Virgin Business Class is Just the Ticket!
There are many airlines flying the busy business route between the East Coast of Australia and the West Coast of the United States. Qantas, American Airlines, United and Delta all fly the route. On this business trip, I decided to try Virgin business class, an airline and product we had never flown before. I was very pleasantly surprised!
The fantastic cabin design and decor, the onboard bar, and the great food and beverages made for a fantastic trip. The standout though has to be the friendliest cabin crew in the sky. Virgin business class really does trump the competition!
Checking In at Brisbane International Airport
Checking in for Virgin business class is easy and quick. The airline has priority lanes for business class passengers, and Virgin Australia and their partners’ frequent flyers.
I had arrived at Brisbane International Airport two and a half hours ahead of my 9:30pm, Sunday night departure. The queues at check-in were small. Virgin Australia also offers morning departures on most other days of the week.
I was served almost immediately by a friendly associate and with boarding pass and express path card in hand, was quickly on my way through security.
I always find that there is no need for issuing express passes in Brisbane, as the security lines are usually always small and I seldom need to use them. It’s a thoughtful offer from airlines, in case it is ever needed.
The one area that Virgin business class did surprise me though, was at the boarding gate. All airlines have priority boarding lanes for business class passengers and the airline’s frequent flyers. This courtesy usually gets you on the plane early, allowing you some settling in time.
On this flight however, it looked like half the plane had priority access, with the line stretching well out of the gate area. It was the longest priority boarding lane I have ever seen when flying business class! For an airline that is not a member of one of the three big airline alliances, this was a real surprise.
Lounge Access
Virgin business class passengers have lounge access provided. On this evening departure it is in the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge (this link is to our review of this lounge from a previous visit).
It’s a small but pleasant lounge, with Saint-Hilaire champagne, good quality red wine, and food available. It’s a comfortable place to wait out your flight, especially if the lounge is not full. On this evening, it was near empty, so a lovely, quiet experience.
‘The Business’
Virgin business class is marketed simply as ‘The Business’. They have thought through every aspect of the needs of business travellers, with a fresh, lively and trendy vibe to their offer.
The cabin on this 777 was modern, inviting and appealing to the eye. The colour scheme, mood lighting, and well designed 1-2-1 layout, gives every seat a high degree of privacy. As you can see from my aisle seat below, I could barely see into any one else’s seat.
One shot provides a sneak peak at the onboard bar, which I will go into more detail later in this post. Virgin business class offers pyjamas, an attractive amenities kit, and ‘the business’ menu.
Getting Settled into the Virgin Business Class Seat
The 777, with its wide body, gives each Virgin business class passenger a wide and very comfortable seat. When reclined into a fully flat bed, it is one of the most comfortable beds flying across the Pacific.
The seat is designed for the convenience of the passenger, with easy access to everything. Ample storage is provided, although some of the storage compartments were very small. Power and USB connections are also available.
Virgin business class also provides their own branded headphones in a beautiful case. The large screen entertainment system is directly in front of you, with the table pulling out from under the screen. A separate controller is also available in your storage area.
My only complaint is the design of the area for connecting your devices. All the cables come out from one area, including your remote control, making this a messy mix of cables.
For me, I like simple access, but also neat and tidy. On this flight I found all my cables getting tangled and this I feel is simply poor design.
What Would you Like to Eat and Drink?
On boarding, a welcome aboard champagne was offered – the lovely Ayala Brut Majeur. Immediately you got a sense that the crew were out to please. Every passenger was referred to by name and treated as a special guest.
Australian Luke Mangan has designed ‘the business’ menu and provided an à la carte offer. Dinner was available on the flight, although a smaller express offering was also available.
A selection of gourmet snacks were also offered at the onboard bar or from the pantry. These snacks are perfect if you’d rather stay in your suite, which is how Virgin business class is referred to onboard.
I started with the Peking Duck with orange, pickled cucumber, and a soy dressing. It was scrumptious. For my main I went with the pork fillet. This was served on a bed of white bean and rosemary puree, with chorizo, edamame and tarragon. Very good!
As it’s my favourite when flying, I finished the meal with the cheese plate. It included cheese from Tasmania, Victoria, as well as France. Luke Mangan’s quince paste, grapes and crackers accompanied the cheese.
I loved the table setting, from the crisp linen table cloth to the Sydney Opera House styled salt and pepper shakers. Elegant and classy!
The wine available on board was also good with a wider, more extensive range offered after dinner at the bar. The dinner selection included three Australian whites, three reds from Australia and New Zealand, as well as tawny port and dessert wine – both from South Australia. The vineyards represented were all well known and respected brands.
Entertain Me, Please!
Virgin business class has an extensive offering in their onboard entertainment system. With an 18 inch screen and over 500 hours of movies, tv and more, there is plenty to keep you entertained.
On this flight I got the chance to catch a film I had missed seeing at home – Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. This recent remake of the classic, by Kenneth Branagh, was a great way to unwind and relax after dinner, with a port in hand.
Of course, all good travellers like to see where they are in flight, and a good route map was easily available. I loved that you could easily switch back and forth while watching your movie.
Taking Time Out at the Virgin Business Class Bar
The highlight for me on this flight was the onboard bar. More and more airlines are offering this feature and the design needs to be carefully thought through for this to work.
Virgin business class have got it exactly right. Its stylish design includes bar stools at the bar, as well as a small table and chairs for a quieter chat. Virgin crew continually staff the bar, if there are passengers using it. They were friendly, personable, and joined in with small groups of passengers making for great conversations.
A wide range of wines, spirits, beer and cocktails were freely available, served with a genuine smile and refilled regularly. This was a very pleasant way to spend a few hours mid flight before heading to bed.
I always love chatting to fellow passengers, finding out where they are going and discovering common interests. Virgin business class really do the bar concept very well.
The Friendliest Cabin Crew in the Sky
The cross Pacific route has intense competition and Virgin business class has carved a sizeable market for themselves by the quality of their onboard product.
What really makes them stand out from their competitors though, is their service. Every crew member I met and interacted with, was genuinely interested in me and my travel experience.
They clearly love their job and this comes across very naturally. Some airlines train their crews to be friendly (Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines come to mind) but this was more natural. It was a genuine show of excellent recruitment and quality customer care. Well done Virgin business class.
Expert Traveller Recommends…
There are many airlines flying the busy business route between the East Coast of Australia and the West Coast of the United States. Virgin business class is a high quality product certainly giving its competition a run for their money. From the great cabin crew and friendly service, to the trendy look of the cabin, Virgin business class is high up on our list when crossing the Pacific on business.
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