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BUSINESS CLASS : the seat offers a reasonable sleep comfort in flat bed
position, and quite private when full reclined, but many passengers will
find the high side partitions claustrophobic. The shoulder area is quite narrow
when in full recline, and this is most noticable when you try to turn over. We do not like the angled
layout of seats in the cabin - no proper window views, standards of seat privacy are not
good, and if travelling with a companion, these seats are not user-friendly. Storage areas are restricted. Relaxing / seated position is not as
comfortable as some conventional seats. IFE screen is rather poorly located and not easy to view when in flat bed position.
Overall score : 8/10 |
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VIRGIN ATLANTIC BUSINESS CLASS (UPPER CLASS) SEAT REVIEW : 20 June 2008 by Jonathan McNeill |
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AIRCRAFT TYPE | A340-600 |
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CABIN FLOWN |
Upper Class |
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SLEEP COMFORT |
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SITTING COMFORT |
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SEAT LENGTH |
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SEAT WIDTH |
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Upper Class LHR-LAX. Lovely check-in, awesome lounge at LHR, friendly staff -
but the seats! Upper Class was not full, so I took 17K since it was last row of
forward cabin - a window, and close to the Bar area and toilets - wrong move on
my part - way too much traffic. This was the first time with these new seats -
hated it! Felt like there were too many rows "crammed" into the cabin. Controls,
table, TV monitor etc very awkwardly placed, pillows stowed behind seats so you
have to reach over and "hunt" for them, duvets in bags in the overhead were
bulky and not worth hunting down. I disliked NOT having a window to look out -
the way the seats are positioned it is virtually impossible to be comfortable
and look out at the same time. I don't think I will book Upper Class again. I
think I prefer BA's Club World over this. I also flew Business Class on
Lufthansa LAX-FRA and while the seating and cabin are much more "traditional"
compared to Virgin, the comfort level and space surpasses Virgin's Upper Class.
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VIRGIN ATLANTIC BUSINESS CLASS (UPPER CLASS) SEAT REVIEW : 20 June 2008 by D McLean |
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AIRCRAFT TYPE | A340 |
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CABIN FLOWN |
Upper Class |
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SLEEP COMFORT |
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SITTING COMFORT |
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SEAT LENGTH |
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SEAT WIDTH |
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LHR-LAX-LHR Used upper class for the third time in 8 months out of Heathrow to
USA. Common knowledge that pod layout is not very good when travelling with your
spouse, although I suppose some may find that a bonus! The massage is a gimmick
and I was told earlier this month on my last trip that Virgin are doing away
with this. I hope that they spend the saved cash to finance better food. Over
the past couple of years the meals served up on transatlantic flights has
steadily reduced in quality and volume. All in all you do get reasonable value,
but with BA and Air New Zealand flying direct to LAX you do get much better
food and wine for the same price and in Air New Zealands case, the same pods.
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VIRGIN ATLANTIC BUSINESS CLASS (UPPER CLASS) SEAT REVIEW : 20 June 2008 by G Hool |
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AIRCRAFT TYPE | A340-600 |
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CABIN FLOWN | Upper Class |
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SLEEP COMFORT |
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SITTING COMFORT |
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SEAT LENGTH |
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SEAT WIDTH |
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LHR - CPT - LHR via Upper Class. Bed and seat both reasonably comfortable - just
a fag to get out of either when you need to convert it to a bed/seat. Bed could
do with being 6inches longer, so that a person of 6 feet can stretch without
touching the foot stool. Drinks table is useless as is the light, both of which
get in the way of each other. TV screen could do with some vertical adjustment
so you can get adjust it when eating the poor food Virgin have started serving.
Design of cabin, means all seats face inward, which if you want to look out of
the window means you face the prospect of a stiff neck. Design also limits
conversation with your travelling companion, though to some this may be a
distinct advantage. Overall the British Airways Club World package is looking
far more attractive.
