Virgin Atlantic unveiled new a new business class product for its A350-1000 aircraft yesterday and there’s a lot to like about it. But talk about an anticlimactic moment…
Let’s start with the positive. The new business class seat appears to be a huge improvement over the old seat. The old herringbone seat (that I recently bemoaned on a London to LA flight) is rather uncomfortable in all positions. At least that was my experience, with the important disclaimer that it was still a business class seat.
But a new reverse herringbone seat is coming, specifically the Cirrus NG seat, which will be easily adjustable and far more comfortable in all positions.
The cabin will have a total of 44 seats (11 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration). All seats will be forward-facing. Beds will be 82″ long in full-recline.
And that’s not all. The iconic onboard bar, a staple of every Virgin Atlantic flight, is morphing into a “Loft”, which will feature seating for up to eight (with seatbelts and IFE) and encourage onboard socialization.
Speaking of socialization, that’s the “cheeky” reason Virgin gives for why the new business class seats do not have closing doors. As if doors cannot retract…
Look for the new A350-1000s on routes between London Heathrow and New York beginning this August.
I spoke of the anticlimactic moment not because the business class seats are bad or the new cabin, with individualized mood lighting at every seat, will be half-baked, but becuase Virgin Atlantic had prepared us for this day as if it was introducing a revolutionary, game-changing product.
It is doing neither. But it’s still a great-looking new seat that I look forward to trying out.
images: Virgin Atlantic
The door isn’t really the issue. The bigger issue is it seems how some seats could have the windows partially covered…
I don’t understand why everyone has ignored this. This “new” seat is 4 inches narrower than what Delta uses in business-class. More importantly, it’s 2 inches narrower than what Virgin Atlantic currently uses on the A330 and 747.
PLEASE ADD AN EMAL SUBSCRIPTION OPTION LIKE EVERY OTHER BOARDING AREA BLOG.
i don’t see anything wrong with the width of that seat. It’s par for the course for state of the art offerings.
So it’s a Cirrus seat accompanied by lots of Virgin hype to be followed by lots of Virgin over promise and under delivery.
Equally, I hate the trend at present to block windows with part of the seat. (SQ, looking at you here too).
Plus ça change.
VS kept saying they will be introducing something revolutionary… but they didn’t. I agree it’s still a great seat. I somehow wish they debuted this sometime next year since that aircraft interior conference had some cool offerings for business class seat that can arguably be revolutionary (i.e. the sofa settee corner where the business class seat can act like a sofa to lounge in and relax.) I actually think this would be perfect for TATL flights from the east coast since let’s face it…. you’re not going to get a good night sleep on a 6-7 hour redeye flight like you would on your own bed. I was more excited reading about those seats than Virgin’s.
I became Virgin Atlantic loyal because they hand out miles like candy and I have a friend who was an IT manager with them for years . If I so much as blink or ask for an extra ice cube, I get 10k miles so for a person who travels between London and LA for non business reasons and often VS has been worth some of the things that need the most improvement. I’m a native of Los Angeles living in the UK, and as my dad has advanced Parkinson’s, I fly back to LA three or more times a year. I just got back from LA about two weeks ago and they changed aircraft last minute and I ended up on the old airbus, which, to be fair made me realize how much an improvement the Dreamliners were. That said, I’m really looking forward to this much talked about A350 upper class change.
I’ll dancing in the aisles to see the oddly twisty positioned flat board/beds go,. Twist into an S shape, lay on a board, cover with fluffy duvet and strap down – it’s always felt like my coffin or a claustrophobic nightmare that no sleeping tablet has even helped me appreciate so I am hoping for improved lay flat beds at least. Something a bit kinder to the spine. I find I’m usually more comfortable reclining the seat as much as possible and then snuggling into my duvet. Something very claustrophobic in that configuration I’ll never understand. I recall a passenger in the seat next to me that struggled to get into his cubby, Have no idea how he did it, but he snored and slept his way all night to London.
Is there actually any news on when the new 350 will fly between London and LAX? I can’t seem to nail down his info, perhaps not yet available to find the info? . Also, does anyone have suggestions on shortcuts to find out which routes will get the A350 to LAX and perhaps when? I’m waiting on the hope it will be rolled out for my next flight home this fall… must admit, the loft looks interesting, more social, more a reason to get up. The in flight bar has never appealed to me but an option to get out of your seat and relax in a different space while on board for ten hours promising.