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Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Class
Question:
Lots of airlines do the fast immigration thing. I was in business class going to and from Britain and got the fast immigration lines going and coming from Gatwick Airport. | David Lublin — University of South Carolina, Columbia | "If I had to work with only people I liked, I would have taken | up lighthouse keeping long ago."
Response:
>Does that mean that Cathay Pacific pays the Malaysian Immigration to >open a separate counter ? This is ridiculous. I can imagine you being >first in line for immigration because you get out first being in FIRST >or upper class …but a separate line at a Govt office because you >are "Rich" is not a "GOOD" government !
I don’t think this is much different than an airline paying the airport for lounge use. Some airlines have crappy lounges, some have good ones. The difference is in what they are prepared to pay to provide a better service to their customers. Who pay them. In any case, I have a bunch of the Cathay immigration passes in my briefcase! 
Cheers, Craig
Response:
>What is this about a "fast-track’ through immigration??? >I find it interesting that you can get though immigration faster if you >pay a higher fare..
Not just a higher fare. Cathay, for example, gives its high priority frequent flyers a special coupon that gives them their own immigration gate at Kuala Lumpur. Cheers, Craig
Response:
: >What is this about a "fast-track’ through immigration??? : >I find it interesting that you can get though immigration faster if you : >pay a higher fare.. : Not just a higher fare. Cathay, for example, gives its high priority : frequent flyers a special coupon that gives them their own immigration : gate at Kuala Lumpur. : Cheers, : Craig Does that mean that Cathay Pacific pays the Malaysian Immigration to open a separate counter ? This is ridiculous. I can imagine you being first in line for immigration because you get out first being in FIRST or upper class …but a separate line at a Govt office because you are "Rich" is not a "GOOD" government ! Anant.
Response:
> But then Virgins Upper Class service is only priced at business class > rates and its just… well… incredible is the only word. BA’s new > 1st class just about catches it up BUT its a LOT more expensive!
Not denying that Virgin’s Upper Class is great, but I don’t really think that "just about catches it up" is a fair description of BA’s horizontal bed, walls-around-your-seat, guest chair, etc. in their new First Class. You are right, though, that it is more expensive! > http://www.u-net.com/~oldswan Manchester, England. > IRC: Mr_Pete, BrintaBBS: Pete, ISCA BBS: Pete.
Malc.
Response:
> >I had opportunity to fly Premium Economy BOS-LGW; seats are generally >business class. Overhead and underseat stowage is unusually limited, >although we had planned for that. Service was the same as coach – same >meals, same choices, same service ware. Only real difference I could >detect was the freebies, but you get those in economy also. Really, >the difference is the seat. Upper class would be the way to fly, if >you can afford it. > You also get a separate check-in line (which can save an hour), > fast-track through immigration, priority baggage claim, and a > refundable ticket if your plans change. Plus on board, there are 2 > FA’s for around 30 pax.
What is this about a "fast-track’ through immigration??? I find it interesting that you can get though immigration faster if you pay a higher fare..
Response:
>> >> >> >I had opportunity to fly Premium Economy BOS-LGW; seats are generally >> >business class. Overhead and underseat stowage is unusually limited, >> >although we had planned for that. Service was the same as coach – same >> >meals, same choices, same service ware. Only real difference I could >> >detect was the freebies, but you get those in economy also. Really, >> >the difference is the seat. Upper class would be the way to fly, if >> >you can afford it. >> You also get a separate check-in line (which can save an hour), >> fast-track through immigration, priority baggage claim, and a >> refundable ticket if your plans change. Plus on board, there are 2 >> FA’s for around 30 pax. MV> What is this about a "fast-track’ through immigration??? I find it MV> interesting that you can get though immigration faster if you pay a MV> higher fare.. Perhaps they only let Brits into Premium Economy and Upper Class? Brits get through immigration *alot* faster than you Yanks I’m flying DL 2812/VS 12 this weekend. Hubby is a Yank. I get to wait for him at the other side of immigration (it takes me about 2 minutes to get through immigration, him it can take as much as 20 
–Helen
Response:
> I would like to hear comments from anyone flown on Virgin in their > premium economy class. I read in one posting here that it is > comparable to business class on other airlines. Is it true? > The price for the premium economy class is much less than the > business class. The flight I am interested in is the one from > JFK to London. Thanks.
It is not like Business Class, it is coach serivce with wider and more comfortable seats. Tony
Response:
>I had opportunity to fly Premium Economy BOS-LGW; seats are generally >business class. Overhead and underseat stowage is unusually limited, >although we had planned for that. Service was the same as coach – same >meals, same choices, same service ware. Only real difference I could >detect was the freebies, but you get those in economy also. Really, >the difference is the seat. Upper class would be the way to fly, if >you can afford it.
You also get a separate check-in line (which can save an hour), fast-track through immigration, priority baggage claim, and a refundable ticket if your plans change. Plus on board, there are 2 FA’s for around 30 pax.
Response:
I had opportunity to fly Premium Economy BOS-LGW; seats are generally business class. Overhead and underseat stowage is unusually limited, although we had planned for that. Service was the same as coach – same meals, same choices, same service ware. Only real difference I could detect was the freebies, but you get those in economy also. Really, the difference is the seat. Upper class would be the way to fly, if you can afford it.
Response:
I would like to hear comments from anyone flown on Virgin in their premium economy class. I read in one posting here that it is comparable to business class on other airlines. Is it true? The price for the premium economy class is much less than the business class. The flight I am interested in is the one from JFK to London. Thanks.
Response:
>I would like to hear comments from anyone flown on Virgin in their >premium economy class. I read in one posting here that it is >comparable to business class on other airlines. Is it true? >The price for the premium economy class is much less than the >business class. The flight I am interested in is the one from >JFK to London. Thanks.
Airline pricing can be very strange. Virgin’s "Premium Economy" (Fare Code W) is a very good bargain, but it is not quite as fancy as some airline’s business classes are getting (to compete, Virgin has its "Upper Class" which is consistently voted the best business class across the Atlantic). In Premium Economy, you get a wider seat, more leg room, a separate check-in line, priority delivery of baggage, and "Fast Track" privileges for immigration in the UK. The food, however, is the same as in cattle class. I fly Virgin Premium Economy several times a year so I can sleep more easily on the trip over (I always feel it’s like getting an extra day on my trip). The fare differential between Premium Economy and business on another airline is almost 3:1. I figure I can have a *very* nice meal in London rather than on the plane. The fare is also unrestricted, which means you can decide to return earlier or later than you planned. I recommend PE very strongly. Cheers