VS - Bad business seats and config
#16
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 756
I'm a classic 'grass is greener' case with almost any airline J product. I long for BA on VS, and vice versa; I long for the DL 'coffin' on AA and vice versa. Ultimately these J - even F - cabins are flying dormitories, and it's hard to escape that at some point. I just mix it up these days.
And in the back of mind is some rose-tinted memory of my student flying days, when I'd take the early morning flights to London out of NYC (in the hope that these were not so full), and I'd put up the armrests across four or five Y seats in the middle section, and sleep like a baby. I'm sure it was - in reality - horrendously uncomfortable, but I have been known - when finding it hard to get to sleep in BA F - thinking fondly of those days!
And in the back of mind is some rose-tinted memory of my student flying days, when I'd take the early morning flights to London out of NYC (in the hope that these were not so full), and I'd put up the armrests across four or five Y seats in the middle section, and sleep like a baby. I'm sure it was - in reality - horrendously uncomfortable, but I have been known - when finding it hard to get to sleep in BA F - thinking fondly of those days!
#17
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,211
I'm a classic 'grass is greener' case with almost any airline J product. I long for BA on VS, and vice versa; I long for the DL 'coffin' on AA and vice versa. Ultimately these J - even F - cabins are flying dormitories, and it's hard to escape that at some point. I just mix it up these days.
And in the back of mind is some rose-tinted memory of my student flying days, when I'd take the early morning flights to London out of NYC (in the hope that these were not so full), and I'd put up the armrests across four or five Y seats in the middle section, and sleep like a baby. I'm sure it was - in reality - horrendously uncomfortable, but I have been known - when finding it hard to get to sleep in BA F - thinking fondly of those days!
And in the back of mind is some rose-tinted memory of my student flying days, when I'd take the early morning flights to London out of NYC (in the hope that these were not so full), and I'd put up the armrests across four or five Y seats in the middle section, and sleep like a baby. I'm sure it was - in reality - horrendously uncomfortable, but I have been known - when finding it hard to get to sleep in BA F - thinking fondly of those days!
#18
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 756
And, yes, that is a pig flying by the window...
#19
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,211
If we enter slightly into fantasy-land, what I'd really like from a J product is a slightly bigger (wider, longer) version of the DL One "coffin" (I like my privacy, and I don't mind being cocooned), with VS style of service, and the kind of catering one finds on AF/JL/NH J, with a simple, functioning loyalty mileage programme which has good opportunities in the US and Europe (the closest is probably BA/AA via ow).
And, yes, that is a pig flying by the window...
And, yes, that is a pig flying by the window...
#21
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,211
A330 UC
Have all 10 A330's been updated by now with the 1-1-1 configuration or is there still a chance I could end up in a 1-2-1 configuration? And does the new configuration feature their AVOD with touch screen as well as a USB charger so I can charge my devices instead of the old chargers that needed an adapter?
#22
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Gold, Virgin Trains Traveller, Her Majesties Secret Service.
Posts: 407
Have all 10 A330's been updated by now with the 1-1-1 configuration or is there still a chance I could end up in a 1-2-1 configuration? And does the new configuration feature their AVOD with touch screen as well as a USB charger so I can charge my devices instead of the old chargers that needed an adapter?
The 330-200's (ex Air Berlin) have different cabins right now, and thats details here.
#23
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,211
Yes all the 330-300's have been updated. They are now all 1-1-1. The new configuration does feature Vera touch and a USB charger. There is also the usual universal power in the seat pocket next to you, although it can be hard to use depending on the shape of your power adapter. 333 and 789 both have the universal power. Only the A340 uses the old Empower configuration now. More details here.
The 330-200's (ex Air Berlin) have different cabins right now, and thats details here.
The 330-200's (ex Air Berlin) have different cabins right now, and thats details here.
Per the VS link, it seems A340's have USB power as well. Is that correct? Do all A340's have that?
#24
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Gold, Virgin Trains Traveller, Her Majesties Secret Service.
Posts: 407
I can't remember where the USB is on the 340 - probably on the screen housing like all of the others, but I cannot remember - haven't flown the 340 Upper much.
#25
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,246
The argument that the "VS seat isn't bad" is true when comparing to BA which is terrible. DL seats (both on the 767 and A330) provide more privacy and more room to maneuver.
In certain markets (NYC, ATL, MSP) you can pick DL
In certain markets (NYC, ATL, MSP) you can pick DL
#26
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,211
Agreed that DL is preferred
#27
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
I'm sorry but you should have done your research before not after booking and handing over your cash.
The VS seat isn't perfect but nor is the BA CW seat which also has limited storage and the vast majority of seats have no direct aisle access (100% do on VS) and on BA you are also looking at someone opposite if you are on the aisle plus on VS you are not actually facing someone elses face.
The VS seat isn't perfect but nor is the BA CW seat which also has limited storage and the vast majority of seats have no direct aisle access (100% do on VS) and on BA you are also looking at someone opposite if you are on the aisle plus on VS you are not actually facing someone elses face.
#28
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,683
The majority of BA's business class seats actually do have direct aisle access - around 2/3. Taking the two largest aircraft, the hi-J 747 has 59/86 business class seats with direct aisle access, and the A380 has 62/97. It still isn't 100% like VS, granted. Personally I'd prefer a BA window business class seat without direct aisle access to the virgin set up.
#29
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
I think this is slightly misleading. When people say direct aisle access, I think part of that is that others have direct aisle access without climbing over them, or waking them to get out. I don't dispute your calculation, just that direct aisle access in the context of these complaints is a bit more nuanced than it's literal meaning.
#30
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
I think this is slightly misleading. When people say direct aisle access, I think part of that is that others have direct aisle access without climbing over them, or waking them to get out. I don't dispute your calculation, just that direct aisle access in the context of these complaints is a bit more nuanced than it's literal meaning.