Virgin Atlantic’s maiden 787 Dreamliner flight from London in the UK to Atlanta in the US last month featured live music streamed from 30,000 ft over the Atlantic Ocean, a first for the industry!
TTN was privileged to join this party in the sky – featuring the award-winning Rudimental English band and hit-makers Gorgon City – and also experience this amazing high-tech Boeing aircraft.The new jet was named Birthday Girl to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the airline’s inaugural flight across the Atlantic, from London Heathrow to New York Newark on June 22, 1984.The jet, which will fly on the Heathrow to Boston route, features for the first time ever, Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Lady displayed face on, carrying a champagne coupe.The 787 offers a great sense of space with its larger windows, clean finish, vaulted ceiling and new colour scheme. It also features mood lighting that can change colours throughout the flight to help passengers relax or adjust to different time zones. On boarding, the aircraft uses a “rose champagne” colour to destress passengers and help them relax. This changes to a “purple haze” to create a cozy atmosphere and for dining, it transforms to “amber”, creating a candlelight environment. To help passengers sleep, “silver moonlight” is turned on to reflect a moonlit sky. When arriving on an overnight flight, very subtle lighting is turned on so if passengers want to skip breakfast and carry on sleeping, they are not disturbed by harsh lighting usually experienced on an early morning arrival.The larger windows don’t have pull-down shades but adjustable shading whereby passengers can adjust the amount of light coming through the window with a dimmer switch but still see outside, putting an end to the annoying sounds of shades being pushed up or slammed down by hyperactive passengers! The 787 has a 60 per cent smaller noise footprint than other aircraft and it truly is a very quiet plane.The Upper Class Suite has been given a new finish in Geisha White with a mica finish while the seat is in espresso leather. Each suite has its own aisle access so that you can get in and out without climbing over anyone. The seat adjusts and reclines into a comfortable position for reading or watching the state-of-the-art Vera Touch 2 entertainment system and then flips over and becomes a fully flat bed and mattress. This, with an additional quilted sheet, provides added comfort and therefore, makes sleep easier. For those who prefer to mingle with other passengers, the new redesigned bar in the Upper Class has four stools, a perch and a lean to allowing eight people comfortably in this area. The stools sitting opposite each other offer the option of dual dinning at the bar. There is an interactive TV screen showing popular events, ambient backdrops or the flight’s progress, which adds to the social aspect of the area. The Upper Class menu and a variety of children’s meals on this aircraft has specially created signature dishes by celebrity TV chef Lorrain Pascale. Premium Economy has also been refreshed and refitted with improved ergonomics, deeper recline and more leg room. This seat also has the new Geisha White backrest developed to enhance the feeling of space which is complemented by the cabin mood lighting.Both the Upper and Premium Economy TV screens have been increased to 11.1 inches. Also added in Premium Economy cabin is a ‘Wander Wall’ in the front galley which allows passengers to stretch their legs, and mingle with passengers and crew. This was designed to reflect the Upper Class bar and offers a mini fridge, water fountain, and self-serve areas where passengers can help themselves to snacks and refreshments. The Economy cabin features a best-in-class Recaro 3620 seat. This innovative slim profile seat also provides more leg room and more comfort through ergonomics and innovative design. There are some seats in economy with even more legroom differentiated in a gold upholstered fabric (rather than the red). Each seat is also fitted with Recaro’s adjustable hammock type headrest.This Vera Touch 2 inflight entertainment system, developed with Panasonic, includes over 400 hours of entertainment, with approximately 60 movies, 70 hours of TV and over 285 albums. The touch screen is easy to use and acts quickly. You can set your music to Shuffle and connect your own devices (iPod and other USB devices).The aircraft also has wireless throughout with exConnect, KU Band wi-fi from Panasonic at £14.99 ($23.50) for 24 hours. Power is available to every seat, so travellers can work or play throughout their journey.Reuben Arnold, brand and customer experience director, says that from an interior point of view, the look and feel remains typical of Virgin’s fleet, but the difference lies in the new colour palette.“The mood lighting that we have installed throughout has added some drama,” he says. “This lighting changes gradually and subtly without you really noticing and on a long flight, this really prepares passengers for a change of time zones and helps combat some of that jet lag. When passengers first board, it’s about trying to get people to relax; when they are having a drink, it’s about reviving them. Later in the flight, it’s about rest and sleep, so we have different settings for different moods.”He continues: “In Economy, the seats are very thin, but as foam technology has evolved over the years, you don’t compromise on comfort, and you get better knee and leg room. Upper Class beds, meanwhile, change from a seat to a bed unlike some other premium classes where the leather seat flattens out and you’re sleeping on a leather seat. “Virgin’s philosophy is ‘a seat is a seat and a bed, a bed’. And also the bar is not just a bar, it’s for working with your laptop, for networking or having a meal. Normally, you would not eat, drink and sleep in the same area - and we found, from our Upper Class guests, that this makes a big difference. Premium Economy too has received positive reviews with its extra leg room and the Wander Wall”.Virgin’s service was the icing on the cake! Faced with a plane packed with VIPs and scores of the band’s fans who won seats on the flight, the crew were amazing, providing passengers anything they wanted with consummate ease and a smile! Finally, a word about Virgin Atlantic’s Club House at Heathrow, which is undoubtedly one of the best lounges in the world. It has a spa offering a variety of treatments for men and women, a spa pool, a sauna, steam rooms, six showers, a hair salon, games room, and children’s playground. In addition your food can be ordered and brought to your table, unlike the traditional buffet service seen in other lounges.Truly, an oasis of comfort and joy for the jet-lagged transit passenger. LONDON TO BOSTON:By Kim Thomson