Yes, that means champagne. Bridgetown airport appeared pretty much deserted, and there were no more than two other passengers in the check-in and security areas. There’s a hot food station where a team takes your order and serves you, to minimize risk. The hot main courses are served in disposable cardboard containers. As a reminder, I travelled to New York as the guest of Virgin Atlantic on the official media flight to celebrate the A350 launch. My areas of expertise are airline and hotel loyalty, all things British Airways and oneworld, as well as how to stay in the finest hotels for less. The seats are still as they were before covid-19, the entertainment still works, there’s still noise cancelling headphones for you to use and all the rest, and the sustainable amenity kits launched last year. After the turbulent time … Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Virgin Australia’s 737 business class. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly... Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class business class product used to be one of the most fun business class products around. Some airlines are back, others are not, and it’s just hard to know what to expect these days. In one of the sweeter things that’s ever happened to me on a plane, one of the crew members, Yuki, made an origami swan for our 8 month old daughter, Olive. Jayne Hrdlicka, who started in the role of Virgin Australia Group chief executive on Wednesday, has launched a strategic review of the airline's business class … © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. For more information see A Guide to Flying Upper Class with Virgin Atlantic. Virgin took first deliveries last year of its outstanding Airbus A350-1000 fleet, and planes continue to trickle in. The blog has been featured on Radio 4, Daily Mail, CNBC and i newspaper. At the boarding gate, there was something comfortable and soothing about still seeing the same – famed Vivienne Westwood red coats. On the Sydney-Brisbane route, Qantas business class showed at a steady $900, with Virgin's business class fares again at $449 and $599. We had both, with the 787 outbound to New York and A350 back from Los Angeles. And following this article, I’m reasonably sure that I will fly Virgin Atlantic in December and forget about the other airline…the former Cruz ship. Virgin claimed to be offering a full service, but were they? Fly with another, and you might not know covid-19 had changed the world, minus the mask you wore on board. However, until the U.S. reopens to travelers from the U.K., it still leaves Virgin Atlantic in a precarious position due to their U.S. heavy route network. After a quick stroll across the tarmac to the Boeing 787 aircraft, it was time to see what the pre-departure experience was like. I’d say that’s a good thing, because the flying experience is nowhere near as changed or different as many would expect. Full-size wine bottles were used instead of the plastic mini bottles many airlines are using, and top-ups were plentiful. These famously say underneath "pinched from Virgin Atlantic." I’m not much of a drinker on planes, but knowing that many airlines are serving economy cabin wines to premium customers, it was nice to see Virgin Atlantic hasn’t cheap’ed out and taken then easy way. The cabin was clean and fresh. A brand new Upper Class experience on the Virgin Atlantic A350s is providing business class passengers with a spectacular new start and end to their flights. I am based in the UK but normally spend a lot of my time flying round the world. You could immediately tell that this would be a great flight from their friendly and fun demeanor. Virgin Atlantic always offered one of the best and most enjoyable ways to fly business class with Upper Class, the cabin originally launched by Richard Branson to bring first class features to the business class cabin, and as an avid flyer, I was really curious to see if the things I enjoyed before still existed today. It was very clean and bright and cheerful. 737 Business Class seat features include: Luxury leather; Generous recline; 38 inch (96.5 cm) seat pitch; Comfort. Outright Virgin Australia business class redemptions cost 35,500 points. