You wont be surprised to read that there was virtually no wait to get through security. Double-check which aircraft operates the route that you're about to book. Upper Class fares can be priced from 1,000 return, which is a great price for the benefits you get if you break it down on a cost-per-hour basis. Kamara picked at a few things but noted that overall the dish was quite dry and not a patch on the mezze served by the likes of Emirates, Qatar or Etihad. A SEAMLESS TRAVEL JOURNEY Delta and Virgin Atlantic operate in the same terminal in LHR. Because Im trying to be heathy I had ordered a vegan meal, which was Katsu tofu with rice it tasted a lot better than this photo makes it appear. I had the same issue the last time I flew with Virgin Premium Economy and it did appear that no one but me experienced problems with the wifi. The wifi was a disaster both ways. We'll welcome you onboard with a chilled glass of Champagne or English sparkling wine. However, for an added feel of privacy and those views that we live for, any A and K window seat is slightly better than a D or G seat. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. We had a very poor experience in the Upper Class wing last year, due to an issue with my wifes ticket resulting from the flight being rebooked due to COVID disruption. Goodbye Virgin forever. Suffered the same issue, booked with the promise of an upgraded A350, then got switched to inferior 787 with cramped coffin seats and almost no window view. These are wines I would quite happily drink at home, but given that drinking in the air isnt advisable because of dehydration, jet lag or the fact you might have meetings when you arrive, it does have to be a little bit special for me to be tempted, and wines around the 10 mark are fine if you really want a drink, but also are easy to refuse. Economy Light: Free at the airport or via online check-in, prior to the airport: 30 ($38) for standard seats and 40 ($56) for preferred seats. The second thing that is often discussed is that the seats on the A330-300s and 787-9s only offer a small recline in the seated position and need to be manually taken apart and turned into a bed by the crew. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. The Virgin clubhouse at Heathrow Terminal three has a buffet offering. 100% agreed with you on the ground experience. Virgin Atlantic 787 Upper Class chicken burger. There were three choices for the main meal: Chicken and wild mushroom pie with colcannon mash, garden vegetables, and a red wine sauce, Butter chicken curry with coriander rice, garlic fried okra, mini naan bread, and chilli garnish. Enjoy the finest food and drink throughout your journey, Food and drink when you travel Upper Class. Im Amanda, an Australian who has been living in London for over 16 years. Find the right card for you. Looking ahead to brighter skies The problem is that VS act like the old coffin seats and the new suites are equivalent products. Online check-in failed and we then spent 40 mins standing at the Upper Class wing check-in desk whilst agent tried to get hold of the ticketing desk downstairs to resolve it. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. My first ever luxury travel review was published on flyertalk back in 2013 and later re-published here. The upper class has its own check-in section, which is always nice. See more More legroom, more style 35 Things to do in Vegas besides gamble, 29 Most Beautiful Cities in United States, Airline Reviews (Very unlike British Airways who has an average premium economy offer and a great business class offer). The best seats, without question, are on the A side where passengers face a wall, rather than facing other passengers. Definitely not an ideal situation though! What about food and drink onboard? While some airlines operate four classes on some of their long-haul jets, Virgin Atlantic opted for three: Upper Class (business class), Premium (premium economy) and economy. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. 1 Mar 2021 by Mark Caswell Virgin Atlantic has launched its new spring menu, which sees the return of welcome drinks and hand plated main meals in Upper Class. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. I appreciated the fact that each course was served in succession, rather than getting an Economy style tray with all courses presented together (something that many airlines are still doing under the pretence of COVID safety). Canadian tariffs. Here are the best cards for making your trip more comfortable. But my friend who I was traveling with also had problems with them. It was incredibly kind of them and so thoughtful, as we hadnt even asked. At the seat was the new recyclable washbag. You are greeted at your cab, your bags are whisked away and you might see another passenger at check in or may not. Prices vary based on the route, and there is often an offer for a limited time period and one for access for the entire flight. But why? Specialty coffee can be ordered as well as some fun smoothies and juices. