Virgin Atlantic Airways Premium Economy and Economy class seat reviews

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VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - BOEING 747-400

Date :   21 April 2013

Review by : A Stinson (USA)

Sat in seats 80H and 80K, the last row of the upper cabin on a flight from London to San Francisco. Seats barely reclined, because we were situated right in front of the bathroom. The seats were really hard to get in and out of, especially once the person in front of me reclined her seat. Once that happened it was also difficult to see the TV screen in the seat back. Sitting near the bathroom was also bad because of the smell. I'd avoid flying Virgin Atlantic economy for long haul flights at all costs. On the trip SFO to London we paid $50/seat extra for 3" of extra legroom, which was worth the money for such a long flight

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - AIRBUS A340-600

Date :   21 April 2013

Review by : Pol Van Damme (Belgium)

The seats are narrow, hard and very uncomfortable. Legroom is average, but the seat pocket is in a position that it limits your space. This was the most uncomfortable seat I traveled in a very long time.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - AIRBUS A330-300

Date :   21 April 2013

Review by : Max Ackermann (UK)

The flight was delayed by 6 hours, the plane was a nice feel as it was new, if someone reclines their seat it goes right up close to your face and the person that was in front of me reclined his seat from the second the seatbelt sign went off to the second the flight attendant had to tell him. The entertainment system was good, touch screen and new technology (on the A330). A sorry would've been nice for the FA spilt the cup of tea when collecting my tray, just one of the great features of my wonderful flight to London. The FA was more interested in her colleagues night out than unlocking the toilet after take off.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - AIRBUS A340

Date :   21 April 2013

Review by : Peter Miller (UK)

I do not understand why there are so many poor reviews for virgin. It seems people don't realise there is only so much space. I myself am 19 stone, not something that I am proud of but I did not have any problem with getting in or getting out of my chair. Also the service that I received while on the aircraft was very good on both outward and returning back to the UK. I flew from LHR to LAX last October. I don't believe that I was just lucky. My last comment is if you don't like virgin then I wish you all the best on united.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - BOEING 747-400

Date :   24 February 2013

Review by : Kurt Smith (USA)

The seat on virgin's 747 was uncomfortable, to say the least. The armrests were miniscule and a TV remote would have been better. If the person in front of you is a total jerk and has no respect, he/she can lean their seat all the way back and make it impossible to see your TV or even move. Getting into the seat is very difficult and you have to bump into the fellow passengers.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS PREMIUM ECONOMY SEAT REVIEW - BOEING 747-400

Date :   15 February 2013

Review by : J Oeming (USA)

SFO-Heathrow-SFO. Premium Economy seating was good. Leather seats that reclined. The flight to Heathrow was full, crew was friendly and professional. The food was nice and the amenities wonderful. The crew on the flight to SFO were a bit more flustered even though premium economy was sparse. They seemed to forget about me on a few occasions (not asking if I wanted things, taking away other things, making sure I was in premium economy and not economy, etc.). They were definitely flustered. As someone mentioned previously, I also noticed the premium economy bathrooms were opened to all in economy, though the business class bathrooms were off-limits to premium economy passengers. I would fly premium economy again, as what I saw of the economy seats were awful.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - BOEING 747-400

Date :   22 January 2013

Review by : G Bradley (UK)

The seats were so narrow that it was impossible to move without either switching on the light or calling the steward. Lack of cushioning on seats mean a numb behind after a few hours.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - BOEING 747-400

Date :   18 January 2013

Review by : H Akkor (UK)

I have travelled Virgin Atlantic for over fifteen years. I usually take between three and five flights a year with them. If the there was no loyalty scheme I wouldn't fly with them anymore. Here's why - the seats in economy are small and have limited legroom (31 inches). They no longer offer any of the great benefits they used to. The amenity kit has gone and the meal has been reduced to its most basic form. Anyone who flew Virgin in the good old days would be amazed at what it's turned into. I have flown all three classes and the emphasis is now all about Premium and Upper. Virgin is all style over substance these days. It all looks amazing in their fancy commercials but the reality is that if you can only afford to fly economy they really don't care about you.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - AIRBUS A340-300

Date :   1 January 2013

Review by : L Hislop (UK)

These are, by some distance, the most uncomfortable seats I have ever endured in an aircraft. The seats are on the small and narrow side but the over-riding issue is how hard they are and the position they force your lower back into, whether you recline your chair or not. After only 2 hours, I was in pain. To put this in context, I have taken flights lasting up to 15 hours and have never been moved to complain about my seat before. I will never fly Virgin again.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - BOEING 7847-400

Date :   1 January 2013

Review by : Bruce Bowe (USA)

SFO-LHR-SFO. Old seeming plane, Premium Economy was not worthwhile. No amenity pack on return. Filthy toilets, but nice FAs. Pretty uncomfortable overall. Also, Premium Economy toilets were avail to all Economy passengers.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - BOEING 747-400

Date :   1 January 2013

Review by : C Greenslade (UK)

Premium economy, Las Vegas to Gatwick. Cabin staff good, the rest of Virgin Atlantic don't give a damn after they have your money, When you complain they just give you a corporate answer and brush you off with any of the excuses they have for each situation. You pre assign seats and rarely get what you ask for, you ask why and they tell you its an aircraft change, even though the layout is the same. They are untrustworthy. I have given them many chances, but they keep letting me down.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - BOEING 747-400

Date :   10 September 2012

Review by : N Wain (UK)

