Originally Posted by
SlimpyJones
[MENTION=5479]Analise[/MENTION]
I got back from Boston this morning :-) While everything is relatively fresh in my head I'll pen down a few thoughts. In the coming weeks I do plan to write up a more detailed trip report for another VS website I read. But I can give you the headlines if it helps with your booking!
Just to make you aware - it wasn't a 100% "fair" test, for the following reasons
1) My outbound on VS was pretty quiet
2) My return on DL was a full, relatively short overnight
3) As I hold Gold status with Virgin, the service I received from them reflected that
4) VS Economy was on a 787-9 with 3-3-3 layout. DL was a 767-300 with 2-3-2 layout.
But if we're talking about the seat alone, here goes:
Looks
VS: Differentiated from the rest of Economy by having champagne/biege coloured seats. No other markings indicating it as a different product.
DL: Red trim around headrest edges and a different stitching pattern. Comfort+ branding on the seat.
Comfort
VS: I had no seat neighbours, so whilst I couldn't judge the true width, the legroom was ample even when the seat in front reclined. Fabric material and the cushioning was good. Didn't feel uncomfortable as the flight went on. 34"/86cm pitch according to VS.com
DL: My seat neighbour was a ~4/5 year old girl so she didn't exactly invade my space. Again, this made true width hard to judge!! Legroom was also sufficient, 35"/89cm pitch (according to DL.com). That being said, the seat did start to feel a little hard after half an hour or so. The leather material made me warm after a while.
Overhead bins:
VS: No specifically reserved bins for Delight passengers
DL: Bins above Comfort+ seats were marked as for Comfort+ only
Interlopers
VS: Despite requests not to move to them, some pax ignored this and self-upgraded to ED seats after doors closed. I informed a member of cabin crew and he came round to discuss payment with them.
DL: Not really an issue as only one spare C+ seat, and it was a middle.
Connectivity
VS: Seats came with a UK/US/Euro plug under the seat and USB ports on the monitor
DL: UK/US/Euro plug in between the seats in front, USB ports on the monitor
IFE Screen
VS: 789 had touchscreen. Nice clear picture
DL: Also touchscreen with good picture quality
Side note - the A340-600s serving the daytime JFK-LHR flights do not have this touchscreen capabilities and the IFE screens are quite old. Connectivity is different, I believe there are no plugs but Y seats do have USB if memory serves
So that's it really! Make of that what you will :-) I have not tried Comfort+ during a day flight but if I was in your shoes I would be going for the daytime VS flight JFK-LHR and then have a stab at Comfort+ on the return to see what you make of it.
Let me know if there was anything else you wanted to know!
Thank you!
I just returned today on Comfort + from AMS to JFK. It was an old 767-400 and I was at 15F which was the bulkhead. The legroom was tight actually as Seatguru warned. On the flight from JFK to CDG, I was in 10C which is a bulkhead aisle in the center and the legroom plus seat were VERY comfortable.
To clarify, your JFK to LHR daytime on VS had no IFE or the IFE was not of the touchscreen variety? If the latter, how did you operate the IFE?
The daytime flight is appealing. Here's the thing. I would need wheelchair service so if I do VS to LHR and DL back to JFK, should I book the tickets on the DL website as I have Skymiles with them and would that get me wheelchair at JFK upon departure and at LHR upon arrival on VS if I book with DL? With my back condition, flying now means wheelchair service at departing and arriving airports.