I’ve always harboured a secret sense of loathing toward
business and first passengers, although I’d never admit it in public. Their
smug looks when they get to check in on that red carpet attended to by handpicked
airline staff ready with a waiting smile and fresh flowers to ease them through
check in is frankly almost too much to bear. They get private lounge access of
course, but we don’t get to see that bit thank goodness, just their backs as
they whisk through security using their special fast track passes while we wait
in line with the hoards getting ordered to remove our belts and shoes like
we’re about to begin a prison sentence. The smugness returns in the departure
lounge of course when they get to board first, and then we have to do the walk
of shame filing past them on our way towards the back as they serenely down
their chilled glasses of bubbly as we fight over hand luggage bin space.
There is however a chance of salvation; an affordable
opportunity to at least touch the hem of heaven and take a tentative step onto
that first rung of travel smugness. Thankfully, with Virgin’s Premium Economy,
we mortals get the chance to savour just a little bit of that high life for a
reasonable extra cost.
We get a separate check in for a start. Slight smugness
points there. And then we get to board first with the big boys too. Loads of
smugness points here, because no one else knows which class you’re in until you
get on board. The wider, softer seats are very comfy and whilst they may not be
flat bed seats, (although they are as wide as many business class seats on
other airlines). the extra leg room and spring loaded foot rests allow you some
real stretching room. Now comes the good part. While everyone else shuffles
past, you get to sip that envious pre take off drink, and that rattles up
bucket loads of smugness points in my book, whilst eating a quality meal off a
china dinner service with stainless steel cutlery makes all the difference in
the world.
Of course after an eleven hour flight you just want to get
off and on with your life and fortunately Premium Economy passengers get to get
off first with those big boys again and you can enjoy that final bit of
smugness when you collect your luggage
from the Upper and Premium only carousel. Oh the joy.
I’m a fan of Virgin’s Premium Economy. It’s an excellent choice on so many levels,
letting you enjoy many of the trimmings of business travel without it really hurting
your pocket too much. Now if only we
could get a private lounge.........
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