Review: Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 'Upper Class' (Hong Kong-London)
By Chris C., March 10 2017
Route
Hong Kong - London (Heathrow)
Aircraft Type
Boeing 787-9
Airline
Virgin Atlantic
Flight
VS207
Cabin Class
Business
Seat
2A
Notes
The Good
- Fully-flat bed, direct aisle access
- Inflight Internet service including live TV channels
- Earn Velocity points and status credits en route to London
The Bad
- Recent and significant downgrade to lounge facilities in Hong Kong
X-Factor
- Visit the Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge upon arrival in London
Introduction
Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787 'Upper Class' service – what we Aussies would simply call business class – covers the business traveller favourites with a fully-flat bed, direct aisle access and inflight Internet coverage, but kicks things up a notch with an inflight bar and groovy mood lighting: and frankly, we'd expect no less from Virgin Australia's sister airline!
As an added feature, business class passengers can also share a meal together at the same seat and using the same large table, much like you can do in first class aboard Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways: rather appropriate for a product named 'Upper Class'.
Rounding out the offering, complimentary limousine airport transfers for guests travelling on paid tickets and access to the Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge after arriving at Heathrow where showers, dining options and a day spa await.
Australian Business Traveller reviews a recent Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 Upper Class journey from Hong Kong to London.
Check-in
- Frequent flyer program: Choose to earn points and status credits on Virgin Atlantic flights through Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer scheme, or join Virgin Atlantic's own Flying Club program.
- Chauffeured transfers: Complimentary at each end of the journey for passengers travelling on paid tickets, although not on bookings made using frequent flyer points.
- Priority check-in, boarding: Yes. In Hong Kong, in-town check-in is also available.
- Checked baggage allowance: A generous 3x32kg bags (96kg), plus a further 23kg bag for Flying Club Gold members (no extra allowance for Velocity members).
- Carry-on baggage allowance: 2x115cm bags at a combined total weight of up to 16kg (max. 12kg per single item).
- Priority airport services: Business class express path facilities don't exist in Hong Kong, although registered frequent travellers can use the speedy e-Channel at HKIA. In London, access to the Fast Track lanes is provided at passport control.
Lounge
For many years, Virgin Atlantic ran its own stunning Clubhouse lounge in Hong Kong – but this was permanently closed in February 2017.
Instead, Upper Class guests are now invited to visit a shared Plaza Premium lounge, which proves a real disappointment when compared to the shuttered Clubhouse.
Gone is a la carte dining, table service and bartender-mixed cocktails: replaced by a small selection of buffet dishes and a drinks cart where staff offer to pour your beverage from the bottle as you stand aside.
Don't expect much from the lounge's WiFi connection either, with speeds unusably slow during our visit.
Compared to the pre-flight lounge experience offered to Cathay Pacific and British Airways passengers on the same route (in lounges operated by Cathay Pacific and Qantas), Virgin Atlantic is now leagues behind the competition.
However, a saving grace is the Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge at London Heathrow which Upper Class passengers can visit after their flight...
... with a large wing of private shower suites, barista-made coffee, a la carte dining and even a Clubhouse Spa, where travellers can enjoy a 15-minute facial or massage at no charge or can pay for a broader range of treatments.
The staff can also press your suit while you shower – just leave it the shower room's two-way cabinet and press the 'housekeeping' button to the side, while the WiFi here proves considerably faster than in Hong Kong.
Flight
When stepping aboard, passengers will notice funky mood lighting that sets the scene for the flight ahead, and which can later be used to mimic scenes like the morning sunrise or a moonlit night, depending on the time of day.
Passengers are also offered amenity kits, plus inflight pyjamas on this entirely-overnight service which departs around midnight in Hong Kong and touches down in London before the real sun rears its head.
Inflight Internet access is too available at a flat rate of £14.99 (A$24.35) for the entire journey, although given the timings of this flight, we'd love to see a less expensive plan on offer to provide more affordable access for a short period, such as 30-60 minutes, for travellers to send any last emails before heading to bed.
Seat
Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787s comes in a 1-1-1 layout, with the 'A' and 'K' seats by the windows and the 'G' seats in the centre: all of which feature direct and uninterrupted aisle access.
That's enabled by having seats which aren't directly forward-facing – rather, each passenger is angled towards that aisle, yet away from the window. This does make it harder to enjoy any views during daytime flights, however, as you have to look behind you to peer out that window.
