For more information on Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club programme, see this post. Get the best seat possible with our Virgin Atlantic 787-9 seating chart and traveler seat reviews. I had started my flight in Dublin as it saved a huge amount of money and meant that the flight was only £1250 plus an additional £100 to have an extended stopover in London. And for those travelling lovers, Virgin has called three sets of its middle seats the Love Suites — 1E, 1F, 3E, 3F, 5E and 5F. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. Full bedding was supplied with a mattress topper, duvet, and sizeable plump pillow. Virgin Atlantic. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. It’s a staggering amount to pay on top of a mileage redemption, but when you consider that round-trip business-class tickets between the two cities regularly sell for anywhere from $2,700 to over $8,000, it doesn’t seem so bad. Top picks: Number one, without doubt, is the Upper Class Suite onboard the A350s. Who Can Visit Scandinavia In February 2021? I write about travel specialising in airlines and luxury travel for less, America's Top Givers: The 25 Most Philanthropic Billionaires, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change. Discover the Premium and Upper Class flight sale here at Virgin Atlantic. Thankfully (and oddly), the bar was left practically deserted for most of the flight. And to make matters even more confusing, some airlines offer different products within their own fleets. The service started with a welcome drink. Best Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats on an Airbus A330-300 and a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Top picks: 2A-5A Though these two aircraft are very different in many ways, the layout of their Upper Class cabins is pretty much the exact same. After a quick refurb, the seats are up there amongst our favourite Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats. After a taxi to the runway by tug, which seemed more extended than for a flight departing Heathrow, it was finally time to get airborne. The flight in this article was from Barbados back to the U.K. in early November. The flight attendants onboard were fabulous: very attentive, witty, and still polished. My areas of expertise are airline and hotel loyalty, all things British Airways and oneworld, as well as how to stay in the finest hotels for less. While the original seats don’t exactly feel cutting edge anymore, I do like how open and airy the 787 cabin feels - especially when Upper Class is lightly loaded. Upper Class. Not only is it the airline’s newest, safest and most environmentally friendly aircraft, but it also boasts the newest, most comfortable and most modern airline seats of the entire Virgin Atlantic fleet. What's it like? There was no starter at all and no choice of dessert. A review of Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class product onboard their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, on a flight from London Heathrow to Los Angeles. Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 'Upper Class' business class: the basics. The 'a' seats on Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class. It is likely that the new seat being rolled out to the older Virgin Atlantic aircraft would be slightly different to the A350’s. 3 Comments on "My Barbados trip part 4: Virgin Atlantic B787-9 Upper Class Barbados to London Heathrow review" David o neill | 15 November 2020 at 3:33 pm | Reply. The Upper Class on the 787 consists of 31 flat bed seats that are arranged in a 1-1-1 configuration. This innovative aircraft joined the Virgin Atlantic fleet in October 2014. This is a review of my flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles on Virgin Atlantic's B787 in Upper Class. There was a least a lounge for Virgin Upper Class passengers, although the decor was a little dated. © 2021 THE POINTS GUY, LLC. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Luckily, too, Virg… Virgin Atlantic says this is because the seat was custom built for the A350 due to its width, but the 787 isn’t that much narrower. A Review of Virgin Atlantic 787-900 Upper Class LHR – HKG. Noise-cancelling headphones were also provided at each seat. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter! A slightly less fun addition was the new ubiquitous airline "hygiene" pack, which contained wipes, hand gel, and face masks. Wi-fi was available and, although a little patchy at times, was reasonable value at $19.95 (£14.99) for 150mb. Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class cabin is their top most cabin offering. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Premium. It might be worth noting that the Loft, an area that was designed as a social hangout to replace the bar, is situated at the back of the cabin. The cabin was around 40% full, and seats had been blocked between traveling parties. seat nk beta. One unique feature of the Boeing 787 is the dimmable windows. In addition to Virgin’s multiple flights between New York JFK and London Heathrow, the airline runs a daily evening flight from Newark. Fortunately, the renowned Virgin Atlantic plane-shaped salt and pepper shake were still on the tray. Virgin Atlantic selected a unique layout. Booking This Flight. My true passion has always been travelling in luxury for the lowest possible price. That can be hard, however, as different airlines offer incredibly varying products. I was seated very close to the bar and worried that passengers would congregate there and be loud during the flight. One-way Upper Class tickets cost 47,500 miles plus about £445 tax. Many had only recently returned from furlough, and having spent a few nights in Barbados, they were all in high spirits. I flew Virgin Atlantic in Upper Class