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. This consisted of a small range of snacks, such as sandwiches and crisps. I have spent 27 years working in the travel industry with a large proportion of that spent working in Air Traffic Control. Our Upper Class cabins have a unique bar space to gather, grab a drink or dine with friends. Whenever that change to testing meaningfully happens, expect Virgin and other airlines previously based in T3 to make their way back home. With Virgin Australia emerging from bankruptcy as a leaner operation with an exclusively narrow body fleet of Boeing 737 jets, the era of fully flat beds in domestic Business Class is no longer.. Back in 2012, Virgin Australia upped the ante by launching their ‘Coast to Coast’ service with a few older Airbus A330’s formerly flying for Emirates. Virgin Staff and (kosher) food were all excellent. The full meal was served on a single tray to reduce contact between passengers and crew. With a range of cabin classes available with Virgin Atlantic, you can design the way want to fly, so take a look at all the different cabins and seating options. Their recent enhancements, such as non-expiry of frequent flyer miles and tier points on reward bookings, are likely to help win back customers. Not in business class. Sadly the welcome glass of champagne has disappeared, and instead, you are handed a bottle of water. Yuki is excellent at her job, I have had the honour of flying with her twice SFO to LHR in 2016 and JFK to LHR in 2017. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. Wi-fi was available and, although a little patchy at times, was reasonable value at $19.95 (£14.99) for 150mb. This flight was very lightly loaded, with just 15 passengers in business class and only about 60 passengers in economy. Maybe once a vaccine emerges, but even then…. Flying is generally much safer than people think during covid-19 anyway, but every little helps. Required fields are marked *. Gone forever is the 2-3-2 business class configuration replaced by individual suites that are more at home in most airline’s first class cabins, while premium economy – now just Premium – has more leg room than most standard domestic business class. Drinks were served from proper glasses even if they were standard airline glasses rather than the usual Virgin stemless wine glasses. Upgrades to a business class ticket for a long-haul international flights. The seats in business class cabins are arranged in different ways. Virgin Atlantic's range of salt and pepper shakers. Same cabin, same uniforms, just some extra masks. That’s likely contingent upon the UK removing impractical 14 day quarantine measures in favor of safer, covid-19 testing based solutions, which they say they’re “looking at”. Pre-departure it’s bottled water, but once airborne I was ecstatic to see a proper drink trolley come around, with full sized bottles of wine, booze and champagne. Virgin Atlantic has their transatlantic soft product down to a science, especially for these painfully short East Coast to London flights. There was a least a lounge for Virgin Upper Class passengers, although the decor was a little dated. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Final Thoughts. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Back to the 787, and you’ll find 31 flat-bed business class seats in a 1-1-1 format. However, there was also an individually wrapped bread roll and cheese with crackers making it more than enough food for most people. There was no starter at all and no choice of dessert. There was complimentary WiFi which worked fine. Virgin Airlines Business Class benefits One of the longest fully flat beds in Business Class, up to 82” in length and 33” width, with full lumbar support and soft leather exterior • Seat comes with its own ottoman which doubles as a seat for a guest, so business can be done with a colleague, or a drink can be shared with a friend A pastry and fresh fruit salad accompanied the main course. With so few people (sadly) flying, the extra space gave me great peace of mind when traveling to catch up with family and being able to enjoy the finer points like multi course meals and business class level wines made it feel all that much more “normal”. After a quick contactless scan, it was time to board. Will US Flyers Need To Provide COVID-19 Test Results After Passenger Death? I certainly wasn’t going to be happy with a ziplock bag and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, no matter how enjoyable one may be. I missed the Virgin Clubhouse for sure, but I was impressed with how Virgin has adapted, without compromising on things purely for the reason of cutting costs. Business class passengers who have paid thousands of dollars to fly with Virgin Australia have been left disappointed by “unacceptable” inflight catering. Would Virgin Atlantic Upper Class just be a bigger seat and a nicer blanket during covid-19, or the same fun and jazzy experience that made travel feel like something special, and something more. My true passion has always been travelling in luxury for the lowest possible price. One of the most popular configurations is a “herringbone” layout that provides an easy access to the aisle for each passenger. You may opt-out by. Menus were at the seat with