Virgin Atlantic’s upper class cabin prices start from £1,856 and even feature an on-board bar, but one no-nonsense reviewer described a different experience.
A passenger has claimed the ‘bizarre’ layout of her cabin ruined her premium experience on-board a luxury aircraft – but not everyone seems to agree. Grace, who describes herself as a travel creator on TikTok, has amassed a whopping 126,000 followers due to her ‘no sugar-coating’ reviews.
Known as Gracie Travels online, the influencer recently reviewed her time in Virgin Atlantic’s upper class cabin, with prices starting from an eye-watering £1,856. The luxury upgrade boasts extra large seats and a flat bed. Customers will also be entitled to two 32kg checked bags and will be greeted with a glass of bubbly when they board. Virgin Atlantic states at select airports, passengers will also be able to enjoy fast-track security on their departure and have access to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses. A four-course fine dining menu with pre-order options is also offered.
However, Grace branded the airline’s upper class as one of the ‘worst business class cabins’ in the world. In a heated TikTok video, she fumed: “You are literally facing the other passengers at an angle, which means zero privacy… I mean, just look at this, my view is their feet. There’s really no proper partition, and unless you love staring at strangers – this setup is a complete fail.”
The travel enthusiast also moaned the entertainment screen wasn’t located directly in front of her. Instead, she had to ‘pull it out’ from the side which she claims was ‘way harder than it should be’. “Business class meals are supposed to feel like an elevated dining experience,” Grace added. “But instead I thought what they served was pretty mediocre. It wasn’t terrible but I think it was far from impressive. Oh, and if you actually want to see outside, good luck. The seat positioning means you have to lean over just to get a glimpse.”
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At the time of writing, the harsh review has garnered a staggering 81,000 likes and more than 1,200 comments. Swathes of viewers agreed the cabin had a questionable layout, with one user named Jasmine stating: “For me that is not worth the money at all. I like their premium economy.” Another criticised: “This feels like a hostel in the sky.” A third added: “That really is a weird angle for a lie flat seat,” while a fourth penned: “You are right. I prefer British Airlines’ business class.”
However, many viewers berated the woman for complaining about such a luxury experience. “Rich people problems,” one person snubbed. Another agreed, joking they ‘couldn’t cope’ if they had to pull a TV screen out to watch a film. “I hope you made it through this terrible time,” one sarcastic commentator wrote. Grace travelled on an A330-330 aircraft, which joined Virgin Atlantic’s fleet in 2011. The airline’s A350-1000 and Airbus A330neo have different layouts to the one shown on the TikToker’s video.
Speaking to the Mirror, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “Virgin Atlantic’s fleet consists of a mix of aircraft with different seating configurations and social spaces depending on the aircraft type, all of which are incredibly popular with our customers. We’re disappointed to hear that @gracietravels did not enjoy her experience with us, however we appreciate all feedback. We hope to welcome her back onboard in the future.”
* Grace refers to flying in business class, but Virgin Atlantic refers to its ‘luxury’ seating as ‘Upper Class’.
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