on their Dreamliner 787-9 from London Heathrow to Miami. The crew was eager to make up beds for passengers while you got yourself ready for bed with the help of the Ren toiletries provided in the washrooms. seat nk beta. The new Covid-safe style of "buffet" was in evidence. See, different airlines offer incredibly varying products, A350 suite showdown: British Airways’ Club Suite versus Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class Suite, 14 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft that Virgin has on order, 6 features that set the 787 Dreamliner apart from the rest, review of the Upper Class Suite on the A350, Marriott CEO to step back from role during cancer treatment, Two more cruise lines announce vaccine requirement, Changes to the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic loyalty programmes I’d like to see in 2021. The best seats are on the ‘A’ side of the plane, where more privacy is afforded by facing the back of the middle seats. However, until the U.S. reopens to travelers from the U.K., it still leaves Virgin Atlantic in a precarious position due to their U.S. heavy route network. The upper class cabin features a bar area where passengers can socialise and get a … The center seats are in a herringbone configuration, meaning they face the aisle. London Heathrow-Delhi from £1,494 in Upper Class. Sunday, August 8th-Saturday, August 21st. One unique feature of the Boeing 787 is the dimmable windows. However, for an added feel of privacy and those views that we live for, any A and K window seat is slightly better than a D or G seat. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy UK newsletter and special email promotions. It is hard for airlines in 2020 to have fresh film content as so many releases have been delayed, but Virgin had a great choice. 17 July, 2017 17 May, 2020 Flying Fluskey. Today (December 30, 2020): Review of Virgin Atlantic A350’s (new) Upper Class from London to New York. Fortunately, most of the usual amenities were there, such as Virgin's environmentally friendly "goodie bag" made from responsibly sourced recycled kraft paper. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Towards the front of row K isn’t a bad second choice, the main difference being that the seat is less private and has a view of other passengers’ feet. We booked my trip between London and New York as a round-trip award, so we paid a total of 95,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles and about $845 in taxes and fees. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. These seats are referred to as Extra Legroom Seats. I flew home from London to LA on Virgin Atlantic’s new 787-9 in Upper Class, my first Virgin Atlantic flight since 2014. I’ve got to say, I was disappointed. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. It is listed as the Virgin Atlantic business class cabin and so lies somewhere between British Airways Club World and First Class (just as a comparison). For example, seats 3A, 5A, 3K and 5K are called Solo Corner Suites, owing to the added feeling of privacy being farther away from the aisle. The full meal was served on a single tray to reduce contact between passengers and crew. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class cabin A350-1000. This could mean that those sat in row 11 and maybe 10 and 9 might find passengers toing and froing from the Loft, and maybe being rather loud and chatty while they’re there. While some airlines operate four classes on some of their long-haul jets, Virgin Atlantic opted for three: Upper Class (business class), Premium (premium economy) and economy. This consisted of a small range of snacks, such as sandwiches and crisps. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class 787-9 Review. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. The flight was operated by a brand new Airbus A350, nicknamed Red Valvet. Another point worth noting is that service is generally started at the front of the cabin, meaning the farther back you sit, it could take longer for you to get those all-important food and drinks. This compensation helps pay the costs associated with running our website, and does not result in any additional fees to you. Most of the time, the aircraft type will be written in the flight details while booking. Related: How to pick your perfect aeroplane seat. If you’re traveling alone and are in the center, that means you at least won’t be bothered by your seatmate. The fuselage of both the A330 and Boeing 787 are around half a meter narrower than the A350. Virgin Atlantic's order was first announced on 24 April 2007, and is for a total of 17 aircraft, with options on five more. There are two common problems that come up time and time again with Virgin Atlantic seats in Upper Class. BACKGROUND: Virgin Atlantic began flying its Boeing 787 to Johannesburg in November 2015.The plane offers 31 upper class seats, 35 in premium economy and 198 in economy. It’s definitely a fun way to pass the time on your flight. Part 1 of this review can be found here. But next time you find yourself with an Upper Class ticket, you’ll want to make sure you’ve selected the best possible seat in the cabin. Given that they follow the same government guidelines, it's incredible how much they differ between airlines! On my latest trip to London I decided to try and get on the 787-9 of both major British carriers — the British Airways 787-9 in first class, and then a nice revisit to Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic’s 787-9.. Not necessarily a fair comparison between the two airlines given that I flew in two different cabins, … Virgin companies encourage employees to bring their personality to work, and it shone through on this flight. It contains such goodies as Ren toiletries, a Bamboo handled toothbrush by