Unfortunately as a British airline, Virgin can’t overfly Russian airspace, which puts them at a competitive disadvantage when compared with fellow sky team member China Eastern. Also, the detour around Russia means that VS has to have 4 captains (according to their own press release on the cancellation) for each flight, and the crew can easily reach their duty time limitation should there be any delays before takeoff. All of these costs add up and for VS it would make more sense financially to fly to North America, Africa and India instead of trying to continue Shanghai as their last remaining destination in East Asia (they’ve already dropped Tokyo and Hong Kong from their network).
Jayden, you're a legend. Watched your video on China Eastern ahead of my LGW to Seoul flight in November and now I'm here for all of your content. Keep it coming!
Thanks for another great trip report and mini vlog, Jayden. Virgin Atlantic upper class looks ok but the seat layout is a deal breaker for me. Little privacy and having to look at everyone else's feet during the flight is a bit off-putting. Shanghai, however looks amazing. Will definitely add that to my bucket list!
This is an excellent vlog! Very thorough but also entertaining and interesting. Your mom could be an Insta star. :D I never understood the little shower mats either. The seating on that cabin design is super strange, looks like a foot massage salon! As you said, no privacy. I love "Curb your enthusiasm too! The bar looks awesome on the flight as well. Great video quality on the landing and everywhere. Did you get a new phone? I loved the brief city vlog too!
haha yes, someone said it was like a Chinese massage place 🤣 well at the end of the day we were flying to China haha Still the same phone :) Have to get it fixed soon, dust got into the 3x lens
@@JaydenWong now that you've mentioned it, i really can't unsee the chinese massage place in there. Even the color scheme matches 😂 It's a massage place with a bar at the back ig
Great video, Jayden! That check in experience does look luxurious. I’d love to visit their LHR lounge some day. I still find their seats to be a bit odd with everyone facing into the aisle. Seems a bit awkward to me. Also, I agree the food choices didn’t seem particularly high end for international business class, especially the cheese toastie. The bar area looked nice and good to see people taking advantage of it.
Not over impressed, though not a bad flight experience. Personally I`m not a fan of those seats. Glad to see I`m not alone in not liking coriander!! Thanks for posting Jayden.
I didn’t mind it when I used the upper class on the 787 a few years ago. Although the A350 & A330neo upper class suites are a million times better than the old seats, I’m going to strangely miss them when they are gone
OMG... when you flicked through the movie selections I saw my favourite film, 'Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe'. It is such a wonderful film. I hope you have watched it on one of your flights. 😃 Thank you for another excellent video Jayden.
It's a shame you're not flying in the new seats like on the A339 and A350. That's my pet hate of the 787-9 on Virgin, it's still the old herringbone seats.
Love all your vlogs Jayden! And I’m afraid I’d be one of those passengers socializing in the lounge and keeping you and your Mum up! 🤣 I’m surprised that was the case on an overnight flight though. I’ve been on many long haul daytime flights on American Airlines in Business Class (without a lounge of course) and it’s usually dark and depressing with every window shade down, even though it’s the middle of the day. And I hate it! So I definitely need to try Virgin. Seems more my style!
We did takeoff before dinner time in London so people weren’t too tired yet haha. I don’t like a dark flight either, especially when it’s bright outside and crew want you the close the blinds!
Another of your great RU-vid contributions Jayden. Yes the onboard catering was not to long-haul J class standards especially considering the high ticket price (although I do realise you booked at the right time for a better rate). Personally I don't like this type of J seating. But VS licensed this style of J seating from Air NZ ages ago and, at that time, to have so much privacy onboard was something of a revolution. Fully flat beds in J class date back to year 2000 with BA and its Club World (in year 2000). Yes VS was close behind BA but its initial fully flat J was not a success and hence it later opted for the Air NZ product. BTW I did visit Shanghai in 1988 (the year when SAS launched non-stop flights to Beijing overflying USSR and Mongolia. Of course the city was *totally* different then and there was only *one* international standard hotel - the Sheraton on the edge of downtown.
