New upper class seat

Well FlyBe seem quite good at getting LHR slots!

BMI remedy slots are still available

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0OM4f8lbugM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0OM4f8lbugM

That's the A330-200 seat.

The A350 seat is definitely an improvement

Heads up in the Telegraph.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news ... tic-cabin/

Initial news/impressions look good to me. While I'm sad to see that the true bar goes (I think when flying solo that it's less awkward to approach a bar area rather than a seated area when others are already present), The Loft looks nice in the rendering. I'm glad to hear that the suites will be outward facing towards the window, presumably like the Cathay and the new BA Club seat. Hopefully the article is correct about that. I'm relieved it's not simply a rebranded Delta One A350 suite product. To me that seat looks very similar to their aged 767 product with a door on it. The seats within the suites are still staggered in the same way.

That rendering of The Loft in the Telegraph, coupled with the fact it's supposed to be a "stylish lobby-style entrance at the main door" surely means it's located at L2? I don't know where else you'd put such a thing anyway. The UC seat count at 44, is 2 less than what Cathay put in business between L1 and L2, so presumably VS have sacrificed 2 seats for The Loft. One thing I'm wondering is what the leisure config would be (assuming the A350 will come in a different leisure config eventually). Assuming they want less UC seats on that config would mean some PE forward of L2 and therefore no Loft I wonder?

Not a fan of the new colour scheme in the lounge at all. Really like the current bar colour scheme with the triangle panels etc.

While not trying to bash anyone elses opinion at all, I would try and reserve judgement on the colour scheme until we have at least seen some photos, or better still, seen it in person. Being sort of in the industry of renderings, they're fraught with problems if you ask me. No 2 people ever seem to agree which 1 looks like the most like the real thing. Plus all the variables involved, monitors, graphics cards, settings (contrast, brightness, gamma etc) etc means even the same rendering never looks the same on 2 different machines.

What do we think then?
https://mobile.twitter.com/AusBT/status/1115304475739078657

Looks great!

Love the idea of being able to see out the window without cricking your neck.
Love the idea of not having feet bashed by everyone walking past.
Love the idea of the door.

At 6ft6 I await details of length of bed...

But so far...looks like a big improvement.

Oh look Safran Cirrus

So

The Loft
Now I love the bar, and I love having somewhere to go that’s not my seat. The Loft is a very good evolution of this space. I just hope that the Galley behind is loaded with Upper Class drinks!

The seats! I wasn’t sure at first but the more pictures I have seen make this look like a really really good seat! The door/no door debate for me is a red herring - it’s a gimmick anyway.

It appears there’s a lack of a remote to control the IFE instead using your own device to do it! That could be interesting!

The new colour pallet looks like a wonderful evolution In Upper and Premium.

I’m not convinced about the colour scheme in the back though!!

Is there still going to be a wonderwall for PE because nothings been mentioned as far as I’m aware?

Well it looks great and can only hope to be lucky enough to travel in it in the near future. I just can't wait to see how long it takes for the complaints of a split fleet Upper experience to come rolling in again.

I remember the days on here with the complaints of the difference between the standards at LHR and LGW/MAN. It's going to be inevitable if it's true they aren't considering updating the A333's in the near future.

I do think that Virgin never planned on calling the aisle side privacy screen a door, until BA revealed the Club Suite.

It just isn't a door!

https://twitter.com/thatjohn/status/111 ... 50656?s=19

Premium Econ seat looks poor from what I can see in these reports, unless mistaken.
Although whatever they design for PE could never compete with the old 2-2 layout in the bubble of the 747’s
Also are they keeping the wanderwall? Or will PE also be slipping into the loft seating area?

So the general consensus among the various blogs is that VS has nailed it - apart from the lack of a proper door which, while still quite rare in J now, will become commonplace in the next few years.

Where VS may have pulled a real blinder, however, is deciding to launch the A350 and the new UC suite on its flagship route - JFK - leaving BA playing catch-up.

What’s great for us, though, is that both VS and BA are massively upping their game and upgrading from the distinctly mediocre J products they offer right now to world class.

Long-haul J travel from the UK just got interesting again.

yes I think BA may now regret not fitting their first batch of A350's with F so as to launch on the JFK route.

But as Alex Cruz said not long ago BA F is the best on the TATL market (he specified the TATL market not world wide) I think they see no reason to rush into offering their new seat on the JFK route.

Re: New upper class seat

#949537 by JCBR
26 Mar 2019, 22:45
Window facing with full flat bed recline (no flip over). All revealed on 8th.

Remember: you read it here first !!

[mitchja]

I can live without a door on my seat. I’ve survived without one for the last 15 years flying J so I think I’ll manage at least another 15 years at least without one

It’s just an unnecessary gimmick IMHO.

As mentioned before I really don’t see that point of a door anyway. Who really wants to hide themselves away in an enclosed box for a 10 hour flight? Not me that’s for sure. Im much rather be able to socialise with the crew and other pax. As VS have already pointed out having a closed door will impact the flow of the on-board service as well.

Having an communal area in the cabin is without any doubt the biggest differentiation between VS and BA IMHO. It’s that difference that has always given VS the edge over BA as well and of course the VS crews as well

Who really wants to hide themselves away in an enclosed box for a 10 hour flight?

Me for one. Especially on a night flight. Having sampled Qatar’s Qsuite it’s like a mini hotel room with privacy to sleep.

Im much rather be able to socialise with the crew and other pax.

Fine - in which case just leave the door open! Or do what Qatar do - provide a ‘do not disturb’ light that you can leave on or off. But it would be nice to have a choice. It’s clear private suites are going to become the norm in long haul J and I think VS has missed a trick here.

Having an communal area in the cabin is without any doubt the biggest differentiation between VS and BA IMHO. It’s that difference that has always given VS the edge over BA as well and of course the VS crews as well

Agreed, and The Loft seems the best way of achieving that without the added expense of staffing a bar. But is it enough to win J customers over from BA, once it’s launched its own new suite (with door)?

I’d say the J customers who really matter for the airline - the ones who regularly buy expensive, flexible tickets rather than occasional airmiles redeemers - value privacy over a social space.

Actually The Loft might have been better suited to Premium than Upper, as it would have created a real USP for the leisure passengers who are more likely to use it.

I'm reserving full judgement for an actual flight in the new seat. So far, I like what I see.

However, I do not like 2-4-2 in W.

New page up

https://blog.virginatlantic.com/the-air ... he-future/

David

New page up

https://blog.virginatlantic.com/the-air ... he-future/

David

From this is sounds like they will operate from LHR and LGW but not MAN.

And a potential 335 people using Bluetooth to control their screens at the same time. More in leisure config.