lrgt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 1 month 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 15093 times:
I don't know why VS has been so hush-hush about the A332 suites, even thought they're making their debut on JFK-LHR in a week or so.
It looks like there's nothing groundbreaking here... it's probably a little lighter and takes up a little less space, but my concerns that my favorite part of the seat would be lost can be put to rest: the reverse side that made it actually feel like a bed rather than a flattened airline seat has not been lost (i.e. like Air Canada's dreadful imitation which has so many lumps it is actually more comfortable to not sleep fully flat)
Why is VS keeping this hush-hush? Doesn't look like anything new really.
nicktt From UK - England, joined Jan 2012, 14 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 1 month 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 10832 times:
Is this definitely still going to be in the herringbone style cabin layout? I thought I read somewhere on here it would be a 1-2-1 configuration, so don't see how that would work.
Also I see that the VS J seat folds over on itself to form the bed, which I haven't seen on any other airline myself. I'm used to BA J class where the seat collapses folds itself out of a J position and hooks up with the footrest. Is this something new in the patent, or does the current product also do that?
anstar From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 4845 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (1 year 1 month 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 10244 times:
Quoting nicktt (Reply 5): Is this definitely still going to be in the herringbone style cabin layout? I thought I read somewhere on here it would be a 1-2-1 configuration, so don't see how that would work.
It is 1-2-1 and still herringbone just like the new CX seat that is also 1-2-1 and herringbone.
Quoting nicktt (Reply 5): Also I see that the VS J seat folds over on itself to form the bed, which I haven't seen on any other airline myself.
Air New Zealand have a J seat that folds onto itself as you describe.
AusA380 From Australia, joined Jan 2009, 288 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 1 month 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 10089 times:
Quoting anstar (Reply 6): Air New Zealand have a J seat that folds onto itself as you describe.
I understand that Air New Zealand have a licence agreement for the VS seat, rather than the model that DL and AC use which lead to a legal dispute between VS and the other manufacturer.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21463 posts, RR: 24 Reply 9, posted (1 year 1 month 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 9805 times:
Quoting anstar (Reply 6): Quoting nicktt (Reply 5):
Is this definitely still going to be in the herringbone style cabin layout? I thought I read somewhere on here it would be a 1-2-1 configuration, so don't see how that would work.
It is 1-2-1 and still herringbone just like the new CX seat that is also 1-2-1 and herringbone.
How does the herringbone layout fit at 1-2-1 on the A330? On AC it's 1-1-1, same as the 763. The A330 cabin isn't wide enough for 1-2-1 in the herringbone configuration.. http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/a330-300xm.html
The new CX seat is the reverse herringbone one which is where the seat faces the window and they are angled differently so it can fit 1-2-1 - CX have theirs in 1-2-1
That is true but it seems VS is going to introduce a newer type or herringbone configuration. According to this picture, the angles of the seat in the middles would be a lot steeper and there would be an offset in the middle seats between rows
My main worry is that the seats may be narrower. I would have expected them to go for the CX, US style forward herringbone configuration as that gives more flexibility to couples/business partners travelling together. I really hope this is worth the investment. I would not judge it until it is fully unveiled.
lrgt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 year 1 month 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 8733 times:
Quoting ogepma (Reply 11): That is true but it seems VS is going to introduce a newer type or herringbone configuration. According to this picture, the angles of the seat in the middles would be a lot steeper and there would be an offset in the middle seats between rows
My main worry is that the seats may be narrower. I would have expected them to go for the CX, US style forward herringbone configuration as that gives more flexibility to couples/business partners travelling together. I really hope this is worth the investment. I would not judge it until it is fully unveiled.
I'd honestly put more faith in those patent drawings you posted for the center seats than the VS website team though! With that said, it appears that the new seat will likely be a reverse herringbone in the center (D&G), and a forward-facing herringbone along the window (A&K).
This makes sense, with the window seats still facing away from the windows, so that that hole can be placed in the ottoman surround (to give extra space to the taller passenger for the window A&K seats, were the beds will probably be a few inches shorter than the center seats). The patent drawings for the window seats show this ottoman design, so it would not make sense for that new ottoman to be up against the sidewall instead of the aisle with that design. The center seats are the only ones that go under the adjacent seat... the D seats appear to be lower than the G seats, and the foot-wells overlap on the D&G's, probably making the bed longer on the D&G's even though they take up less space in the cabin than the A&K's, even though A&K's are shorter beds.
lrgt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (1 year 1 month 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 8560 times:
Quoting lrgt (Reply 13): with the window seats still facing away from the windows, so that that hole can be placed in the ottoman surround (to give extra space to the taller passenger for the window A&K seats, were the beds will probably be a few inches shorter than the center seats). The patent drawings for the window seats show this ottoman design, so it would not make sense for that new ottoman to be up against the sidewall instead of the aisle with that design.
