Review: Virgin Australia 'The Business': Melbourne - Los Angeles, Boeing 777
By James Fordham, April 12 2017
Route
Melbourne - Los Angeles
Aircraft Type
Boeing 777-300ER
Airline
Virgin Australia
Flight
VA23
Cabin Class
Business
Seat
3K
Notes
The Good
- Direct aisle access from every seat
- Great food and beverage selection
- Access to Etihad lounge
The Bad
- Limited entertainment selection
X-Factor
- In-flight tended bar
Introduction
Earlier this month, we reported on Virgin’s relaunch of direct flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles, a route that was previously served only by Qantas and United Airlines.
The flight runs five days a week, with VA23 departing Melbourne at 11.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, to reach Los Angeles at 9am that same morning.
The VA24 return leg departs Los Angeles at 8.55pm every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a 5.45am arrival into Melbourne two days later.
Virgin’s re-entry into the route adds more choice for business travellers, and with direct aisle access and an in-flight bar, Virgin’s swanky business class offering makes for a compelling choice.
Read about our experience aboard Virgin Australia’s ‘The Business’ from Melbourne to Los Angeles on their new Boeing 777 aircraft.
Check-in
- Chauffeur-driven airport transfers: Complimentary for guests booked only on higher-priced J and C fare types but not the lower-priced D or I fares, or flights booked using frequent flyer points. Transfers must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
- Priority check-in, boarding: Keep your eyes peeled for signage at check-in and at the gate to skip the queues, and grab your Express Path card to zip through security and passport control.
- Checked baggage allowance: 2x32kg, or 3x32kg for Velocity Silver, Gold and Platinum frequent flyers.
- Carry-on baggage allowance: 2x115cm bags up to 7kg each, plus one small personal item.
Lounge
Virgin Australia uses the recently refreshed Etihad lounge in Melbourne for business class passengers travelling to Los Angeles.
The Etihad lounge is impressive, with a number of different work and recreation areas, and a stunning bar with tarmac views as its focal point.
And since you’re heading to LAX, ask the bartenders to whip you up the ‘Los Angeles’, a fairy floss-topped Tequila cocktail, with rice milk, spices and homemade cocoa nib and chili liqueur.
With plenty of dining and drinking options, the Etihad lounge is one of Melbourne airport’s best - you can read our full write-up of the lounge here.
Seat
Virgin’s Boeing 777 business class offering comes in a 1-2-1 layout, offering every seat direct aisle access.
Each seat is adjustable, with a touchscreen panel allowing you to cycle between seat settings for sleeping, lounging and takeoff/landing. You can also use this panel to control the lighting and make other adjustments.
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There are various storage compartments littered around, as well as AC and USB power outlets – our only gripe was that the AC plug’s positioning can make it a little cumbersome if your power adapter is on the larger side.
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For a full breakdown of the various nooks and crannies to store your gear, read our review of the same seat on the Sydney to Los Angeles leg.
Since the outbound journey to Los Angeles is a daytime flight, it’s a good opportunity to visit the tended bar – with bar stools and lounge seating...
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...plus a range of spirits, boutique wines, and Australian beers, the bar is a great way to break up the long flight and take some time to socialise with other passengers or just unwind.
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Once it’s time for a snooze, the cabin staff will set up your mattress and drop off some pyjamas and chocolate so that you can bed down.
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Extending to an impressive 203cm when fully-flat, your suite is as lengthy as a queen bed on the ground, making this one of the best fully-flat seats for flying across the Pacific.
Meal
Once on board, you’re offered a drink of your choice, including the 2007 vintage Ayala Millésimé Champagne...
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...or a range of Australian red and whites and one Pinot Gris from across the Tasman.
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Drinks were accompanied with a selection of bar snacks including almonds, edamame and marinated olives...
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... and there's also a selection of cocktails, spirits, beers and soft drinks on offer.
Dining options are offered in a few different ways – you can tuck into lunch straight away, have an 'express' meal later in the flight or pick from a selection of pantry snacks and light bites.
The lunch service is offered with breads, a choice of three different starters, four different main courses and an assortment of cheeses and desserts for afterwards.
For the starter, we opted for the Australian prawns with soba noodles, featuring a shallot, sesame, miso and wasabi dressing. This came out well presented and tasty, and the soba noodles were cooked just right.