Hi Alex! I've only tried those seats once before on a Delta 777 from Hong Kong to Narita. It was a great seat then, CX was using those seats too (as you'd know). Loved them, but having tried Qsuite just weeks before this flight, can't say I was too impressed, although I really liked the bar they have onboard (nothing to do with the seat)
@@JaydenWong Thanks for the reply Jayden. I hear what you say. Note that QR unveiled an updated Qsuite at Farnbrough Airshow today. However it will be on the 777X (from 2025 according to QR) but as we know these 777Xs may be further delayed entering service.
It’s not bad. But you flew in the wrong plane. If you really want to do the upper class ONLY fly on the A350 or A330-Neo. The 787 and the old a330 ruin it.
Hi Jayden. T3 is actually the best terminal to depart and arrive from. It's the main public transport terminal for buses but though old has a lot more things avaliable than the new ones.
To arrive at it’s excellent, usually short lines at passport control and good connectivity, to depart from, well, good connectivity sure, decently fast security sure, but old, hot, pricy and overcrowded, so without a lounge it’s not really a great place to depart from, especially with LHRs delays.
@@JaydenWong I guess from that standpoint;you are right. I'm so used to departing from T3 that when I have to depart from another Terminal ;T4 orT5 it feels(despite the modernity) something is missing 🙂.
2 hour delay on take off, if that was Qantas or JetStar passengers would be blame the airline and rubbish them for no reason. As for the seats whats the use of a window seat if you cant sit there and look out with ease.
Hi Jayden THANK you for the video. Room was great looking at planes landing so good. Thank you for taking us on bit of tour around Shanghai. Have a great time with your Mum..
Presumably the airline would be informed of a delay such as the one you experienced before they allowed all the passengers to barge their way onboard. It would have been far more comfortable IMHO for everyone (Business Class) if they had been allowed to relax in the lounge. It is bad enough spending hours in a toothpaste tube without adding more time to the endurance!
Right!? I was lowkey worried about the crew's overtime resulting in a cancellation later. I heard it could be a bad day on July 26 as Paris imposing a flying restriction over the city.
Another great vlog JW! The Virgin check in reminds me of the SQ first class check in service at Changi! The seats are a bit strange, yes, no privacy but the best bed in the sky! Air NZ currently utilises the same seats. Flying Air NZ to SFO, my now husband sat on the ottoman (like you mum did), where we dined together, I proposed in flight heading to the gay capital of the world! Funny I thought Air NZ was the only airline that handed out landing lollies, looks like Virgin does as well! Keep up the great work!
I've never flown SQ F but I have driven past (and into) the first wing, it's indeed very similar! So not only VS and Air NZ have practically the same seats, but also the lollies 🤣 a few pax on our flight were connecting onto Air NZ to PVG. It was a pain for them, they would have had to clear immigration and custom in China as VS and NZ use different terminals at PVG
Guten Morgen from Germany 🇩🇪. New Haircut 👍👍👍👍😉. Watching ur Videos, is if I fly himself!! You explain everything so clear PERFECT 👌👌👌. And I really enjoy to see, every Bathroom in the world 😉👌. Thank You for sharing!!!!!!! Best wishes to 6,4 ❤️❤️😉
Good to see you again Jayden 😊. Hope you are doing well and having a great week so far. This is an excellent vlog as always I have to say, and I wish you the very best in continuing to do what you love ❤. I haven't flown on VA before, yet it's on my list so I'm really thankful for this vlog and a thorough one at that too. Sending lots of positive vibes and good energy to Sir 6'4 and youre Mom. #CoatHook 😁😆
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class have i see the same stupid seating arrangement, as Air New Zealand., premium economy would be a better option for me re VA or ANZ. Awesome flight review though there Jayden, thumbs-up for another 10/10 flight review👍✈
You planning on getting Shanghai’d ? As usual a great vlog Jayden Have u tried Surfshark Jayden ? Ah yes Virgin like air New Zealand likes it’s passengers to spy on each other lol 😂
@@JaydenWong getting Shanghai’d was what they used to call it when the Royal navy would kidnap drunks from bars in HK and Shanghai and press them into service mate
Virgin Upper Class isn't as classy as I thought it would be. Lotsa hype but B-Grade delivery. But I did love Jayden's sense of humor and the super camp advert he did for Nord VPN. 😂
Yes I was overall satisfied but the way how things were delivered, a bit underwhelming. For example no pouring champagne in front of you. Breakfast was express service without table cloth and everything on a tray etc. Thanks Graeme :)))
Really great video here and from what I can see them might have improved from the last time you flew them London to Hong Kong. You are right about the snack option for the Asian carriers in Middle Eastern Airlines I can actually help you with 菲律賓航空 Philippine Airlines they give you out Pancit or Pasta some cases Lucky Me instant noodles. If you are flying Shanghai to London which one would you choose Virgin Atlantic or China Eastern (中國東方航空)? Does your mum have a Skyteam FFQ to use on Virgin Atlantic my guess she got a Dynasty Flyer (中華航空). If you want to know what the inaugural flight did for the airline it was London to New York EWR VS1/VS2. They should bring it back because for that you are only down to British Airways and United Airlines.