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VIRGIN ATLANTIC "UPPER CLASS" - BUSINESS CLASS SEAT REVIEW |
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24 January 2008 by A Jarrett |
AIRCRAFT | Boeing 747-400 |
CABIN | Business | | |
SLEEPING |
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SITTING |
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SEAT LENGTH |
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SEAT WIDTH |
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Virgin Upper Class has good and bad points. The folded down bed is a little on the firm side . The
positioning of the reading lamp and drinks tray is pure bad design. I did feel a little strange with
my back to the window, however travel in the 747 nose-cone was a revelation for cabin quietness and
this compensated for the strange angle. The main thing I noticed with the seat angle was at meal and
drink times it did feel rather like we were patients in an upmarket nursing home sitting around the
edge of the room in armchairs waiting for nurse and watching each other eat and drink. While the
entertainment was good, the picture quality was poor.
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VIRGIN ATLANTIC "UPPER CLASS" - BUSINESS CLASS SEAT REVIEW |
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3 December 2007 by Colin Crabbe |
AIRCRAFT |
A340-600 |
CABIN |
Business | | |
SLEEPING |  |
SITTING | |
SEAT LENGTH |  |
SEAT WIDTH |
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I used Virgin years ago where the seating standards were excellent. My wife and I have just returned
from Mumbai, and had a dreadful trip both ways. The seating is a herring-bone design so that you
cannot see out of the windows. I found the seats extremely hard and when reclined uncomfortable -
being very narrow with no room to turn over. The reading light is set at an angle that is impossible
to use while the drinks tray is simply out of reach.
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VIRGIN ATLANTIC "UPPER CLASS" - BUSINESS CLASS SEAT REVIEW |
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27 November 2007 by Spencer Dusebout |
AIRCRAFT |
A340-600 |
CABIN |
Business | | |
SLEEPING |  |
SITTING | |
SEAT LENGTH |
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SEAT WIDTH |
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LAX-JNB Fantastic lounges to start the experience. The seats were comfortable to sit and read/relax.
The bed is a little hard, but very roomy. Entertainment fantastic, as the service. Food average, and
the treatment/massage is a joke.
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Date: 07 OCT 2007 |
Aircraft: A340 |
Cabin: Business Class |
Review: Mathew Hayter |
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RATING |
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Sydney - Hong Kong return. The cabin is very unconventional in design with seats facing away from the
window, it does feel like you are by yourself for most of the flight. The seats are comfy but have a
poor build feel to them, the controls are not well placed and the seat can be inadvertently activated
by turning your body slightly - I had this surprise at least 6 times during the flight. The bar a
waste of time as was the complimentary massage service - really a novelty as all passengers request
and only a few can benefit due to time - so its a lucky draw. Maybe investing this money in better
food or finer wine may be better served! If you want the best in business then pay double and travel
Singapore Airlines or other 5 star airline. |
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Date: 07 OCT 2007 |
Aircraft: A340 |
Cabin: Business Class |
Review: Richard Adler |
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RATING |
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MIA-LHR and agree with the tone of comments here. Flew same route on 747-400 configuration last year
and found accommodation, service and food quality/quantity far better than it seems to have become.
Flat beds just work for me at 1.96m tall, so got some decent sleep once wedged in to the flipped over
bed. Food and drink offerings notably less than previous UC flights. Bar on A340 is just an extension
of the galley it seems. Food very mediocre for business class and running out of potato chips (asked
for some more to go with the one drink that was offered and told not possible) a bit surprising. Still
prefer Virgin's price point to BA for this flight, so will continue to use, albeit with lower
expectations. |
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Date: 04 OCT 2007 |
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 |
Cabin: Business Class |
Review: P Mortensen |
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RATING |
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We travelled to Cuba Upper class and agree with the negative comments - especially the one about the
inadequacy of the toilets which we also had to share with premium economy. The twilight check-in
facilities at Gatwick were indeed from the Twilight Zone and boarding next day was a ridiculous
jostling match with all classes boarding together. We will not travel Virgin again. |
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Date: 04 OCT 2007 |
Aircraft: Boeing A340-600 |
Cabin: Business Class |
Review: Mark Baughman |
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RATING |
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The flat seats are an acquired taste, and probably suited better for someone thinner than me. To make
it flat you have to get out of your seat and flip back over. There's a duvet and the FA is quick to
help set you up. However, you have to make the commitment to either flat or seated. If you're using
the seated position, you have a limit on how far back the seat will go. There is a footstool, though,
so you can stretch out and I ended up sleeping about 5 hours on regular seat reclined. On BA I find
myself reclining gradually during the flight as I watch movies, eventually making it to flat, but you
have to make a choice and then it's hard to watch the TV as it doesn't pivot on the horizontal axis.
