Virgin Atlantic has just announced plans to update the cabins of its Boeing 787-9s, which has to be one of the most overdue cabin overhauls out there, at least among reputable airlines. Separately, the Heathrow-based SkyTeam carrier has also revealed it will introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi.
Continue reading: Finally: Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787s Get Cabin Overhaul, New Business Class
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I hope they keep the bar and not replace it with the crappy "lounge" that the A350 has.
Couldn't care less about the herringbone. Honestly speaking, I doubt most other premium fliers do either.
Biggest complaint with the seat that I've seen (and personally share) is the fact that you have to get up and manually turn them down, or have the staff do it for you. By the time you get to lay down, you're not even sleepy anymore. Same problem on Singapore's longhaul aircraft.
I don't see that as a problem, having flown SQ several times. Normal people get up to use the toilet, a perfect time to put the seat down. The layout is just weird with no window views, no privacy and limited width. Pretty much anything else out there is better.
About time but 2028 is a long lead in time and a lot can change, it’s making great PR for sure what with the other announcements today, let’s hope they can deliver.
Actually, some of us have not experienced the same difficulties I’Synn. SQ A380 Suits have been one of our favourite rides to SIN.
@ImmortalSynn, that is part of the Herringbone critique though. It's not just the slim space, it's the overall seat design.
Brilliant news... selfishly I wish VS had decided to keep the A330 at SEA for a couple more years while waiting these 787 renovations, but sadly that is not the case.
It's okay though. Delta One lounge access will tide me over until then.
I think VS publicly admitted getting rid of the bar was a mistake in hindsight, right?
Redacted - the 787 bar is being removed. It's not in the press release but I was with Shai tonight at the London event and it has to go to fit in the extra Upper Class seats.
Whilst Virgin is officially saying that 14 787s will remain in the fleet, it seems they have the flexibility to keep more if demand and/or slots and/or 330neo delivery delays require it.
did they? not aware of that. I mean, it wouldn't surprise me. I flew their A350 and 787 back to back. I found the new "lounge" space to be such a dud compared to the bar. There was nothing that made you want to go there and hang out.
Add to that the fact that the new A350 seat wasn't as comfy and I hoped it'd be, especially in bed mode. I went in expecting to like the A350 experience more ended up liking the 787 experience a lot more, even with the sub-par seat.
VS undoubtedly got good lease renewal rates on the 787s but also is going with some of the most premium configurations on the 787-9 and A330NEOs which should put pressure on premium cabin fares to/from LHR.
I just talked w/ a friend who flew VS to LHR on their 35K and back on DL's 339 and they preferred the DL seat.
It will be interesting to see what DL comes up on for a new seat on its 35Ks which could be the basis for the 330CEO retrofits.
What a bizarre comparison, considering Virgin and Delta use the same exact seat on the A330neos, except Virgin's is nicer with things like wireless charging, Bluetooth audio, nicer finishes.
although DL and VS use same platform on their 339s, I simply relayed a person's preference. They did not fly VS' 339; they flew their 35K.
Just like everything else that is an opinion, it is theirs. including perception of finishes.
and DL is adding wireless charging to the seats on its new 350s which is the same platform - the Vantage XL - they have used since they introduced the 350.
as Ben notes, updating technology is easier than the seat platform which is typically a 10 year investment for airlines
The VS351 seat is not wearing well, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them getting the A339 seating in time. VS already reupholstered the worst seats but they will need doing every few years, you can clearly see spot repairs to the shell as well and the table mechanisms are also glitching.
what kind of privacy do you think you get in an airline seat just by flipping it the opposite direction
There's not that many routes where people can choose to fly VS A350s vs Delta A330neos though.
The only Delta hubs with LHR service that also see VS A350Ks are JFK and ATL. Most of the time you're not choosing between the two at all.
Glad they don’t have the people at delta calling the shots at virgin anymore. They’d be refurbing the ex air Berlin a330s given their obsession with airbus.
You may as well compare Ryanair with Qatar Airways then, if you're not going to compare the same routes.
Not liking the VS A350 seat has absolute zero decision making influence, if I'm not flying to/from LHR.
Branson said removing the bar was a mistake. However the company seems not to care about it.
It’s was at its best in the 747 configurations of the late 2000s, but even the slimmed down 787 version is far superior than the useless Loft area.
Lol what are you talking about Air New Zealand has these same ancient seats. And they fly them longer distances !
Yes like Virgin they say they will get rid of them but it will be YEARS
Tim tell us how many Business class seats United will have on its 787-9s.
So before you come out with "fake facts"
I have yet to fly Virgin Atlantic or Air NZ in J, simply because of the apparently terrible seat layout in many/all their fleets. What I don't get (and each to their own) is why some want a bar more than they care about the actual J seat, layout, and orientation.
I don't think it's necessarily that many people want the bar *more* as it is some folks want the bar *as well*. VS has advertised its onboard bar as an integral part of its Upper Class soft product for decades. Loyal flyers will see it as a defining part of the VS experience, and having that decent and useful social space would be a big part of the reason why many customers have developed such a loyalty to VS. When you start ripping out all the elements of VS that make it unique and worth flying on, why bother being loyal to them? Spend your £ with BA and get the same boring copy & paste onboard experience as every other airline out there, but with a much more expensive network and global connectivity.
It's so disappointing they're moving away from this rather than evolving it. Their sister airline Virgin Australia had an incredible onboard bar on their 777s back when they were flying them. I don't know why VS didn't basically copy that design (all be it a little less wide) for their A350s instead of this weird and useless "Loft" that seems to get used for storage on many flights...
Ah yes, keeping the comfort of 13.6% at the cost of the rest of the plane suffering.
DL does fly the 339 in/out of LHR so your statement, once again, is what is the problem. and DL and VS are part of the same joint venture that includes ALL of DL's European network.
and people choose airlines based on the business class seat - that has been said in this very comment section. that is why airlines invest in new products.
Seems similar to Starlux where you either get a herringbone or staggered layout.
Is economy suffering? Or is this just Upper Class snobbery being passed off as concern for the poors.
more specifically, all that is relevant is how many seats will UA use on their aircraft on routes that are competitive w/ VS.
read more and argue less
"some of the most premium configurations on the 787-9 and A330NEOs" leaves plenty of room for any other carrier - including UA - to have a more premium configuration.
How about updating those amenity kits? Its not really a 'goodie bag' since you don't want to keep that craft paper crap afterwards. The sun must have really set that far into the horizon.
Why are you mentioning lack of window view when a sizeable majority of fliers close the window shades the moment they get to their seats. I have found this no window view comment so strange given that the window is never used.
Bottom Line (2):
BA will still be flying some Ying Yang "Club World" long after the VS upgrade process is complete
Getting rid of those outdated seats - I remember when they were AMAZING and new- will be wonderful. But losing the bar is sad. However, the reality is that the bars are woefully underutilized and when they do get used it seems to be people being loud in the middle of the night.
I also miss the onboard massages and the super plush amenity kits... there was so much stuff you got two bags - a large bag and a small one!