What do you want from Business Class seats on Virgin?

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hi everyone,
We are running customer “seat clinics” this Wednesday & Thursday evening (24th and 25th July).
It’s a chance for our valued business class customers to sit in and evaluate new business class seats we are considering for our fleet.
Obviously the AFF community is full of Velocity status members, all of whom are bursting with opinions!


If you are in Brisbane on the 24th or 25th and would like to join us, please send us a PM, including your name, Velocity Number, contact phone number, and nominate the time you wish to attend: 5.30, 6.30, 7.30 or last session at 8.30pm.


The clinics are 1 hour each. Location is in Central Brisbane.


Note, This is subject to availability (hence there are only a few spots available to us), and as this is to do with creating a better experience for those that travel in J class, those that fly business class with us (hence are most suitable), will be given priority.


Thanks, and look forward to seeing some of you soon!

(PS details will be given to those chosen via PM)

 

[kevrosmith]

Hmmm... what a shame. In BNE today and tomorrow, but then in SYD Wed/Thu this week. What a great thing to offer... I hope some others can get along and provide some useful feedback.

What I'd be looking for is:
1. A comfortable seat with good lumbar/lower back support
2. An in-seat pocket to stash the mobile phone/other small paraphernalia
3. A good sized, sturdy table for working on the laptop. Too often the tables are too small, too flimsy or not supported enough and wobble too much.
4. Some sort of feet/leg rest/support... yep even on shorter flights, sometimes it's nice to have some variable locations to have your feet and legs supported.
5. Good adjustable and well-support head rest to get a quick 40-winks during take-off or landing when you can't get any work done on the laptop.
6. A good size drinks tray that isn't too obtrusive or in a location where it's easy to knock your drink.

 

[docjames]

Sadly I live in MEL.

Would have loved to trial the seats.

Thanks for offering the opportunity to AFF members.

 

[notzac]

Almost tempted to duck up to BNE for this - VFF, feel like flying me up from MEL?

Stuff I want to see in a short haul J seat:

• Decent recline
• Moveable headrest / adjustable headrest wings
• Leg rest!
• Power points!
• For IFE .. would definitely, absolutely like to see a way of attaching my tablet to the seat in front or to an "arm" that comes out from the centre console. That + WiFi IFE would be perfect in my books..

For a long haul J seat:

• Something that goes fully flat (unlike the 330 seats)
• Seat that actually has decent padding and lumbar support (unlike the 777 seats)
• Cubby holes for storing things like headphones, phones, etc
• Power points
• 15"+ IFE screens
• Way of attaching my tablet or phone to play my own content on the IFE system (a la NZ, CX)

I can't think of short haul J seats that I really like - yours are good, but would be *much* better with a leg rest and power points for every seat at the very least.

For long haul J seats - if you can get your hands on the new CX seat, that would be perfection in my books.

 

[dk4]

...evaluate new business class seats we are considering for our fleet.

May I ask, for which aircraft? Regional/Thin Routes, Domestic/Short Haul, Trans-Con or Long Haul...or all of the above? Because, to offer an opinion on what you can do better, depends on which of your baselines, you are talking about!

 

[lovestotravel]

I am glad that VA has realised that the current business class on the 737's is just not working, otherwise why new seats

Virgin America's seats are fine!

Seatback/fixed TV's are a must, although fitting these to only 8 seats is not going to happen so that being said somewhere to put your iPad/tablet/device at eye level or higher than your tray table. Basically something to hang/hold your device in.
Powerpoints!!!!
More recline
Softer padding
LEG REST that suits most people!
Adjustable headrest

Fix your seats
Fix your lounge food and I'll fly Virgin again just not to/from CBR where schedules change too much

 

[TirEoghain]

I've just sent a PM.

 

[Simsy85]

Actually, Only change I'd make is foot rests that pop up as you recline, dare I say, like QF's

 

[Lowjhg]

Curtains between J and Y!
Tray tables can be made with anti-slipping material to stop china ware from toppling off (Reason: most of the time during TOD, change in the angle of the aircraft may cause the plastic trays to slip downwards. This is due to the purple plastic tray being of smooth material and the surface area of the tray table being smooth plastic and metal. An introduction of mini slips of rubber, or the introduction of linen cloths over the tray table may help in the prevention of such slippage.)
Bulkhead cut-outs in front of row 1 seats to maximize leg room
Side storage units (as mentioned) for iPads and laptop computers and little misc items
QF style seat belt (reason is metal watch straps may accidentally lift the flap and release the buckle)
Height adjustable tray table
Seatback IFE (as mentioned)
Retractable footrest from the bottom of the seat (as mentioned), supporting the calves area during longer flights ( > 3 hours) on a 737/E90 for more comfortable rest
More recline

 

[pauly7]

Curtains and FULLY blocked out dividers between J & Y not scratched purple plastic.

Fabric instead of leather.

Inbuilt massage

Better IFE.

Better/more/greater variety food (Step 1 Fire current caterers, Step 2 fire Luke, Step 3 Look at QF standards Step 4 Just beat that!)

 

[lukenet]

Better/more/greater variety food (Step 1 Fire current caterers, Step 2 fire Luke, Step 3 Look at QF standards Step 4 Just beat that!)

Hey, what did I do wrong again to get the sack?

 

[brad330]

Curtains and FULLY blocked out dividers between J & Y not scratched purple plastic.

Fabric instead of leather.

Inbuilt massage

Better IFE.

Better/more/greater variety food (Step 1 Fire current caterers, Step 2 fire Luke, Step 3 Look at QF standards Step 4 Just beat that!)

I was told by a CSM that due to VA having only 4 (1/50) not 5 (1/36) crew they have to be able to see the cabin from the inner jump seat and that's what what the purple plastic is for. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Jama]

Would have liked to come, but I'm in SYD those two nights Brisbane the following week.

Great to see Virgin getting those using the services involved.

 

[Lowjhg]

Better/more/greater variety food (Step 1 Fire current caterers, Step 2 fire Luke, Step 3 Look at QF standards Step 4 Just beat that!)

Along with that, a J/WP lounge (i know this has been discussed) that allows J pax and WP status holders access to a separate closed off area, preferable with a better food and drink menu. Last week the MEL lounge was chockers, people who came in after 2 simply had no place to sit and had to stand around to find empty seats.

 

[eastwest101]

Missed it by one day, but if someone else goes I support most of the comments here about seating, legrests and power points.

With the cabin divider on VA the ratio of cabin crew to PAX seems like a reasonable explanation to me, but wasn't there another thread about cabin crew reductions on QF B738 services? If so then if QF can still operate with curtains then I don't see why VA can't at least look at curtains.

A proper IFE solution with some sort of timeframe would be nice as well.

 

[QF WP]

Damn, I'm already down the Gold Coast on a Conference - maybe I could drive back up and miss the Conference "Welcome Drinks"

VA, thanks for involving AFF. Brilliant.

IainF, to the white courtesy phone, paging IainF....

 

[notzac]

Curtains and FULLY blocked out dividers between J & Y not scratched purple plastic.

I must be the only person that doesn't mind the perspex dividers - and I still think the rope thingy is awesome.

Inbuilt massage

THIS!

 

[straitman]

VFF.

More than happy to partake in this if you can organise my flights.

I'm quite happy to pay accommodation costs.

 

[notzac]

VFF.

More than happy to partake in this if you can organise my flights.

I'm quite happy to pay accommodation costs.

+1 - accommodation not required for me as I'd be able to lean on family members

 

[anat0l]

Well I'm going - got the confirmation PM from VFF.

I'm told that a NDA will have to be signed, so I may not be able to share much with the collective.