You'll find lots of Virgin Atlantic and Delta flights reviewed, because they take care of most of my travel needs. But there are also reviews of other airlines, comparisons between airlines, and tips on the best ways to travel.
The channel is for anyone interested in travelling at the front of the plane. It's also for people who want to make the most of the flight experience.
Subscribe today at ru-vid.com/show-UCZzMTQXy_6q_U15HjcAx0Tg. I aim to publish a new video every other week..
Videos are shot using an iPhone 13 Pro Max or a GoPro Hero 9 and edited using the LumaFusion app on an iPad Pro. Music and sound effects from StoryBlocks.
I use TubeBuddy (www.Tubebuddy.com/DoorsToAuto) and MorningFa.Me (morningfa.me/invite/5smptstb) to help optimise my channel.
Gold is good, but the silver benefits aren't that far behind, Free seat selection at booking, fast track check-in & security and business lounge access. Gold means the Gold Wing at LHR and better lounges around the world (Hong Kong, I'm looking at you!). If you get to 1,500 Tier Points 'organically' (ie through normal travel) then great. Otherwise, if you would like Gold status, you can change your travel habits slightly and get your TPs for less. I've been BA Gold for a few years now, and since I started playing the game, I've paid less then £2 per TP.
Haha why can’t I get these invites! You must be a UNIQ member with them surely? Lowly flying club gold not enough 😆 great video, premium looks decent, definitely a level up from economy.
Cabin looking tired and in need of a refurbishment, Virgin are no longer' the different to all the other airlines' they are the same bland and boring and offer nothing special.
You still need an ashtray in case anyone does get caught smoking so that you've got somewhere to dispose of it thats not going to set anything on fire (ie you can't put the smouldering cigarette in the waste bin).
The high tea has been the biggest disappointment on my VA flights across the last 3 years, there needs to be more of it, finger sandwiches, not full sandwiches, aren't filling whatsoever!
They seem to have gone for a one-size fits all vegetarian high tea, rather than giving a selection of sandwiches including meat and fish - like they used to.
I know I have used Virgin, but I have no idea which version. It was a long time ago. If the price was right, I would fly Virgin Premium. Another good review. Why Doors To Auto?
Thank you 🙏 Doors To Auto comes from the instruction from the flight deck when a plane pushes away from the gate. It’s the instruction to enable the emergency slides - ‘Doors to automatic and cross check’.
Oh yes he can. Its possible to just like an airline and their service. I think its obvious he does anyway. He uses them a lot and got invited to a party. He disclosed openly. DtoA just doesn't have a hyper critical or drama laden style at all. Others do - each to their own reviewing style. He just gives a well produced matter of fact account of what happens. Another example of this is LuxuryTravelExpert. I just don't see any corruption here. When I challenged an aspect of his video in other comments I don't even think I was criticising him ( I don't even want to ) but rather trying to help get an aspect of nuance right, for everyones' benefit. Virgin seem to be the best received transatlantic PE service going overall. Its not surprising that his reviews of it aren't overly critical as there is no need for it.
Thanks @Fat_Cat_747. I agree the VS Premium product is good, although I did make a few critical comments in the review - around the high tea, the selection of movies and quality of headphones. Disclosing that it was a free flight was important and I did this right at the top of the video to be as transparent as possible.
@@DoorsToAuto Hey an idea for review : The only transatlantic PE service that may better Virgin, is the unique fifth freedom route MAN-IAH by Singapore Airlines on the A350. ( I think they may also do FRA-JFK as well, or I merely imagined it )
Thanks for the video, I fly to JFK soon with VA, only in normal economy, that looked a bit nicer in premium but is it worth the upgrade? also what type of airpods adapter do you have ? I will need one.
Thanks for the comment. I would try the bid upgrade option on the website to see if you can get a good deal. But if it’s a day flight, and you don’t need to sleep, the economy product is ok. I reviewed it a couple of years ago here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3CLZDqP0wPk.html The adapter I have is an AirFly Pro which works pretty well. But there are lots of alternatives on Amazon.