Great video Jayden! For the very luxurious premium check in is it only for upper class passengers or could status holders in economy use it? Virgin Atlantic definitely looked great in most aspects apart from the food, do you prefer it too BA?
Status holder yes but only those who are also eligible for the clubhouse (not Aspire Lounge). So for Virgin Atlantic their gold members can. Even Virgin Australia platinum or The Club members can’t (as they can only use the Aspire Lounge) Delta Platinum and Diamond only if they are flying in premium economy (not economy. Gotta recite their rules haha. Skyteam is very inconsistent I don’t mind BA too. I think regular travellers prefer BA. Extroverts- VS🤣
Hi Jayden thanks for the nice video, I was just wondering because I will be flying SQ from Melbourne to KL then Penang to Singapore for a layover for a holiday, just wondering how the KrisFlyer Gold lounge is for passengers holding a star alliance gold membership which I have an Air China Phoenix Mile gold. Wondering if it would be worth going to the airport early for. All the best!!
perhaps 2 hours early, 2-3 hrs early if you want to use the shower facility. It's a good lounge, but not 'amazing' I've been to the T3 Krisgold twice, check it out :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Sw6Y-2b2D4w.htmlsi=Y3aqI3U9w616zgWo ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GhlFYvYEIqE.htmlsi=jsy3zb72GLdfMhOb
across if you wanna see each other :) Next to each other (preferably on the left hand side of the plane for more privacy) is fine too but the person in front has to turn head to talk
I’ve done the same route last year, but onboard BA’s premium economy. The extra flying time is just painful for economy and even premium economy. Definitely choose the Chinese airlines if you can’t afford a lie-flat ticket
@@alexmcwhirter6611 Yeah that’s totally understandable but still pity, VS is a nice carrier overall. I really want to try more European airlines between Europe and China / far east but the current situation is just tricky.
Good video as always. Virgin's business class doesn't impress me though. Cramped outdated seat, small entertainment screen and that awful reverse herringbone layout which provides zero privacy and points you away from the window.
I've watched many trip reports about Virgin Atlantic, but never have I seen anyone use the shared dining function in Upper class :) Overall, I'm still not a fan of their Upper class product.
Now it's time for California Crane flight review, review. Very good job representing Nord VPN. You have good acting abilities. Made me smile 😊 Your mum did look happy and gracious gazing out the window. Social media model indeed. The "steaming fug sht" feature in the lounge shower. I have questions. 😂 The plane name. 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds' was a Beatles song . Maybe this is the reference. 🤷🏼♂️ I feel I must have those cartoon like S&P shakers. Maybe Virgin was serving British food. It has a reputation of being bland. Lol I spotted your gorgeous legs 3 different times! Spot on indeed, 😏 I have a notation abbreviated that I cannot read, so I will skip it. In summation, overall good to great presentation and presence without getting in the way. Thanks Jayden, for the fun time I have , watching your reports. 暫時再見了。(From google translate).
haha thanks for your compliment Stevo, maybe I should've been an actor haha. Oh, it must be from the Beatles then, I didn't realise. Oh yes they were definitely serving British food haha. It says on the menu something on the line of how proud they are in serving British food haha Cheers Stevo :)))
You can still be an actor, you are young. I am older and have older references, like The Beatles. Haha That is so funny that the menu confirmed my guess. 😂 Cheers and happy trails, JWo.
@@JaydenWong I think NRT has been dropped for the same reason, since currently HND-LHR flight are prohibited to fly over Russia and changed their flight path over the North Pole.