charming notes welcoming passengers back, even saying “we missed you”. Business class passengers have sole use of the bathroom at the front of the plane. Barbados, along with many Caribbean islands, is a safer choice for travel during Covid-19 due to their strict protocols. Surely it’s actually the exact time to invest in customers to show they why you are worth spending money with. If you ask me, Virgin Atlantic has here. No one is coming to visit the UK when they can’t leave their hotel room door for 14 days. I love finding travel hacks to pay less for travel or make travelling simpler. It contains such goodies as Ren toiletries, a Bamboo handled toothbrush by Bambuu and some rather snazzy socks. A slightly less fun addition was the new ubiquitous airline "hygiene" pack, which contained wipes, hand gel, and face masks. Fare Details: Travel restrictions: No travel end date. “From this week, our business class guests will enjoy a selection of tea, coffee, wine, beer, and soft drinks onboard, and from next week they’ll also enjoy a more substantial food offering,” Virgin Australia’s spokesperson said. Upgrades are well within reach if you have a stash of Velocity points sitting in your account waiting for a rainy day. The 737s are outfitted with eight business class recliner seats, in two rows of a 2-2 configuration. Following a successful kidney transplant in 2016, I decided to turn my hobby into a full-time job and launched my blog Turning Left for Less about luxury travel for less. My true passion has always been travelling in. Last Minute Deals! The dessert and cheese plates had a little plastic dome on top, but I actually like that. In almost every way, it was the latter. Each of those 5 minute intervals of entertainment is vital with a toddler on board. Photo: Virgin Australia. It felt safe, fun, stuffing and enjoyable. The 'a' seats on Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class. Gordon “Butch” Stewart Changed The Way The World Went On Vacation, Hawaii: Kauai Launches Two Ways For Travelers To Avoid Quarantine, 2021 Luxury Hotel Openings, Live Abroad Inexpensively, Emirates’ New Business Class And More. The crew was eager to make up beds for passengers while you got yourself ready for bed with the help of the Ren toiletries provided in the washrooms. 24/7 Live Support. Part 1 of our A350 Upper Class Suite review can be found here . Upgrade to Business Class on Virgin in 2020. A small, but positive side effect of covid-19 is that it forced a lot of airline clunkers into retirement. Watch this space for an update. Many airlines have been using Covid-19 as an excuse to cut back on airport and onboard services as they struggle for survival. Virgin Atlantic’s new business class seat lacks storage. I have spent 27 years working in the travel industry with a large proportion of that spent working in Air Traffic Control. The team, who I must say was about as friendly and welcoming as can be, were around quickly to take meal orders. When you look at the two popular “off the shelf” reverse herringbone products out there, both have storage. However, they do provide a wide sleeping space and a large solid table for working or eating. Wine was served in the usual crystal glasses, tray tables were dressed with the usual cloth table setting, the beloved ‘Wilbur & Orville’ salt and pepper shakers live on, and everything but the main course was plated on actual dishes, with real cutlery too. Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouses have a space to suit every kind of traveller – whether you want to chill with a cocktail or find a quiet spot to work – and are reserved for Upper Class passengers and Flying Club Gold members. The Caribbean yakitori chicken looked something of a mess, but was similar to a very flavorful Bajan version of an Indian biryani rice dish. I write about travel specialising in airlines and luxury travel for less, EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Why Capitol Rioters Are Unlikely To Land On The No-Fly List Anytime Soon. Perhaps that is the best way of summing up Virgin Australia’s radical upgrade of its international fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs. The Plaza Premium T2 space is surprisingly nice. