Virgin Australia is committed to enhancing passengers’ travel experience on its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, regardless of their seating location. The introduction of new business and economy seats ensures increased comfort and convenience.
These upgraded seats will not be limited to the 737 MAX alone. Virgin has decided to refresh its 737 fleet, including the older 737-700 series, from tip to tail. As a result, the new business and economy seats will become the standard across all of Virgin Australia’s jets.
According to the airline, the upcoming overhaul, valued at $110 million, is scheduled to commence later this year and is expected to be completed within the next two years, subject to operational requirements.
As part of the upgrade, Virgin will equip the majority of its aircraft with WiFi. Business class passengers, Velocity Platinum frequent flyers, and members of the invitation-only Beyond program will enjoy complimentary WiFi, while other travelers will be charged a small fee.
However, one standout feature of the MAX that won’t be incorporated into the 737s is the MAX’s exceptionally spacious overhead luggage bins. These bins boast a more cavernous design, providing the capacity to accommodate up to 50 percent more carry-on baggage. This improvement allows for the convenience of sliding standard-sized carry-on bags in sideways, rather than having to place them flat.
Virgin Australia clarifies that their carry-on luggage limits will not increase despite the upgrades. The current allowance of 7kg for economy class and up to two smaller items of 7kg each for business class will remain in place.
The new seats were officially unveiled during a media event and walk-through at Virgin’s Brisbane hangar base. The event showcased the first brand-new 737 MAX, which recently arrived and will begin operating on the Cairns-Tokyo route starting July 30.
Before that, it will be deployed on various domestic routes in the upcoming weeks. This introductory period allows the crew to familiarize themselves with the aircraft and obtain routine regulatory approvals.
Virgin has committed to acquiring eight Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets, with the first deliveries expected. Following these, they have plans to add 25 of the larger MAX 10 jets to their fleet, starting from late 2024.
Virgin Australia’s new Business, Economy seats
If you’ve had the chance to fly on the two Virgin 737s that were previously owned by SilkAir, the regional arm of Singapore Airlines, you might find the new seats quite familiar.
These seats were tested on those two jets starting in late 2021, which means Virgin’s frequent flyers may have already encountered them on domestic flights. One noticeable hint that you’re on a former SilkAir 737 is the floral detailing that still remains embossed on the bulkhead in front of the business class section.
However, it’s worth noting that those two Virgin 737 test-bed aircraft lacked a partition between the business and economy cabins, and premium passengers quickly noticed and voiced their concerns about it. On the other hand, economy passengers seated in the first row (row 3) appreciated the extra legroom.
For this upgrade round, Virgin Australia plans to introduce a new cabin divider between the business class and economy sections. This redesigned divider serves a dual purpose: it creates more floor space in the economy cabin and allows for installing approximately six to twelve additional economy seats.
Although it has not yet been implemented on the 737 MAX aircraft, the airline intends to add the ‘new design cabin divider’ by the end of this year or early next. The airline has not unveiled the divider’s exact appearance thus far.
Virgin Australia’s new 737 MAX business class
Virgin Australia’s new Boeing 737 MAX business class seat, which will eventually be installed on all Virgin Boeing 737s, is a long-overdue equalizer to Qantas’ Boeing 737 business class. In some ways, it even pulls ahead.
First of all, the front of the seat, which is the MiQ type from Collins Aerospace, swings up to reveal an extendable leg rest and footrest. This has been missing from Virgin Australia’s business class for far too long.
When you add in the five-inch recline, which is two inches more than Virgin’s normal economy seat, you are pretty much set for a power nap after getting up too early or after a long day.
(When you recline the seat, the front of the seat tilts up slightly to make it feel like it is cradling you, but if you are normal height, the footrest might feel better when the seat is not reclined.)
There is enough room to continue working on your laptop even if the person in front of you reclines their seat all the way. However, if your legrest is fully extended, the tops of your feet may snag on the base of the seat in front.
The armrest in the aisle seats (1C, 1D, 2C, and 2D) can be lowered for less mobile guests.
The padding and support of the ribbed upholstery hit the “just right” spot between firm and soft, making the seat noticeably more comfortable than what you will be used to. However, this could also be because the seats are new, rather than having endured more than ten years of heavy-duty wear. The seat has a more “design” feel than its predecessor.
AC and USB power outlets are welcome for Virgin’s premium passengers. Finally.
