New Upper Class 'Dream Suite'

So who has seen the latest tweet from Virgin? New Cabin looks nice!


{Edited by Pete to clarify the post title}

[Darren Wheeler]

Hi

Yes. It's currently being discussed in this thread

forum/index.php?f=4&t=273011&rb_v=viewtopic

[Pete]

To be fair to the OP, Darren, that thread is probably getting a little unwieldily and several of the initial pages are the speculation before discussion of the actual announcement takes place, so it's probably not a bad idea to let a new thread run now that the new UCDS has 'officially' been announced.

Pete

I've just been looking at the UCDS on the VS website & done the virtual tour of the cabin. First thoughts are that it looks good in a CGI-created mock-up. I await the reports (and hopefully photos) of what it is like in the flesh.

One thought, the new angled bar - surely this will take up too much space by the doors? Am not sure having the spirits cabinet sort of accross the aisle from the bar is a good idea either - then again, if you get a crappy crew like I had outbound to MCO in February, then anything that makes self-service easier is a bonus!

I quite Like it, shame the page doesn't show it in bed mode ( maybe intentional) nor static images of the features.
Bar area not so sure, as layout tends to suggest will often be blocked with CC stuff? For large sways of the flight.
Overall it looks smart/ clean and dare I say " posh"...
Still wary of no clear images in bed mode... Probably so the spin on the length can be had before pax without pointy heads or no shoulders have chance to comment?? ( hope to be proved wrong).
Let's face it, very few actual dined with companion, and if you did it was very cramped, so see no major loss on that front..
Overall a nice first impression.!

I quite Like it, shame the page doesn't show it in bed mode ( maybe intentional) nor static images of the features.
Bar area not so sure, as layout tends to suggest will often be blocked with CC stuff? For large sways of the flight.
Overall it looks smart/ clean and dare I say " posh"...
Still wary of no clear images in bed mode... Probably so the spin on the length can be had before pax without pointy heads or no shoulders have chance to comment?? ( hope to be proved wrong).
Let's face it, very few actual dined with companion, and if you did it was very cramped, so see no major loss on that front..
Overall a nice first impression.!

You can see the seat to bed video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... JOUV5KVgWs

Bar won't be crammed with cabin crew stuff as unlike on the a340 the crew will be working out of the galley at the very front of the aircraft not the galley beside the bar (this is the premium economy galley on the a330)

Let's face it, very few actual dined with companion, and if you did it was very cramped, so see no major loss on that front..

We do, and we'll miss it...

Let's face it, very few actual dined with companion, and if you did it was very cramped, so see no major loss on that front..

We do, and we'll miss it...

Well miss it no longer because VS fully intend on the ottoman being used for couples dining together once final certification of the ottoman belt is given.

I think we all need to try this new cabin for ourselves before we pass too much judgement regarding what we don't like. I was convinced that I didn't like sushi... until I actually tried it for myself.

Let's face it, very few actual dined with companion, and if you did it was very cramped, so see no major loss on that front..

We do, and we'll miss it...

Well miss it no longer because VS fully intend on the ottoman being used for couples dining together once final certification of the ottoman belt is given.

Thanks for the clarification. y)

Article & Pics

Don't get me wrong star guy, you are right. More over prompting debate.
We are very tempted to blow some miles on a weekend in NY as the prospect of the new product looks exciting..!

I believe to read a comment elsewhere saying that the LGW 747's will likely be around until the end of this decade, so another 7-8 years or so of the current UC product flying in tandem with the new suite.

I also read that there is going to be a new TV based advertising campaign for the UCDS, which could (again) lead to comments about the experience not being as advertised given so few aircraft will be fitted with it until 2014 at the earliest.

I believe to read a comment elsewhere saying that the LGW 747's will likely be around until the end of this decade, so another 7-8 years or so of the current UC product flying in tandem with the new suite.

I also read that there is going to be a new TV based advertising campaign for the UCDS, which could (again) lead to comments about the experience not being as advertised given so few aircraft will be fitted with it until 2014 at the earliest.

There will be a tiny bit of text at the bottom of the screen which says "*on selected flights"

There will be a tiny bit of text at the bottom of the screen which says "*on selected flights"

Actually on the new web page it is very clearly stated (and not in small print) that the new UCS is only available six days per week on the VS3/4!

I really don't think that is unreasonable!

What does strike me as odd is that they plan to introduce it on the Delhi and Chicago routes next. I don't object to the choice of destinations at all; I just think it would be preferable if they could unify the JFK route first before moving to others. But that seems very unlikely for a whole host of reasons.

