Get hands-on with Virgin Australia's new business class seat in Sydney
By Chris C., May 25 2015
This week only, guests in Virgin Australia's Sydney Airport lounge can try out the airline's new business class seat for themselves ahead of its debut later this year.
Virgin Australia staff are on hand during peak times to offer hot towels, sparking wine and to highlight the key features of the seat as you perch yourself down, such as the high number of storage compartments for all of your knick knacks:
The seat is also powered up, which means you can use the touch screen on the side to go fully-flat.
The bed is actually longer than you can see above, as your feet and lower legs will dovetail underneath the seat in front to create a larger space within the confines of an aircraft cabin.
Also ahead of each traveller: a fixed inflight entertainment system that no longer needs to be folded down and locked away during take-off and landing.
The seat is impossible to miss, located smack bang in the middle of the entryway for all guests, whether you're arriving via Premium Entry before your flight or ducking in from the terminal side after you arrive.
Virgin Australia will progressively refurbish business class on all of its Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s, used on 'east-west' flights between Perth and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane; to Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur; and on selected flights to Nadi (Fiji).
Also read: Virgin Australia delays new A330 business class to mid-year
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 15
It seems a little weird and unfinished to display the seat without its PTV and how it fits in with a seat in front. All the same, looks great!
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
Why is the display seat's trim white when all of the cabin pictures show silver trim?
I hope the real life cabin stays with silver trim. The silver trim looks so much cooler...
18 Apr 2015
Total posts 67
Good pick-up! Perhaps they've partially responded to Qantas' research that says people preferred a lighter cabin. That white is going to get dirty
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
Sure, most people seem to prefer a lighter cabin. But I don't. Black, purple and silver are my three favorite colors (yes, I know, I'm shallow).
Anyway, if the tabletops are white now, and the trim, frankly it makes the cabin look a ton cheaper than it did when it was all black and silver... And like you said, it will get dirty quickly.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2432
I wouldn't read too much into the 'demo seat' – given how much just one of these seats would cost the airline, it could well be the initial demo model used at the launch in Singapore.
We'll see soon enough, anyway!
23 Jun 2011
Total posts 85
Any news on when the first aircraft with the new product takes to the skies?
I have SYD-PER-SYD (July) and SYD-NAD-SYD (Sept)... :-p
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Feb 2015
Total posts 150
KL? Didn't know VA flies there or is it to be announced soon?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2432
Virgin Australia's Abu Dhabi flights continue onwards to Kuala Lumpur on behalf of Etihad.
(So Sydney-Abu Dhabi-Kuala Lumpur-Abu Dhabi-Sydney.)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Feb 2015
Total posts 150
Ahh....that makes sense now. Must be one of those 'wet lease' agreement. Seeing Eithad is getting the 787s and A380s soon, maybe they will let the VA 777 go so we can have our MEL-LAX back.....
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Jan 2012
Total posts 258
They operate EY418/413 on Sundays with the plane that operates VA29/30. The plane will still have to sit on the ground in AUH or do the KUL flight, so unless VA use an EY 77W for the LAX flight, MEL won't be getting it back anytime soon.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 357
We've had enough teasers, now it's about time VA install these seats on their aircraft!
I've got a booking BNE-LAX next Mar, hopefully the seat will be converted by then.
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
Apparently the retrofit of the 777s will happen in November this year so you'll have the new seats by then.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards Gold
04 Jul 2014
Total posts 129
Saw this in the lounge on Saturday, didn't get a chance to get too close as it was roped off. Looks great though!
20 Apr 2014
Total posts 93
looks good - will be interesting to see how the build quality and design compare to the QF 330 seat (which IMO is a shocker: poor quality finish, "coffin" style foot-well when in full flat mode etc)
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