I am slim but had to wedge myself into the seat. With the TV control in the side of the seat you have to get out of your seat to get it. Was so cramped that I didn't bother getting up on the flight out or back which was unhealthy. Very uncomfortable. Virgin is now a budget airline without the budget prices.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - AIRBUS A340-600

Date :   27 October 2011

Review by : D Taylor (UK)

Outward flight seat in Row 42 opposite crew door - which opens and closes all the time as they go for a "rest". Return flight seat 54G - no leg room, and if the person in front reclines the seat you have little room and cant see your screen

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - A340

Date :   23 October 2011

Review by : L Hart (UK)

On a night flight Los Angeles to Heathrow seats extremely cramped. Once seat reclined slightly for sleeping it moves forward making legroom impossible. I am 5'2" and knees were touching seat in front. Seats hard and uncomfortable. Will re-think using Virgin again. Slightly better outward on 747.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - A340

Date :   23 October 2011

Review by : Bryan Gibson (UK)

Nightmare in Row 31, centre aisle on night flight from Boston to Heathrow. Started trying to check-in and choose seats 24 hours before departure. Failed on all counts. Called London from hotel four times. Promise made to put note on Boston file, but no record of call admitted by ground staff on our arrival at the airport. Row 31 is the first middle group of four seats behind the bulkhead separating Upper from Economy Class. My partner and I are not fat people, but we could not fit ourselves comfortably into these extra narrow seats with airbags attached to the safety belts, which were using up even more of the limited width. A kind young man offered me his exit seat as I suffer from arthritis in my hip. My partner was not so lucky. She spent the entire night flight with her arms crossed (as the passengers either side of her had taken both arm rests. Virgin Atlantic. Why does Virgin Atlantic online check in system not work and why are they offering four seats on a plane, that even slim people cannot sit comfortably in? If any passenger is offered a middle row 31 seat and is larger than a size 8 to 10, for your own good, cancel your flight and fly with someone else.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - A340

Date :   23 October 2011

Review by : George Wilkinson (Australia)

SYD-LHR return via HKG. SYD-HKG screen did not work, told cabin crew who said they would reset it but still didn't work. Food terrible on way back - won't flying Virgin Atlantic again.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC A340-600 ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - 20 September 2011 by James Wong (Australia)

Seats feeling old, tend to recline when leaning back even if switch button not held. Poor screen visibility especially if front seat reclined.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC BOEING 747-400 PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW - 6 September 2011 by Monica Biesok (UK)

With the seat in front reclined it felt as claustrophobic as a budget airline, at no time could I see the television properly even when seat in front upright. The staff were totally uninterested in the passengers. We will never fly Virgin again and found Premium Economy a rip off (we had paid almost double economy prices, for what?)

VIRGIN ATLANTIC A340-600 ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW  - 6 September 2011 by  Nicholas Shearman (Hong Kong)

Seat recline and leg room inadequate, shins pressed up against seat in front.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC BOEING 747-400 ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW  - 6 September 2011 by  Sophie Hall (UK)

I fly long haul regularly and found that the seats on Virgin Atlantic were the most narrowest seats I have ever been in.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC A340 PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW  - 6 September 2011 by  Andrea Hardman (UK)

I am only 5' 3'' and when the person in front reclined their seat fully, my TV screen was too close to my face, her seat invaded my personal space and had it not been a night flight I would have complained. Premium economy on Virgin A340's is not worth the money, the space is too small when the person in front decides to recline their seat.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC BOEING 747-400 ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW  - 11 August 2011 by  Tim Best (UK)

If you have a larger than "average" body shape don't bother with Premium Economy - you will need upper class. Premium Economy seats have the controls for TV and audio built into the inside of the armrest so cannot be accessed if you are wedged into them. I was unfortunate enough to have a box under the seat in front so could not stretch out at all. My seat was far too narrow for me and I had to keep getting out of it during an 8 hr flight it made my journey horrendous. I upgraded on the return leg to upper class which cost an unacceptable amount but I felt that there was no option. It should be noted that the Premium Economy seating does not have moveable armrests and being fixed makes this worse. Economy seats do have some movement on the armrests but only to 3/4 posiiton.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC A340-600 PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW  - 11 June 2011 by  Amanda Martin (UK)

London to Boston and for the first time upgraded to their premium economy - seats were comfortable and spacious. The downside on the return leg when the passenger in front of me fully reclined his seat for the entire flight which made my space feel encroached.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC BOEING 747-400 PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW  - 7 June 2011 by  Jonathan Payne (UK)

Virgin's Premium Economy seats are twice the price. What you get is more seat width, legroom and recline, better service, some better food and booze. The problem is that the armrest between the seats takes up a lot of space, and cannot be lifted up. So if you travel with kids or even a spouse, there's a lost opportunity to get more comfortable. The kids cannot lie with their heads on your lap ever in premium economy. The seats recline more than economy but it doesn't matter. It's still not enough and the seats in general are quite uncomfortable.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC Boeing 747-400 ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW  - 6 June 2011 by  Rita Pointer (UK)

We were in basic economy on the flight out, plane half empty so we were told to sit where we liked - on the way back same half empty but crew were charging GBP30 for window seats - they told us it was an upgrade.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC BOEING 747-400 ECONOMY CLASS SEAT REVIEW  - 10 April 2011 by  Charles Allan (UK)

Seat appalling - tiny, falling apart, TV screen a joke. Food - don't ask.