“If you look at the business community, in-seat power and in-flight Wi-Fi are what matter most to them outside of network scheduling, so I am extremely excited it will be available on the bulk of our fleet.
While a few of Virgin’s Boeing 737s currently have AC outlets discreetly placed at the front of their business class seats, the new seats prioritize this feature. Moreover, they combine a 240V port with a high-power USB-A socket, allowing you to charge all your travel gadgets conveniently.
As an added advantage, the AC/USB outlets are positioned right where you need them – at your elbow. This eliminates the hassle of awkwardly fumbling around the front of the seat, searching for the socket and attempting to insert the prongs of the AC plug blindly.
Under the armrest, you’ll discover both power ports conveniently tucked away. Just flip up the lid, insert your cables, and start charging your devices effortlessly.
The recess is spacious enough to accommodate various knick-knacks, such as reading glasses, sunglasses, inflight amenity kits, notepads, books, and tablets. It provides a practical storage solution for a range of items.
Although the new business class seats on Virgin Australia still do not feature personal video screens like their Qantas counterparts, many tech-savvy travelers will appreciate Virgin’s innovative approach. They have integrated a tablet or smartphone stand into the tray table, allowing passengers to enjoy their own devices comfortably during the flight.
A robust metal flap swings upward with intentional resistance when partially opened, securely holding your device at the desired angle. This deliberate stiffness ensures your device remains confidently propped up while you enjoy your content.
There is ample space in front of you to keep some snacks handy for nibbling while enjoying your entertainment that you brought on board.
The tray becomes remarkably stable when fully extended, offering plenty of space for even the largest laptop to occupy comfortably.
Virgin Australia’s new 737 MAX Economy Class
There are inherent limitations when it comes to economy seats. The available cabin space, airline budgets, and various constraints impose restrictions on legroom.
Virgin’s Boeing 737 MAX economy seat offers a few simple adjustments that contribute to an enhanced experience, starting with a slight increase in legroom.
The slimmer design of the seat contributes to the additional legroom without compromising comfort. The seat maintains the same ribbed design found in business class, ensuring it remains as comfortable as Virgin’s standard Boeing 737 economy seats.
The intelligent approach of combining thoughtful design with modern manufacturing and materials allows for a more streamlined seat profile, creating extra space precisely where it is most beneficial: around the knees and shins. As a result, passengers can enjoy improved legroom without sacrificing their comfort.
Another noticeable slimming feature is the armrest positioned between the seats, providing a slightly more spacious feel around the hips. However, due to its reduced size, it becomes less practical for resting your arm if you have a seat mate.
To declutter the mesh pocket located at the bottom of the seat, the safety card and ‘buy on board’ menu have been conveniently relocated to a dedicated nook positioned at the top of the setback, just above the tray table. This thoughtful adjustment allows you full ownership of the mesh pocket, allowing you to utilize it according to your needs.
Located at the front of the safety card nook and positioned above the latch for the tray table, you’ll find a clever plastic lip that folds out, serving as a convenient stand for your tablet or smartphone. This feature aligns with Virgin’s ‘BYO entertainment’ concept, allowing you to enjoy your personal devices during the flight comfortably.
As part of the upgrades on the Boeing 737 MAX and all future economy enhancements to the 737s, Virgin has thoughtfully included a convenient USB-A socket. This allows you to conveniently charge and maintain the battery of your tablet or phone throughout the journey.
Virgin’s 737 economy cabin will undergo another change: a refinement in the current cabin configuration will involve replacing one row of Economy X seating with a row of standard economy seats on all Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Virgin Australia 737 MAX seat pitch, recline
Considering the Boeing 737 MAX’s focus on international flights, the comfort levels for longer journeys are an important consideration for many travelers. Fortunately, adjustments have been made to seat pitch and recline, although perhaps not as extensive as some might have expected.
The biggest beneficiary of these adjustments is Economy X, which now features a 5-inch recline, matching the recline offered in business class. This is an improvement from the standard 3-inch recline found in the wider economy cabin.
Here are the seat pitch and recline specifications for the Virgin Australia 737 MAX:
Business Class:
- 5-inch recline
- 38-inch seat pitch (one inch more than the current Boeing 737-800)
Economy X:
- 5-inch recline (an increase of 1 inch)
- 34-inch seat pitch
Economy:
- 3-inch recline
- Seat pitch of 30 to 31 inches, depending on the row.
