11 Hours in UPPER CLASS with VIRGIN ATLANTIC! | London Heathrow to San Francisco in Business Class
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2024
- INSTAGRAM: @PatrickFliesPlanes
After loving Virgin America before its disappearance, it was only right that I tried the original Virgin airline. Take a journey from Heathrow in their second largest carrier on their 787-9 out to San Francisco
Airline: Virgin Atlantic
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Registration: G-VBOW
Flight Number: VS41
Route: London, GB (LHR) - San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Flight Time: 10h 23m
Flight Date: May 28, 2024
Cost: $2,300
0:00 Intro
0:55 Upper Class Wing
2:05 Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse
7:17 Boarding
8:21 The Seat
9:58 Amenities
10:40 The OTHER Virgin Airlines
12:58 LHR Departure
15:18 Menu
15:43 Entertainment
17:50 First Meal Service
19:01 The Bed
20:24 The Inflight BAR
22:00 Second Meal Service
22:19 Virgin Atlantic’s History
25:10 SFO Arrival
26:44 Final Thoughts
Also yes I’m aware that Virgin isn’t actually a flag carrier of the UK… just playing into that joke a bit
I got a picture of that flight
Hi I am cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic and thanks for the awesome review. I found everything you said spot on and really fair and balanced. Totally agree that the 787’s need a retrofit and hopefully that will be soon. If you ever fly in the old upper class again the table once deployed slides forward and back so could have slid under the TV so you could have had the TV behind your tray table. Great video and I wish I could have flown on Virgin America.
Love all the back stories of the airlines.
You Finally Made A Video On Virgin Atlantic, and also happy Father’s Day 🎉
I flew coach on Virgin Atlantic back in July 1999 and their service/soft product was Business Class/First Class like. Truly amazing [free half bottle size wine and a mini backpack with tons of goodies and even a warm towel and drink right after boarding - in economy! I have those same salt and pepper shakers but the bottom of them is engraved "pinched from Virgin Atlantic" as they did not want customers to take them back then. :) My flight was a nonstop LAX to LHR via a 747-400 named Tubular Belle Each seat had an IFE that included an N64 or Game Cube so I played Mario Kart for much of the flight, but there were tons of movies and TV shows and documentaries. Truly ahead of its time.
My day is complete now that I’ve seen your video.
Great job on the video and narration. This is one of the better videos I have seen. I subscribed.
Welcome! Thank you!
Patrick, thanks for covering Virgin Atlantic. All of the aviation vloggers I watch (I.e. Nonstop Dan, Jeb Brooks, Paul Lucas, Noel Phillip) all will tend to cover British Airways, to the point that I forgot about Virgin Atlantic even though I flew on them to LHR in 2002. Great job as usual 😊
I’ve seen some Virgin reviews, but was super excited to try it for myself!
Hi Patrick, thanks for taking us around the world in your vlog I really enjoyed alot.
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Loved this! I also miss the great Virgin America, which I regularly flew between SFO and LAX. It was a fantastic airline.
Awesome knowledge sharing on the history of Branson starting the airline!
VS is solid, big fan. Great review as always, keep going
Totally enjoyed the flight with them! I’m a big fan, but a new fan!
Excellent review . Thanks Patrick .
Thanks!
Love your videos. So relaxing to watch. Thanks 🙏
Thanks!
Thanks for the info + video!
Thanks!
Top points for the halibut pun -- well done!
Ha! Yes! I’m glad someone caught that
Ur the dude that makes me excited for every flight I go on. Sitting in delta business on Wednesday New York to msp
Hell yea! Awesome man
Halibut vs hellofit 😂. Nice one, Patrick. I guess one way to truly know people actually pay attention when watching is sneaking little gems like that and seeing what kind hit rate it generates.
Glad someone caught that lol
Another awesome review. Not a big fan of the oldest business product in its fleet, the last time I flew in this awful configuration was in 2009 on an A340 from Hong Kong (a route they cancelled just before Covid). Loved the narration as usual, you do great research on the many Virgin branded airlines that existed before and those that remain. Thanks for another outstanding review!
Thanks! I appreciate it!
I took Upper Class from LHR-BOS Jan 9 of this year on the 339 and it was flawless. I was in 2A and it was amazing.
Awesome! I gotta try it again with their A350s
I'm a big fan of VS, despite some of their older planes. The FAs are always so wonderful - I've always had such a great time and felt spoilt. Really like the more laid back, quirky environment but I think that's just also my nostalgia for Virgin America talking too! :-)
Definitely a fun experience… and the closest us VX fans will get to the memories
@@PatrickSheaAviation The memories are eternal, lol. I enjoyed the history lesson too because I had no idea about the other Virgin airlines excepting Virgin Australia!
