Flight: Virgin Atlantic VS317 from Bangalore to London Heathrow
Duration: 10 hours 45 minutes
Aircraft: B789 (Boeing 787-900)
Class: Business
Seat: 1A-2A (window)
Seat Specification: True Flat Bed. Seat width: 22″, Bed length: 73″
This was our 2nd time flying Virgin Atlantic Business Class (they call it “Upper Class” :)). Previously we flew the new A350 from Los Angeles to London in 2025. That one featured the standard 1-2-1. But this aircraft was our first ever herringbone configuration of 1-1-1. When these seats came out they were cutting edge but over the years most airlines have reconfigured or retired these.
I had researched the seats and everyone recommended taking row A as there is a partition in front of the row. The travelers in the other 2 rows (G/K) face each other while travelers in A face the partition behind row G which feels more private.
The seat is very comfortable in upright position. However, there is no good way to partially recline (or almost flatbed for this seat). Its either upright or fully-flat bed. This takes off a few points on the attractiveness of this seat.
Virgin Atlantic amenity kits are my least favorite of all. Made with recycled paper, they feel cheap and I neither keep them or gift them.
I chose champagne for pre-departure beverage.
Breakfast is my least favorite meal on business class because of lack of variety!!
After breakfast, I laid out the seat in bed mode (with help from flight attendant as the entire seat folds to create a bed). The bed is completely flat (with no kinks in the middle) with very good mattress support. Also the feet are not restricted by cubby hole. I had a fantastic sleep for over 6 hours. Karen commented that this was her best sleep on a business class flight.
Refreshments were served again about 2 hours before landing in Heathrow.
I really enjoyed both the chicken and mutton kebabs. The mint chutney was spicy and paired well with the meats. The chocolate cake was delicious as well. Karen liked her paneer and chickpea kebab as well.
Bottomline:
Seat: ***1/2
Service: ****
Food: ***
This was our first time traveling on the herringbone configuration. I can’t say I will go out of my way to seek it out, but if award space is there, I am not going to avoid it either. The main disadvantage of the seat is there are only 2 modes, either upright or fully flat bed. There is not much of a recline on this. However, when the seat is converted to flat bed, its fantastic to sleep on. The service was excellent on this flight. Our flight attendant was very friendly, courteous and came by to check on us throughout the flight. As for the food, the kebabs were delicious as snacks before landing. The breakfast on the other hand was unremarkable (as they usually are on flights).