Virgin Atlantic Airways review & opinions

Alas reviews and opinions about Virgin Atlantic are mixed - for a simple reason. Virgin believe in style over substance. If you love a lot of fancy adverts and slogans, but don't fly enough to compare VA with other airlines, you may love them: other passengers avoid Virgin for exactly the same reason, and it has been said that Virgin Atlantic will get you there, but in a low cost style. Although technically a full-service airline, the quality can bit a bit hit or miss: certainly in premium classes, other airlines serve better food, but the lounges are second to none. In economy the onboard drinks are great, but the soft product - such as the food and the service - can be truly woeful. The hard product - the planes & seats - can equally be a bit random in economy: often there is no way of knowing if you'll get a new plane with all the frills, or an older version with dodgy seats and entertainment.

Virgin Atlantic inspires curious brand loyalty: some passengers will never fly on anything else, and other passengers will avoid the airline if possible: it seems the funky branding causes as much annoyance and a "stay away" factor as it generates.

Virgin Atlantic are "never short of a news line", and some of the travel magazines fawn over VA as if it is the only airline worth considering (or taking advertising from), while at the same point Virgin has generated news coverage from something as simple as the worse airline meal ever to generate a complaint letter. Certainly reviews indicate that some of the service and quality is downright ropey, old, and tired. Food is at best average, inflight entertainment gives eyestrain, while the drink service is decidedly rationed. All this at what is sometimes more than other airlines' fares.

The fleet of just 37 planes may seems small, however all of those are longhaul, so it flies globally to over 60 countries, and Virgin Atlantic is certainly well worth trying if you're a bit bored with what other airlines offer.

Virgin Atlantic has several distant cousins that also trade under the Virgin brand. V-Australia is a long-haul trans-Pacific airline, while Virgin Blue (and its offshoots) used to be a low-cost Australian airline, which is now rapidly becoming a full-service one. Sub-reviews of these off-shoots are below.

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 on the stand at London Heathrow

Virgin Atlantic Classes, Seats and Fleet

In Economy prepare for a bit of a shock when you sit in the seats. Virgin Atlantic's seat pitch varies between a "stunning" 30 inches, and 31 inches on the latest airbus planes. Thats more than Virgin legally needs to provide, but its still fairly crampt. If you are tall, Air France, American, or Air Canada might be better bets, as they provide a good 34 inches. You can however buy the exit row seats at £50 at checkin, or for US$110 in America. However updated economy seats with an adjustable lumbar support are being installed across Virgin Atlantic’s fleet, and these do feel just a bit more comfortable.

Virgin 747 seats

Premium Economy provides a separate check-in, a larger seat with more leg room than Economy, and a welcome glass of champagne. There is no special service in PE other than for a welcome glass of bubbly prior to take off (and thats the only free bubbly you are entitled to in PE) and an after dinner brandy or Baileys . Food, and the amenities kit is all the same as in economy. You do get fed first, before the rest of the cabin so the crew are unlikely to have run out of the meal options you can ask for. PE is all about the seat with extra leg room. Its business class seats as there were in the early 80s - if you remember that far back. PE on a 747 is well worth it as it is a 2-2 configuration on the Upper Deck so it feels roomy and is quiet. On a A340-300 or A340-600, the seats are in a 2-3-2 configuration. It really feels more like economy but with extra leg room. A new PE seat was introduced in 2006, being just a bit wider and with a plug that supplies laptop power.

Virgin Atlantic calls its business-class product offering Upper Class. The seat is in a Herringbone design, so you fly facing 45 degrees to the direction of travel, and this design means you can pass the flight without having to see or talk to your neighbour. The suite is however a problem with couples travelling together - it is really quite hard to chat. The Upper Class Suite is fitted on all Virgin's A340-600 and 747-400 aircraft. The seat offers in-seat laptop power and power leads for iPods.

On board in Upper Class there are the unique Virgin massage services, as well as the improved meals and drink service.

Virgin Upper Class passengers can request complimentary limousine pick-up and drop-off at the airport, and at their destination, although the limousine is not available to those who purchase the cheaper "Z" coded Upper Class fares. At the airport, Upper Class passengers can use Virgin's clubhouse lounge. In 2003 Virgin introduced the Upper Class Suite, which at the time was the longest totally flat bed in Business Class.

Virgin Upper class has one great advantage over most other airlines - an inflight bar, with four wobbly bar stools grouped around a small curved bar.

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 Ladybird at London Heathrow

If you hate booze, ask for a seat away from it, as it can get a bit rowdy. If you like to wander round in the cabin during the flight, grab one of the stools next to the bar, and pick up a newspaper (the only place they will be) and then wobble away on the small and rather flimsy bar stool as the plane goes through turbulence.

