Virgin's Upper Class fuel charges to increase

29-May-08 Christy Wyatt

Agents booking Upper Class tickets with Virgin Atlantic can expect higher fuel charges from tomorrow (30 May).
Premium cabin passengers will now pay higher fuel charges than those travelling in Economy class, the airline announced.
The fees will rise by different amounts to reflect the higher amounts of fuel burned per passenger, and greater baggage allowances, in Premium Economy and Upper Class cabins, it said.
"With jet fuel prices now at levels that challenge the very nature and structure of the entire airline industry, we have decided to levy fuel charges depending on where you sit in the plane, said Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic.
"Our Upper Class and Premium Economy passengers benefit from considerably more space on our aircraft and larger baggage allowances than our Economy passengers, so our aircraft burn more fuel to carry them."

From tomorrow charges on all new Upper Class bookings on Virgin Atlantic sold in the UK will increase by £22.50 on shorter sectors, to £85.50; and £28.50, to £107.50, on longer sectors. www.virginatlantic.com

Two weeks ago Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, warned agents would face higher air fares.
He told the BBC’s Today programme: "I think the era of very low fares, certainly in the short term, is behind us because oil prices remain at record levels". www.ba.com