VIRGIN ATLANTIC has put into service between LHR and JFK its first Boeing 747-400 featuring a much-improved Upper Class and offering what Virgin calls ”real flat beds”. The innovative designed seats, sitting in a pod, are reversed in order to go flat enabling passengers to actually stretch out, rather than the normal method of reclining the seat by 180 degrees. The footstool can be turned into a proper seat (unlike the BA Club World design) and, by introducing a foldaway table, a 1 + 1 dining area is formed. The seats themselves are approved for reclining at take off, ideal inbound from say New York whereby Upper Class passengers can dine in the Virgin JFK Clubhouse and get to sleep prior to takeoff, ideal for the relatively short London flight. There are a host of other innovations in what has always been a class leader. A second aircraft is due in service on the San Francisco route shortly, followed by the rest of the 747 fleet at two to three week intervals. New Airbus A340-600s will also have the kit. And on the rumour front Arnie must have been reading ABTN as LA is now seen as a front runner for "Virgin America", Virgin Atlantic already well established on the US west coast with operations at Los Angles, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
http://www.virgin.com/atlantic