Seat Review - Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy

After my BA Premium Economy experience I said that it was appropriate that Premium Economy was linked to the worded economy because the product is s step up from economy but is not a half way point of the Business class Product. Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy is a good looking product from a far but there are too many niggling problems and annoyances that take off the good looking shine and drive

the BOOT to rate Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy as 2.5 stars out of 6 or "Bad Seat". I don’t think Premium Economy is worth the extra money. Here is the detailed review (Details and scoring system for airline seat reviews)

Getting on Board	Score 0.5
Premium Economy does not get me lounge access in Sydney. Which would be a loss for the regular traveller but my top status on QFF gives me access to the Qantas Business Class Lounge even when not on a oneworld carrier. That said, the Air NZ lounge used by VS in Sydney is a handicap, not a bonus for VS, when compared to the great Hong Kong clubhouse and the outstanding Heathrow Clubhouse. The location of VS Premium Economy seats on the plane is an early bonus. It is just to the right of the door facilitating speedy on and off boarding. Drinks are offered but I boarded too late to get one.
The Seat	Score 0
The seat looks really good. Wide, cushioned and draped in purple hues of leather. But there are also some uncomfortable niggles. The legroom in front was blocked by something. Forced by feet into uncomfortable angles unless I sat bolt upright. The headphone plug is at my thigh height and when plugged in jabs the headphone plug connector into my thigh. Constantly jabbed and annoyed me unless I shifted into an odd position. Final niggles was the seat pocket. It is large and loose but is at my knee height. Means putting anything in it blocked by knees – pushing me into the headphone plug. As a result I had to keep everything on the floor – further cramping my leg room.
The Service	Score 0.5
The staff were very polite and pleasant. They were attentive when called upon but not to be found regularly moving up and down the aisle pro-actively looking to help out.
The Food	Score 0
I have to remind myself that I am in premium economy and not Business Class – so that I judge the food appropriately. And that I started the trip with an incredible melted French cheese fondue like experience in the Qantas Business Class lounge. This does not give VS a fair starting point of comparison. The food disappointed. I had a beef stew which required all of the salt and pepper I could find to compensate for the lack of flavour. . The salad was bitter and the desert rubbery. The fresh roles were hot and fluffy but the wine was cask like in acidity. The snack at the end was insufficient and I left the plane hungry for more in terms of quantity and quality..
The Entertainment	Score 0.5
A great selection of movies and TV shows. It is very entertaining to find British TV shows available – a change from the more common US and Asian ones that I am used to on other airlines. But again the niggles hurt the rating. The minor niggle is that it takes too long to start. It makes not sense that VS continues to wait until cruising altitude before turning the system on. Even then it forces the watcher to sit through a welcome video. The video is bizarre as it take 4 or 5 minutes of linear content that cannot be skipped to tell you how exciting it is that the entertainment system is full interactive and on demand. But the major niggle is the screen. It is a fair size for the seat it is too reflective in light. During meal services it was almost mirror like – impossible to watch. I saw more of my face watching Iron Man 2 than Robert Downey Jr. It dark scenes the picture was effectively black.
The BOOT factor	Score 1.0
Business Class is sold as being about the seat. Another fear in moving from Business Class to Premium Economy is the luggage allowances. Key to getting off the plane and on your way home/to the hotel as fast as possible is the ability to take all of your luggage on board. Technically VS Premium economy comes with a one piece limit on board. The check-in staff let me take on three pieces weighing 20kg. I am grateful for that.
Final Score	2.5 – Bad Seat

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thanks to maynard on flickr for the photo

Qantas In-flight Video Kills Virgin Atlantic Money Shot

Yesterday I flew Auckland to Sydney on Qantas. Playing on their in-flight video was the new Roman Polanski movie Ghost Writer. This movie contains one of the now ubiquitous airline product placements. This one is a doozy.

It starts with Ewan McGregor enjoying a scotch in an amazing looking lounge with no mention of the brand - though clearly the Heathrow Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Lounge. Then it quickly moves to McGregor sitting very comfortably in a beautiful herringbone seat being served by a lovely looking stewardess while both are bathed in red/purple hue lighting. Again no mention of brands but clearly a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Seat. Then it is time for the closing shot. The sweeping music filled mid shot of the airline filling the sky and filling our screens with the Virgin Atlantic brand. The VS brand money shot. But that is how it plays out in the cinema not on a Qantas flight. No way. As the grainy blackberry photo below shows the money shot is blurred out, the tail is a generic red smudge rather than a bright and embolden declaration of the Virgin brand . Can't blame QF for the mid-air editing - it is a natural reaction to blur out "unsavoury" images from an in-flight video.

Cathay Pacific vs Virgin Atlantic business class - the battle of the herringbone seats

I did a post yesterday with mine and Skytrax's airlines of the year. Numbers one and two on my list were Cathay Pacific (CX) and Virgin Atlantic (VS). There was a debate in the comments on the merits of the CX herringbone business class seat vs the VS herringbone. Hence this post - the battle of the herringbones. Why I think the CX herringbone beats out the VS version.

