Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Suite

red dot
red dot award: product design 2004

The Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Suite is a patented system, which provides passengers with an innovative piece of furniture for sitting and sleeping on, in the form of a chair and a separate bed. The aim of the design was to offer flight passengers similar comfort to that of a luxury lounge or a hotel. The design is visually calm and has a high-quality, aesthetic look. The chair is equipped with thick soft foam, a lateral contour line (similar to that of a recliner) and a luxurious leather cover. In contrast to that, the bed is completely flat, padded with hard foam to support the spine, and it is covered with breathable material. The basic prerequisites for sitting and sleeping are achieved by the chair's patented mechanism, which changes it from sitting to sleeping mode. The chair can be turned into a bed at the touch of a button. This piece of furniture was developed to offer more than other airlines' business classes. It is the first product of an airline, which grants the passengers direct access to the aisle. This is achieved by an innovative inward-facing spatial concept in a herringbone pattern. The passengers can recline immediately after boarding. The take-off can take place in any sitting position.