Virgin Atlantic

First and last flight with Virgin! Horribly uncomfortable seat dreadful viewing of the IFE screen poor service and poor food just made it even worse.

We were seated in 55H/K. Pitch and width both OK. Base of seat was hugely uncomfortable after a few hours - seemed to have very little padding. TV screen becomes all but useless if the person in front of you reclines even if you also then recline. On the return leg (LHR to SYD) we were on an older A340 which had the docking position for the entertainment controls on the inside of the armrest making it very hard to remove / replace while sitting down. The aircraft on the flight over had this under the screen which was far more sensible. My reading light seemed to be aimed right in between the seats and couldn't be adjusted.

I will never willingly travel Virgin Economy again after an excruciating 12 hr flight from London to Shanghai. I checked out the Premium Economy on my way out of the plane and have upgraded for my return flight because couldn't stand another 12-hour flight in those uncomfortable seats. I think they were the hardest I've ever sat on. Felt similar to flying Easy Jet but those are normally a 2 hr flight so your bottom doesn't go numb! I resorted to using my inflatable neck cushion to sit on. The other problem was the lack of a foot rest. Having recently suffered DVT it was important not to have my legs hanging down for 12 hrs (even though I wear stockings and walk around every few hours); Virgin had told me incorrectly that there would be one. I think it's irresponsible to have seats with no foot rests on long haul flights given the incidence of dvts occurring after these flights; raising your legs helps the venous return. All in all a terrible experience.

Seat pitch on this newish A340 was nowhere near the advertised 32 inches. It could not have been more than 30 inches. Remote for the video froze up two-thirds through the flight - could not even turn my reading lamp on. No pre-dinner drinks no offers of drink refills during dinner. Asked for a napkin with breakfast muffin and f/a told me "we don't have any in this aisle although they do in the other aisle" and left it at that. My first experience with VS and not a positive one.