Long Haul VA MEL/BNE to LAX - Premium Economy or Exit Row seats?

[ftank]

Just seeking some feedback on PE on VAL from BNE/MEL - LAX. I have a flight booked in the next couple of months and am tossing up whether to pay extra and reserve exit row seats or to upgrade to a flexi and use points for a PE upgrade. From what I can tell the main advantage of PE on VA is the legroom which is essentially taken care of with an exit row seat. Are there any other differences I should be aware of.

On the other hand are VA known on this route for upgrading WP travelling in PE to J if there is availability?

Looking forwards to using the new *A lounge at LAX as well a nice get from VA.

 

[erkpod]

+1 for exit row. I haven't flown PE or above on this sector.

 

[Milboo]

PE for sure. I've flown both exit row and PE before and am doing PE this weekend.

Yes you get the extra leg room in exit row but you also get dozens of people coming to stand in it to stretch and to queue. You also run the risk of babies on the bulkhead in the middle section.

PE gets you footrests, noise cancelling headphones and a cabin of 40 so it is quieter and you share the bathroom with much fewer people. Quick service for dinner and quick clearing afterwards too. Also get the bar access.

 

[jewles]

I am flying exit row on this flight Thursday night, a blow up foot rest and noise cancelling ear phones and i'm set. The extra cost to upgrade to pe wasn't worth it for me mostly because I like a window seat without having to get other people to move to use the loo, if I had points I might have thought differently.

I also received an e-mail asking me to bid for an upgrade to pe, the starting price was $300 (a 'very weak' offer, all the way up to the max bid at $1050 a 'very strong' offer).

 

[MandM]

PE for sure. I've flown both exit row and PE before and am doing PE this weekend.

Yes you get the extra leg room in exit row but you also get dozens of people coming to stand in it to stretch and to queue. You also run the risk of babies on the bulkhead in the middle section.

PE gets you footrests, noise cancelling headphones and a cabin of 40 so it is quieter and you share the bathroom with much fewer people. Quick service for dinner and quick clearing afterwards too. Also get the bar access.

I totally agree with Milboo's comments.
As far as upgrades go, since hitting gold I've been upgraded from Y to Y+ on the route about 1 in every 3 segments (I generally do 4 return flights per year). IME there never seems to be many status pax in Y or Y+ on the route (easy to tell as the CSM usually goes around and talks to stays pax personally). Upgrades only due to full cabin.