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Virgin Atlantic Airways vs American Airlines, London (LHR) to San Francisco (SFO): every cabin compared seat by seat, with scores, legroom, layouts and the seats to avoid.
Long-haul · 8,616 km
Airbus A380-800
LHR → SFO ·
Boeing 787-9
Airbus A380-800
Wide-body · Two decks · 60 rows
Seats on board
In 3 cabins: Business, Premium Economy and Economy
Seats on board
In 4 cabins: First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy
5.6/10
Average seat score
Every seat rated out of 10, across 258 seats
5.7/10
Average seat score+0.1
Every seat rated out of 10, across 469 seats
10m quicker
LHR → SFO · 8,616 km
LHR → SFO · 8,616 km
Free Wi-Fi
In every cabin
Free Wi-Fi
In every cabin
Seat-back screens
AC/USB power in every cabin
Seat-back screens
AC/USB power in every cabin
258 seats from nose to tail
469 seats from nose to tail
Not available
No First cabin
First14
Rows 1–4
Business31
Upper · Rows 1–11
Business97
Club World · Rows 10–59
Premium Economy35
Rows 21–25
Premium Economy55
World Traveller Plus · Rows 60–68
Economy192
Rows 45–68
Economy303
World Traveller · Rows 20–83
Not available
No First cabin on this flight
FirstFull flat
14 seats in rows 1–4
Not available
UpperFull flat
31 seats in rows 1–11
Club WorldFull flat
97 seats in rows 10–59
EconomyStandard
192 seats in rows 45–68
World TravellerStandard
303 seats in rows 20–83
8 seats rated good or better
18 seats
Extra legroom · 7% of seats
44 seatsMore
Extra legroom · 9% of seats
London (LHR), local time
London (LHR), local time
San Francisco (SFO), local time
San Francisco (SFO), local time
1-2-1
4 seats across, two aisles, every seat on an aisle
Not available
Legroom
78"
Width
21"
Recline
180°
Not available
5.7/10
Average seat score
Best seat 6.0
Not available
Not available
No exit-row or extra-legroom seats
Not available
1-1-1
3 seats across, two aisles, every seat on an aisle
Not available
Layout not published
Legroom
79"
+7″Width
22"
+2″Recline
180°
Legroom
72"
Width
20"
Recline
180°
5.8/10
Average seat score
Best seat 6.0
5.8/10
Average seat score
Best seat 6.0
Not available
No exit-row or extra-legroom seats
Seats with more room or a bassinet
2-3-2
7 seats across, two aisles
2-3-2
7 seats across, two aisles
Legroom
38"
Width
21"
+2.5″Recline
8"
Legroom
38"
Width
18.5"
Recline
130°
Flat5.6/10
Average seat score
Best seat 6.5
5.6/10
Average seat score
Best seat 6.5
Seats with more room or a bassinet
Seats with more room or a bassinet
Not available
Layout not published
2-4-2
8 seats across, two aisles
Legroom
31"
Width
17"
Recline
5"
Legroom
31"
Width
17.5"
+0.5″Recline
118°
Flat5.6/10
Average seat score
Best seat 8.5 · 8 seats rated good or better
5.7/10
Average seat score+0.1
Best seat 8.8 · 9 seats rated good or better
Seats with more room or a bassinet
Seats with more room or a bassinet
9 seats rated good or better+1
Best stretch: rows 1–5, averaging 6.0
6 seats
Exit row · 2% of seats
14 seatsMore
Exit row · 3% of seats
7 seats
Bassinet position · 3% of seats
18 seatsMore
Bassinet position · 4% of seats
43 seatsFewer
Close to a lavatory · 17% of seats
59 seats
Close to a lavatory · 13% of seats
13 seatsFewer
Close to a galley · 5% of seats
46 seats
Close to a galley · 10% of seats
18 seatsFewer
Limited recline · 7% of seats
36 seats
Limited recline · 8% of seats
24 seatsFewer
Wing in the window view · 9% of seats
38 seats
Wing in the window view · 8% of seats
4 seatsFewer
Misaligned window · 2% of seats
8 seats
Misaligned window · 2% of seats
2 seats
No window · 1% of seats
NoneFewer
No window
18 seatsFewer
Tray table in the armrest · 7% of seats
37 seats
Tray table in the armrest · 8% of seats
25 seatsFewer
No floor storage for take-off · 10% of seats
44 seats
No floor storage for take-off · 9% of seats
2 seatsFewer
Can get cold by the exit · 1% of seats
6 seats
Can get cold by the exit · 1% of seats
8,616 km
Great-circle distance
8,616 km
Great-circle distance
Best stretch: rows 14–24, averaging 6.1
