Virgin Atlantic’s latest A350s have a business class dining booth

A table for two has never looked so good, and it even comes with its own exclusive menu.

By Chris Ashton, April 7 2022
Virgin Atlantic’s latest A350s have a business class dining booth

Virgin Atlantic is dialling up the indulgence for Upper Class guests aboard its latest A350s, with a revamped social space for cosy nightcaps and romantic dinners now winging its way across the Atlantic from London Heathrow to Orlando.

Known as The Booth, the new semi-private lounge has been created with holiday-mode in mind, and features seating for two passengers on either side of a small table, with two 27” touchscreen monitors and Bluetooth audio jacks.

The Booth is a leisure-oriented treatment for Virgin Atlantic's A350s.
The Booth is a leisure-oriented treatment for Virgin Atlantic's A350s.

Developed in partnership with UK design agency Factorydesign, The Booth sports a premium feel with tactile finishes including Scottish leather seats and a pressed wool effect table.

More than just a cosy nook, it also comes with a list of exclusive experiences such as wine tasting at 38,000 feet, featuring a premium English white and rosé from The Uncommon, and a paired Delamain cognac and praline experience.

Wine tasting at 38,000ft, featuring three wines from English producer The Uncommon.
Wine tasting at 38,000ft, featuring three wines from English producer The Uncommon.

Guests can also enjoy private dining ‘Dinner for Two’ and ‘Game Time’, where passengers can compete against their partner with exclusive Virgin Atlantic playing cards.

Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operations Officer at Virgin Atlantic, says “We always strive to create brilliantly different experiences for our customers and the introduction of The Booth demonstrates this perfectly.”

Delamain cognac tasting with paired pralines.
Delamain cognac tasting with paired pralines.

“Whether that’s sampling the leading English wines from The Uncommon, sipping Delamain’s signature cognac or simply enjoying a game of rummy at 38,000 feet, we’ve got something on offer to suit every one of our customers’ tastes.”

With seating for just two guests, The Booth is a far cry from its larger and more spacious sibling The Loft, featured on Virgin’s first slate of A350s. Although a long time favourite for business travellers, it no longer fits into the ‘leisure configuration’ of the new aircraft.

The Loft is featured on Virgin Atlantic A350s sporting the primary 'business layout'.
The Loft is featured on Virgin Atlantic A350s sporting the primary 'business layout'.

Serving holiday destinations such as Orlando and the Caribbean, instead of the traditional business hubs of New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Johannesburg, the latest tranche of five A350-1000s sport an adjusted seating layout to suit.

These Upper Class suites feature on all Virgin Atlantic A350s.
These Upper Class suites feature on all Virgin Atlantic A350s.

Business class has been trimmed from 44 berths to just 16, with each of the semi-private Upper Class Suites transforming into fully flat 82” beds.

These Upper Class suites feature on all Virgin Atlantic A350s.
These Upper Class suites feature on all Virgin Atlantic A350s.

While both versions of the A350 come stocked with 56 premium economy seats, the leisure A350 now gets 100 more economy seats, taking the tally from 235 to 335.

The first aircraft in the leisure fleet, named Fearless Lady after Eve Branson, the late mother of Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson, will be joined by the Lady Emmeline in April 2022.

QFF

19 Sep 2013

Total posts 205

Surprised at the J seat reduction. Would have expected more leisure folks choosing to fly J these days.

24 Aug 2011

Total posts 1202

This tranche of A35Js are largely replacing the previous leisure oriented 744s so it makes sense that they are much less premium heavy.  

Joe
Joe

03 May 2013

Total posts 674

Another gimmick by Branson. Just like the massage/manicure service and space on the A346's, this will eventually be used for seats.

24 Aug 2011

Total posts 1202

These bars and lounges etc may appear gimmicky to some but there is no doubt VS and EK are the two airlines that have done it best.  VA also did well on their now departed 77Ws.  Some others such as QF's A380s were poorly thought out and largely unused.  I have flown on QF's A380s is F and J a number of times and have never seen the lounge used by anyone.  Maybe they will be more popular after the refit but there is still no bar to give you a reason to go there so I'm not hopeful.

23 Oct 2014

Total posts 237

I think this has more legs than “running tracks and gyms in the cargo holds”


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