What's the best seat in Virgin's new Upper Class cabin? A350-1000 seat 1A review.
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- čas přidán 22. 03. 2020
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Here goes on my second flight with Virgin in Upper Class - this time right at the front :). Question is, does it make a difference for better or worse to sit in 1A? Come along with me to find out more!
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Hi, I’m Steve. I am a travel reviewer and post my trip reports here on CZcams. I pay for my own travel and produce my own videos. If you have any questions about my journeys or travel advice in general, please drop me a comment - I do my best to respond to every single one. I’d also love to hear any recommendations you may have for future content, or why not challenge me to try something a little out of the ordinary! If you are looking to collaborate on any type of project, I’d love to hear from you - email me your ideas and hopefully we can work together in the future.
Music and map courtesy of Epidemic Sound and flightradar24 respectively. Hope you enjoy the flight! Thanks for watching!
I'm a big Noel Phillips fan too and I've seen all his stuff. So now it's time to binge all your videos whilst hiding from the virus indoors.
Liked and subscribed!
Ryan Fleming amazing! Thanks so much for the support! CZcams is helping us all deal with the boredom of being locked at home :)
I LOVE your videos. So good to see that they've fixed the Tray Table! I will be flying Seat 1A from LAX to LHR in July (Corona permitting!)
Great to see how much you loved the experience
Willie Hannon it was crazy, a whole different world!!!!
This is amazing, love taking off from major airports at night with a long journey ahead, lucky pilots.
SebPodge I couldn’t agree more! Cheers for watching :)
Excellent video! I looked at my flight history and I flew the exact same seat (1A) on the exact same aircraft (G-VJAM) back in December 2019 - small world! Couldn’t agree more with you - was an awesome seat! Subscribed - keep up great work!
Elliott Bowles thanks so much! Haha that’s incredible! (As was that seat...) :)
Great review, happy to find another solid travel channel!
Cheers Chuck! The channel is a bit different just now for obvious reasons, but can't wait to get travelling again!
Another cracking review, Steve I really enjoy your style, 3:58 fantastic. I love the way you were eating your soup during the bloodiest part of the film.
Brian McCann haha thank you Brian! What a scene 🤣
That buzz saw sound from the engines! Takes me way back to the early days of the 747 :)
It's such a sweet powerful sound! Love the A350, but also the 747 if I ever get the chance to ride in one again!
Loved the video 😍 Your face when you got the chocolate cake...LOL..and that lavatory dance. Priceless!
SOPLANE haha thanks for watching 😆
Good stuff again Steve. Since I subbed last week your subs count has gone from 600 to 1k ! Well deserved. I like the mix of ferry, train and plane. Unusual for most travel vloggers, but makes you stand out I think 😉
Legionnaire Gonk aww thanks so much! Yeah I couldn’t quite believe the increase! (I remember getting excited when I got to 10 subs!) and cheers also for mentioning the mix - I’m really trying to focus on this, although I may also drop in occasional different content, especially in these bleak times, but ferry/train/plane will remain my main focus. Thanks again for the support! 👍🏼
excellent footage
Dr Riff thanks very much 😊
Another awesome video steve 👍
Thanks Steven 👍
Loved your report. The look on your face was at times priceless!!! Your comments about the in flight entertainment system gremlins is fair comment. It isn't just Virgin, but on all carriers. The vendors promise the earth and reality is that they have been in a learning curve. I have been on flights where the whole IFE has needed to be rebooted once or twice, where the movies only have Korean subtitles, where the wifi is not working, and so on. It can only get better....I hope. I just listen to music on Spotify assuming the wifi is working. Keep up the great work with your videos. Can't wait to be able to get back to Scotland and see it properly. Stay safe, Ian
What a brilliant report mate, now subscribed. I hate to say I’m not a huge fan of Virgin Atlantic from some pretty dire flights with them a couple of years back so am now a BA convert. Looking forward to this craziness finishing and seeing another of your trip reports. Take care
Andy Jackson Thanks so much mate! I’d love to compare the BA product, hopefully will get the chance one day, but at the moment looking like this was a one off! Cheers for watching and of course for the sub :)
Thanks for this very informative video, Steve! I am randomly here after watching James Asquith's video on Virgin Atalntic A350 aircraft as well! Good luck on your upcoming videos! 👍🙌
Thanks so much and so glad you found one of my videos! I’ll be doing more flight trip reports as soon as possible, so hopefully you’ll stick around :) all the best to you!
