Travel test

WHAT: Virgin Atlantic flight VS449, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, in an Economy Classic seat. WHERE: London Heathrow to Johannesburg, South Africa, from £716 return, virginatlantic.com. EXPERIENCE: With an 11-hour flight and a 10.25pm take-off, I was keen to get settled quickly.

The overhead lockers were large and deep but, sat near the back, the ones directly above my 31in-pitch seat were out of use to passengers. There was space in nearby lockers but I was lucky to be on a relatively quiet flight with a row to myself, so I used the underseat space next to me.

The seatback pocket had room for my water bottle and phone, and came with a pillow, blanket and headset for the Vera entertainment system with plenty of films and TV shows, plus music.

The seat had a power socket and USB port. You could pay for wi-fi – from £2.99 for messaging throughout the flight and up to £20.99 for everything bar streaming.

More keen on sleep, I stretched out across the three seats after take-off and got some shuteye, snoozing as a meal was served about an hour into the flight.

The cabin temperature was comfortable, the friendly crew were always on hand, and at about 6am UK time they discreetly came through the cabin offering water and juice.

About two hours before landing breakfast was served. I went for the decent full English which came with a fruit pot, yogurt, pain au chocolat and hot drinks. QUIBBLES: My seat rest wouldn’t recline without help from the crew. It was a full flight so I couldn’t move, though with my neighbour’s arm pressing against me, sleeping was always going to be a challenge! VERDICT: Seat comfort was very much in line with other carriers, but I was impressed with the food and crew.