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Virgin to cut business class capacity

Published: 03/12/2009 - Filed under: News »

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Effective January next year Virgin Atlantic will begin to reconfigure its London Heathrow fleet of B747-400s with a new upper deck layout. 

It means that the number of Upper Class seats (Virgin’s brand name for business class) is being cut by 10 seats while at the same time the number of economy seats is being boosted by 33. Details of the new arrangement are displayed as “Seating Configuration 4” on Virgin’s website.

The new seat layout on the upper deck will prove controversial. It comprises five rows of Upper Class configured 1-1 (so 10 seats in total) at the front and five/six rows of economy class configured 3-3 (a total 33 seats). The change is unlikely to be popular with Upper Class passengers flying on business, who in some configurations of the B747-400 previously had the whole of the upper deck to themselves.

It means that the two classes are separated by the emergency exit space. At present, there is only a single toilet at the front serving the entire upper deck, though Virgin says that a second washroom will be fitted at the back of the aircraft, to prevent a situation where economy passengers wishing to ‘spend a penny’ will have to either walk downstairs or through Upper Class, possibly disturbing premium passengers’ peace and quiet.

Removing several rows of business class seating would suggest that Upper Class is feeling the effects of the economic downturn. Since Virgin has confirmed that it is all the London Heathrow Boeing 747-400s that are being reconfigured, and not those B747-400s flying from Gatwick and Manchester, would also seem to suggest that it is the prime business routes out of Heathrow such as New York and Johannesburg that have been affected. 

For more information visit virginatlantic.com.

Report by Alex McWhirter

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COMMENTS » 

flyingformiles - 03/12/2009 19:10

Interesting change which will undoubtedly have an impact on passengers who normally travel UD and now have to share it will economy passengers. Wonder if we'll see other airlines doing the same?

Harryup - 04/12/2009 13:14

This is the configuration Air NZ has upstairs on their 747s - half business half premium economy and I do not like it one bit

LondonCity01 - 04/12/2009 16:02

Harryup, note that the new Virgin layout isn't the same as on Air NZ.

Virgin will be placing economy class, not premium economy class, on the upper deck of the B747. The seating configuration shows a 3-3 layout spread over five/six rows so a maximum of 33 economy class passengers will be accommodated behind the 10 Upper Class passengers.

flywong - 10/12/2009 10:15

this will be a pain for crew and logistics as business class trolleys and service will have to be towed through the new mini economy section to get to business class due to only one galley at the rear of the upper deck. this should be interesting.

usainbxl - 10/12/2009 13:42

This sounds horrible. I liked the upper deck because it was so peaceful ... especially on east-bound flights where people changed into their sleepsuit, had a night cap and went to sleep. Now half of that cabin is going to be overrun with people that don't have the good sense to realize that an airplane is not somewhere that you're going to get a decent meal, irrespective of class of service.

seanyjmuclhr - 11/12/2009 09:45

How ridiculous is this new "enhancement"? So, here's the dilemma: I am in 1K on the UD in UC, fancy a drink at the bar downstairs. What's stopping Mr Economy flyer in 75K on the UD just following me downstairs and sitting at the UC bar, too? How on earth are they going to police and enforce this?

dutchyankee - 11/12/2009 14:40

I never quite understood the mixing of Club or Business with Economy on the upper deck, it seems such a confined space to have two products, and I would question the value added perks such as privacy and being first off the aircraft, etc. A bizarre configuration, worse than the horrible Mid J BA configuartion where Traveller Plus is after First on some 747's.

d1rector - 11/12/2009 19:19

Let's face it - do not beat about the bush - when you pay premium fares you expect premium service. This means a form of elitism. Special treatment. No sharing. Privacy. Special treatment. If it is not on offer for premium prices, you simply have to take your business elsewhere. I believe too many airlines trade on the assumption that the business/Club passenger has to travel. But you have a choice over with whom you travel. Airlines should take care when they ignore that factor. When you are finding it difficult to retain premium traffic, now is not the time to - in effect - reduce the exclusivity of those who are continuing to demonstrate loyalty, in my view.

DStrose - 14/12/2009 12:00

This new configuration is already in operation on certain Virgin Atlantic flights from Gatwick. If you check V-FLYER you will see that VBIG(Tinker Belle) is used on some of the Caribbean routes...so its not just going to be available when flying out of Heathrow. Also note that the economy section downstairs on this config 4 arrangement has been heavily reduced in comparison to the config 2/3 which is usually used on the Gatwick flights. This may appear to be a cut back in Upper for some but on Caribbean routes its an increase in Upper Class seating as well as Premium Economy. Its nice to have LHR 747s at Gatwick. At least we get V:PORT IFE.

The_Flying_Nurse - 16/12/2009 00:24

Having previously flown as cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic, it is depressing to hear that they haven't learned from their previous mistakes where classes have been mixed on the upper deck cabin. I realise profitability is the main concern when operating a business but the logistics of this for the crew and passengers will be vile. Upper Class and premium Economy were combined on the upper deck at one point and it was extremely embarrassing having to tell Premium passengers that they couldn't have any of the Upper Class food or drink that was dragged past them for the J class passengers to enjoy. One of Virgin's problems is that it is a relatively young airline that grew quickly which meant staff who were junior cabin crew at one point (with perhaps no previous airline experience) ended up in senior positions on the ground or in the air not based on their merit, as they do at most other reputable airlines,but because the airline accrued a lot of aircraft and new aircraft and new routes very quickly and simply had to staff them. This inexperience shows when they come up with ludicrous ideas like this which will cheapen their Upper Class product and cause them no end of passenger complaints.

wellymuso - 14/02/2010 03:56

SIlly silly Virgin Atlantic - I was a long time fan and Gold Member of the VS Flying Club but if I had not already defected this would have been the final nail in the coffin. It is such a shame when they have got so much right - eg the Limo service - Drive Thru Check In - their own Security Line at LHR and the outstanding facility that is the LHR Clubhouse.

BUT this is simply not enough in itself and the onboard product has deteriorated so much - appalling food especially on the overnight flights with their pathetically small offerings/downsized breakfasts - always running out of items - pathetic amenity kits- loss of onboard beauty treatments.

The suite is still my preferred option but these other things matter and I would never want to fly on a full upper deck with that many passengers - and bang goes any chance of priority disembarking. You would have hoped that they would try to cultivate and maintain their UC customers - I don't think this will help at all....

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