Meal looks good. My mom's flown on their 747, I've never flown on any of their planes at all!
Meal was great! Loved everything about them except those janky seats
love your videos but oh Patrick...the title card typo lol
Thanks for your comprehensive review! The Virgin Clubhouse looks amazing! Its a pity your aircraft got swapped from the A350-1000
The aircraft swap was a bummer but it was way before departure, and the lounge and other onboard products definitely made up for it
Very good video. The Club lounge is great but I really don't like the seat for all the reasons you gave - in particular the impracticality of the table and TV. The ambience, FAs, bar and food are very good.
Agreed. With their airbus widebodies, it would truly be one of the worlds best all around products
Great service by the crew but those seats are so weird.Wonderful review Patrick
The seats are tough for sure but everything else was a 10/10. With any other aircraft in their fleet I’d imagine that it’s an excellent experience all around
To be a truly great lounge there should be cats to speak to. 🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈
Thanks for another great video. Re the lack of any new movies on the IFE, my guess is that since Covid and then the writers strike, there are not very many new movies around right now. Just a thought!
Ps…….Britain has only one ‘t’!
I wonder. Although other carriers have new titles. Honestly because it’s the older setup, I wonder if they just never updated the selection since installed 🤷♂️
I was stunned by how you labeled Virgin Atlantic Britain's flag carrier instead of British Airways. Nonetheless, an amazingly informative video Patrick!
It’s all playing into the somewhat running gag between them. Thanks man
I was there in early 2023, and the Peloton room was still there. Also, I had the misfortune of the traveling on the same business class. Horrible seats but somehow made fantastic by the amazing Virgin crew and OMG level food.
Totally loved everything about them except the seats. I am sad I missed those extra lounge perks
@@PatrickSheaAviation I was flying right when people started flying again, and everything was crowded and oversubscribed, and being in February , the rooftop deck was closed. I found a cozy spot behind the bar area, overlooking the gates. Probably the best plane spotting for 3 hours in my life. Also, they served a chicken liver pâté appetizer in the flight, and I still cannot forget it.
I am probably one of the few people in the world that prefers the reverse herring bone seat. I like my head being away from the aisle. When dealing with the tray table, the trick is to get comfy, take out the table, pull it towards you, then the screen comes out and sits on the far side of the table. VS food is very hit or miss, there are times they try to be to trendy with the food, it ends up being a bit of a mess.
I do like my head being away from the aisle. It’s much quieter for sleep, especially during meal services. It’s just an awkward setup for looking out the window. Other carriers have found better ways to do it
Nothing worse than someone that keeps the shade up in first class. Like you, I sure miss Virgin America. Flew it constantly while it was around.
Happy father's day
This is great, considering we are planning on a vacation to Japan this year. For the price and what you get, would you recommend Zip over JAL? It ends up being This Zip Business Class vs. JAL Premium Eco.
My least favorite business class seat.
Yea it ain’t the best. I wonder if they’ll ever consider renovating it to match their airbus widebodies
It's actually always cramped in private airlines, their a350's also have less legroom than starlux and still some of them have so many business class seats, but it's still creative marketing for the 787 tbh
Thanks for the video, Patrick. I like the detail. Can anyone explain why some airlines dim the windows and turn off the individual controls?
It’s to allow people to choose to sleep on long haul flights. If one window is raised, the whole cabin lights up. It’s just a bummer because there are times where I just want to look outside for like a second to see something and then dim it again, but in these aircraft you don’t have the option
I Like Better Seat In A350-1000 And The A330-900neo.Great Video And Info
Definitely agree. I was bummed when it was swapped for the 787, but it was still an enjoyable flight
Love your video!! May i wonder why in these few years you suddenly are able to fly internationally and in business class? I have traveled abroad since 9 years old to 60+ destinations but 90% time just in economy
I flew VA Upper Class once, to NYC in 2016. I hated that seat, not so much the lack of privacy, but sitting with my back to the window.
It is not my favorite seat, but hopefully we see more of the airbus widebodies that have the other, newer cabin
Bro your title card is misspelled: Britain's 😂
I look forward to your weekly videos every Sunday
Thanks man!
Did you order a latte with your afternoon tea in the club house?!
Chai latte… so kinda 🤷♂️
he wasn't gonna mention the BAW 789 or SIA A388 in the background of the London sights....
Virgin Sun was bought by First Choice group in 2001. TUI merged with First Choice in 2008.
Good to know!
Virginia Atlantic will return to Toronto in 2025. So excited for its Canada 🇨🇦 UK 🇬🇧 flights .
I saw that! Awesome! I also saw they might be heading to South America soon! We will see!
@@PatrickSheaAviation I can see them flying to Rio in Brazil. They have the a,350 to make the range
I'm pretty sure the headsets are not powered by batteries, but by a phantom power scheme on the signal pins.