Bambuu and some rather snazzy socks. Fly with us to over 30 destinations in style, including our award-winning Premium cabin. The information, including card rates, product pricing and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review – please check product pages for the most current information. Entertainment was provided with the high definition TV and a large selection of movies, TV shows, music and games. The breakfast was also impressive with three main courses: full English, banana pancakes, or a roasted pepper omelet. The main reason being that each seat faces the back of the seat the row G in the middle, giving the illusion of slightly more privacy. There was no actual champagne, but instead, there was prosecco or the excellent English sparkling wine, Hattingley Valley. The exercised options will replace the Heathrow-based 747 fleet during 2015 and 2016. 2A. Be the first to review this seat! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The Points Guy UK will not sell your email. It’s expected that 787s and A330s will be getting new Upper Class seats, though that’s likely to happen in “the early 2020s,” and will be a different product. After the turbulent time Virgin Atlantic has been through with restructuring to avoid bankruptcy, what is their onboard experience like now in Upper Class? There is also a bassinet directly opposite 1A, meaning you might be sat opposite a baby for your entire flight. Editorial Note: The Points Guy UK is independent; the opinions published here are always those of the reviewer, who has final editorial approval. Overall, Virgin Atlantic has done a great job of walking the line between safety and ensuring a premium product for their business class customers. We've considered every detail, starting with our chauffeur driven car service, which will take you to and from the airport in style. More than anything I was impressed by how well thought out the plating was. Virgin Atlantic now have a new Upper Class Suite which feature on their Airbus 350s. The reason we suggest seats 2A-5A rather than starting at 1A, is because this seat looks onto the galley and therefore might be noisy and less private than if you sit a few rows behind. Virgin Atlantic’s “classic” herringbone business cabin (the one featured here) is being phased out in favour of a new 1-2-1 configuration on its A350 aircraft. The hot main courses are served in disposable cardboard containers. There was a lovely bar on the aircraft, which was next to the two seats in row 11. The key issue for airlines when planning a business class cabin is how to maximise seat numbers whilst also maximising passenger space. They lack any substantial storage space at the seat and can be quite hard when in bed mode. The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 aircraft features a three class configuration with 31 lie-flat bed Upper Class seats, 35 Premium Economy seats, and 198 standard Economy class seats. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. I also have a serious suitcase and travel accessory addiction! The Caribbean yakitori chicken looked something of a mess, but was similar to a very flavorful Bajan version of an Indian biryani rice dish. If you’re spending your cold hard cash or splurging your stash of Flying Club miles on an Upper Class ticket, then there are definitely a couple of decisions to make before you click that confirm button. Virgin Atlantic took delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 in October 2014, becoming the first European airline to fly the variant. Bridgetown airport appeared pretty much deserted, and there were no more than two other passengers in the check-in and security areas. There is no fast track in bgi and it looks from your photos that they have shut the virgin lounge and are using the BA lounge for everyone. In some cases, Skyscanner may offer a lower price to book through an online travel agent. Grab a drink or a snack and take it back to your seat or sit at one of the three stools at the bar. No complaints about them personally, but it took more than three hours to finish lunch service. Early 2020, I flew with Virgin Atlantic in Business Class (or Upper Class, as it’s called by the airline) from London to New York. Enjoy our Upper Class cabin which is rammed full of luxury. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class 787. The 'a' seats on Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class. These routes will boast the most updated, modern version of the airline’s Upper Class. First off, every seat in the cabin is both parallel to the sides of the fuselage and faces forwards — already off to good start. There is no fast track at Barbados security, but it would be a little pointless when it's this quiet. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. In an interview between Brian Kelly and Virgin CEO Shai Weiss, he discussed plans to retrofit the Boeing 787-9s with the same Upper Class Suite, but not before the arrival of the 14 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft that Virgin has on order. Virgin’s VP of Customer Experience, Daniel Kerzner, told Australian Business Traveller: “This product was designed bespoke for the Airbus 350, there are no plans to roll this out to the rest … The British Airways solution is unique, having half the seats facing backwards and slotting them together in a ‘yin yang’ pattern. What makes it a unique Upper Class product is that these four A330-200 aircraft were purchased from Air Berlin when the airline went bankrupt in 2017. With a range of cabin classes available with Virgin Atlantic, you can design the way want to fly, so take a look at all the different cabins and seating options. Virgin Atlantic’s 787. Sadly the welcome glass of champagne has disappeared, and instead, you are handed a bottle of water.