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. The fact that Virgin wont allow passengers to retain A350 bookings, when operational issues lead to an aircraft change, means that youre always risking a bait and switch with this company. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. We also had the same. The overall maintenance and cleanliness left a lot to be desired. Virgin Atlantic places Upper Class at the front of its Boeing 787s, with 31 seats in a 1-1-1 layout: Window seats are labelled 'A' and 'K', with the centre spots as 'G'. Virgin Atlantic 23 London (LHR) - Los Angeles (LAX) Tuesday, May 25 Depart: 2:30 PM Arrive: 5:45 PM Duration: 11hr, 15min Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000 Seat: 10K (Upper Class) I was first onboard and walked through the onboard lounge and turned left to find my seat on the starboard side of the plane. In terms of entertainment, theres a choice of over 100 movies, 300 hours of TV shows, over 350 albums and podcasts and over 45 hours of kids content. Since we have written about the celebrations elsewhere: British Airways and Virgin Atlantic perform dual take-off from Heathrow to New York. I got this to work, but it was quite beyond me to understand how it worked so I just used the touchscreen. Water, champagne and orange juice were also offered from a tray, prior to take off. This aircraft has a total of 335 seats configured in three classes: 235 in economy, 56 in premium economy and 44 in business class (or Upper Class as Virgin calls it) in a 1-2-1 configuration of 11 rows (numbered 1-11) in an A-DG-K format. The Booth takes two people and can be booked with the crew. The headphones were very plasticky and cheap feeling, a world away from the excellent noise cancelling headsets provided by American Airlines in Business Class. With some exceptions, the general standard is absolutely fine, but its not exceptional. Although I was tempted by both the Ayala and the Hambledon (made 5 miles away from my childhood home), I decided to stick with Coke Zero. Main was a choice of one of the following: Pan-fried seabass, creamed mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables and a lemon butter sauce, Pepper chicken masala, carrot and beans poriyal, yellow dal and coconut rice, Kadai paneer, onion pulao, aloo saag and yellow dal, Black forest tart with berry compote and chocolate soil, The cheese plate included Emmental, brie, Danish blue and was served with grapes, mango chutney and crackers. Assorted Fruit Sours Candy Balls - 5lb. Virgin is almost entirely back to pre-covid catering now and the menu included multiple options for each of the three lunch courses. Privacy Policy, Hi! On the day flight they were always available offering drinks and snacks, and on the night flight having had a good nights sleep (well, almost five hours, which coming back from New York is the most youll ever get), they were still serving full breakfasts 30 minutes before landing. Upper Class passengers with Virgin Atlantic can enjoy a full-service meal in the lounge at the airport before boarding (the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LHR is fantastic, by the way). It is worth looking out for deals and sales. Booking Virgin Atlantic Business Class. Bookings made by credit card or debit card no longer incur a fee. All seats face the window, both window seats and centre seats, meaning for the centre seats when you want to chat to your neighbour you have to twist around and its not comfortable for very long. Virgin Atlantic by Natalie Clarkson 20 October 2021 If you're planning to jet off with Virgin Atlantic soon, take a peek at its brand new onboard menu. $26.99. Suite The crew were just as friendly and welcoming as their counterparts in the Clubhouse and the small onboard bar made a great first impression as we turned left into the Upper Class cabin. Deltas new suite product (this one without doors) are a huge improvement over their old biz class product, and given the choice between Delta and Virgin codeshare flights, its Delta that wins out in every possible way. We did not get the upgrade for HK/LHR and asked about it at check-in, we were told there were Upper Class seats available and paid extra at the counter for the upgrade. Also, it is impossible to convert the seat from sitting up to flat without the assistance of a flight attendant, which I also find annoying. The food is very good, the drinks on offer are