That would make sense but with the single prong plug it threw me off
FYI Virgin was the first to come up with the herring bone lay out which they then sold to Air New Zealand soon to be copied by Cathay Pacific. The Flip over Seat to bed was also first introduced by Virgin Atlantic copied and potentially improved by Singapore airline. You see Virgin Atlantic is not your average airline they are very much innovative. Like them or hate them as a customer you have a choice exercise it. They may not be perfect but I am a HUGE FAN!! I love Virgin Atlantic my airline of choice
Dang that’s fun! May not be industry leading today but I guess it literally was at one point. Cool!
What there now no hot tub
I do love virgin more then BA sadly each time I book to USA I got delta
The only London airport I would fly out of and into is London Gatwick
I’ve only ever done Heathrow. I’ve heard Gatwick is the favorite and people would rather die than go to Stanstead lol
@@PatrickSheaAviation you should definitely give Gatwick a go, Delta flies summer seasonal from JFK but also Rumours are that Virgin Atlantic are going to be returning to Gatwick soon. Also Singapore airlines start Gatwick on the 22nd
The seats are poor on the 787-9. That is their old crappy seat. The new Airbus Neo have the new seat. That’s the one to book when possible. It’s not on every route.
Yea it was a bit frustrating when the flight was swapped to a 787, but everything besides the seat helped to make up for it
I don't know about flag carrier the only flag that plutocrat Sir Richard Branson flies is his own!
The seat, the most important aspect of the flight, is a complete failure. It's sad to see they've had this for decades. Once replaced with forward facing suites i'd consider them again.
Yea the seats suck. Still better than BA’s 2-3-2 with backwards seats that they have in the A380 on this route. United really is the best option on this route since Virgin pulled the A350
No way to look out the window?
Pass.
Flown VS twice... One in 2002 on a 747 in Upper Class in the great old recliner seats. Product was great and was a great flight. Then again in 2022 on a 787 again in Upper Class. Awful. Absolutely dislikes pretty much the whole thing. The hard product was so uncomfortable. Wouldn't fly VS ever again. I rarely give service providers a second chance, and this was a classic case of why I shouldn't.
Ahhhh, it's a shame you're not on the Airbus A330-900neo or A350. Those coffin Upper Class seats on the 787/older A330s are so frustrating, they really need to phase those seats out
I was bummed that the A350 got swapped. Still a very enjoyable experience though. Makes me think that the A350 would just be incredible with the extra bonus of having better seats
Upper class on a British carrier? Did they give you a title of nobility with your ticket ?? lol
Ha! If only. Not this time
"Britain's other flag carrier"? There can only be one flag carrier airline.
Yea… but that’s been kinda the running “joke” with the high tensions between them and BA
Not really. UAE flag carriers are both Etihad and Emirates. It is just both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are too good and also financially viable to operate them like their own.
The only country with two comparable carriers sizes and destinations but only one of them is flag carrier is Japan (JAL is the one, ANA is not).
I just don't like that seat. I like to do some computer work and watch a movie is impossible with this setup. I liked the service and would fly them again if they got a new seat.
On an airbus widebody, you’ll have different seats and then it’ll honestly be a 11/10 experience
الحين فين حقين المعارضه وقنواته زي عزيز الشمري ويقظه وناصر القرني 😂😂😂😂😂الحمدلله على نعمك السعودية والخليج
Virgin Atlantic is not a member of Skyteam alliance unless it will join at the end of the year or next year.
Interesting. Everything that I was reading showed that it joined last year
No, Virgin is in Skyteam.
Really? No way, wow, interesting.
God forbid you dare fly economy! 😉
Ha! 🤷♂️
Its incorrect to say Virgin Atlantic is the "Flag" carrier. They are half owned by Delta and Richard Branson does not live in the UK anymore and is not the CEO. The CEO is Shai Weiss. "British Airways" is not British, its a Spanish conglomerate. I,A,G which includes Are Lingus,Vueling, LEVEL, and Iberia. So their is NO AIRLINE which is a British Flag carrier, thats just a video's b/s headline.
It seems that they don’t really accept skyteam eliteness plus in this virgin atlantic lounge…
Yea they tightened the policy on lounge access to avoid overcrowding. Makes it tough as a skyteam elite in T3
horrible cabin, no privacy! lounge is gorgeous!
is it me or do you record in a tin can? 😂
Idk what to tell you bro 🤷♂️
It’s not T.U.I. It’s a word - pronounced Too-A
Good to know. Thanks
Nahh it's toooey. Like coooeee.
Given that business class airfare from my home airport in the US to most European destinations ranges from $3,700 to $9,500, your channel content is entirely irrelevant to me. Thank you for your efforts, though.
