Virgin Atlantic has 16 Airbus A330-900neos on order, the first of which will be delivered shortly. We knew that Virgin Atlantic would be installing a new business class product on these planes, and we now know what to expect. There’s even an additional surprise, as Virgin Atlantic is introducing something better than business class for…
Continue reading: Details: New Virgin Atlantic A330-900neo Upper Class, Retreat Suite
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Looking forward to the seat, however, I'm bummed that they're still going with the loft concept. I tried it out a few months ago on the A350 and found it to be a huge disappointing dud. The space is not inviting at all.
I flew on a connecting flight to tel aviv on the 787 and the cabin ambiance was way better. The 787 bar was way more inviting. Found it to be a good distraction through out the flight.
Economy is what it calls me the attention of course. I'd the NEOs would replace the older CEOs, that means I would see them on Orlando Florida and Fort Lauderdale in the coming time 🙂
I'd like to echo the other comment on the Loft - it is purely a cost savings initiative that removes the cost of a fun bar. On my recent A350 flight, the Loft was more or less empty (aside from me) all flight. They should bring back the bars.
Otherwise the plane is fine. Economy and premium economy look increasingly like good options on the LHR to JFK flight given it is about 6 hours and they devalued Upper Class meaningfully by getting rid of the bar.
I predicted a while ago that VS's A330neos would basically use the same type of seat concept as DL's A330neos.
Hopefully the standard J seat will have more storage than the new A350 seats. Flew one recently and there was hardly anywhere to put your stuff.
Doors, schmoors, don't give a rat's arse about this weird fetish. The seats look decent enough.
But that in-flight "lounge"/bar space is an anti-feature. The last thing I want is to have a party of drunken idiots making noise and barfing all over a shared space near my business class seat. STFU and go back to your seats.
Seats look great. But I'm curious where Virgin is getting all of the money to fund this. It's not as if they're flush with cash. Branson can only fund so much of the Virgin brand.
I just flew UC LHR-AUS on a 787-9 - judging by that trip, the "bar" is just now basically a desk/office for whomever is first/fast to jump out of their seat fast enough when the seat-belt sign turns off, so they can spread out among the space there, and the crew enable it, by setting them up for meal service etc.
When will those god awful 787 biz seats be replaced? I will never (never ever!) ride in those 787 biz seats again. I will gladly fly a competitor with a superior seat.
I mean, they already ordered the planes, a while ago, and they have to put some seats on them.
Ordered typically means they made a down payment. These planes ain't paid in full.
That how all the airline have the 787, some worst than others. The real winner is Japan airlines which 2-4-2 on them. Main reason why airlines have 3-3-3 is because it gives them more profit and if you want more comfortable seats of course, you have to go to premium economy or up. That how it works.
This is just a jazzed-up version of DL's One on it's A330, with a door.
The retreat seats will garner miles of press and attract people to the cabin in general, but the regular J seats are just Delta's config.
I hope these new seats come with air-vents as that is a problem with Virgin biz seats too hot and no vents!!!
Initially I kind of dig this concept. As someone on the taller side a longer bed is always a plus. A lot of business class footwells are also a bit tight nowadays too. I’d gladly pay the upgrade fee even for a shorter East coast flight.
Other than the fact that they look way better than Delta's sterile 1990's blue and gray office color scheme, and have better connectivity options
Agreed. They may as well just black out the windows on planes with that config given you're never gonna be able to look out of them
LOL. Could otherwise wet lease them to Frontier or Ryanair for their new seat concept of just stack the passengers on top of each other 😉
I know what he is telling, just that what we can do?♂️ Virgin Atlantic and other airlines which the 787 haven't use the proper seats. That all I was telling
Agree on both counts. Don't get this fascination with doors. The "lounge" is less so and more so a "bench." However, the "Bench" doesn't sound as sexy as the "Lounge."
Virgin really is one of the best airlines in terms of "thinking different" in my opinion. Yes the club house isn't quite what it used to be (in LHR) but everything about the experience is a little different and interesting. It's refreshing to fly with them if you usually trudge around on British Airways. I also find the cabin crew consistently excellent.
Sorry, thought we were just talking about the seats themselves. As for the planes, not sure but I do remember Virgin Atlantic got a cash infusion late last year (partially from Delta I think), which probably helps. And even though the planes aren't paid in full upon order they usually have financing arranged a few years in advance.
Clearly , If they could have logistically placed the extra space seats in a window location do you not think they would have done that - ♂️
No, he is referencing their business class seats, which isn't how all the airlines have the 787. Air France, KLM, and Air Canada have much better business seats.
Yes, 100%. My last flight on Virgin I had exactly that. BTW the flight attendants were just pouring and pouring the bubbly non stop, actually encouraging the drunken feast!
As someone familiar with VS corporate culture…
It’s impossible to sell a row of seats as a different product, unless truly a separate cabin.
VS loves PR stunts, and this is just another one. It must be tiring to work in the PR department.
Even Richard once said: can I retire without doing all of these stunts?
You don't consider the bars on some of the mid east airlines a social space?
Agree I don't know what the big deal about the doors is.