Virgin flies a combination of 747s and Airbus A340s. Within a few years it will add some of the new Airbus A380 double decked planes to transatlantic routes.

Virgin 747 Lady Penelopy seatback videos

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400

The standard LHR 747 product with Upper Class Suites has a split upper deck, giving both 5 rows of upper class (aligned on a slant), and 5 rows of 2+2 premium economy seats, which are highly prized by regular passengers, particularly the exit row 70. Downstairs Upper Class occupies the front, with seven rows of seats, in a 1+1 layout. Row 6 is right in the nose, and is very popular due to it's privacy. After the galley there are six more rows of the Suite, in a 1+2+1 layout. The famous bar is at row 20 facing forwards. Avoid row 20 on dayflights if you want to sleep - a lot of people will be by the bar. There are three rows of Premium Economy, in 75 to 77, where 75 is the exit, and are very popular. Out the back there are three banks of economy seats, in 3+4+3. Rows 38 and 49 are exit rows, although lookout of of the window can be difficult here. More popular is row 30, which is a bulkhead, but it has a good window.

For the 747 from LHR with old style seating the split upper deck has both 3 rows of upper class in 2+2, and 5 rows of premium economy seats. Downstairs Upper Class occupies the front, with four rows of seats, in a 2+2 layout. Row 6 is right in the nose, and is very popular due to it's privacy. After the galley there are two rows, 11 and 12 in a 2+2+2 layout, then rows 14 & 15 with 2+2, and the bar in between facing sideways. Premium Economy and economy are the same as with the newer 747s.

Virgin Atlantic 747-200 at London Heathrow

The Gatwick 747s with the Upper Class Suite just have Upper Class in the nose. Here there are 7 rows of upper class (aligned on a slant) in rows 6 to 12. There is a much smaller bar than in the LHR versions - with just 2 seats - by row 11. Premium Economy is in the upstairs bubble, with 2 banks or 5 rows of seats in a 2+2 layout, from row 70 to 80. 75 is the exit row, with more legroom. Downstairs is a highly unpopular strip of 2 Premium seats in row 81 and 82, in 2+4+2, behind which are three rows (2 on the left) of economy, in 21 to 23, in 3+4+3. There then come banks of economy seats in 3+4+3. Exit rows are at row 25, 38 and 49. All Gatwick 747s now have the suite.

The older 747-200s have been scrapped: they were used out of Manchester, and just had have Upper Class in the much smaller bubble in just rows 2, 3 & 4, and in nose in row 6 to 9.

Virgin Atlantic A340-600s at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Virgin Atlantic A340-600 / A340-300 / A330

There are two versions of the A340, and these are again split into two sub-types. For the A340-300 with Upper Class Suites in the nose of the plane there are 9 rows of suites, in 1+1+1. The bar faces forwards by row 9. After the galley there are three more rows of suites, rows 14 to 16. There are five rows of Premium Economy in 2+3+2, in 18 to 22 (these are over the wing, restricting the view) and then two banks of economy, in a 2+4+2 layout. There is an emergency exit at row 50. Without the suites, Upper Class is in a 2+2+2 layout, in rows 1 to 5, with the bar facing left by row 5, and then 2 more rows of upper class after the galley. There are just 4 rows of premium economy, and then 2 banks of economy.

Airbus A340 Virgin Atlantic A340 at Sydney, Australia

The A340-600 has a long rack of 17 rows of Upper Class Suites, in 1+1+1 with the bar facing forward by row 17. After the galley there are four rows of Premium Economy in 2+3+2, with row 18 having a lot more legroom, and then there is Economy in 2+4+2. Emergency exit rows are at row 33 and 51. There are two rows in 31 and 32, which are highly prized as they are very quiet - almost like having a private cabin - however reviews of this mini cabin are mixed, with some passengers prefering its exclusivity, however other people have the opinion that it can be noisier as it has the economy class basinette seats (the screamer or cot seats, where young children are put on the flip down shelf and often scream thought the flight).

Virgin Atlantic became the first airline to fly the A340-600 in August 2002, and at the time it was the longest plane in the air. It still has a certain grace as it comes into Heathrow.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A380

Virgin Atlantic onboard experience

Long Haul in Upper Class things are good: the crew are noticably attentive in the first couple of hours of the flight. You are normally greeted by name, there are usually pre-flight drinks (with champagne) after you board, and there is then a newspaper trolley. The crew will come round with menus, hand out cold towels, and take your meal requests. The food then comes round on a trolley, with seperate servings of each course.

London LHR Virgin Boeing 747

In Premium Economy there are preflight drinks, which can be a bit hurried, and then the inflight service is just the same as economy, although you do get your meal first, and then an after meal spirit service, with Baileys. In economy you may have to wait a long time for any service. Soon after takeoff the crew walk through handing out headphones & packs to anyone who has missed one. An hour or so later they'll slowly start walking though with the food service, and finally there is a drink trolley from front to back, with a free bar on longhaul. The drink trolley then comes back again, and there are always free top-ups from the galley.

