My review of the Dreamliner and our journey home

[Jan]

Our return flights to Seattle were both on a Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner, a Boeing 787-9. The seats were booked using VA miles in order to keep down the cost of our trip, which was a present to ourselves in celebration of our Golden Wedding anniversary.

The ambience initially seemed quite calm and relaxed due to the coloured subdued lighting. I rather liked it. We had booked Economy Classic which included hold luggage and seat choice. The plane had a 3-3-3 configuration and Classic seats were the whole of the bank of seats down the middle of the plane. The aisles were very narrow. The seats were 17.5 inches wide, which leaves little or no wiggle room. The upper body of most passengers overflowed into the aisle as there was nowhere else to put one’s arms. The outside arm rests will not raise, (I did check this with the staff). Only 11 aisle seats have raising arm rests.

Most passengers reclined fully right from the journey’s start. This makes it virtually impossible to get out of the seat without pulling on the back of the seat in front of you. Talk about “in your face”! But no worse than a 747 thank goodness. The backs of the seats were also thinner than those of a 747 but that made no difference to the comfort. The floor space under the seat in front seemed deeper than on a 747. However, I had great difficulty reaching the “handle” on the overhead locker. I am 5ft 2in.

The meal on the outgoing flight was good, but I cannot recall what it was. However, the meal on the return flight was appalling. A flight attendant told me she was embarrassed to serve the meals. The mains were a choice of Italian sausage with pasta and sauce. Frankly, once I heard “Italian sausage” I stopped listening. There was a curry dish (yuck) and a very unappetising vegetarian dish. I just got a tray and not a main course. However, I ended up by not eating anything. The only item which I may have eaten was a teensy tiny cake in a circular plastic tub, which I dropped whilst I was trying to remove the top. In the cheese and biscuits package was a semi-soft white cheese with basil. The bread roll came in a paper bag and was tough. There was no salad/starter or fruit that I can recall.

Right after take-off on the return flight (3:30pm) all the windows were darkened. It made a nine hour flight seem even longer.

There was a good choice of many films and I enjoyed three, particularly Arctic which is a new film.

By the time we arrived home we had been awake and out of bed for 24 hours. It is a nine hour flight although we landed early. We were both exhausted as I am sure many passengers might have been. Neither of us can sleep on a flight. 😟

Getting through check-in, security was smooth enough. On the return leg it took 2 hours. I cannot remember how long it was outbound.

So, did I like the Dreamliner/think it any better than a 747 - no. I think the configuration, 3-3-3, is not the best ever and I will not be unhappy if I never travel on one again.

[macdonald]

very good report..

[Jan]

Thank you.

[skalexander]

I’ve just been to Nairobi and back on a Dreamliner, and also did to Calgary and back in January on one.

I genuinely don’t know why people rave about them. It’s just a plane and none of its “special” qualities improved the experience of what is effectively 9 hours in a tin can. For economy my favourite plane is A380, with upper deck seats.

Our flight home from Nairobi was very good, but only because the flight was half empty, and I had a row of 3 to myself.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Jan. A very well written report. Well done.

Having looked at YouTube videos of this type of aircraft I am at a loss to see what their attraction is over other similar aircraft such as the Airbus etc.

[Leyfy]

That’s really interesting. Thank you. I’ve travelled on the Norwegian Dreamliner three times and I liked it. However, we were in the extra leg room seats by the exit. My husband is 6 foot 4 and I am now considering paying for the exit row seats with virgin reading this. It’s a long way to go to be uncomfortable for nine hours!

[Guest]

Good review. The type of aircraft is not something I personally take much notice of, but I always got the impression (from this site) that the Dreamliner was something to aim for. Interesting to read another perspective.

[Tinkerbell]

Why is it return flight food is usually awful. Captive tired audience who just want to get home maybe

[munmun]

Thank you for a good report.

I will not fly a Dreamliner again unless I have to, I hate the way they shut down the windows and you are unable to even raise a blind a tiny bit to see out. This makes the whole flight difficult IMO.

[Guest]

Totally agree, we weren’t impressed with the Virgin Dreamliner on our flights last year. The backs of the chairs are thinner and narrower like you say also we found the seat pad extremely thin as well definitely numb bum time! Not good on 10+ hours flights!