Virgin Australia has just announced the introduction of Economy X, "a new product designed to provide more comfort and an enhanced travelling experience both on the ground and in the air across Virgin Australia's entire network".
Extra leg room makes those longer flight legs a lot more bearable. (Image courtesy of Getty)This exciting news for anyone who flies a lot, particularly for work, as extra leg-room makes your economy ticket, golden. VA's entire 75-strong Boeing 737 fleet will be reconfigured in the next couple of months, with up to 30 extra leg-room seats in the first three rows of the economy cabin as well as exit rows. Economy X passengers will enjoy a minimum of 3 inches (7.62cm) of extra legroom, along with preferred overhead locker space, priority boarding and priority security screening.
The new product will also be available on international services. On short haul international flights it will replace the current Economy Space+ offering, and on long-haul international flights it will also include a guaranteed first meal choice and a premium noise-cancelling headset.
New Economy X
Economy X is free of charge for Velocity Frequent Flyer Platinum members and their companions on the same booking, and others can select the option an additional cost. The product goes on sale tomorrow for flights effective 21 May 2017.
New In-Flight Internet Service
Meanwhile Virgin Australia Airlines group executive John Thomas also today unveiled details of the carrier's planned inflight Internet service, which will be offered in partnership with Optus and Gogo. One of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft will be outfitted during the three-month testing period starting in April, with the service to be powered by the Optus D2 satellite along with technology partner Gogo, which offers widespread terrestrial-based in-flight internet service across the USA as well as international satellite coverage to a range of carriers.
Even a little extra leg-room helps get things done. (Image courtesy of Getty)Virgin says its service will utilise Gogo's proprietary 2Ku technology with two flat-dish antennas - one for upload and one for download - that will offer speeds of up to 70Mbps per aircraft. Internet access will be free for passengers during the trial that will be offered on selected services between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Voice applications such as Skype and Facetime will be blocked during the trial, and long-term pricing for the service is yet to be announced.
Thomas said "we are confident that by working with Gogo and Optus Satellite and using their proven technology we can deliver the best possible and most reliable connectivity and entertainment experience in the air".
Source: Travel Daily
Feature Image: Getty.