The seat also feels more narrow because of the shell design. Strange, because that was not necessary.
Also, if you're travelling with someone, it will be very difficult to talk to them. Obviously that's a
mixed blessing. Seats point away from window, so you have to stretch around to see out, which I like
to do. On the new AVOD the skymap uses satellite imaging to show where you are and shows your path in
detail. Very cool. The rest of the AVOD is excellent, although Emirates and Singapore Air give you
more movies to choose from. The table top for the seat is very large and excellent if you want to put
your laptop out with a mouse and some materials, or a cup of coffee. But the other shelf space is very
awkward to get to. |
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Date: 02 OCT 2007 |
Aircraft: A340-600 |
Cabin: Business Class |
Review: Justin Noice |
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RATING |
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We found the seats to be quite comfortable and enjoyed several hours of uninterrupted sleep - you all
have an aisle seat and can get up in the middle of the night to hit the washroom with out disturbing
your neighbour. On the way back we ended up in Row 1 - you need to avoid that like the plague. Too
close to the galley, washrooms & beauty parlour. Rows 6-10 are the best. |
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Date: 02 OCT 2007 |
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 |
Cabin: Business Class |
Review: Spencer Dusebout |
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RATING |
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LHR-SFO-LHR Upper Class. The Cabin appears to look a lot like a line of toilet cubicles! Purple and
Red every where great for branding but looks tacky. Seats are comfortable and reclining to put your
feet up for take off is nice, only when you are drifting off to sleep you then have to stand up and
flip the bed over, which is very hard to lay on and by this time you have woken up! Bed is spacious
though. Cabin way too hot, why? I like to look out the window but its difficult as all seats are at an
angle away from the window, also if travelling with a guest you can't really see or talk to them in
the next pod. Food and Wine are ok and service is ok too, bar area is not as good as it used to be
years ago. Lounge at LHR is excellent. |
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Date: 07 OCT 2007 |
Aircraft: A340 |
Cabin: Business Class |
Review: Peter Carson |
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RATING |
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LAX-LHR-JNB Roundtrip. Virgin's business class pods offer much privacy and it is very easy to work or
read in it. However when it comes to sleeping the bed is very hard and is not very comfortable. |
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Date: 29 SEP 2007 |
Aircraft: A340 |
Cabin: Business Class |
Review: A Biscia |
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RATING |
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The seats are the same as Air NZ, but the cabin layout in the Airbus more cramped than the 747. In
particular, the front cabin lacks the light and space of the 747 and the front seats are busier as the
masseuse works in front of row 1 on one side and there is a toilet on the other. The bed length is
less than Air NZ, the foot support/table being a couple of inches closer on Virgin. |
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Date: 29 SEP 2007 |
Aircraft: A340 |
Cabin: Business Class |
Review: Doreen Tiesdell Smith |
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RATING |
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LHR-HKG-SYD. Bed confining like being in the naughty corner -conversation impossible if like me you
are short. Knee kept hitting table release to annoyance of crew. Couldn't see out of window until
night time when bed down, then I had to kneel up to see out. Food not spectacular, impossible to get
stool at the bar to talk to someone, everyone had same idea. Dark and dreary facing the back of the
person in fronts chair. Not keen to go upper again, tho its necessary for long journeys like Oz. |
Virgin Atlantic Seat Reviews
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