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. For Melbourne-Brisbane business class, Qantas varied between $817 and $1,163, compared to Virgin Australia's $549 and $699. Yes. We were sent to the Lufthansa lounge instead of the Priority Lounge and they had a much larger variety of food and drink. Fortunately, the renowned Virgin Atlantic plane-shaped salt and pepper shake were still on the tray. Initially, these were not quite dark enough to block light entirely, but recent 787 models have had windows that have a darker setting. The staff helped you to what you needed from the buffet, and there was also a separate makeshift tended bar to get a beer or glass of wine. Unfortunately, one of Virgin Atlantic's most fun features, the onboard bar is not available. I still have a few Delta miles to spend, and I wouldn’t hesitate to try to use them on Virgin Atlantic again. More by Gilbert Ott. If you’re not lucky enough to get the flagship A350, you’ll get the 787 Dreamliner, which offers the old Upper Class seats, but with a much better cabin experience, and gigantic windows. This Boeing 787 had the older Virgin Atlantic seats, which flip over into a flatbed. Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. The Upper Class bar slash social space on each aircraft is a bit of a grey area, but that’s the only remotely different bit. Upper Class cabins offer roomy leather seats that double as sumptuous flat beds, ensuring you arrive refreshed and ready for anything. Some business class cabins feature self-contained seats that resemble suites typical of first class. The first thing I was thrilled to see was that pillows and bedding were in tact, to pre covid-19 levels. We encourage our Business Class guests to download the Virgin Australia Entertainment App, available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, to their device prior to their next flight. They lack any substantial storage space at the seat and can be quite hard when in bed mode. *Amenity Kits only offered on flights departing between 1900-0259. The flight in this article was from Barbados back to the U.K. in early November. Many shops were closed, but it's hard to tell if it was due to the late departure time or Covid. There’s a dividing wall between the A seats on the left and the central G seats, so you may find A seats (shown below) a little more private. In Virgin Atlantic A350 Upper Class: The storage area next to the seat is small, and is exposed, and really isn’t big enough to store anything. Among other changes, the beds will no longer need flipping and the bar will become a lounge. After a taxi to the runway by tug, which seemed more extended than for a flight departing Heathrow, it was finally time to get airborne. Virgin Australia business class upgrades on transcontinental flights start from 9,900 points for a flexible economy ticket. Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. On board, there’s not much else to talk about, at least not in any meaningful way. Virgin Atlantic now have a new Upper Class Suite which feature on their Airbus 350s. Virgin companies encourage employees to bring their personality to work, and it shone through on this flight. Flight Review: Virgin Atlantic's New A350 Upper Class || It's Awesome... Virgin Atlantic A350: Best Seats In Upper Class, Premium And Economy, Kauai's New 'Resort Bubbles' Reboot Island Travel, British Airways Launches 'Buy Before You Fly' Food With Tom Kerridge, Hot Deal: £1270 Business Class London To Seychelles With Qatar Airways, Don't Worry Y'all, 2022 Already Has A Nudist Cruise Scheduled, Korean Air Impressively Delays Points Devaluations To 2023. Entertainment was provided with the high definition TV and a large selection of movies, TV shows, music and games. Business class guests experience second-to-none space and comfort, and exceptional inclusions. I don’t want to think of someone breathing on my food right now before serving it to me. We'll offer you the finest food and drink throughout your journey, so just sit back, relax and let us look after you. Full bedding was supplied with a mattress topper, duvet, and sizeable plump pillow. Virgin have tried to walk the delicate balance of Covid safety with customer experience. Virgin Australia Business Class cabin only has 8 seats and is in a 2+2 configuration. Onboard our Boeing 737 aircraft will also enjoy a comfort pack**, containing a blanket and pillow, and stylish amenities*. For sure. There is no fast track at Barbados security, but it would be a little pointless when it's this quiet. Learn More{{/message}}, Stay up to date on everything travel, with our handy newsletter, Virgin Atlantic ‘Upper Class’ Business Class Experience During Covid-19. The breakfast was also impressive with three main courses: full English, banana pancakes, or a roasted pepper omelet. Great to read that you have met her. Last time I flew with them I flew in premium economy. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN Virgin Atlantic’s A350 aircraft features one large Business (“Upper”) Class cabin, which is located in the plane’s front section. Your email address will not be published. This time around, Virgin Australia can’t even call it a Luke Mangan inspired chickpea mix. 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