New Upper Class and A330's

Interesting, thought I note that if you go through the VS UK site and select the Upper Class experience, the new suite isn't listed. Only seems to be shown on the above link. Typical VS IT again?

And I cannot get the Interactive flash tour to load up either, just get the landing page. !

Probably because if hasn't been fully loaded yet. The earlier link is probably by URL modification.

Not URL modification, just struck gold with a Google search.

Surprised it's not on the main VS page tho, seeing as tho the product has already been launched - literally!

It looks nice and it's good they have added extra recline in seat mode. Shame I'll never see it on MAN-LAS though

Now it's finally in the open, it's been hard keeping quiet about it!

Dimensions Compare as follows:
Width - Old 21.5" , New 22.8"
Useable bed length - Old 75.3", New 78.5"
Distance from seat to ottomen - Old 14.9", New 17"

The seatbelts on the ottomen aren't there at the moment, due to final certification issues, but it will be fitted at a later stage.

Now it's finally in the open, it's been hard keeping quiet about it!

Dimensions Compare as follows:
Width - Old 21.5" , New 22.8"
Useable bed length - Old 75.3", New 78.5"
Distance from seat to ottomen - Old 14.9", New 17"

The seatbelts on the ottomen aren't there at the moment, due to final certification issues, but it will be fitted at a later stage.

What about bed width at shoulders?
Seat probably reclined quite far when I was thinking about distance to ottoman.

It looks nice and it's good they have added extra recline in seat mode. Shame I'll never see it on MAN-LAS though

Nice to see VS looking after the "holiday" customers v(

Just found this link - piccies galore!

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/global/e ... suite.html

Finally!!! Thanks a zillion Divesheep

[Darren Wheeler]

It looks nice and it's good they have added extra recline in seat mode. Shame I'll never see it on MAN-LAS though

Nice to see VS looking after the "holiday" customers v(

Err, how do you know it's not going on to "holiday" routes?

New York is a "holiday" destination in my book.

It looks nice and it's good they have added extra recline in seat mode. Shame I'll never see it on MAN-LAS though

Nice to see VS looking after the "holiday" customers v(

Err, how do you know it's not going on to "holiday" routes?

New York is a "holiday" destination in my book.

It is not going on the LGW/MAN fleet, VS have stated this. You are of course entitled to your opinion as to whether New York is a holiday route

Does anyone have any views on why VS aren't implementing this on LGW/MAN 744? They are taking the time to remove and clean the existing seats - there is clearly space on the 744 for the new suites!

Now it's finally in the open, it's been hard keeping quiet about it!

Dimensions Compare as follows:
Width - Old 21.5" , New 22.8"
Useable bed length - Old 75.3", New 78.5"
Distance from seat to ottomen - Old 14.9", New 17"

The seatbelts on the ottomen aren't there at the moment, due to final certification issues, but it will be fitted at a later stage.

Thanks for this info!

For anyone who is worried about the seat width, BA CW seat width is 25" but shorter and less comfortable IMHO.

Will the LHR 744's get the new suite eventually? I note in the link with the new suite, it only mentions all new aircraft joining the fleet?

The new bar looks amazing and is away from the main cabin which is good.

Some Stats:

Three-class A330 configuration:
33 Upper Class
48 Premium Economy 185 Economy
Total: 266

A340-300:
configuration
34 Upper Class
35 Premium Economy 171 Economy
Total: 240

Why won’t it be fitted on the other aircraft?
Because Upper Class Suite is still a fantastic product it makes sense to continue to fly it, especially as some of the older aircraft will be leaving the fleet over the next few years. Re-fitting many of these aircraft would not give a return on the investment. So only new A/C joining the fleet will have the new UCDS.

Trolley Service:
In order to maximise the bed length we had to slightly reduce the width of the aisle. This means we won’t be able to use the new trolley service on these aircraft, so will continue with the hand-delivered meal services.

Next A/C:
G-VWAG will be in service from July 2012; G-VGBR will be in service from late August/early September 2012. The next two routes to benefit from the new A330s will be Delhi and Chicago.

[Scrooge]

Trolley Service:
In order to maximise the bed length we had to slightly reduce the width of the aisle. This means we won’t be able to use the new trolley service on these aircraft, so will continue with the hand-delivered meal services.

