VIRGIN ATLANTIC -  Upper Class seats

Virgin Atlantic's "new" Upper Class seats have received great praise from passengers, and below we show the key highlights of this new Virgin product.

The radical new product has been in development for over two years and will cost £50m to fit across Virgin's fleet. It will be introduced on all of Virgin's Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340-600 aircraft starting from summer 2003, and will be on all those aircraft based at Heathrow by spring 2004 and all those at Gatwick by Autumn 2004.

The Upper Class Suite has the largest fully flat bed when compared with any other airline's business class service. At 6' 7.5" (202cm) long, the bed is the longest in any class. 

Widthwise the bed increases to 33" (84cm) at the shoulders, where it is over a foot wider than British Airways Club World and First Class beds.

The Upper Class Suite has a 22" (56cm) wide seat, making it wider than many of Virgin Atlantic Airways competitors' first class seats. It also has full lumbar support and comes with its own ottoman, which doubles as a seat for a guest. So business can be done with a colleague or a drink can be shared with a friend.

The seat flips over to become a fully flat bed at the touch of a button. This allows for the two sides to serve completely separate functions - a fully contoured seat on one side covered in soft leather, while on the reverse the bed is built of firm, highly supportive foams covered in a breathable fabric for maximum sleeping comfort.

With a maximum of four Upper Class Suites across the width of the cabin every Upper Class Suite gives you your own personal space with direct access to the aisle - even the window seats. And all of the seats face forward.

You still get all the benefits of Upper Class, from the onboard bar and inflight massage to the award-winning entertainment provided on your personal 10.4" wide screen TV. 

The Upper Class Suite also offers in-seat power and provides ample storage space for books and magazines, while a large table is manoeuvrable enough to allow you to get up from your seat without having to stow it away.