Hello folks, a couple more pics up on the vtravelled blog:
http://blog.vtravelled.com/introducing- ... ass-suite/

I just think it would be preferable if they could unify the JFK route first before moving to others.

Maybe capacity has something to do with it? Substituting more A333 for a A346 or 744 on JFK route will loose significantly more capacity.

Having been through the interactive demo, my only slight worry is that none of the window seats appear to have very good access to the window.

I'm looking forward to the first reviews and YouTube videos of actual customer flights to be published before thinking about switching to Newark from JFK.

Oh, what exactly is a "Rading Light"? Good old VS quality control eh? B)

Alas, farewell (eventually) to the splendid isolation of seats 8A-15A in the current A340-600 config (which I fly most to/from HK). I guess it also means that the overhead storage will be more contended in that area too.

Still, will wait til I get to fly one before deciding just how happy or sad I am

Having been through the interactive demo, my only slight worry is that none of the window seats appear to have very good access to the window.

I'm looking forward to the first reviews and YouTube videos of actual customer flights to be published before thinking about switching to Newark from JFK.

Oh, what exactly is a "Rading Light"? Good old VS quality control eh? B)

Yeah, was thinking that myself. The window access looks even more likely to break your neck than the last one, also looks like the last row doesn't have a window at all.

Yes seats 9A and 9K have no window. Plus 9A is right next to the bar, not shielded in anyway.

Also is it just me or on the tour, the turndown service only shows a sheet/blanket instead of a duvet?

What does strike me as odd is that they plan to introduce it on the Delhi and Chicago routes next. I don't object to the choice of destinations at all; I just think it would be preferable if they could unify the JFK route first before moving to others. But that seems very unlikely for a whole host of reasons.

Maybe capacity has something to do with it? Substituting more A333 for a A346 or 744 on JFK route will loose significantly more capacity.

It won't be an odd decision. VS have probably looked at the routes that offer the best yield for them. I would not be surprised if the VS3/4 is the best yielding route ex LHR in the 330's range, followed by DEL. I would imagine that whilst the other NYC routes are high yielding the timings, possibly, make the 3/4 the best yielding. As for ORD I have heard that it is also offering very good yields for VS although it maybe slightly lower than DEL/JFK but has the most potential.


Looking at the pictures I must say that it is all rather underwhelming and not surprised VS kept this quiet for so long. I cannot see how VS can state the UCS is still a market leader when so many other carriers (or whatever their terminology was), AC/DL/9W/CX are offering a very similar product and they look at how NZ have improved the original UCS. Remember VS licensed the UCS to NZ as they thought it was such a great product. Now we are in a situation whereby VS have lost their innovation streak to such an extent that the NZ mark 2 product is miles better than the mark 2 version on VS.

Then there is the farce that is trolley service v no trolley service. VS spend, what I would imagine was a substantial amount of money on research etc into "improving "the J product. They introduce a trolley service but have the lack of foresight to realise it won't work with their new J product!

I am saddened to see they will not be rolling this out fleet wide. With such a small fleet surely this should be a fleet wide introduction.

I am afraid I just find all of this let another example of how VS have gone from being a market leader to an also ran. With IAG becoming increasingly dominant, the threat of AF/KL/DL surely now would have been the time for VS to release a stonking J product that would make customers go "wow" and look attractive to potential airline partners. Sadly instead what we have is a bit of a damp squid that everyone can see the VS spin machine is trying to hype. How on earth this product will make any potential suitors (whether that be an alliance or an investor) interested in VS I do not know.

What more would need to be added to make it a 'stonking' product?

Interesting that the article claimed that over 1200 'frequent flyers' were involved in workshops, sleepovers etc in designing the new product.

Anyone here want to own up to being part of this? I'd find it a bit odd if one or two of the stalwarts on these boards did not number among the 1200...

I am afraid I just find all of this let another example of how VS have gone from being a market leader to an also ran. With IAG becoming increasingly dominant, the threat of AF/KL/DL surely now would have been the time for VS to release a stonking J product that would make customers go "wow" and look attractive to potential airline partners. Sadly instead what we have is a bit of a damp squid that everyone can see the VS spin machine is trying to hype. How on earth this product will make any potential suitors (whether that be an alliance or an investor) interested in VS I do not know.

I'm genuinely quite surprised by what you say. To me the new cabin looks good and I hope I can try it before long. Re the IAG competition and wow factor -- seriously, if someone has only ever flown BA CW, I would guess that 'wow' will be a pretty typical reaction on seeing the UC cabin.