Following on that point, VS fits 2 extra rows along the windows in A-zone v. CX (+4 seats), and 1/2 a row extra in the center v. CX (+1 seat), for a total of an extra 5 seats v. CX. This is an impressive improvement without sacrificing comfort, given that CX has the same galley config on their A333's (except VS has a bar instead of 1 of those galleys).
CX fits only 7 rows along the window in the A-zone whilest VS fits 9 rows. I assume that VS's window seats will be at a greater angle (less forward facing, more sideways) than CX, allowing for the 2 extra rows. This is made possible by the Virgin innovation of the overlapping seats in the center, meaning they take up less cabin width than the center seats on CX. That innovation alone only gets them 1 extra seat in the center, but since the center seats take up less cabin width on VS, they get 4 extra in on the window sides, which is quite substantial.
At the end of the day, VS has a design that allows for 5 extra seats, and that is pretty good.
I wonder how this design will apply on a 747 with a much wider cabin... would the seats simply be more sideways than before? I'm more curious to see what the new 744 suite will look like.
qf002 From Australia, joined Jul 2011, 2552 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (1 year 1 month 4 days ago) and read 7626 times:
Quoting lrgt (Reply 13): I didn't even see that patent drawing with the reverse herringbone that you posted.... that doesn't seem to match the seatmap on the VS website though, which shows a straight herringbone with all 4 across: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb...pe=15
The website won't show a product that hasn't yet been unveiled...
anstar From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 4845 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (1 year 1 month 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 7471 times:
Quoting lrgt (Reply 14): I wonder how this design will apply on a 747 with a much wider cabin... would the seats simply be more sideways than before? I'm more curious to see what the new 744 suite will look like.
From what i have read on some other sites it doesnt look like the new suite is going on the 747 - well not on the gatwick ones anyway.
lrgt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (1 year 1 month 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 7048 times:
Quoting qf002 (Reply 15): The website won't show a product that hasn't yet been unveiled...
The website seatmap DOES show all seats facing in a non-reverse herringbone configuration 4-abreast (just like the 747) in an obviously narrower cabin.
However, as stated previously, based on the patent designs, we can tell that window seats appear to be in standard herringbone, and center seats in a reverse herringbone.
Either their web team made a small error, or they purposefully did this, so as not to reveal a "big change" that could prompt customer/press/etc inquiry, as to the change in the angle-direction of the center seats from an A to a V-shape. With of course the V allowing for overlap with the D&G seats at different heights off the floor.
qf002 From Australia, joined Jul 2011, 2552 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (1 year 1 month 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 6968 times:
Quoting lrgt (Reply 17): However, as stated previously, based on the patent designs, we can tell that window seats appear to be in standard herringbone, and center seats in a reverse herringbone
Forgive me if I'm missing something incredibly obvious here, but the centre seats don't appear to be reverse herringbone to me?? They still face out into the aisle? I've looked through both patents and can't seem to figuremout where the reverse herringbone is coming from...
Quoting lrgt (Reply 17): as to the change in the angle-direction of the center seats from an A to a V-shape. With of course the V allowing for overlap with the D&G seats at different heights off the floor.
I don't get where you're seeing the change to reverse herringbone from! Nor do I understand this overlapping seats thing? From what I can see, it's just a more compact herringbone layout, using the wasted space down the middle of the plane to fit more seats in!
Where is this height and overlap coming from? All the seats are the same height from the drawings submitted with patent D653883...
Sorry! I'm just not following what you're trying to say based on the drawings!
lrgt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (1 year 1 month 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 6785 times:
Quoting qf002 (Reply 18):
I don't get where you're seeing the change to reverse herringbone from! Nor do I understand this overlapping seats thing? From what I can see, it's just a more compact herringbone layout, using the wasted space down the middle of the plane to fit more seats in!
Where is this height and overlap coming from? All the seats are the same height from the drawings submitted with patent D653883...
Sorry! I'm just not following what you're trying to say based on the drawings!
