. Not sure if it’s still the case.
Food sounds pretty miserable, I do the odd BA economy to NYC for work and always take plenty of nice snacks though their food is pretty edible usually
The only bit that surprises me here is the non-provision of the G&T. I assume this was just during the meal service and drinks were provided willingly at other points in the flight?
Otherwise, I am not surprised at the crash to reality going from upper/club to economy! I used to regularly fly virgin economy, but after a few years of upper it is terrifying when I take a walk back in to the darkness at the back of the plane!
6ft 3″ is very tall for tight economy seat pitches.
Yes the key word here is CLASSIC.
The more acceptable seats now fall within economy delight.
There’s an HfP article here about why you should pretty much always book delight if flying economy. I’d suggest at 6ft3 it’s even more of a no-brainer even on the shorter routes…
https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/06/17/is-virgin-atlantic-economy-delight-worth-it/
@Travel Strong I suspect no G&T was during the second service. I’ve seen the same on BA before too though I did get one on my last flight no problem
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