Virgin Atlantic has reimagined business class. Photo / Supplied
Virgin Atlantic has reimagined business class. Photo / Supplied
Virgin Atlantic has revealed new business class suites on the Airbus A350-1000 to replace its aging Boeing 747s - while reimagining the business class experience in collaboration with their most frequent fliers.
The new Business Class cabin (Virgin Atlantic calls it "Upper Class") includes new suite-style seats and a socialspace to replace the bar.
Virgin Atlantic's new business class "upper class" section features brand new suites and a "social space" called "The Loft" (pictured) Photo / Supplied
The carrier operates bars on all its long-haul aircraft, but "The Loft" represents something new; "the largest social space in the airline's fleet".
The space has a chandelier and offers space for 8 people: 3 standing, 5 seated, with seat belts in case of turbulence. The Loft also has a 32" screen and eight Bluetooth audio jacks, enabling passengers to watch something together.
Business class suites were designed in collaboration with Virgin Atlantic's most frequent flyers. They have privacy dividers and 18.5 inches of entertainment screens. Photo / Supplied
The new business class suites represent a departure from the traditional herringbone configuration, with each seat angling forward towards a window instead of the center aisle.
The seats are 20 inches wide, have 44 inches of pitch, and recline to an 82-inch fully flat bed.
Each seat has its own sliding door to afford passengers "more privacy", however these doors only slide about halfway shut.
The airline states that this is to "maintain a connection between passengers and crew" but there's probably more to it than that - and as a potential passenger I am rather grateful.
The new Upper Class seats will be semi-private, with doors that slide partly shut. Photo / Supplied
Elsewhere, premium economy passengers get more storage space, 18.5" seat width, 7" recline, four-way adjustable headrests, as well as footrests (yes!) and USB ports.
Premium economy has had a considerable makeover, too. Photo / Supplied
Cattle class gets fabric-covered seats, have six-way adjustable headrests, USB ports and an upgraded entertainment system that can be controlled by your devices.
Congratulations cattle class, you get "luxurious new fabrics". Photo / Supplied
The entire aircraft will also have access to high speed Wi-Fi.
Passengers will get their first look at the real thing on Virgin Atlantic's first 335-passenger A350-1000 – named Red Velvet – when it begins flying in late summer 2019 between London and New York.
