Virgin Atlantic's New Upper Class Suites

(photos: Virgin Atlantic)

Sometimes a product seems so hip and now that it can't be ignored in the marketplace. It appears Virgin Atlantic Airways has found that product for its new Upper Class Suites that may be unrivaled in its design and look. Upper Class is the airline's premium business class product on their two-class Airbus A330 jets.

Introduced last weekend and currently flying exclusively between London Heathrow to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, the airline claims "We've re-engineered and reinvented our Upper Class Suite, creating a fabulous onboard experience with great new features":

• Recline increased up to 50% in the lounger configuration and 1.5 inches greater in width than the previous version.
• In lie-flat mode, the seats provide an 87-inch bed surface (at 7 feet 2 inches, it is longer than other airline's business class bed)
• New espresso color leather seats.
• A 12.1-inch touchscreen monitor with touchscreen remote.
• Adjustable reading light.
• A flip-down cocktail table and push panel armrest.
• Additional storage compartments featuring a new literature pocket and two ottoman storage areas.
• USB and other power port connections compatible with most international type plugs.
• Lumbar support functionality with "firm touch" buttons to prevent accidental activation.
• An "Aeromobile" system giving passengers the ability to make and receive phone calls and texts from their own mobile phones.
• In a herringbone pattern, four-seats across, all seats have direct aisle access.
• Each window seat has an one more window built into the wall that provides more light but opaque enough to allow privacy from passengers seated in adjacent rows.

The futuristic onboard bar is now separate from the cabin giving passengers not wishing to socialize more privacy. The bar has new mood lighting but still have the Virgin Atlantic accents of red and Swarovski crystal.

Estimated roundtrip airfares from the carrier's website for a weeklong trip in May varies from a low of $3,988.20 for a restrictive ticket to a high of $10,470.20 for a fully flexible and refundable reservation for flight VS003 (Heathrow to JFK) and VS004 (JFK to Heathrow) that are offered six days a week. As the airline takes possession of more Airbus A330 planes in 2012, additional destinations will be added offering the Upper Class Suites. The seats will be added to their order of Boeing 787s in 2014.

Click HERE for an interactive tour. Visit virgin-atlantic.com for more information. Virgin-Atlantic Airways is owned by Richard Branson's the Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines and operates between the United Kingdom and North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.