Nice video! Looks like when VA starts flying again "hopefully soon" that 1A will be my Goto seat since it sure looked like there was more room in the foot well and in general. Keep the videos coming!
I'm editing a few new ones as I type lol.
awesome review! Liked and subbed
Trip Report Cheers much appreciated! I’ll try get some more content up for you soon!
So have I thank you !
Wonderful trip...that chocolate cake looked delicious. Merry Ann from Minnesota
It really was Merry Ann!
Very cool video. We had SFO-LHR-SFO booked for the two first row middle seats back in July, but obviously that was canceled. I’m holding on to the voucher/credit as we will rebook when it’ll be safe and sane to travel again but in the meantime it’s great being able to watch videos like this to keep up the anticipation and excitement!
I'm so glad you enjoyed, thank you! But I must admit, if my home airport was SFO, I'd never be flying anywhere because I'd already be in heaven! :)
@@steve-marsh I could say the same for *insert any Scottish airport here*!
@@bjd1885 😊
Another great video , Steve. The first ever flight was in 1992. Business Class on Air Canada from Toronto to Vancouver, and then B/C to Hong Kong and then Cebu, Philippines, with Cathay Pacific. What an experience! Unfortunately my next flight was back to Hong Kong In economy. WTH happened. This can’t be how people really fly. Reality has set in and real flight experiences now .
Jack Hamilton back down to earth with a bump! Ha I know right? I wonder if I’ll even lie flat on a plane again! Cheers for watching :)
After watching your video, I just changed my seat from A4 to A1 on my July 2021 flight from London to Johannesburg on Virgin Atlantic upper class A350/1000!! While flying back, I am going to keep my original A4 and compare the differences.
A good decision in my opinion Pravin - have a great trip!
Loved thus video, Steve. We live in Portland, Oregon, and make the flight SEA-LHR with Virgin when we can. We will try to make it into first class next time, using your video that you did in the opposite direction!
Will be watching your channel from now on.
Hey thanks so much Chris!
Hi Steve. You are a fellow Scotsman.
Great footage 👍
I have subscribed.
Thanks so much! Sorry for the obvious lack of flights at the moment, but hopefully will get the chance to fly again soon!
A350 looks a dream to fly in steve and i know what you mean when you say it wasn't long enough but on the other hand if you are in economy it is a bonus, unfortunatly virgin seemed to have taken a massive hit at the moment and lots of their aircraft are parked up at heathrow.
t s thanks for watching! It’s so sad to see what’s happening, i really hope all the staff in all industries are given the support to get through it. True, in economy it would be great news, and that’s of course where most people are! (And me 99% of the time!) thanks again :)
Thanks for the tip, just changed my LHR to JFK flight seat to 1A as its a A350
Have a fantastic flight Nick! SO glad when my videos can help out, good decision!
You are so silly...really fun to watch this one. I got bumped up to first class only once and it spoils you doesn't it? Mind you I love to fly... I'll get on a plane and go anywhere...don't care what seat I'm in.🤗
Look amazing flight, five hour flight thats not to bad, l haven't flown for such along time,
'Ahh sweet!' when the good lady takes your jacket.. C'mon Steve, this is Upper Class! 😂
And I’m clearly not used to it! 🤣
Hi Steve, Just came by your channel and enjoyed it, gave a thumbs up. Flew Virgin return Hong Kong when working there, not sure if I'll fly them again but that's only because of my retirement location. I was more interested in checking out the interior of an A350 as with the undertenancy of the A380s future, I'm curios on replacements. The seating shown is similar to Emirates A380 business class so pleased with that, as long as they go with the same design. Not a fan of Emirates B777 layout but had to fly it as the leg Saigon Dubai is the B777.
A little tip for free over booked flight up grades is in my experience being great with ground staff, a jacket and shirt. That was OK with me as I was T shirt and jeans at work and find it fun to get suited and booted.
Good Moaning Vietnam thanks so much for watching and for the comment! I really likes the A350, so quiet and the air inside just felt so much better! That’s a big thing for me as I sometimes feel a bit out of breath on other aircraft. The new seat was nice, a bit lacking in storage space, but still a massive improvement in the old one! Hopefully more business class flights for us both soon eh?!