So the long thought out and tested food service does not work on the new aircraft..... Way to go VS y)

Well at least Preiffer won't have to wait 30 mins for his cheese plate now.

Trolley Service:
In order to maximise the bed length we had to slightly reduce the width of the aisle. This means we won’t be able to use the new trolley service on these aircraft, so will continue with the hand-delivered meal services.

Excellent! The trolley service is rubbish!

Trolley Service:
In order to maximise the bed length we had to slightly reduce the width of the aisle. This means we won’t be able to use the new trolley service on these aircraft, so will continue with the hand-delivered meal services.

That's the best news all year! Now get rid of it on all routes to have a consistent product.

Trolley Service:
In order to maximise the bed length we had to slightly reduce the width of the aisle. This means we won’t be able to use the new trolley service on these aircraft, so will continue with the hand-delivered meal services.

So the long thought out and tested food service does not work on the new aircraft..... Way to go VS y)

Well at least Preiffer won't have to wait 30 mins for his cheese plate now.

y)

That was well thought out by VS then. Hopefully they'll scrap this new food service in time rather than get some slimmer trolleys in.

Being a bit of a fan of a window seat, by my reckoning this new 330 config will give window seats a slightly improved window view as seats are marginally less angled when compaired with an a340-300 for example (the same length fuselage I think). Each has nine rows at the window, but the a330 rows seem from the seat map to extend slightly further back to the exits, unless my O-level geometry is flawed, this coupled with the need to get 4 abreast rather than 3, and it seems a longer bed, should mean that all seats are slightly more traditionally forward facing than before.

Don't fancy the central "herringbone" seats much though.

Interesting that the champagne mentioned is now Lucas Carton... So has the Lanson contract ended?

Anyway, looking forward to trying this out in a week. Leaves me with a dilemma that on the one hand I hope that the flat bed is a bit more comfortable than the old UCS, but on the other hand, I don't really want to sleep at all!

I wish my flight in a couple of weeks was in reverse. Right now, I'm flying LGW-MCO on 30 April and back on the VS4 on 19 May. I'd rather have my day flight in the new plane so I can play with the entertainment system and hang out at the new bar the whole. To be honest on the return flight, I'd be ok with the old UCS and lousy NOVA entertainment system because then I would be perfectly happy to sleep the whole time.

At least I land on a Sunday on the return so can try to stay up all night on the flight and sleep all day on the ground (although that is about the worse thing you can do jet-lag wise)

Why won’t it be fitted on the other aircraft?
Because Upper Class Suite is still a fantastic product it makes sense to continue to fly it, especially as some of the older aircraft will be leaving the fleet over the next few years. Re-fitting many of these aircraft would not give a return on the investment. So only new A/C joining the fleet will have the new UCDS.


.

The Virgin attempt at spin really pees me off.

When do the MAN/LGW 747's leave the fleet?

Why won’t it be fitted on the other aircraft?
Because Upper Class Suite is still a fantastic product it makes sense to continue to fly it, especially as some of the older aircraft will be leaving the fleet over the next few years. Re-fitting many of these aircraft would not give a return on the investment. So only new A/C joining the fleet will have the new UCDS.


.

The Virgin attempt at spin really pees me off.

When do the MAN/LGW 747's leave the fleet?

To be fair though, it does make more sense to keep the new suite on the new aircraft - as it's not such a departure from the old UCS there shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Is it just me, or does the view of the new seats not work properly with safari?

[preiffer]

Trolley Service:
In order to maximise the bed length we had to slightly reduce the width of the aisle. This means we won’t be able to use the new trolley service on these aircraft, so will continue with the hand-delivered meal services.

So the long thought out and tested food service does not work on the new aircraft..... Way to go VS y)

Well at least Preiffer won't have to wait 30 mins for his cheese plate now.

Thank $€%#@&%! for that!!!

Maybe this was just the suite designer's way of saying it was a crap idea too...

oo) oo) oo) oo) oo) y) y) y) y) y)

So VS staff told,

Useable bed length - Old 75.3", New 78.5"

Public told 87", as from the VS website... What one is correct?
Why such a difference?

Also, "old" suite bed is advertised as 78".