Review: Virgin Atlantic A330neo Upper Class Business Class (LHR-MIA)

Having flown this plane last year, the loft is a major lost opportunity. The Virgin bar used to be a unique, fun space that attracted guests. Now, it sits empty, or as you saw, is just another area for passengers to pick up snacks.

Due to fly this configuration in May and very much looking forward to it. I’ve noticed on the A350 & B787 that the curtains between PE & J are often left open so this is becoming a common feature but never seen PE guests using the Loft. Ben not sure if you received the pre meal order email 24hrs before your flight but there is quite a selection but seems not everyone get the email however there is a link you can use. Another vote here for the bar to be reintroduced.

Flew this plane in November, 3rd flight for "Tom". My experience was opposite of Luckys in many respects, especially crew related. "Sorry sir, you can't use the front lavatory" I was in row 2. Then later "Sorry sir, you can't use the lavatory, captain expects turbulence in the next 15 mintues." What?? Seat belt sign was off, I ignored her. Food was terrible as well, chicken breast smaller than a chicken thigh and dry. Yes pjs on the overnight flight, I'm 6 feet, they gave me a small and when I asked for a large they said ok, but never came back with it. Lucky mentions that the pod is small, try and sleep in it. Worst sleeping experience in J I can recall. Footwell is 1/2 as wide as my computer bag.

But I agree the cabin is beautiful. Hope others have better experience than I had, big let down for me.

I think I'll keep targeting the A350-1000 flights when possible, the reverse herringbone seat they have is great and those seats on the A330 seem tighter. Btw I love that chicken parfait and I hope they keep it hah! Also I may or may not have stolen a couple of these coffee mugs ;)...

Why are they not getting full 5 stars?

Dirty lavatory?

I don't want any PE customers using my onboard lounge. Peasants should stay behind the curtain and use their own bathrooms.

And petty second service

Ben: You mention "My flight was departing from gate 34, with boarding scheduled for 11:25AM, 55 minutes before departure"
How much in advance was the boarding gate for your flight posted? For my last flight from T3 (on Virgin) the gate was not posted until less until less than an hour before stated departure time. This was an annoyance since the Priority Pass lounges were full and we had to wait in the general waiting zoo.

My experience matches yours. I recently flew LAX-LHR-TLV-LHR-LAX all on VS. Never again will I fly a VS 787 with those awful flipperoo biz seats. The A350-1000 biz seat is much better than the 787, as the A350 seat is a real biz seat. The food was "interesting". Normally I always take pictures of my airplane meals, but I passed on taking pics of VS meals. The plated food did not look appetising, and many times the food was plated on an incorrectly sized plate. Very odd. As for the crew, some were attentive and friendly. Others just did not want to be there, and this really affected the vibe of the flight. Again, very odd. I don't see myself flying VS any time in the near future.

Next week will be my fourth trip on this. The Loft seems kinda dark and gloomy. I haven't seen anyone sit there yet. Just seems to be used for snacks.
I do find the seat to be a little narrow, but more than that, when watching the screen the distance seems a couple of inches too close. Not so that I would pick BA though.

Are you serious?

I agree with his sentiment although one might word it differently.

You typically mention to pick the seat closest to the window as being the best, but as a passenger of size I prefer the seat closest to the aisle. It can be to narrow and claustrophobic to squeeze into the seat closest to the window.

I do appreciate you mentioning the narrower wide body plane equating to narrower seats. That has been my experience as well.

From VA's website: "The Loft is available to customers flying Upper Class on our A330neo and selected Airbus A350 aircraft."

Seems like it's not for PE passengers

Agreed. IF ever flying VS again would be on a350 only. Putting that fliperoo seat as you call it on the 787 is a real head scratcher. Same on New Zealand 787. They have to be the absolute worst.

I think they should've stuck with the bar and used very thick curtains to reduce noise. As they went with the loft, if no business class passengers are using it at least someone is, PE passengers, so let them.