Just as in Qantas' Airbus A380 first class, the layout puts the bulk of travellers (those in the 'G' & 'K' seats) at one aisle, with the other aisle considerably quieter and used only by those in the 'A' seats, below:
For a good night's sleep, we selected 2A – on that quieter aisle and away from the galleys, lavatories and inflight bar – and managed to doze for around seven hours, with the seat folding forward into a fully-flat bed and dressed with thick sheets, a duvet and a comfy pillow.
The crew are happy to help make your bed and to restore your seat in the morning, but if you prefer the DIY approach, you're all set:
Additional controls are available when your seat is in the upright mode, and there's no confusing which button to press to access your inflight table.
The table comes large, sturdy and can slide forwards or backwards for comfort...
... or to help accommodate a guest at your seat, who can sit on a footstool opposite and join you for a meal or just a chat: a feature normally reserved for first class.
There's room enough for your own shoes underneath that footstool, too: just remember to slide them in before the seat becomes a bed or you'll have a hard time stowing them away.
But even with these first class touches, the seat does have its limitations when stacked against other modern business class digs, as further storage is relatively limited and some travellers find these seats to be lacking in privacy, as you're fully visible from the aisle.
That said, you can still make use of a small literature pocket on the side, and the AC power outlet you'll also find there accepts Australian plugs without an adaptor.
Champagne (the Canard Duchene Cuvée Léonie) can be perched on a fold-out cocktail shelf positioned just below a handy reading light...
... although the shelf tends to reside at elbow height and is easy to bump, so we prefer to have the inflight entertainment screen open (this folds out to face you), and to use the space it creates to house our drinks instead.
A USB power outlet can also be found at the bottom corner of that screen – if you can't see it, just touch anywhere on the screen itself and the port will light up for a short time:
You can plug-in your headphones here too, but there's another headphone port down by the AC outlet which we prefer to use instead as it keeps the cords out of the way.
Meal
Despite the midnight departure, Upper Class travellers can still enjoy a full dinner with a choice of starters and main courses, plus a pudding course – fittingly British for an airline based in the UK – followed by cheese and port.
We'd eaten dinner on the ground so went straight for a toffee cheesecake (with chocolate cigarillo and smooth toffee sauce in a chocolate raindrop cup) which was delicious, joined by a glass of Cognac...
... and used the opportunity to dine with a companion. While there's ample room on the table itself for multiple plates and glasses, the legroom space when doing so is rather 'cosy' and seems more suited to high-flying couples than travelling colleagues.
But don't fret: these jets feature a four-seat inflight bar area where you can hold your business meeting instead...
... or can relax and unwind with a cocktail in-hand, prepared by the crew.
It's a great feature, but with no curtain separating the bar from the Upper Class seats nearby, you'll want to avoid choosing a spot in rows 9 through 11 if sleeping is your goal.
Closer to landing, you'll also find quick 'grab and go' breakfast options available at the bar such as cereals and juices, while a traditional full English breakfast can be taken at your seat.
To maximise your sleep, you might also consider skipping the inflight brekky and having your morning meal at the Revivals Lounge after landing, such as an Egg Benedict (yes, that's singular: but you can always ask for a duo)...
... and fresh barista-made coffee. Don't be fooled by the lounge-like push-button machine tucked behind the counter: when you ask for a real latte, a real latte you shall receive.
A selection of teas and espresso coffees are also offered throughout the flight, along with seasonal cocktails and a selection of wines, which on our flight covered drops from France, Sicily (Italy), Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Entertainment & Service
You'll find movies, TV shows, music and games aboard Vera, Virgin Atlantic's inflight entertainment system, which also handily reminds of your flight number: useful for completing any required arrival cards:
With the aircraft connected to the Internet, passengers can also stream CNN International, BBC World News and Sport 24 live to their seat at no charge via the entertainment monitor – but browsing the 'Net on your own device comes at a charge.
Service from the crew on this flight was excellent with requests tended to promptly, plates cleared quickly and discussion kept friendly.
We were also impressed that despite informing the crew we wouldn't be eating breakfast in the morning (before heading to sleep the night before), they came past to offer a meal anyway once noticing that we'd awoken.
Even more impressive was that the crew had prepared the hot dish for us as just-in-case, and was able to deliver this within minutes of offering it: service I'd expect of first class, less so in business.
