Virgin Atlantic Refreshes the A350 Business Class Experience
Joe Cortez April 10, 2019
Virgin Atlantic business class flyers aboard the carrier’s new Airbus A350-1000 will soon be treated to a completely reimagined experience. The airline revealed their newest seat, the Upper Class suite, in London. Complimenting it will be a flying lounge space, named “The Loft.”
Business class flyers aboard Virgin Atlantic’s newest aircraft will have two new amenities to look forward to when they board. On their blog, the carrier announced the launch of a new Upper Class experience and a lounge space exclusive to the premium cabin flyers.
The new A350 Upper Class suite was designed in collaboration with the carrier’s design team. Each suite comes with a lay-flat seat and a privacy screen for a personal experience. Cocktail tables, additional shelving and large tray tables are integrated into the seat design to make the trip more comfortable. Flyers can recharge their items with USB and power sockets while connecting to the 18.5-inch in-flight entertainment screen via Bluetooth for a wireless experience.
Individual seats aren’t the only place where flyers will find Bluetooth integration. In the Upper Class lounge, named The Loft, passengers can congregate for a drink and community entertainment. With room for eight, everyone there can watch in-flight entertainment on a 32-inch screen and listen in by connecting to Bluetooth audio jacks.
But how do frequent flyers feel about the new experience? FlyerTalker mrpacifist writes: “Not convinced so far; the choice of leathers and fabrics is not very charming to say the least, and the lack of doors is a bit sad too.” FlyerTalker Theirin isn’t as upset about the lack of doors, writing: “I don’t mind the lack of a door – the suites look quite private anyway and I don’t need to be too boxed in on a flight.”
The Virgin Atlantic A350-1000 is scheduled to fly to both London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW), with the initial flights going between LHR and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. This new customer experience comes on the heels of British Airways’ business class announcement, featuring doors on each of their new suites.
How do you feel about the new seats? Let us know on the FlyerTalk Forum!
[Image Source: Virgin Atlantic]
First, zero tolerance is always totally unreasonable. Second, punishments should in measure fit the crime. Third, in todays experience, good documentation is always needed. Video it all. Fourth, undertrained and inexperienced staff are now all too common. They just don't know what to do or what they cannot do. Fifth, the airlines need to publish guidelines. Real ones. Like when is the cabin in too extreme a temperature condition for too long. What temperatures and how long. Required temperature sensor monitoring. Sixth, more backup resources for strained conditions. Water when delayed for hour(s). Just the simple ones. millions on a collection, each that is Sixth, the FAA needs to step up to the plate.