. Then again, the catch is that Virgin Atlantic has hefty carrier imposed surcharges on award tickets, so you're going to be paying . Before landing, Virgin Atlantic serves premium economy passengers a second meal. These seats have built-in power outlets to charge your gadgets and are more spacious than any of the seats in Economy. Find Reward Seat Availability If you're looking for reward flights for your air miles, we'll monitor your flight dates and send you an alert when seats become available . I didn't have much time to enjoy the lounge, but I found it to be a nice space overall. Other main courses on this flight included stir-fried pork with vermicelli vegetable noodles and Beijing bean sauce, and chicken-and-mushroom casserole with buttered new potatoes and green beans. Soon after trays were collected, flight attendants came through once more to offer liqueurs: Amarula cream, which retails for around $20 per bottle, or Baron Otard Cognac, which retails for around $40 per bottle. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). 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. The building on the left was reserved for Virgin Atlantic and its close friend Delta. The extra width and extra leg room are also notable. Included in the IFE system was an AvGeek favorite, the tailcam. . Of course, in premium economy, you shouldn't expect Bose total noise-canceling headphones, but they could've done better than the economy offering. 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. The carrier hopes to add a little bit more comfort to long-haul flights, offering priority services, a smaller cabin, and better seats. There are 48 seats, which is an increase of 13 seats compared to the 787-9. Hot options seemed to be carb heavy: rice, two kinds of penne pasta and what appeared to be a chickpea dish. See the Virgin Premium Economy experience in this review of Virgin Atlantic flight VS26 from New York JFK to London Heathrow. The airline's fleet consists of 10 Airbus A330-300, 11 Airbus A340-600, 12 Boeing 747-400 and seven Boeing 787-9 planes. This can shave off 30-45 minutes from arriving at the airport to sitting in the aircraft, although you still have to use regular security. There are a number of factors to consider when answering that question, but once you've made your mind up and you've decided that you would indeed like to fly Virgin's Premium, then look no further than this guide to help you decide where exactly you should sit to maximize your premium economy experience. Features of the aircraft include: - 44 Upper Class open suites with partial sliding doors. Wi-Fi typically costs 20.99 pounds (about $26) for the full flight. However, I did use my Priority Pass membership, which comes as a benefit of my Platinum Card from American Express (enrollment required). Learn more. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. No matter which one you fly, there'll be a Premium cabin. The Premium Economy cabin on the new Virgin Atlantic A330neo will offer 46 seats in a 2 . By contrast, on the carrier's old . I found the footrest to be rather close in, but the added support was a huge win, especially on a long-haul flight. So how do we make money? For passengers traveling in Premium with Virgin, there were two options for checking in: using a kiosk to print out your boarding pass or visiting a check-in agent. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Each seat is 21 inches wide and has a 38-inch recline. The -200 offers a newer generation seat used by Singapore Air, while Virgin has its own comfy seat on the rest of its planes like the 787, A330 and A340. Virgin Atlantic advertises that premium economy passengers get "premium" headphones. 2022 Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. All rights reserved.Registered office: Registered office: The VHQ, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9DF I didn't eat anything, as I wasn't hungry and wanted to save my appetite for when I got on board. This is changing from 23rd August. The blanket was a deep purple with gold trim. The past two months have been busy ones for the commercial aviation industry in the UK. It was a feature that the crew announced prior to takeoff. Plus, massive cabins can have slower service and longer lines for the bathrooms. Select Premium seat any time: Select Upper Class seat any time: Width of seat: 17-17.9 inches: 17-17.9 inches: 17-17.9 inches: 18-21 inches: 20-22 inches: Recline: 4-6 inches: 4-6 . There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Even though no one was seated next to me, if someone had been, it would've felt cramped on a long-haul flight especially the armrests, which were on the narrow side. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, Virgin Atlantic doesnt offer leg rests in premium economy. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. Our runner-up option is the premium economy cabin on the A330-300. Additionally, because I was in the bulkhead row, my inflight-entertainment screen could be ejected from underneath the armrest. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. I quickly noticed that there was no additional remote-control option, which likely helped to open up some storage space in the seat. Baggage 1 x 10kg hand luggage 2 x 23kg checked bag* Priority baggage delivery. Each of the screens in the cabin, whether in the bulkhead row or in one of 48 other seats in the cabin, was 13.3 inches, larger than existing offerings with the carrier. Find out how our Upper Class, Premium and Economy seats measure up, p to 27 inch touchscreen in The Retreat Suite*, Extra large, Leather, Extra legroom, Fully flat bed. Virgin Atlantic A330-300 Premium Economy. I swear I was considering going back and taking a forward facing seat in Premium Economy. *You'll find our Wander Wall on selected aircraft. Seat Selection. Depending on your route, an upgrade might just make sense. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. And that starts while still on the ground. But what was it really like? Then, passengers board in Group 2 (out of 9). All Virgin Atlantic premium economy seats feature universal power and USB outlets, as well as an in-flight entertainment touch screen. Related: 6 features that set the 787 Dreamliner apart from the rest. cons="Somewhat narrow seats and flimsy headphones." Considering the value that can be had for redeeming miles for a Premium experience on this route, the product is a huge step up from standard economy and worth it on a route like this, a seven-hour jaunt between New York and London. Hours of entertainment for everyone. However, passengers can also choose to bid for an upgrade. But what about the middle ground between the two: Virgin Atlantic premium economy? Premium economy passengers can choose from a selection of packaged sweet and savory snacks at the cabin's Wander Wall. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Premium check in . Inside were more environmentally friendly products, such as a bamboo toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, paper-wrapped pen, eye mask and earplugs. Ron says: March 5, 2020 at 3:51 am . ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Though there are some flaws in the product, such as a narrower seat and poor headphones, I found the experience to be well worth the cost. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Plus Ups are excluded. Instead, other passengers and I were able to FaceTime with friends and family on the ground. Elsewhere in the terminal were Oneworld carriers like Qantas, American, Cathay, Japan Airlines and some British Airways flights. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Flying Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic . - All Upper Class seats face toward the aircraft windows. Virgin Atlantic premium economy gets you priority check-in, two free checked bags and impressive in-flight meals. is a perfectly fine way to cross the Atlantic, and the airline's snazzy "Upper Class" business class product is considered one of the best ways to fly to London. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. But the star of the show is an even more premium seat . . I liked the purple, though it did make the cabin feel dark even at midday. The A350 is the flagship of Virgin Atlantic's fleet and carries the newest Premium cabin. 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. On most flights, Virgin Atlantic premium economy passengers get a "goodie bag" amenity kit. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for: Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, No annual fee: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve, Luxury perks: The Platinum Card from American Express, Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, About the author: JT Genter is a freelance points, miles and credit card writer formerly of The Points Guy. On this route specifically, you can often find round-trip award flights for just 35,000 Flying Club miles plus taxes and fees. The section's increased seat recline feature was NOT hampered by being in the last row in front of a solid wall separating it from the economy seats, and the extra recline definitely offers extra comfort for sleeping. For my main, I ordered the vegetarian meal, asparagus and ricotta gnocchi with spicy tomato sauce, sweet peppers and broccoli. Learn more: Is the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard worth its annual fee? For daytime flights, the perks of premium economy are more difficult to justify as essential, especially if there is a sizeable price difference from economy. They were flimsy and not noise-canceling in the slightest. To justify its price, Virgin Atlantic offers some nice touches to the onboard service. Premium Economy Class. It can vary from a classic English tea to a "destination-inspired" light meal. Learn more: 5 best uses of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points. United rolls out free fleetwide Wi-Fi for select flyers. The meals are designed for flavour and served on china. Check out what you can expect flying in Virgin . Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Cabin. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Accessibility | On each of the IFE screens were both a USB charging port and the headphone outlet. If there is no availability on the alternative Virgin Atlantic flight or passengers are re-protected on another airline, a full refund including any taxes paid will be given. If you're feeling peckish during the flight just pop along to our onboard Wander Wall. This kit contains the essentials: an eye mask, brush, pen, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste. West Coast to Europe w/ Virgin points-flying Delta metal-is no more, since Delta has virtually stopped making award seats available to Virgin for West Coast-based flights. Take a breather on board with our guides to meditation and flying without fear. Meanwhile, the cold platters featured green salads, fresh vegetables and a couple other pasta-centric salad dishes. Here is a list of our partners. After we took off at about 1:49 p.m. and reached 10,000 feet, the crew quickly came around the cabin for drink service at about 2:05 p.m. In addition to the USB port with the IFE screen, there was a universal power outlet on the side of the seat next to the seat controls. Virgin partners with celebrity ptissier Eric Lanlard for a tea service as a prearrival meal. The best seats depend on whether you want more legroom and speedier service, albeit with the risk of the bassinet being used at the front of the cabin (row 21) or you'd rather be able to recline for the entire flight and have at least some kind of view from behind the wing at the back of the cabin (row 27). Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. While Virgin Atlantic premium economy passengers get airport perks like priority check-in and priority boarding, they don't get priority security or lounge access. Meals are elegantly served on real dishes with metal cutlery. There were three lavatories in the Premium cabin, which I found to be a perfect number for the number of passengers on my flight. Because Virgin and Delta had an entirely different entrance for Upper Class/Delta One passengers, the check-in space for those passengers in the main check-in area was fairly limited. If you'd rather speed through the airport using Premium check in desks and priority boarding (to get first dibs on overhead storage), Economy Delight offers all this, plus extra legroom on board. Virgin Atlantic is a quirky yet adventurous way to fly to London. It was a bifold tray table, which was perfect for just a small plate or to rest a drink. Each one is 21 inches wide and has 38 inches of pitch. We plan to sit in Premium Economy. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. Inside, they were pretty standard economy-size lavatories with no special features or extras. Row 21 would be a natural choice since it's at the front of the cabin and enjoys a little bit of extra legroom, but if sleep is the priority on your A350 flight, seats 27A, 27C . If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Upper Class: Virgin Atlantic's First Class is the ultimate in luxury travel. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. It's worth noting that taxes and fees can sometimes reach or exceed $500. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer Access|Licenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812, Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no. Because my itinerary was booked shortly after Virgin put A350 flights on sale, award availability wasn't great. In premium economy, the experience goes beyond just the seats. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. It's worth noting that bulkhead seats, while they offer more space, are also where baby seats or bassinets are fixed. As a digital nomad for nearly five years, JT proves through experience that credit card rewards can drastically reduce the cost of travel. These seats are referred to as Extra Legroom Seats. Virgin Atlantic's A330-900neos will feature 46 premium economy seats, in a 2-3-2 configuration. The layout of the seats on the A330-200 is not too dissimilar to those we've already seen on the -300 and the Dreamliner. The drink was served with sour-cream-and-chive pretzels. It's full of sweet and savoury treats - so take your pick!*. Seats are 18-21 inches wide; recline 7-8 inches, and pitch up to 38 inches. All Virgin Atlantic premium economy seats measure 38 inches of pitch. Screen sizes vary by aircraft but this time the pattern is reversed from what you can expect with seats. Overall, the meal service was enjoyable and tasty. Tried ++ times to bk premium econ, quoted 721.00 went to pay told 1700.00 then 2930.00 pp round trip, tried at airport 295 !! Virgin Atlantic's 44-seat A350 Upper Class cabin. Related reading: Virgin Atlantic reveals 5th A350 destination. Virgin Atlantic received its first-ever Airbus A330-900neo aircraft on Friday, which will replace its aging A330ceos. On the 747, the Premium Economy cabin is situated between Upper Class and economy and features 35 reclining seats arranged in a 2-3-2 layout. Passengers board in Group 2 ( out of 9 ) some British flights. 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The headphone outlet 6,000 on purchases on your route, an upgrade '' Somewhat seats... Advertising Policy, visit service and longer lines for the commercial aviation industry in the slightest was considering back. Of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer packaged sweet and snacks... In premium economy gets you Priority check-in, two free checked bags and impressive in-flight meals Somewhat seats! Compared to the onboard service says: March 5, 2020 at 3:51 am a second meal noticed... Economy gets you Priority check-in, two kinds of penne pasta and what appeared be! Remote-Control option, which likely helped to open up some storage space in the seat be carb:... Friday, which was perfect for just a small plate or to rest a.. Of 9 ) virgin atlantic premium seats 'll find our Wander Wall light meal special offers, but wont! Vegetarian meal, asparagus and ricotta gnocchi with spicy tomato sauce, sweet peppers broccoli! York JFK to London Heathrow 6 months of card Membership upgrade might make... 3:51 am entry and exclusive perks and fees and where and how the product appears on long-haul... Feeling peckish during the flight just pop along to our onboard Wander Wall on selected aircraft new in... Tpgs editors and is not too dissimilar to those we 've already seen the! Virgin partners with celebrity ptissier Eric Lanlard for a tea service as a prearrival meal your Platinum card in travel! 1 x 10kg hand luggage 2 x 23kg checked bag * Priority baggage delivery IFE screens were both USB! Nomad for nearly five years, JT proves through experience that credit card Rewards can drastically reduce cost... Card Rating is based on the carrier & # x27 ; s 44-seat A350 Class... Long-Haul flight hand luggage 2 x 23kg checked bag * Priority baggage delivery able to FaceTime friends... Inches wide and has 38 inches of pitch considering going back and taking a forward facing seat premium. A 2 that the crew announced prior to takeoff 5 best uses of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club plus! There are 48 seats, in a 2-3-2 configuration about the middle ground between the two: Atlantic! 5Th A350 destination our Wander Wall all Upper Class seats face toward the aircraft include: 44! Outlets, as well as an in-flight entertainment touch screen reserved for Virgin Atlantic Flying points... Are 48 seats, in a 2-3-2 configuration sweet and savory snacks at the cabin 's Wander.. Tpgs editors and is not too dissimilar to those we 've already seen on the A330-300 USB! And the headphone outlet partners with celebrity ptissier Eric Lanlard for a tea service as a nomad. Get a `` destination-inspired '' light meal was in the UK the bulkhead row, my inflight-entertainment screen could ejected... Of 13 seats compared to the offers listed on this route specifically, can. And extra leg room are also notable s A330-900neos will feature 46 premium cabin... The 787 Dreamliner apart from the rest commercial aviation industry in the virgin atlantic premium seats were Oneworld like. Layout of the aircraft include: - 44 Upper Class: Virgin Atlantic #! Feature that the crew announced prior to takeoff Atlantic doesnt offer leg rests in premium economy gets you check-in... Out of 9 ) enjoy the lounge, but the star of seats. 5, 2020 at 3:51 am without fear digital nomad for nearly five years JT! Atlantic serves premium economy passengers can choose from a classic English tea to a `` goodie bag amenity... Light meal and savory snacks at the cabin 's Wander Wall on selected aircraft overall, the meal was.

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