Thank you. After watching your video, I picked the first row in the upper class. Couldn't get 1A, so picked 1K. Traveling from LHR to LAX.
Good job! Have a fantastic trip! :)
How was your trip in seat 1k? I have the same seat booked for an upcoming trip. How was it being close to the bathroom? Any regrets?
Ace vid
They were the days and nights...Virgin 747...outstanding crew all the time...I'm not sure that such a charismatic aircraft that is being dumped at Kemble will ever return...its imperfections were its strengths. The A380 dumped, charmless
Great upload we like you! 🤗
Thanks so much! Yeah have to agree about A380 despite never having flown it.
I've booked this seat from SEA in September 2021
Awesome! Oh Seattle, wonderful city!
Best airline
Nice
Cheers!
2:02 - toilet dance!! Yaaaas!! 😄
Erika Marsh the only place I’ll dance 🤣
Also...you turned down extra cake?? You’ve changed!! 😆😆
Erika Marsh I have to live with this decision 🤦🏼♂️
I’ve booked this seat for May.
I hope you like it as much as I did :)
@@steve-marsh I’m sure I will. Even if have to wear a mask. Always wanted to try upper class
Ahh the pre-covid pleasures of flying.
Miss it so much!!!
Congratulations!
I enjoy your videos.
How much does the ticket cost for this experience?
Giorgos Glinis thanks so much! The total price was £1300 - but when you think that is 2 x upper class flights, 2 x connecting flights, 3 x lounges, fast track at airports and a whole lot of virgin points, it’s actually really good value! (Especially for someone like me where it could possibly be a once in a lifetime treat!) thanks for watching!
@@steve-marsh Thank you so much for your time!🇬🇷
Good blog only thing missing where’s the wine list ?
Oops, how did I miss that! Sorry, I won’t make the same mistake again I promise :) I can look it out and message you if you’d like to see what was on the list?
@@steve-marsh no probs Steve was sort of tongue in cheek
Thanks for this review. I've flown Virgin three return trips and they've all been in Upper Class and all on the B789. I've enjoyed all of them and the crew is always amazing. The seats in the B789 are really hard; however they are slightly wider than the product on the A350. I know many people don't like not being able to see out of the windows, but I don't mind it. For the majority of the flight you're above clouds so there's nothing really to see. I'm currently in London and will be flying Virgin again this month or late September and it will be on an A350. Unlike your trip, mine will be over 11 hours to LA. I'm not sure if I want to fly Premium or pay the bit extra (with miles) for Upper Class. The meal and drink service won't be the same as it was pre-pandemic so I'm still trying to decide if I want to spend the extra money on Upper Class. Though from what I've heard, it'll be better than what BA is currently providing in Business, which is a sandwich in a box! (I know from experience in May.) Thanks again.
Randy P ohhh it’s a tricky one eh? I’ve got the same dilemma in a way, with a few miles to play with I need to decide how to best spend them. I hadn’t realised how bad the BA offering was, but I know Virgin will be so much better. Also, any idea how the Clubhouse at LHR will be operating? It’s a big part of the experience for me and I’d hate to book a flight if it was either reduced service or closed altogether! For me this may be the only time I can afford business class again! On the A350 seat, it was nice but certainly not perfect. Unless you can get front row which is, as I say in this video, so much better. Cheers for watching :)
@@steve-marsh I booked my flight this morning. I took your advice and chose 1A. I'll need that lie-flat seat for the 11 hours 20 minutes flight! The length of the flight was my deciding factor in choosing Upper Class. I fly out this Sunday. Virgin is temporarily operating out of T2, so the amazing Clubhouse is closed until further notice. If you're flying on or after 20th August, Upper Class and Gold Flying Club members will have access to the Plaza Premium Lounge in T2.
Randy P cheers for the info and have a great trip! I love that big arcing route over Greenland and Canada, I think you’ve made a good call to go Upper Class despite the reduced service - it’s a long one! All the best!
How is the noise level in that seat? I’m currently booked in row 6 because I’m wary of the noise. Thinking of changing it to 1A if the disturbance is minimal.
