Experienced three variations of high-end travel accommodations while soaring over various European landscapes.
Travelling in Style: A European Tour in Business Class
A recent European tour, undertaken by an individual accompanied by their wife, daughter, and niece, provided an opportunity to experience the luxury of business class travel. The trip spanned two weeks and visited destinations such as Dublin, Amsterdam, Valencia, Paris, and London.
The travel itinerary included flights with Air France and Virgin Atlantic, two airlines renowned for their business class offerings.
Air France's business class seats on European flights are arranged in a 2-2 layout, with the middle seats left empty for enhanced privacy. The seats offer about 32 inches of seat pitch and 18 inches of width, providing ample comfort during the journey. On long-haul U.S. routes, Air France's business class features pod-style lie-flat seats with closing doors for privacy, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging, and a Do Not Disturb option.
Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class, while primarily designed for long-haul flights, offers a unique business class experience. The seats feature direct aisle access, ensuring convenience, and the airline boasts an inflight bar for mingling and snacks on all aircraft, creating a more sociable and luxurious flying experience. Virgin Atlantic also provides access to exclusive lounges such as the Clubhouse and Revivals Lounge at Heathrow.
The total cost of the trip, which included airline points and a substantial $12,000 (€10,300), made the luxury travel a reality.
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The business-class seats on European regional flights were a bit disappointing compared to the long-haul flights. However, the airport lounges and in-flight dining were impressive during the trip. Each airline's lounge was a surprise and impressed them. Usage profiles may be created and enriched based on cookie IDs, even outside the EEA.
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In summary, Air France and Virgin Atlantic offer unique business class experiences, each catering to different preferences. Air France emphasizes a balance of privacy and comfort with modern amenities, especially on longer routes, while Virgin Atlantic stands out with its social flying environment, inflight bar, and luxury lounges, creating a distinctive business/upper-class experience on European flights or beyond.
*Note: This article is based on a personal account of a European tour and does not represent an exhaustive review of business class offerings on Air France and Virgin Atlantic.
References:
- Air France Business Class Review
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Review
- Air France Business Class on Short-Haul Flights
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Amenities
- Air France Business Class Lounge Access