excellent, and they have a bar. Special Diets Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks View all details meals, features Location and contact Heathrow Airport 234 Bath Road, Hayes TW6 1AP England Website +44 844 335 1801 Improve this listing Reviews (711) Write a review Traveler rating Excellent 571 I chose cheese rather than dessert. The inflight entertainment system, the Zodiac Rave System from Zodiac Inflight Innovations (Zii), is very innovative, not least because there is no remote control for the system, so you either have to use the 18.5 inch touchscreen, or pair the system to your device. Evidently numerous passengers before me had fallen foul of this trap, in a desperate bid to find viable storage space. Mozzerella, artichoke and lemon basil mayonnaise in a mini malted roll and harissa chickpea and red pepper wrap, Patisserie lemon posset clair, passionfruit tart and blackberry and bay macaron, Dark and Thunder stormy Bacardi Cuatro rum, ginger ale, lime, Orchard Goose, Grey Goose vodka, apple juice, lemonade, Red Tail Bombay Sapphire gin, cranberry juice, ginger ale. For passengers who prefer a bit of ease when egressing from their seat but also enjoy gazing out of the window at the world below, then the Solo Freedom Suites (2C, 4C, 6C, 2H and 4H) are perfect. The major difference is that the bar on the A330 is perpendicular to the fuselage whereas on the Dreamliner, it's parallel to the seats in row K. Related: 6 features that set the 787 Dreamliner apart from the rest. Not just 30 upper class seats but 44 packed in like sardines. Once we were sorted, I told the Virgin Atlantic representative that he could make it up to me by getting my friend either upgraded or empty seats next to her. One is, they might not realise it is a feature. Virgin has altered the layout of its Club House lounge at T3, with the removal of the spa and the addition of some Peloton cycling machines. In a reversal of the simplification of its food and beverage service due to COVID, the airline is looking towards a return of some of the most popular elements of its Upper Class service. Otherwise, you would be better off taking the premium economy offer. The wonderful Virgin Atlantic staff brought her up to the bar in Upper Class and got her a glass of champagne. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cellar selection of the day (there wasnt one). As it stands, moving you from an A350 to a 787 is an uncompensated downgrade, plain and simple. Economy Classic: Free; 30 ($38) for preferred seats, 59-89 ($75-$114) for an exit row seat, or 49 ($63) for an exit row seat with reduced legroom. The A330-200 has a 15.3-inch screen, and the newest aircraft, the A350-1000 has a more generous screen size of 18.5 inches. Check here before booking an award fare. I figured that this would make for a much more spacious and sociable meal setting than sitting in my little coffin, watching a monitor the size of a gameboy. This lounge is the only one still run by Virgin, with the rest now run by Plaza Premium. (NB I use skyscanner.net to compare costs across airlines for both premium economy and business class). It is a 1 x 1 x 1 horizontal configuration, so it doesnt really matter if you have a middle seat when it comes to space or ease of getting in and out of the seat. For instance, 2A is a window seat and 7G is in the middle. Virgin made headlines some time ago, when they decided to remove beef from all flights due to the environmental impact. It is hard to beat Virgin Atlantic on the lounge front. I now have a new laptop, so I will update this next time I fly with Virgin Atlantic. It was just weird to stare across at 6-8 people, not be able to look out the window, require help to covert seat into a bed, etc. But a lot changes in 10 years and now the upper class on the 787 is akin to revisiting that 80s nightclub you used to love as a kid, only to wonder what the hell you were ever thinking being in there. In addition to the bottle of water, we found an amenity kit waiting for us at our seats. Boarding was rather shambolic, with a huddle at the gate area and no distinction between classes of service. Gilliam Hard Candy Sticks - 80ct. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. My expectations were high, but they were quite honestly exceeded in almost every way onboard. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. This was the last time booking with Virgin Atlantic. A stylish lounge, free-flowing champagne and an Upper Class seat that has stood the test of time, Virgin Atlantic continues to impress. Learn how your comment data is processed. With such an enormous chasm between cabin types, its too big a risk to chance things with Virgin when other airlines offer far more consistency and certainty. You could have paid and booked for a market leading seat with window views, privacy, storage and a large IFE screen and end up with this instead. YES!!!! Extra bites rules were the same as the flight over eg after the first meal up to 40 minutes pre-landing and the following were on offer: Seabass fillet marinated in green chutney with mustard potatoes and tomato sauce, Butter chicken slider with yoghurt slaw and potato wedges, Salted caramel cheesecake with a berry compote, The wines and port available were the same as the flight from London Heathrow to Delhi. Pre-dinner drinks if you're in the mood for a little tipple. Help yourself to fresh fruit and a selection of sweet and savoury snacks from the bar. We were also offered pyjamas, which is still something of a rarity in Business Class. Learn more. Each seat is on an angle, so they are next to each other rather than side by side. SIA to acquire 25 per cent stake in Air India. Our clients have access to preferential booking channels including: This page may contain affiliate links which provide revenue to the website but come at no cost to you, the reader. This was the first flight after the lifting of restrictions on UK citizens (and EO citizens) travelling to the US. I couldnt help feeling that a redcurrant based sauce could have added a much needed dash of colour and acidity though. They can also carry on two bags, plus a personal item. My return flight from Delhi to London was also a day flight. As of May 2022 this is still not something that British Airways is able to offer. The airline has also added to its pre-order menu, where Upper Class and Premium customers can pre-select their inflight meals between 72-24 hours of departure. This A350-1000 has Virgins new Upper Class Suite fitted. New additions include: Lamb hotpot with vermicelli rice and seasonal vegetables Vegetable korma with Gujarati green beans, jeera pilau rice and paratha Virgin Atlantic A330-300 Upper Class Seats There's next to nowhere to store a book, cables, chargers, or anything else that a passenger may want close to hand during the flight. Personally, I didnt really like this, as one of the best things about business class is having more of a sense of privacy. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Review. Even better, it has its own elevator (with its own little red carpet), which takes Upper-Class passengers up to security, where Virgin Atlantic Upper Class has its own security area. different airlines offer incredibly varying products, A350 suite showdown: British Airways' Club Suite versus Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class Suite, 14 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft that Virgin has on order, 6 features that set the 787 Dreamliner apart from the rest, review of the Upper Class Suite on the A350, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The key difference of course being that BAs Business Class lounges were never good, Your email address will not be published. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. A bottle of water was waiting for me at my seat and this was placed on a small fold out cocktail table, with a push out lamp above it. Virgin's business class lunch menu (for flights departing between 10am and 4pm) includes a turkey, brie and fig jam sourdough melt. It offers a host of additional benefits which add the most luxurious touches to your flight experience. Here is a typical Upper Class meal service for March: Welcome drinks upon boarding Drinks and snacks after takeoff Main meal Mozzarella and tomato salad with micro basil and cress (v), or Ciabatta roll with butter followed by Roasted chicken breast, potato pure, sauted spinach, girolles mushrooms, Bourguignon sauce or Virgin Atlantic has also added to its pre-order menu, where Upper Class and Premium customers can pre-select their inflight meals between 72 and 24 hours of departure. However, I cant help but wonder what it would be like if you were to fly in these seats with a crew that was having an off day. Gourmet fish goujons hot sandwich with tartare sauce, Chicken Caesar club sandwich served with salted crisps, Chickpea fritter and vegetable samosa served with sweet chili pickle and carrot, cucumber and onion seed salad. We took off at 0850 using a dual runway with BA 001 flight. Galleys are located at the front near the . I have read that Virgin Atlantic has changed this on their latest aircraft, and the seats are now all facing forward. To be fair, much of what youve said applies to BA too, if youre unlucky enough to end up in the old Club World seats. In an interview between Brian Kelly and Virgin CEO Shai Weiss, Weiss discussed plans to retrofit the Boeing 787-9s with the same Upper Class Suite, but not before the arrival of the 14 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft that Virgin has on order. On night flights, there's a choice of three hot breakfasts as well as side dishes, including fresh seasonal fruit, bircher muesli and pastries. Interesting take on the children visiting your seats. The cheese plate was composed of Snowdonia rock star cave-aged cheddar, Shropshire blue, Somerset brie with grapes, plum and ginger chutney and crackers. At least in the UC wing you have some comfy sofas to sit on. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. These small areas featured deep, comfortable chairs with poofs and were much quieter than the rest of the clubhouse. The reason we suggest seats 2A-5A rather than starting at 1A, is because this seat looks onto the galley and therefore might be noisy and less private than if you sit a few rows behind. On the plane, you'll receive a welcome glass of champagne, hot and cold menu choices based on time of day and destination, and luxury table settings. 2022 Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. All rights reserved.Registered office: Registered office: The VHQ, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9DF To learn more about Virgin's Flying Club, you can read our guide here. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Not fast track, its own security area. Top picks: Number one, without doubt, is the Upper Class Suite onboard the A350s. The onboard bar and purple lighting are all well and good but ultimately do little to make up for the woeful seats. The crew were very proactive in offering to help with my bed. It also had the advantage that when the food is served you can move your laptop or work to one side and eat without having to put everything away. The tray table is excellent, and I think has been redesigned from the one on the first aircraft. Virgin Atlantic Peak Dates Are: 19 June - 5 September 2021 15 - 26 October 2021 11 - 31 December 2021 1 - 25 April 2022 30 May - 5 June 2022 18 June - 4 September 2022 Hopefully you're clever enough to figure out that if your dates don't fall in this range, they're "off peak". The seats and layout was a let down. Overall I was very satisfied with my 22 inch wide seat on the 787-9. I was fiercely loyal to Virgin up until 2012 when their upper class was still state of the art. It really adds to the experience, and is a reminder that it takes more than a great seat to make a great airline. The clubhouse is big much bigger than the average airline business class lounge. Virgin Atlantic has updated its in-flight menus and it's seriously upping the ante for its Upper Class (the airline's version of First Class). Having said that, if the crew dont demonstrate this feature, in my experience, no one uses it, and certainly on our flights both to and from New York, one of which was a day flight and one of which was a night flight, I didnt see anyone use the door. Virgin Atlantic 787 Upper Class Wilbur and Orville. I am now stuck on the 787 and am not happy. Plus Ups are excluded. There is also a new leisure format of this aircraft with fewer Upper Class seats and many more economy to read more see, Virgin Atlantic unveils reconfigured A350 for leisure markets, We have reviewed this new seat before, on a trip to New York just over two years ago. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. NB all airline lounges were closed at Delhi airport so I wasnt able to check it out. After the drinks service, trays were brought over with our starters. Virgin Airlines offers the only Upper Class service, which includes both Business and First Class. There are two dedicated Business Class bathrooms on the Virgin Dreamliner (for 30 seats), which meant that there was no wait at all to get changed into sleepwear. The bathroom was also very generously proportioned, with a separate seat next to the toilet. Best of all was the area designed for sleeping/resting. Cookie statement | Virgin is nothing but a huge marketing scam now as far as their Upper Class goes fool me once, my fault fool me twice wont happen again. It really is such bad business practice to pretend like all their business class seats are equally appealing. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. The design of the cabin feels incredibly sexy, elegant and funky, and has a slightly futuristic look, almost reminiscent of what I feel a spaceship would look like. We also sampled this at Virgin's media launch of the new menu held at the airline's Brisbane hangar, although the dish was served fully-plated from Boeing 737 meal carts by Virgin crew. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Great interaction time, You see things differently when you travel with children.