Jacqueline Serna I seriously didn’t notice any more noise at all, sure you will be closer to a toilet, but most of the time they are not in use unlike what I’m used to in economy! I wasn’t disturbed at all, and even if I had been a little, it would still have been worth it to have the better seat. I hope you enjoy your flight!!! :)
Woahhhh that’s such a clean bird! Have you ever been on the Boeing 777-300ER?
I have indeed, with American (as I recall) and it was a fantastic flight, but I was right down the back and it was before I started this channel. Cheers for watching!
I’m worried about the front row seats in upper class as they are next to the toilets. Did you experience any inconvenience with this? I have seat 1K booked for an upcoming day flight
How was it? I have 1D booked but tempted to take 2K
I have flown Hundreds of times, mainly for work, the only time I got to sit in 1 A the plane developed a fault!!!! so had to transfer to a small turbo prop... with no first class.... :-(( was only from Helsinki to Heathrow, but still... 1 A.... never happened again...:-((
Oh nooooo! Yeah, I was stressed in the weeks before that there would be an equipment change and I’d be shifted elsewhere on the plane. I got lucky! Cheers for watching!
Hi mate, I will be sitting in seat 1A. Is it a bit larger than the rest and do you have people going back and forward to the toilet ? From the seat plan it looks like the toilets are on the opposite side (1K)? Thanks .
Very little disturbance from toilets, nothing like in economy in same position. And loads more room in 1A - you bagged a great seat!
@@steve-marsh thanks for the reply, great news ! 👍
Ace vide love those Pjs and the socks.....Btw i suppose you have two cruet sets now 😅😅😅😅😊😊😊😊
I've had 0 business class flights.... i need to book myself one when covid buggers off (disappointing to hear the map/tail cam didn't work :( )
I hope you can pick up a nice bargain like I did, but yes, wait until full service is back in action!
@@steve-marsh Any tips on the bargain situation? I'm not a regular flyer so I'm guessing deals will be hard to come by without the ability to rely on frequent flyer points.
@@Radictor44 hi, for this bargain I used Google’s ITA matrix - if you haven’t used it before it’s a bit fiddly, but boy did it find me a bargain. Took a good week of searching though but ofc worth it! You can’t book on this site, but I just took note of the flights I wanted and booked them direct with Virgin. Highly recommended!
@@steve-marsh Oh thank you - I wasn't aware of this! I'll keep an eye out and see what appears! thanks! :)
Trouble is, it's right by the bathroom so odor-wise, you're in the crap...I mean, lap of the Gods.
Haha I got lucky on this one :)
4:53 I think you'll find them Delta pilots had a better seat than you! That must of looked amazing as the A350 rotated in front of them
Hah so true! :)
Just because you are short and can not reach the bulkhead, doesn't mean it is a good seat. The others give more room for a tall person. :)
But I’m over 6ft!
Virgin Atlantic pyjamas for a 5 hour flight?!
Hey if they’re giving them out, I’m taking them! 🤣
No safety video in this flight?!
Good point! I didn't even think about that! Very old-school!
@@steve-marsh old-school in a New Aircraft 🤣❤✈
Why pyjamas for 5 hr flight
Aye, an overnighter, but not much time to sleep! There are maybe only 2 airlines worldwide who give out pjs in business class these days, so I was delighted to have 2 sets to take home :)
Why do they call it upper class. The A350 doesn’t have an upstairs like A380
@Clearbore Pty Ltd = Coach class in USA / Cattle class in my head 😀
It comes from the days when Virgin used B744 on the route.
I LOVE VIRGIN AIR!
I was in 2A behind this guy and kicking his seat the whole time. There was someone there besides this bloke doing the video. LOL.
I had the great Virgin staff make my bed. After kicking this guy @ 8:20, he finally awoke and went to the 2C seat.
Glad this bloke will never afford an Upper Class seat again.
Virgin Atlantic filed for bankruptcy in May 2020...😖
Michael Bruchas sad times! I wonder where I’ll use the miles I’ve accumulated! Delta!?
it looks over crowded
The good old days before the radical masking BS.
Turned off when I saw his bogan shirt.
With all first class passengers wearing their Virgin issued “pyjamas” it makes them look like a whole bunch of convicts. 😂
The flight does seem too short to consider sleeping. As always, thank you for an excellent review of a service I am destined never to enjoy in real life. 🥲