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Next up, we tried the Tasmanian Petuna ocean trout, served with a sweet potato, ginger and coconut puree alongside an Asian herb salad – the puree adds plenty of flavour while also preventing the meal from having excess water. This meal was one of the best we’ve ever had on board a plane – business or first class.
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Rounding out the meal is a slice of Berry’s Creek Tarwin Blue cheese, accompanied by grapes, Luke Mangan branded fig fam and Falwasser crackers.
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Later on in the flight, we tried one of the ‘light bites’ options – a slightly more upscale take on the humble jaffle, the chicken and leek toasted sandwich with tomato relish is a tasty snack to keep you satisfied until breakfast in the morning.
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Speaking of breakfast, you'll receive a hotel-style ordering card before you go to sleep, and you can nominate whether to be woken up or left to sleep until close to landing.
On offer were a variety of juices, fruits, cereals, bakery items, Nespresso coffee, teas and your choice of main. We sprung for the scrambled eggs with tomato relish, plus sides of haloumi cheese, bacon and wilted spinach.
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Entertainment & Service
Every suite in The Business features an 18-inch HD touchscreen panel, along with noise-cancelling headphones and a remote control so that you don’t have to reach forward when lounging.
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The last time we reviewed The Business we noticed the video entertainment options were not very expansive. It looks like Virgin Australia has expanded their movie selection but their TV and variety sections are still limited.
If you’re travelling with a partner, you can share a flick in tandem while discussing the movie or anything else via the screen's chat system.
In terms of service, cabin crew are friendly and professional, addressing each passenger by name and ensuring that you’re comfortable without being intrusive.
Also distributed are Mandarina Duck amenity kits: for gents, it's a black bag with a REN skincare pack of facial moisturiser, lip balm and hand and body cream, along with a dental kit, socks, an eyeshade, ear plugs and a pen.
Ladies receive a similar white bag but with the addition of cotton buds, cotton pads and tissues.
All in all, The Business is a fantastic option for crossing the Pacific, and the overall experience surpasses the offerings from Qantas and United – from the Etihad lounge at Melbourne airport, to the inflight bar and direct-aisle-access beds, there’s very little to fault Virgin on.
The writer travelled to Los Angeles as a guest of Virgin Australia. Please note that some images have been reused from previous reviews of this product.
James has been interested in aviation ever since his first flight. When he’s not travelling, he’s still on the road indulging his motoring hobby, or trying a new whisky.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
02 Jul 2015
Total posts 15
Thanks for the review James. One question, in the Etihad lounge at MEL were they offering table service in the restaurant? If so, what was on offer at that relatively early hour?
13 Apr 2017
Total posts 3
I agree James, the food on VA to LA is good. I would say better than Qantas Business Class but the Etihad lounge in LAX is appalling for VA customers expecting a Business Class lounge. Here was my experience: a) they only let you use it a couple of hours before departure (so if you have connected from a US flight that day you depart, you cannot access the lounge till then); b) there is only one shower in there for both male and females. So you have to queue for use. And it is not even a complete offering. No hair dryer for example. Toilet in there is out of order; c) they did not offer a menu of cocktails or food (which a separate site reviewing that lounge said is on offer). I suspect VA customers don't get the full Eithad lounge privileges. It was just 3 hot dishes in a buffet style set up with cheese and fruit; d) there are no work stations or printers (so it is NOT a business lounge); e) I was Sydney to LA (VA2), so there was not a spare seat in the lounge. It was packed like sardines as it has only a limited number of seats (much like the Sydney Etihad lounge). This part of the VA Business offering is very disappointing and lets down the VA Business brand
13 Apr 2017
Total posts 3
That is good to know James for the future. The Emirates lounge at LAX is a lot bigger and has what you expect of a business class lounge. I will try to stay on topic then in future about specifics. I agree the entertainment on VA Business had its limitations. Did you notice you cannot scroll through the songs? If you want to listen to song 5 (for example) you have to sit through the previous 4 songs. Some technician did not think that through. Also where did you store your laptop? It does not fit in any of the compartments they built. For take off and landing, I was told by the crew I had to hold it on my lap. Another design feature not properly thought through.
16 Apr 2017
Total posts 1
Hi James,
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Virgin Australia 'The Business': Melbourne - Los Angeles, Boeing 777