Good video. I’m a big fan of this product and think it’s the best cabin currently on VA Dreamliners with their outdated coffin UC cabin not fit for purpose in 2024.
Really love Virgin’s Premium Economy product, very comfortable and I like their “book the cook” options - overall it does seem a bit old now and hopefully they’ll do a revamp in the not too distant future
Excellent review. I've flown BA premium and the Virgin package looks the better bet especially with separate check in and a nicer looking seat plus the Wonderwall. I am flying Virgin to NYC next March bit managed to find a good deal and am flying in Upper Class.
The presence of an ash tray in the lavs is simply that if people are determined to break the rules and risk the legal consequences, then at least there will be the safety of the ash being disposed of in a receptacle designed for it rather than being dumped somewhere to hide it that may involve flammability.
Earlier I posted about seat dimensions and how there is confusion persisting about it. Now that the video is posted I see you yourself have added to confusion, or so it seems. At 02:39 you state the seat width is 18.7 inches. I don't know where you are getting this figure from. Virgin themselves say the old school version of PE seat has 21 inches. Did you measure it ? Where did you get this 18.7 from ? I like to point out the unfortunate fall of about two and a half inches in Virgin PE seat width between the older type fitted to 787-9 and A330-300, compared to newer type fitted to A350 and A330-900. Indeed I made a long comment talking about it and posted it before the video was actually released. I was surprised to see on the actual video that the width is stated by you as 18.7 and this just adds to confusion. Its hard enough just getting people to realise there are two versions of the seat and that the newer one suffered such a major drop in standard. So I ask, on what basis did you say this ? Is 21 wrong ? Were Virgin wrong to always state it being 21 ? Does 21 relate to a different standard of measuring ? Did you measure it ? Or did you take the figure from somewhere and what was it you were reading from ? Thanks.
The source of the seat dimension was www.aerolopa.com/vs-boeing-789. The Recaro Reverb seat does seem to be narrower than the 21” states on the Virgin website. The seat certainly didn’t have the space beside it below the central armrest/table that the A330-300s do.
@@DoorsToAuto I suggest the Aerolopa site has made a mistake then with the 787 PE seats. I do acknowledge that in general, where they state a figure, it is more reliable than tired old sloppy SeatGuru. Just wrong here. Remember Virgin themselves said 21. I wonder if they've mixed up with BA. The newer Virgin seats are stated by themselves as 18.5, so doesn't seem to be a mix up with other Virgin aircraft. BA's PE seats are known to be 18.7 - Could be a simple mix up. I'd personally love to do aviation blogging, focusing on making affordable travel more optimal, e.g. PE travel, better economy options looked at in detail, when to buy, first class rail, rail sleepers, airport ground experience enhancements. I'd identify sweet spots, suggesting hacks, looking at your options based on sectors of the world, like say transatlantic and not mix in Asian carriers who don't do that. Vice versa as well. The benefits and cons of staggering your journey thus making economy more bearable. One of the things I'd do is take a measuring device and state figures as taken under the camera. Also, since we're talking about nuances in precious space that could be very tight for some people, to show differences with e.g. front rows and exit rows width, leg room impediments like IFE boxes, seats at the back with compromises, etc. While you do focus on business and PE flights, the one thing you could take from my fantasy channel idea, is the measuring aspect. For example, look at how narrow this business seat is with the armrest up, but see how it does widen when you stow it down, or if it doesn't then show that. Foot cubby hole size can be pathetic and then you wonder why even bother with lie flat if sleeping becomes so impractical. Imagine a laser automatic foot cubby hole measuring device, made by Acme of course !
Let me know what you think of the review at the Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy experience. Comment, like, and share. And please do subscribe for future reviews.
I always like your style of production and its quality. You avoid long winded or quirky personal story telling, instead just showing what things look like and the facts. Each approach can be good and we need both. You do your type very well.
