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  Regulars > Reviews and Commentary > The Best First and Business Class Airlines

   Published in: January 2007
 
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Founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways is Britain’s second largest airline serving the world’s major cities. For luxurious traveling, their Upper Class cabin combines traditional First and Business Classes, and is distinct from their Premium Economy aimed at cost-conscious business travelers, excluded from our Selections feature here.



  SEATS  
   
 

Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class seats are tapered, with a width of 22 inches that increases to 33 inches when converted into a full-flat bed at the touch of a button. When converted, they are 79.5 inches long, though on the upper deck, the seats are slightly longer at 82 inches. Depending on the type of aircraft, seats are laid out in either a 1-2-1 configuration on Boeing 747-400 planes, or a 1-1-1 configuration on the Airbus A340-600 planes.

 
  AMENITIES/FACILITIES  
   
 

Each seat gets its own multi-directional television screen with video-on-demand measuring 10.4 inches across, and comes with power leads for Apple iPods. A laptop power supply is built-in as well. For personal amenities, a snooze pack containing socks, eyeshades, earplugs, toothpaste, moisturiser, razors, sewing kits, collar stiffeners, and more.

For those who want to be pampered, there is an inflight beauty therapy service available on flights to and from Heathrow.

 
  MENU  
   
 

First Class passengers enjoy a “Freedom Menu,” with individually-prepared meal orders, and no pre-fixed meal times. Should they choose, they can even have their meal in the lounge on the ground before the flight, so as to enjoy the Good Night Flight service during which passengers can sleep through the flight in a dimmed-light, discreet-service snooze zone.

The First Class cabin houses a sit-down bar on selected flights.

 
  AIRPORT LOUNGE FACILITIES  
   
 

An exclusive queue-less check-in service is available at selected airports. The First Class lounge has a wifi-equipped business center, with nap rooms, a spa (at Heathrow airport), and a personal concierge/shopping service for luxury retail.

 
  EXTRAS  
   
 

Selected destinations have a complimentary chauffeur service provided for airport transfers. Drive-through check-in is available at Heathrow, Gatwick, and Johannesburg airports.

 
 
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