I didn't see it either, but ogepma posted an additional patent drawing showing this (See reply #11). It appears VS filed 2 separate patents. There seems to be an additional patent solely related to the overlapping center seats in a reverse herringbone.
ogepma From UK - England, joined Jan 2011, 67 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (1 year 1 month 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 6468 times:
Quoting lrgt (Reply 19): I didn't see it either, but ogepma posted an additional patent drawing showing this (See reply #11). It appears VS filed 2 separate patents. There seems to be an additional patent solely related to the overlapping center seats in a reverse herringbone.
The middle seats will be standard herringbone slightly similar what they currently have on the 744's. The images I posted were for the standard herringbone configuration. This pic maybe a little bit clearer. It has been rotated to the left.
They filed to patents. One was for the seat itself while the other was for the configuration.
But those seats do not overlap each other at different heights from the floor... And these drawings (yes, I've seen both patents, and have gone through all 20 drawings available through patentgenius.com) show a standard herringbone configuration, not a reverse herringbone one. The seats are still situated in the centre of the aircraft facing outwards to the aisle.
The only difference is that the seats on one aisle have been shifted backhand slotted in behind the seats on the other aisle, making the entire central bank of seats narrower, and hence allowing them to fit more seats into the narrower Airbus fuse compared to 1-1-1 herringbone. Nowhere do ottomans or footwells or anything overlap.
lrgt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (1 year 1 month 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 5549 times:
Quoting qf002 (Reply 22): But those seats do not overlap each other at different heights from the floor... And these drawings (yes, I've seen both patents, and have gone through all 20 drawings available through patentgenius.com) show a standard herringbone configuration, not a reverse herringbone one. The seats are still situated in the centre of the aircraft facing outwards to the aisle.
Sorry I must be loosing it! I thought the ottoman was the headrest and there was an overlap on the bottom (what I thought was for the legs).
The illusion of an overlap came from the fact that the drawing is not a complete bird's eye, but at an angle, making it look like there was an overlap, which obviously wouldn't happen with the upper-half of passengers' bodies This is why I immediately thought the top part of the seat in the drawing was the headrest. However, Virgin choose to draw it backwards, with feet on top.
Yes these don't look like anything new actually except for that hole in the ottoman surround.
No problem I was very confused for a moment then!!
25 virgincrew: It doesn't match the seat plan published on the VS website & I can't see the VS website co-ordinater getting it wrong ? I can't see VS putting a f
26 anstar: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/globa...erclass/new-upper-class-suite.html I like the look of the bar
27 virgincrew: a link for the launch of the new Upper Class Suite http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/globa...erclass/new-upper-class-suite.html
28 lhr380: Is it just me, or are their error's on the page
29 virgincrew: yes I noticed that - it is on the VS Canada & USA site, this page hasn't been loaded on the UK website yet. I love the new cabin: The new suite l
30 koruman: So basically identical to the old one then!
31 StarGuy: Have you clicked the above links? The new suite is clearly not identical other than the layout which has also been adapted. Committing tens if not hu
32 qf002: I'd say it's vastly different... Look at the cabin photos of the old/new products side by side and you'll notice that just about everything except th
33 virgincrew: I would say there are loads of changes !!
34 garpd: Looks nice, shame the seats are still angled away from the windows. I won't be flying upper class any time soon. I like the view out of the window too
35 virgincrew: couldn't agree more - VS have listened to customer feedback and made changes to the product, whilst keeping what made The Upper Class Suite an awardi
36 lhr380: Ok, the Tour link now finally works...... Do the TVs come out at all, they seem very close to where the customer would be sitting. Its still a J seat
37 sevenheavy: The TVs do come out, the arm is quite long so they move a good distance from the viewer. On the whole, the pros seem to outweigh the cons. To me, the
38 ba319-131: - Looks nice with the lighting though still looks 'busy' and I'm not that keen on this layout really. - Indeed looks much nicer, the old one was gett
39 liverpoola380: I think it looks pretty cool It will be good to see some interior pics uploaded on here so we can get a clearer look
40 sq_ek_freak: Overall a very chic, very "Virgin" looking product. I like the opposing middle seat layout rather than what they have now. Can't wait to try it soon!
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, 
From Australia, joined Jul 2011, 2552 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 4845 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2006, 178 posts, 
From UK - England, joined Jan 2012, 14 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21463 posts, 
This is why I immediately thought the top part of the seat in the drawing was the headrest. However, Virgin choose to draw it backwards, with feet on top.
I was very confused for a moment then!!
Printer friendly format 
