- My husband and I bid to improve to higher class on a nine-hour Virgin Atlantic flight.
- We received the bid each methods and saved over $1,700 on our improve.
My husband and I consider flying enterprise class is the epitome of luxurious.
As avid vacationers, we take not less than one worldwide journey yearly and infrequently search for offers on business-class tickets.
In 2022, my husband, son, and I flew spherical journey from New Delhi to London on Virgin Atlantic’s enterprise class, which the corporate refers to as “higher class.”
After having a terrific expertise, we hoped to as soon as once more rating upper-class tickets on the identical route.
Sadly, as a result of this 12 months’s costs have been too excessive at 824,700 rupees (about $9,900), we made peace with reserving premium economic system round-trip tickets for 389,150 rupees ($4,600).
A couple of weeks later, whereas on Virgin Atlantic’s web site, my husband got here throughout the “Your Bid” program, which permits passengers to bid for an improve to premium- or upper-class seats.
The minimal bidding quantity stored altering, however when my husband positioned his bid, the minimal quantity per upper-class ticket was 50,000 rupees ($600) for our flight from New Delhi to London. For our return flight, the minimal bid was 47,000 rupees ($560) per ticket.
Including 1,000 rupees ($12) to the minimal bid every method, my husband determined to provide it a shot.
Forty-eight hours earlier than our scheduled departure, Virgin Atlantic emailed us that our bid for upper-class tickets had been accepted.
In whole, we paid 684,350 rupees (roughly $8,200) spherical journey for 2 adults and a baby, together with the value of unique premium-economy tickets and two bid upgrades.
We saved roughly $1,700 by way of the bidding course of and have been excited to start our journey.
The aircraft’s interiors have been spacious and splendid
Each flights had a herringbone design within the upper-class cabin, with three rows of about 10 seats every.
My husband and son have been assigned window seats, and I had a center seat near my son.
Quickly after settling into our seats, the flight attendants introduced us welcome drinks.
Our meals have been tasty and customizable
The flight attendants requested for our meal preferences whereas we waited for take-off.
I selected to skip the starter and dessert however requested for sourdough bread, which they luckily had on board.
For one course, I had rooster achari curry, served with cabbage and carrot thoran, basmati rice, and paratha. It was filling and never spicy.
I additionally loved the cheese plate with Snowdonia Rock Star cave-aged cheddar, Blacksticks blue, Somerset camembert with grapes, sundried tomato and red-pepper chutney, and crackers.
On request, they offered a plate of pasta with bread and fruit for my son.
For my last meal, I selected the vegetable Indian platter consisting of aloo tikki, vegetable samosa, pepper pakora, and a tomato and onion salad with sweet-chili-and-tomato chutney.
The spacious seating was nice for work, sleep, and leisure
I watched films and took an expensive two-hour nap on the mattress seat, which was made up graciously with bedding, a fluffy pillow, and a comforter.
I additionally favored that the category’s spacious desks allowed me to work on my laptop computer with out hindrance.
Our total expertise was fantastic and made us really feel like we had received the lottery
Our upper-class tickets ensured that our disembarkation course of was fast and hassle-free. We additionally had entry to a separate line for immigration, which sped up the method of leaving the airport.
In comparison with the $9,900 we might’ve paid had we booked the business-class tickets from the beginning, $8,200 was a terrific deal for 2 adults and a baby.
After saving roughly $1,700 by way of the bidding program, we might undoubtedly try to fly this manner once more.
Nonetheless, since there is no assure of successful the bid, we’ll at all times search for deal on business-class tickets first.