Three reasons why I think CX herringbone is better than VS

1. The entertainment system starts as soon as you sit down whereas VS make you wait until after take off and after a welcome on-board video has finished;
2. The CX seat converts to bed without having to get out of seat whereas the VS seat is a flip to bed version. Means you have to get out of the seat, convert to a bed and get back in; and
   
3. The VS seat narrows to the feet a little more making it slightly tighter in fit that the CX version.
   

Three reasons why VS herringbone is better

1. The on-board bar is a smash hit (hold on that is not related to the seat!);
2. The Upper Class Lounge at Heathrow is nearly unmatchable in quality (QF first class Sydney is its only competitor). With a haircut, spa bath, sauna and video games. (hold on that is not related to the seat either!); and
   
3. You get pyjamas on VS (hmmm...also not related to the seat)

I am being mean to VS. Focusing just on the seat, here are the three VS winners:

1. The table is large and can be moved to allow you to get out without having to put the table away;
   
2. The doona is much more bed like that CX's making for a more bed like feel; and
3. Big pillow - also better for a bed like feel.
   

Very close fight but CX by a whisker.

Full CX business class seat review here. Full VS business class (upper class) seat review here.

thanks to Lora_313 for the photo via flickr

Seat Review - Virgin Atlantic Upper Class (Business Class)

A recent Hong Kong Trip on Virgin Atlantic gave me a chance to see if the airline was living up to the ”Still Red Hot” advertising campaign. Is my second time on the carrier. I have a great memory of the last trip. Not least because I actually saw one passenger successfully pick up another passenger while sitting at the bar using the line "my wife does not understand me". Innuendo and brand image aside, VS have a fantastic business class product. The style makes me feel more relaxed in the air than the flag carriers of Asia, Australia and UK. The seats have a few issues compared to the more modern herringbone of Cathay Pacific but this is a great seat and airline to fly.

The BOOT rating for Virgin Atlantic Upper Class (International Business Class) is a 5 stars out of 6 or Great Seat". Here is the detailed review (Details and scoring system for airline seat reviews)

Getting on Board	Score 1.0
For Sydney and Hong Kong VS have the challenge of coming up against the industry leading lounges of Qantas and Cathay Pacific. In Sydney the Air NZ lounge (that VS flyers are invited to) is fine as it is but it is steps behind the travelling pleasure of the Qantas first class lounge with its first class restaurant and endless Veuve Clicquot. In Hong Kong the Virgin Club House is much better and more competitive especially through the quality of the small but enjoyable meal menu but is still behind Cathay's Wing Lounge. If I was travelling onto London all would have been forgiven as the Virgin Club House at Heathrow is my favourite lounge. Nothing beats and sauna and spa soak before a flight.
The Seat	Score 1.0
VS were first to launch the herringbone diagonal style flat beat seat (subsequently picked up by Cathay). The benefits of this seat are a quick conversion to a long fully flat bed and no one sitting next to you. The downside is that the seat tends to be narrow especially at the feat. I feel very comfortable and not too crowded in the seated position but lying down to sleep my feet become noticeably pushed together. It does not ruin the sleep experience but the irritation is felt. They make up for this with much appreciated attentions to detail. I am a fan of the seat tables that can be left down but moved in such a way that you can get out of the seat without disruption a meal tray or computer. VS manage to do this with one of the biggest tables in the sky while not interfering with the entertainment screen. The doona/blanket is much more bed like than a standard airline blanket. Similarly the pillow is a traditional size rather that scaled down mini-air format. Both help to compensate for squished feet. Only other negative is that the seat power still requires a dedicated aircraft adapter rather than the multi-region standard plugs now available on other carriers
The Service	Score 1.0
There is a real danger when a high end travel companies like VS adopts a service style and approach of being like a cool and sophisticated best friend. There have been times where I have stayed at W hotels in the US where the staff came across and so cool and so sophisticated that I did not feel worthy or welcome. VS are not like that - they get the balance right between making you feel relaxed and happy to be there yet establishing an environment of service and cool. Chatting with the staff in the bar area is a genuinely interesting and fun break from drudgery of a long flight. They can fall into a routine during very busy periods but that is the same with all airlines.
The Food	Score 0.5
The menu is good but that is not the most noteworthy part the VS dining experience. What I like is that I can order the main meal at the time of my choosing rather than according to a fixed meal service. This works better the less passengers there are. On a full flight the staff are very busy so breaking their routine is not as easy but I still find this feature useful.
The Entertainment	Score 0.5
VS have all the makings of a top entertainment system. It is full video on demand with a deep library of movies, TV and audio. Nice mix of recent releases and good older films. But it is annoying how long it takes to start up. Newer implementations on Singapore, Cathay and even United start immediately but VS takes a long time to switch on the system. Once it is turned on you have to sit through another 15 minutes of VS advertising and intro video. This has an impact on the night time HK to Sydney leg. This is a flight that is just under 9 hours. I can normally sleep around 6 hours on a flight so I am looking to watch a film then sleep. If I have to wait 30 mins before the video is turned on then it kills any chance of watching a film.
The BOOT factor	Score 1.0
Virgin Atlantic just ooze BOOT Factor. From the bar, toilet mood lighting, the sleeper suit, to the staff attitude there is a feeling of relaxation, welcome aboard and care that you don't find on the attentive but formal Asian carriers, the process driven Qantas and the 'I hate the bosses so much you are lucky I am here at all" attitude of BA and American carriers. I would like to have added the free limo transfer as a BOOT factor item but I was on the one fare class (read cheapest fare class) that was not entitled to the free transfer.
Final Score	5.0 - Great Seat

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thanks to vissago over at flickr for the photo