As soon as I learned what business-class life was like, I never wanted to go back. Now, my husband and I use credit-card points to get the experience whenever we can, especially on long-haul overnight flights.
That’s mainly because the lie-flat seat is an absolute game changer, and I was especially looking forward to it when my husband and I booked Virgin Atlantic upper class aboard a 787-9 Dreamliner from Los Angeles to London this summer.
It’s a leg and an airline I’d flown before, so I knew all the perks of this airline’s version of business class. I also knew one thing I probably wouldn’t love as much as the other posh details of the flying experience: the seat.
Unlike most business-class seats I’ve experienced — I’m fortunate to have flown long-haul business class on about 10 different airlines — Virgin Atlantic’s doesn’t smoothly recline all the way from upright to lie-flat.
Instead, it’s a seat or a bed. When you’re ready to sleep, you get up, and a flight attendant flips the seat over and makes it up with bedding. It’s pretty seamless, but I still find the setup a bit cumbersome. I’d rather just be able to gradually recline into a comfortable lounging position.
Nevertheless, I tried to head into this flight with an open mind.
For this overnight flight, I had a window seat
Our overnight flight from LAX to London Heathrow was scheduled to take 10 hours and 25 minutes.
I was traveling with my husband while our kids were in summer camp (a rare grown-ups-only escape!), and we’d booked an upper-class seat configuration that was both interesting and slightly awkward for a couple.
This part of the plane has a 1-1-1 configuration, and every seat has direct aisle access, which is a great perk. However, I was seated by the window, and my husband was across from me in the middle section of the partially herringbone-style cabin.
I liked that I could see him from my seat, but we were foot-to-foot across the aisle, so our heads weren’t actually close enough to have a conversation without one of us standing up.
We could’ve been physically closer together, separated only by a short wall, if he’d been in a window seat behind or in front of me, but those seats weren’t available when we booked.
My seat had another quirk: Because of the seat position relative to the window, I had to turn and look backward to see out of it, which felt a bit strange and awkward.
The seat was comfy, but I still wish it seamlessly flowed between upright and lie-flat positions
The seat itself was comfortable, with plenty of room (up to 22 inches wide, according to Virgin Atlantic). And once it was made up into a lie-flat bed, I found it plenty comfortable to sleep on.
My issue wasn’t with the seat’s comfort so much as how it functioned.
In most business-class seats I’ve flown, I can use the controls to find exactly the position I want: upright for eating or working, partially reclined for watching a movie, and fully flat when I’m ready to sleep.
This setup did not offer that same range with ease.
The seat does recline — it adjusts between 17 and 42 degrees, according to Virgin Atlantic — but beyond that, getting it fully flat required me to get up. In the slightly inconvenient manual process, the padded back flips toward the footrest area.
I appreciated that a flight attendant handled the seat conversion and added the bedding while I was in the bathroom, giving the whole process a hotel-like, service-oriented feel.
However, I like to lounge somewhere between sitting and sleeping throughout a long flight, so I missed being able to gradually recline all the way down whenever I wanted to rest.
I’ve encountered a similarly unconventional seat with only one other airline, and it’s simply not my preference.
The food and service felt top-tier
As a vegetarian, I find that airline meals can sometimes feel like an afterthought, but I’ve found Virgin Atlantic’s upper-class options to be flavorful and thoughtfully presented.
This time, I had a hearty tomato-based pasta for dinner. On past upper-class flights, I’ve had dishes like warm tofu rice bowls and vegetable gyozas, and the food has felt approachable and tasty rather than overly elaborate for the sake of seeming luxurious.
The service has similarly struck the right balance for me: attentive but relaxed, which fits the airline’s personality.
Everything on board felt stylish and fun
The seat may not be my favorite, but Virgin Atlantic’s overall vibe is what sets the airline apart.
Upper class felt polished without feeling stuffy at all. The cabin looked sleek, with distinctive purplish mood lighting and a playful personality overall.
Even tiny details have character. The meal service included airplane-shaped salt-and-pepper shakers, which have become favorites among Virgin Atlantic flyers.
The airline’s upper class also has a social component that’s unusual in commercial aviation. Rather than treating the cabin exclusively as a collection of individual seats, Virgin Atlantic incorporates spaces where passengers can get up, have a drink, or socialize.
Yes, there was an actual bar at the back end of the upper-class section on this flight — and, of course, drinks and snacks were all included, as they would be at my seat.
It was fun to see a cabin crew member pouring drinks at the bar on my way onto the plane, but I’m usually sleeping rather than chatting over drinks when I fly.
Passengers may not be able to enjoy these for much longer, though — the airline has announced plans to remove its in-flight bars in the next few years to make room for more premium seats.
All in all, I’d happily fly in Virgin Atlantic’s upper class again
For me, the seat style is a bit of a drawback. However, a flight experience is about much more than only the seat.
Sure, business class is always a splurge — especially on long-haul flights — but this airline tends to offer good value for miles, in my experience.
I also appreciated that the experience didn’t seem to take itself too seriously. Business class can sometimes feel formal, whereas Virgin Atlantic manages to make a premium cabin feel genuinely fun.
After more than 10 hours aboard, I came away with the same impression I’ve had of Virgin Atlantic before: It’s stylish without being overly serious, the food is good, the service is warm, and the entire experience has personality that sets a fab vacation vibe right away.
I definitely expect to fly upper class with this airline again — and I look forward to it. Plus, Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to completely refurbish the cabins on its 787-9 fleet (including this plane) around early 2028, so I look forward to eventually trying the new version of this class, too.
Virgin Atlantic declined to comment.
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