One thing that many passengers who are not from the UK notice in the premium cabin (and to a lesser extent in economy) is that many passengers enjoy drinking their way through the flight. Certainly in Upper Class, there are no hangups about asking for a topup.

Virgin Atlantic Inflight Entertainment - V:Port

Airbus A340 Virgin Atlantic A340 at Cape Town

Virgin in ear headphones

Virgin pioneered seat-back personal TVs in all classes, and have begun upgrading their aircraft to an Audio Video on Demand Inflight Entertainment System (AVOD) called V:Port. The V:Port systems offer a choice of approximately 50 full length feature films, 60 audio CDs, and around 200 hours of television shows. Other than that, it is a pretty normal airline AVOD IFE (Audio Video on Demand Inflight Entertainment System) which allows you to stop, start, pause and rewind films on demand.

Even the cheap seats have playstation games on the seatback video, and there is a good selection of ones to play, but beware that the some of the controls (again on the oldest aircraft) are getting a bit tired. Some of the games can be played competitively against other passengers.

Headphones are rather uncomfortable sit in the ear type things, in white. The single 3.5mm jack plug often works loose, and it can provide a neat way to combat boredom - trying to get the thing to work in both ears. Alas however its strictly mono. Headphones in business class are good chunky ones, with a single 3.5mm pin, however they are not noise reducing headphones.

Virgin Atlantic Inflight Magazine - Info

Meanwhile "Info" (Published all the way out in Kidderminster) is the entertainment guide. It has the worst laid out film section you'll ever see. What it doesn't tell you is that you have to marry up your style of TV remote control with the picture in the mag, to work out the inflight film selection. They get stupid names - actually Arcadia is on 747s and Nova on Airbus planes.

Virgin's "big" goodie bag

Virgin Atlantic Longhaul amenity kit

The big goodie bag

Virgin's "small" goodie bag

The small goodie bag

In Upper Class the new Snooze Pack replaces the amenity kit.

Airbus A340 Virgin Atlantic A340 at Sydney, Australia

Virgin Atlantic Luggage Allowance

Cabin Bags: Economy and Premium Economy Class passengers can take hand luggage of one bag weighing up to 6kgs into the cabin, business class can take two, max weight of 16kg. They must be no larger than 23 x 36 x 56cm, (approx 9 x 14 x 22 inches). Rules on contents (such as liquids) apply.

Check in luggage: On all routes except to the United States economy class can check in one bag weighing 23kg, premium economy can check in two bags up to 23kg each, and Upper Class can check in three bags with each weighing a generous 32kg each. Routes to or via the United States or India have economy with an additional bag of up to 23kg.

Gold Flying Club members gain an extra bag of 23kg of checked in luggage allowance. This benefit is not extended to Singapore Airlines or bmi Gold members.

Virgin Atlantic's website has details of exactly what you can take onto a flight.

Virgin Atlantic Routes

Virgin Atlantic's main base is at London Heathrow Airport (or LHR), from where it flies six times a day to New York, at 0930, 1400, 1600 (to both JFK and Newark), 1800, and 2030 (to Newark). LA gets flights at 1130 and 1500. There are flights once a day to San Francisco at 1100, Boston at 1430, Miami at 1115, Delhi at 2100, and Bombay daily at 2100. Johannesburg has a daily flight at 2005. Cape Town on a Friday and Sunday at 1700. There are flights once a day to Lagos at 2200, Shanghai at 1430, and Tokyo at 1300. There are also codeshares to Singapore on Singapore airlines. Hong Kong gets a flight at 1920, which carries on to Sydney arriving at 0710 the next day. Virgin Atlantic always had high hopes for it's "Sydney Extension" however loads on this flight have always been pretty light past Hong Kong, and Virgin have abandoned plans to build a clubhouse in Sydney.

From Gatwick there are flights twice a day to Orlando at 1115 and 1230 (plus a third flight on 1300).

Virgin Blue the Australian low cost network

Virgin Blue

V-Australia

There is a fleet of four Boeing 777-300 ER planes. They seat 33 in Business, 40 in PE, and 288 in economy. All classes have an AVOD in Flight entertainment system called RED on every seat.

V Australia (ZG) is just like Virgin Atlantic, in that it offers a 3-class service: Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy. Business class has a 2-3-2 configuration with 6'2" fully flat beds, and a pitch of 77". Premium Economy has a 2-4-2 configuration with a 38" seat pitch, 20" seat width and a 9" seat recline. The seatback TV monitor is 10.6". Economy class has a 3-3-3 configuration, a 32" seat pitch, 18.8" seat width and seat recline up to 6". There is a 9 inch touchscreen PTV.