Overall, the seat was comfy enough to provide a decent rest and the flight itself was most enjoyable – it's just a shame that the same can no longer be said of the pre-flight lounge experience in Hong Kong...
Chris Chamberlin travelled at his own expense using frequent flyer points.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
How are these seats different from the coffin seat on CX's A340s?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
07 Dec 2014
Total posts 170
Why does Virgin Atlantic (and Air New Zealand) persist with these seats? I get that they were cutting edge when they were introduced with direct aisle access for all, but alternatives with much better privacy are now available. Delta, which uses this design on its Australian routes, is moving on to a new layout on its new aircraft, I would have thought others would have done the same as well given the selection of reverse herringbone and forward facing seats are available.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1207
You are so right. I don't understand why VS (and NZ) persist with herringbone. VS could've adopted (pinched) the reverse herringbone design from distant sister VA which it uses in The Business. As well as being far more private, it enables a comfortable view out of the window, couples can sit comfortably together in the middle seats and you could easily do 4 abreast in a 787 compared with the 3 abreast the current herringbone imposes.
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
They'll probably update Upper Class when the A350s arrive.
25 Jan 2012
Total posts 29
Exactly this - these seats are the complete opposite of private and i can't believe they went down this path again.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Jun 2016
Total posts 8
Lounge wise I think that's really disappointing. Never really liked the Plaza Premium lounges in HK because some of the people there were quite rude etc. I think that once VA links up with Hong Kong Airlines, Virgin Atlantic should follow suit so they can use their facilities instead of PP.
03 May 2013
Total posts 680
Are VA still dilusionally selling this 'upper crap' as a "first class product at business class prices". The Brits really have nothing to boast about with either VA or BA premium class offerings.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
VS to be pedantic. I think comparing BA and VS is like comparing apples and oranges. The VS product is far superior, I would say.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 236
Perhaps one of the reasons Virgin Atlantic persist with this seat design is that they launched it.
18 Mar 2014
Total posts 98
I might be nitpicking here, but actually NZ bought the licence from VS many years back, and now VS uses it on licence from NZ. I understand the licence expires soon, so that'll most likely be the time NZ will look at a new product.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
11 Mar 2015
Total posts 190
Should call it Dracula class,exactly like a coffin,no privacy and have to crawl in and out,overrated crap
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 231
These would have to be amongst the worst Business Class seats in the Airline World . Horrible to sit in and almost impossible to sleep in . Would never fly with VS to London when there are so many better ones available . One would have to have no real choice or desperate to use an Airline with these seats. I won't fly with Air NZ for the same reason , horrible seats as well.
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 2
Did SYD/AKL/IAH this week on Air NZ 787. First time in this configuration....food superb, excellent wine all let down by the seat config, especially given the waste of the 787 window size
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jul 2013
Total posts 203
Arrgh! Hate. These. Seats.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
09 Mar 2015
Total posts 1
I'm travelling MEL/HKR/LHR in January. Can anyone clarify about the PP lounge - are the facilities free?
23 May 2012
Total posts 35
I like this seat as it has great wriggle room and no little foot coffin. Sleep well always on NZ.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Mar 2018
Total posts 26
The claim that you can share the dining table on SIA First is half-true. You can't on their 777 First, you can on their A380 old configuration First, and you can't on their new configuration First. The Air New Zealand sardine-tin Business Class seats are appalling, especially if suffering a bad back.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 767
There is NO LIMOUSINE transfer for Virgin Atlantic flights booked via Virgin Australia. Nyada, Nyet, zippo. I checked the other day and will have to taxi it out to LHR tonight myself! You have been misinformed by Virgin Atlantic.
Before you ask, my flights were paid for flights - fully flexible.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
Hi Boeing-Tragic, this review was published about 18 months ago, before Virgin Australia began codesharing on the Hong Kong-London route, and is deemed correct at the publication date shown at the top of the article, rather than being a 'live' resource to be updated whenever things change.
Virgin Atlantic continues to offer Upper Class transfers for passengers booked on J, C and D Upper Class fares, although no longer on the lower-priced Z (or I) tickets in the same cabin, as outlined on the airline's website.
The website also explains that codeshare flights are not eligible for transfers, which would include codeshare flights sold by Virgin Australia and operated by Virgin Atlantic.
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