That's easily the best beer selection I've seen on an airplane, not like that's saying much but it's nice they put a little bit of effort into it.

Now you need to do a honestly positive review of an international business class American carrier. You seem to like these European and Asian ones more than our own.

Indeed

Its an A330 complete with higher cabin altitude, dryness and small windows with fat engines. BFD!

The starter is surely chicken liver parfait - not sure why they omitted ‘liver’ from the menu. Weak and slightly odd choice between that and beets with goat cheese, although I appreciate the intention behind being more adventurous than offering soup, salad, smoked salmon, etc.

Food presentation and perhaps quality looks better than BA, but choice significantly worse, and pre-landing meal smaller. Perhaps they justify that on the grounds that they officially offer dessert and cheese with the main meal, whereas BA officially doesn’t in J.

Espresso coffee is a pro, as is offering some interesting non alcoholic drinks, but water in a can is a con unless it can be re-sealed once opened.

Is the lack of comment with regard to the 'Ruby Sipper' cocktail telling? Anyone care to comment?

I flew with them recently to Nassau in Upper Class, and was disappointed with the food offered compared to BA Clubworld. Crew were more organised on return flight. Think they should offer a proper afternoon tea service ex London.

Great review!

A bit curious as to what you were expecting from a chicken parfait. This looks exactly as I would expect a chicken parfait to look...

Was supposed to fly this in May but got switched to A333. Am really sad. Looks like a great experience.

Was that a DC8 upon landing in MIA, or is it some other four holer?

Stars don't really seem to have any consistency or meaning around here sadly!

Could I ask why you usually select a seat in the last row of the business cabin?

@ James -- Yep! See this post:
https://onemileatatime.com/insights/business-class-seat-selection/

I find your comments on activities of other passengers to retract from reviews of the product.

Pleased to hear your flight experience w/VS was a good one, esp. after the BA First let down (my two most underwhelming flights w/BA were in First and Steerage). The individual air nozzles attention to detail is always a moment of amusement for me as I forget about your focus on that in-flight feature.
It seems LHR is quite a popular destination from SEA presently. VS, BA, DL (I *think*), and AA all offer nonstops. My loyalty has always been w/BA as they've waived some fees for me in the past.
VS, however is an appealing alternative, after reading your flight review.

Cheers

I bet you're fun at parties and funerals, dear.

"I come here to cavil."

Do you think it was eliminated due to complaints of chavs behaving like an inbred coster's night out? The Loft thing seems like the millionaires suites on RMS Titanic: lots of space for so few passengers. And it does look dismal. Is it some pale imitation of Ethihad's Apartment?

Given the chicken liver parfait looks exactly like chicken liver parfait, I do wonder how it wasn't what was expected?

Another great review as always. This just looks so superior to BA First. Ben, if you paid cash for the two types of tickets, what would the approx difference be ? It seems to be hugely better value ( and product ) to fly on virgin in the “lesser”
Business class ?

Because the menu doesn't mention liver. Maybe this is a common dish in the UK but it is not in the US and, given the international nature of the flight, the menu should have been significantly clearer. I would have been horrified if I had been served that - would not have been at all what I would have expected from the menu description.

Aluminium cans are not better than PET bottles for the environment. Several studies have already proven this.

Data? Aluminum is infinitely recycleable without loss and is valuable enough that the vast majority gets recycled. The energy cost of aluminum production is less than plastics. In addition, creating plastics requires extraction of fossil fuels, much of it isn't recycled, creating huge environmental impacts of plastics in water and the recycling process was recently found to create microplastics, that are now found in most of our food and bodies. All very bad effects.

Where are your facts?

um, because they're better?

Flew back from JFK last night.
Loved the new suite. Much better than those on the B787 and older A330s. Also better than the newer A350s without a door and its way too tight footwell.
Also, there absolutely is a curtain to stop PE passengers from using the loft