Fair enough 🤷♂️ thanks
Stop reading off Wikipedia...
🤷♂️🤷♂️
It’s 27 years since I’ve flown Virgin & thanks to that hideous seating layout & the crew locking those damn windows, I doubt I’ll be setting foot inside their equipment again any time soon.
Idk if you can fly any other aircraft type with them it should be far better. The crew and food still applies
@@PatrickSheaAviationI’m BA Gold so that’s where my loyalty’s lie at present. I flew on Air Serbia’s A330 BEG - JFK a few times during the pandemic to gain entry into the US & they had the same 1-1-1 config but it seemed a lighter cabin than Virgin. They also allowed the (regular) shades to stay open all the time although of course, you had to be a contortionist in that seat as well if you wanted to look out. I experienced incredible service on those flights.
A big thank you to you for all the videos you post, seriously great stuff 👍🏻
@@ScottMatthews-gk8ef great stories. Thanks man!
That upper class seat looks terrible and a waste of money. I would cancel my booking if i was flying upper class on a 787
It's not great, I found the seat very uncomfortable, and being 6ft tall I couldn't stretch my legs out fully on to the foot stall. I would definitely try and avoid the 787. Next flight will be with BA on the A350 business class, Club World suite
The problem with Heathrow is Heathrow (Although T5 is tolerable)
The problem with Gatwick is Gatwick
The problem with Luton is Luton
The problem with Stansted is Stansted
The problem with Manchester is Manchester
The problem with East Midlands is East Midlands
The problem with Glasgow is Glasgow
The problem with Edinburgh is Edinburgh
(see a pattern?)
Their owners should never be allowed to design, build, renovate nor operate an airport. In this country they are all crimes against the human traveller.
I’ve gotta say that I’ve really come to love the privately owned airports of the world, although they definitely come with their own drawbacks
You gotta have the devil in you to look out those window's
Ha! 😂 damn near
The 787 virgin Atlantic is better than the a350 so don’t even go there
Probably the worst airline I've ever flown on! Their 747 flights were thw worst. When I used to fly to Vegas regularly I had two choices of direct flights, Virgin or BA - both terrible.
I would rather fly Ryanair
That’s what we call a *hot take* 🔥
Me too - at least Ryanair are honest and not woke
What a horrible, dumb setup for a Cabin.
How can one be so stupid, to put a seat BACKWARDS to the Window???
Awful seats, consistently great crews, above average food.
Yea… the seats suck. I do have hope that the rest of their aircraft would truly be an incredible way to travel
What a horrible product. Not only the worst business class cabin in the skies, but also a crew which locks windows during a day flight..an absolute nightmare for me. This is an airline i will never fly, even not on a free ticket😂
I mean if you fly their airbus aircraft, it fixes those issues 🤷♂️
Meh - (British commenter) - Back in the early days, Virgin Atlantic was amazing (check out their Advert 'Red Hot' - still one of the best ads ever made). BUT. Since Branson is now a woke, tax avoiding hippy, and that the ariline is woke to heck, plus the business class offering is ridiculous (but I'd love to hire the sales person that sold both Virgin and Air NZ that ridiculous - ridiculous - yes, ridiculous seat / layourt), they are at the bottom of my list of airlines to fly. I used to fly them a lot back and forth to the US on their 747s and also Hong Kong on their A340s. I would avoid them like the plague now. The only thing they've got going for them is an occasional bit of creative marketing. The rest, I'd spend on an airline that doesn't control what I watch out the window, doesn't insist of being 'woke' and doesn't make me face my fellow passenger for 12 hours. Even BA's lame Business Class at least isn't as bad as Virgin. So, my view, Virgin used to be cool, now they are cold.
Flew VS Upper SFO-LHR-SFO once just before the pandemic. Never again. Found the curve of the seat pod made my preferred side sleeping difficult. Cabin was too warm for the heavy bedding. At that point the 789s were still new yet my seats on both aircraft had broken elements: cocktail table on the outbound and video display on the return. Food was meh. Worst were the apathetic crews. On the redeye to LHR, they allowed non-revs from Premium to use the bar to socialize in ever louder voices as the night and drink count progressed. We were in A seats towards the rear so heard of lot of their inane chatter. On the daytime return, the crew used the bar as a staging area for service and storage. Found the LHR clubhouse overcrowded and overrated. The salon was still operating then so I booked a beard trim only to have the condescending stylist insult my trimming skills. Only real positive was the SFO clubhouse that had tasty food, definitely better than what we got at LHR. Not surprisingly I've used UA Polaris for every subsequent trip.
Oh dang that’s insane! Totally different experience. That sucks! Totally frustrating when you end up with experiences like that