Virgin Atlantic B747-400 Upper Class

Originally published on businesstraveller.com 22/06/2011   RSS

BACKGROUND: This was a special flight, being part of Virgin’s celebration of its 25th anniversary of flying the route. It was the second route launched by Virgin, two years after the airline began in 1984, and operates once a day, seven days a week at 1150.  

CHECK-IN: Running dangerously late - but having phoned ahead - I arrived at Zone A of Heathrow Terminal 3 at 10.35. There was no queue and I was greeted warmly by Virgin staff before checking in my suitcase and rushing off to security, which was a short walk away. My fast-track boarding was hardly necessary, as I was through security in no time as there were no queues, and to my relief I made it into the Virgin Clubhouse (through Duty Free and up a black marble staircase) by 10:45.

THE LOUNGE: Boarding began later than I had expected, so I had enough time to cancel my treatment at the Cowshed Spa, grab a paper and enjoy a glass of champagne, which was served to me at my seat. The Cowshed Spa was offering a variety of treatments, including free manicures, facials and massages. The lounge seemed quite full, but the free food and drink service was running efficiently and there was a good selection of magazines and newspapers, and plenty of places to sit.

Unfortunately I didn’t feel I had enough time to order food, but there was a table service, with food also being served to people in the lounge, and I’m told by fellow passengers that the food was excellent. There was a screen showing the departures for flights, which said that we should go to gate, but we were told to wait until we were called. The lounge felt spacious despite being busy and the design and furnishings were modern, interesting and attractive.

BOARDING: We were called to board at 1115. I took the lift down from outside the Clubhouse and then walked for about five minutes before reaching gate 16. I walked straight onto the aircraft without queuing and was greeted and shown to my seat. I was settled there by 1125 and presented with a glass of Bucks Fizz.

THE SEAT: This triple-class B747 was divided into Upper Class, premium economy and economy, with an upper deck that had both Upper Class and economy seating. Upper Class on the lower deck was into two sections (rows 12-19 and rows 20-25) divided by a kitchen, and the latter was separated from economy by the bar, stairs, another food preparation area and foldable doors (which were open).

Rows 12-19 were configured 1-1 (A and K) and rows 20-25 were 1-2-1 (A,D,G and K). I was seated in window seat 23K, which was near to the back of my section and faced away from the window. It was very close to the bar, which was slightly annoying at times, as often people were queuing or gathering near my feet, but at least it was the opposite end from the toilets and overall I still felt that I had plenty of space and privacy thanks to the high walls either side of me. The seat itself was very comfortable – it was upholstered in purple leather, with cushioned leather around the base of the seatbelt and a footrest which allowed more than enough room to stretch out my legs.

The seat reclined electronically with the push of a button on the armrest, where there was also a button for summoning the table from the wall to my right, although cabin crew came to help me set the table up properly if I needed it, as this was quite tricky. The solid white plastic table was a good size for dining or working. Also on the wall to my right was a magazine rack, a reading light, a small drink rest and the in-flight entertainment system, the V- port. On my footrest when I arrived was a “snooze pack” which provided an eyemask, toothbrush and toothpaste, ear plugs and socks. There was a storage space behind my head where there was a plump pillow and a duvet.

WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE: All seats seem to offer the same amount of leg room, as this was determined by the fixed footrests. Of the three sections of Upper Class, I think rows 1-5 on the upper deck were the most appealing, as they were separated by the widest aisle and so that section felt the most spacious and exclusive. Rows 12-19 were quieter than my section, and the configuration of 1-1 mean that there was more space, however I did think that seats 12A and 12K, closest to the nose of the plane and facing eachother, must have felt a little too close together as the aisle gradually got smaller.

The back row of rows 20-25 were the first to disembark out of Upper Class, but as I mentioned, they were also the rowdiest due to being so close to the bar (and possibly more than usual due to the nature of the flight). Rows 19 and 20 were either side of the two Upper Class toilets and so may be the ones to avoid if possible.

THE FLIGHT: We prepared for take-off at 1145 but didn’t actually take off until 1210. As soon as the seatbelt sign was off, people headed to the bar and a crowd began to gather there. I remained in my seat with a magazine that I’d picked up from the rack by the bar – Glamour, Daily Mail, The Independent and The Economist were among those on offer. A flight attendant offered me another drink and asked me if I had used the in-flight entertainment system before. She talked me through it and explained that if I wanted to use a laptop, I would need to borrow a special adaptor.

As she brought me a mojito and offered me some canapés (olives, crisps and salmon on rye bread) I familiarized myself with the entertainment system, which reminded me of a Nintendo 64. I found it quite easy to use, although I think I prefer touchscreen, but this may just be out of habit. There was a wide selection of music and a choice of 71 fairly recent films. I tried playing a couple of games but gave up as they kept freezing for a couple of seconds at a time. I liked the fact that films could be paused and resumed and the headphones were of a good quality and comfortable to wear.

About an hour into the flight, having selected a film to watch, I picked up a menu to have a look and a very attentive member of crew asked me if I’d like a meal. I ordered a pea and basil risotto with prawns, which was very tasty, and was served with metal cutlery, and for my main, a salmon fillet served on a pillow of crab, mascarpone and string vegetables. I didn’t enjoy this as much as it was a bit overcooked and the sauce tasted a bit strange, but the dessert of lemon tiramisu was delicious and went well with my black coffee. I had a look at the drinks list, which offered a choice of two reds, two whites and two types of champagne, as well as a variety of spirits and soft drinks.

I watched my film, after which I slept upright in my chair for a couple of hours. When I woke, I went for a walk around the cabin, hung out around the bar for a bit before heading back to my seat, and began watching another film. I was offered afternoon tea, which consisted of a selection of sandwiches, which included vegetarian fillings, and a scone with cream and jam. Throughout the flight, service was efficient and friendly, and crew were happy to answer any of my questions. We were offered drinks frequently and hot towels at the end of the flight.

ARRIVAL: We landed at Miami International at 1600 to grey and windy weather. Upper Class was first to disembark (after photographers and film crew who were called to disembark for Branson’s photo stunt on the wing of the plane) and the back rows of my section were the first to leave. The walk to passport control was short and to my delight, we were through customs in five minutes thanks to the lack of queues, possibly aided by our exclusive passes for the anniversary event. A further five-minute walk took us to baggage claim at carousel seven, where it took about 15 minutes for my suitcase to arrive, but mine was one of the final ones of my group. We were in a minivan to our hotel by 1630.

VERDICT: An extremely efficient and enjoyable flight, where I felt comfortable and pampered.

PRICE: A mid-week flexible Upper Class ticket in July costs from £3,904.

CONTACT: virgin-atlantic.com

Rose Dykins