There might have been a similar topic, but I can't locate it. We always fly United (or partner) because we get their miles. I hear so many good things about Virgin Air. It has come to the point after many years of traveling that we just can't fly Economy class any longer. The last couple of trips we've had Economy Plus, and that's been better. Do you classify the seats on Virgin Air spacewise to be the equivalent of United? What would we fly on Virgin to be at least as spacious as Economy Plus? Thanks!
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Virgin Atlantic's mid-level seating is called Premium Economy. I have only flown Economy with them, but it was very comfortable even there. Check Virgin's website for a size/feature comparison.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
Virgin's premium Economy is very close to what Business used to be. Bigger seats, more leg room, a separate cabin upstairs. (some even say better food), better service. It is a significant big step up from Uniteds Economy plus. I have flown them both. We are in similar stage in life where we just cant fly economy that distance. I would not fly United Economy Plus, but would jump at Virgin's Economy Premium
Posted by
San Francisco, California, USA
446 posts
I looked up fares to London in early December, which tends to be a cheap period (unless it's just before Christmas, when prices go up). Best I could come up with on Virgin was about $1,800 RT (including taxes) from SFO in their Premium Economy.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5850 posts
Sharon, If you go to seatguru.com, you can check the width and pitch of the seats (as well as see seatmaps) for the various airlines, classes of service, and equipment. Both Virgin and BA have a premium economy which offers seats that are wider and with more legroom than regular economy; they also have more amenities (e.g. virgin has different meals). As you know, United Economy Plus just gives you more leg room, but the seat is the same as regular economy and the services are identical. At least from the East Coast, I find that United's premium economy is about $200 more per trip whereas Virgin and BA's premium economy can be almost double the economy price. I often see raves about Virgin, but the one time that I flew them I was disappointed. Perhaps I was expecting them to be much better than United and that was not the case for my flight. To be fair, it was over Christmas holidays and the flight was packed. The seats in regular economy are comparable to United's regular economy.