VIRGIN ATLANTIC A350-1000 Upper Class London-New York
VIRGIN ATLANTIC’S NEW A350-1000 went into service on the Heathrow-JFK route last September and features a redesigned Upper Class cabin. By Molly Dyson
CHECK-IN I checked in online, meaning all I had to do was tag and drop my bag at the airport. Previously, Upper Class passengers could take up to three checked bags, but that has now changed to two per customer. Prior to boarding, I had access to the Virgin Clubhouse in Terminal 3, where I had complimentary drinks and food, as well as a back massage at a reasonable price. BOARDING Upper Class tickets, as usual, come with priority boarding, meaning passengers have plenty of time to arrange their carry-on items before departure. I was also offered a choice of sparkling wine or orange juice, though the flight attendants were more than happy to get other drinks on request. THE SEAT The “suite” comes with an all-leather seat with 44-inch pitch that doubles as an 82-inch fully-flat bed and an 18.5-inch entertainment screen which can be paired to a mobile phone that can then be used as a remote for the IFE system.
I found the seat to be very
comfortable, but there was a distinct lack of in-seat storage – there’s a row of shelves and a magazine rack, but no place to put your shoes when you’re sleeping. To manage my belongings during my flight, I had to keep all of my devices in the overhead bin and
only take out what I was using at any one time. BEST SEATS I was in 11A on my outward journey and 6D on the inbound leg. I thought the former was a far better seat, as it’s at the back of the cabin on the left-hand side, meaning there was nobody next to or behind me. It felt far more private and I had a window, which you don’t get in the D and G seats, which are in the middle. THE FLIGHT The Heathrow-JFK leg is rarely eventful and this flight maintained that trend. The service was exceptional and the food was delicious – I had grilled salmon with vegetables. The entertainment screen gives you the ability to order drinks and snacks throughout the journey without the need to press a call button and wait for an attendant to come take your request. ARRIVAL The Upper Class cabin is the first to disembark the aircraft after landing, so I zipped through to immigration and was waiting at JFK airport’s baggage reclaim within minutes. VERDICT The wait for Virgin Atlantic’s new A350 was definitely worth it; it’s quieter, more comfortable and more fuel-efficient than the previous generation of aircraft. FLIGHT TIME Advertised as 8 hours 10 minutes outbound, 6 hours 55 minutes inbound.
Virgin Atlantic A350-1000 Upper Class suite
Heathrow’s United Club lounge
UNITED BOEING 767-300 Polaris class Heathrow-Newark
UNITED AIRLINES operates a five-times daily flight between Heathrow and Newark. By Matthew Parsons
CHECK-IN My check-in went smoothly at a quiet Heathrow Terminal 2 on a Saturday evening. BOARDING At Heathrow, Polaris passengers gain access to a stylish United Club lounge, with a cocktail bar and shower facilities, just opposite Gate 46. I wished I could have stayed longer. With the ticket comes priority boarding, and I took my seat about 50 minutes before departure. THE SEAT Polaris is technically business class, but has a first class feel. For a start, there’s a fully flat- bed and generous storage space. The Saks Fifth Avenue blankets and gel cushion are a nice touch, as is the Star Wars amenity kit, which included Sunday Riley face creams, cleansing cloth, hand cream and lip balms. Fleece slippers (which you request) are comfy, and a padded blanket can also be requested if you’re in the mood for a transatlantic nap. A lamp and reading light are nearby for those needing to work on the slide-out desk. The only small downside was the seat is angled towards the aisle slightly, so in some cases you will be in the line of sight of the middle row’s IFE. BEST SEATS There are 46 Polaris seats, in a 2-2-2 layout. My seat, 4A, had no direct window access, so aim for an odd number if this matters to you. THE FLIGHT Champagne was offered minutes after boarding,
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with a variety of snacks. Crew were attentive and happy to chat as well. During a previous Polaris flight, I had the beef short rib in a port wine sauce, which was delicious. This time I opted for the lemon grass chicken, which was unfortunately dry and the thin green curry sauce lacked flavour and spice. The starter of chicken, pork and apricot terrine was excellent, though, as were the wines, in particular two Rieslings from Austria and Germany, and an impressive Pinot Noir. The movie selection was
vast, with plenty of new releases to watch on the large screen. Sometimes the audio syncing fell out of time, but a quick pause and restart alleviated this. Noise-reducing headphones were top-notch and useful to wear with or without entertainment. ARRIVAL We arrived an hour ahead of schedule. VERDICT Make no mistake, this is a popular route, and that extends to Polaris – its seats are certainly in demand. Both ways, this was a full flight. United has upped its business class proposition from 30 to 46 seats because it knows it can. Business travellers can sleep easily and tourists can revel in a top-quality experience. And, if or when a Polaris lounge lands at Heathrow, demand may just soar even higher. FLIGHT TIME About 7 hours.
2020 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 119
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