I spent 10 hours flying Virgin Atlantic's upper class. My seat had its drawbacks, but the flight mostly won me over.
Virgin Atlantic's upper-class seat has a design I've never loved. But after flying in it from LA to London, I'd happily book its business class again.
Before boarding my Virgin Atlantic flight, I spent time at the Delta One Lounge in Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Although I had flown business class on multiple occasions, Virgin Atlantic's version of the upper-class seating was not my top choice. Virgin Atlantic's upper-class seats do not smoothly transition from an upright position to a fully lie-flat position, making it a bed rather than a seamless recline.
Despite this drawback, I was impressed by the food, exceptional service, and enjoyable atmosphere during my 10-hour, 25-minute journey from Los Angeles to London Heathrow.
Upon boarding, I was assigned a window seat in the upper-class section of the aircraft, which had a 1-1-1 configuration with direct aisle access for each seat. However, I was seated next to the window, while my husband occupied the middle section of the partially herringbone-style cabin. While being able to see each other from our seats was a perk, we were physically separated by the aisle, making conversation challenging without one of us standing up.
The seat positioning relative to the window also required me to look backward, which felt strange and awkward.
The seat was comfortable, offering up to 22 inches of width, and proved to be quite cozy once converted into a lie-flat bed. However, the transition from upright to lie-flat was not as effortless as in many other business-class seats I have experienced. A flight attendant assisted in flipping the seat and providing bedding, creating a hotel-like service atmosphere. Nevertheless, I preferred being able to gradually recline throughout the flight, rather than being limited to a manual process.
Virgin Atlantic's upper-class food and service were top-tier, with flavorful and well-presented vegetarian meals. While some airline meals can feel like an afterthought, Virgin Atlantic's offerings were enjoyable and approachable. The onboard atmosphere was stylish and fun, with distinctive purplish lighting and a playful personality. Additionally, the airline incorporated social spaces for passengers to relax, have a drink, and socialize, setting it apart from other airlines.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
