Richard Branson rebrands business class with Love Seats, Corner Suites
By David Flynn, February 1 2018
Richard Branson is nothing if not a brilliant marketer, so how does his Virgin Atlantic find make some rather stodgy business class seats sound, well, sexy?
That was the challenge faced by the Branson-backed airline when it picked up the lease on five Airbus A330s from failed German carrier Airberlin.
Those jets will join the Virgin Atlantic fleet from March 2018 on flights to New York, San Francisco, Boston and Barbados – but while they're getting updated with Virgin livery on the outside, travellers stepping onto the pre-loved jets will see the old Airberlin seats (below) instead of Virgin's bespoke Upper Class benches.
Except that they've been rebranded from same-same business class seats to a trio of 'suites'.
Virgin Atlantic has embraced the staggered 1-2-1 layout of the business class cabin – the same floorplan as used by many other airlines, most notably on Qantas' Airbus A330s and Boeing 787s – and declared the paired middle seats as Love Suites "ideal for dual-dining, watching movies together or even catching up on work."
The seats located next to at the aisle – in both the middle rows and by the window – have been christened Solo Freedom Seats, where travellers can “unwind and stretch out in this suite just for you with easy aisle access."
The remaining handful of seats which are directly at the window – with the console shelf between the seat and the aisle – are described as Solo Corner Suites, because they offer "a little extra privacy with a great view."
The seats themselves may lack Virgin's trademark glam, but their business class rebranding seems to fit like a glove.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
Technically it's "column" A, B, C etc
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2560
With regards to the Virgin-supplied diagram? Absolutely, odd they chose 'row' which means quite the opposite!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
It's to suck in the people who have no idea about the product they're paying for...also I think the term Suite should be reserved for J with closing doors and any F seat.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 129
Not sure who gave you the thumbs down... but for a country which speaks English as a first language, I’m surprised that they said row instead of column.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Jun 2014
Total posts 10
I didn't think the Qantas VXL seats had "couple" seats close together?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
They don't, they do have a stagger though
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jan 2014
Total posts 340
No bar then I take it😱
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 88
As David appositely notes, Branson is "a brilliant marketer".
21 Jul 2011
Total posts 89
Flew AB J to Cuba. Those seats are only marginally better than the QF 380/744 J coffins. No marketing will glam them up
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
26 Apr 2016
Total posts 21
Lipstick on a pig.
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