Biggest thing reviewers should mention when talking about Virgin's Premium Economy is that they reduced the width between arm rests by two and half inches ! The older seats on 787 and A330-300 aircraft are 21 inches and with nice padding. The more modern, tighter seats on the A350 and A330-900 are 18.5 inches. I saw something that indicated the 787 is being re-fitted with the newer type, but it might be wrong. Certainly its true that as A330-900s arrive the older 300's are being replaced. You know its such a shame. It was Virgin's u.s.p. with PE class. A comfy arm chair of 21 inches width. While other airlines seats on transatlantic routes and now their own newer one's are variously 18.5, 18.7, 19 inches, it is nice to know you can still get a some at a comfy 21. For now. In my opinion, being so little different in width to an economy seat in the same aircraft is a bit of a cheek. The worst/best example is on their A330-900. 18.5 inches compared to 17.9 inches which is good for economy nowadays - a beneficial quirk of the A330 fuselage and 2-4-2 configuration. But that's just a 0.6 inches differences between Economy and Premium Economy. Obviously there are other and more pronounced differences between the classes but in terms of width, that's all you get more for your money on the A330-900, which is often double if you buy it as PE at the outset. Additionally, you'll find at least one of the seat sides is hard solid. This means that if the seat next to you happens to be empty, there's no benefiting from that in being able to spill through with your folds of fat. Whereas if you had bought economy not only would you be able to, you could also have gamed things with smart seat choice if its a quieter flying date and departure. Thus by smart selection improve your chances of having two seats to play with or even more - while having saved several hundred pounds/dollars. Who really needs two hold suitcases anyway, or can't put up with a longer check in, or can't just pack a few snacks for themselves to augment the crappy economy meal. While PE is a nice thing, my conclusion is that if you're not over the acceptable economy seat tolerance for your level of fatness, put the huge saving towards your holiday when you get there. Until I lose some more weight I'm kind of forced to PE, for the slight extra width, but more for the room to actually get my tray down past my guts ( ! ) and for the better separation between neighbours. Once I have lost enough gelatinous blubber to get my tray down in an economy seat, that's what I'll be doing ! EDIT : I posted the text above ahead of the release of the video. I see you state at 02:39 that the seat width is 18.7 inches. I believe this to be a mistake. I'll make a separate post about it.
I booked this flight but economy! Im wondering about the meal times. Is is served close to end of the flight? Should i be looking for dinner after i get off the flight?
Compared to European business class, it was very good. I reviewed the long haul experience from London to Hong Kong here: Cathay Pacific Business Class - worth the price? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZVZeqA2H9Ig.html
Hi Thanks for the video. Taking Virgin to London in December, and It provided all the info I need. Quick note from another creator: The music was very distracting as the volume went up and down so often. I'd prefer it just remain at the lower volume even when you're not speaking. Just trying to be helpful :)
So different from last time flew CX business class SG to HKG - was from Terminal 2 - yes it was 14 years ago and so different then same air bridge and split half way
Let me know what you think of the review, and the Cathay Pacific short haul business class experience. Comment, like and share. And please do subscribe to Doors To Auto for future reviews.
The 30 inch pitch is not adequate. For those working with laptops you really need more and fat people simply cannot get the tray down to eat, having instead to twist to the central seat tray and the divider platform. BA would do well to restore 34 inches, while keeping the Euro-biz configuration and the cabin flexibility. I wonder what the figures are for business class utilisation. Really they could do it and it would be so welcomed. So what if a few lucky Economy passengers get to have more room too, after all BA could variously; charge a fee, upgrade status holders, or accommodate tall people/disabled/pregnant who really need it. It would also tip the balance of choice for some going long haul, from going via AMS or FRA say, to going via LHR with BA instead. If I was magically in charge of BA I'd do this straight away and also give orders for a better flowing bar too. Make domestic business class more spacious and fun again.
So the seat recline 1 inch more than economy?!! That’s a joke! In longhaul flights the most important thing is whether you can sleep comfortably Here I am paying more than $1000 just for 4 extra inches in width!! Hard pass.