Virgin Blue initially set up the airline to operate up to 7 flights a week from Sydney to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). There are now also flights to Nadi, Phuket, and Johannesburg, from the three main Australian airports of Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.

V-Australia the Australian long-haul network

Virgin frequent flyer scheme - the Flying Club

You also earn miles Virgin Atlantic, plus on Air Jamaica, Air New Zealand, Air Seychelles, ANA, America West Airlines, Austrian Airlines, bmi, Caribean Star, Continental, Delta, Gulf, Hawaiian, Malaysia Airlines, SAS, Singapore Airlines and South African Airways.

On each flight you earn 2 tier points for an Economy flight, 3 in Premium Economy and 5 in Upper Class.

You also earn tier points on three other airlines, at different rates depending on whether the flight is over 2000 miles. On Singapore Airlines in Economy there is 1 tier point per flight (2 for flights over 2000 miles), in Business 3 per flight (or 5 on longer flights) and in First Class 5 (or 7). On ANA all Economy flights get 1 tier point, Business Class gets 2 (or 3) and in First Class 3 (or 5). All other partner airlines get no tier point in Economy (or 1 point if over 2000 miles) 1 point in Business, and also 1 in First (or 2 if over 2000 miles).

The Flying Club has no links with other airline alliances, however Virgin Atlantic does have codeshare agreements with ten of the Star Alliance members, while having none with Oneworld members, which has led some observers to believe that Virgin Atlantic may, at some point, join the Star Alliance. The airline has always been silent on the matter.

Spending Miles

Red member is the basic membership level, which allows you to collect miles and Tier Points.

Flying Club Silver level

You earn an extra 25% on base flown mileage You can use the Premium Economy check in regardless of the class you're travelling in, get two single upgrade vouchers for the Gatwick Express and another two for the Heathrow Express, so you can travel to and from the airport in First Class.

Virgin Atlantic 747-400 at London Heathrow

Flying Club Gold level

You'll earn an extra 50% of the base flown miles. You can use Upper Class Checkin on every flight regardless of your class of travel and you (and one guest)can go through Fast Track through Immigration and Security when you fly in any class from London Heathrow and London Gatwick. There is access to the Clubhouses around the world (with a guest) and the Revivals lounge when arriving at London Heathrow on a Virgin Atlantic ticket, regardless of class you travelled in.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse great bar, and lovely squishy armchairs

Virgin Atlantic Business Class Lounges - The Virgin Clubhouse

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow

Virgin Atlantic has a clubhouse lounge at Heathrow, Gatwick, JFK, Newark, Washington, San Francisco, Johannesburg, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.

At other airports, Virgin uses communal facilites. In Barbados The Club Caribbean VIP Executive Lounge is available, Boston uses the North West Lounge (Terminal E), Cape Town has The Premiere Lounge, Delhi The Clipper Lounge (Terminal 2), Grenada The Especiale Lounge, Havana The Elegante Salon, Lagos the ASL business class lounge, Las Vegas the First Class Lounge (adjacent to Gate 3). Los Angeles uses the Air New Zealand Lounge (Terminal 2). Manchester has The Escape Lounge, (First Floor, Airside), Miami, The Club America Lounge (Concourse E, 2nd floor - landside). Mumbai The Clipper Lounge (Terminal 2A - Transit Level, after immigration control), Orlando the Delta Airlines Crown Room (Terminal B). Shanghai the First Class Lounge (by Gate 17). St. Lucia the Iyanola Executive Lounge, and in Sydney the Malaysia Airlines Golden lounge in Sydney (Terminal 1) for both Virgin Atlantic and V-Australia flights. V-Australia in Los Angeles uses the Alaska Airlines Boardroom lounge (Terminal 3).

Heathrow Clubhouse entrance

Access is permitted to all clubhouses for Virgin Upper Class passengers, and flying club gold members on an economy ticket.

Do you remember that Singapore Airlines own half of Virgin Atlantic? That brings perks when it comes to lounge access - Singapore Airlines PPS members are allowed access to all lounges, and Singapore Airlines Gold Krisflyer members are allowed access at Heathrow, Gatwick and JFK. Singapore used to have links with bmi - and Virgin codeshare - and as a result bmi Diamond Club Gold members are allowed access to the Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow on an economy Virgin ticket. Only Solitaire PPS Club and Life members have access to Virgin's "Revivals" arrival lounge in London.

There is one other way in - to travel on Singapore Airlines in Business Class: here if you in Business or first on Singapore Airlines, you can unwind in Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Hong Kong, Washington Dulles, New York JFK, San Francisco, Johannesburg and Tokyo Narita.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow

Virgin Atlantic London LHR Clubhouse

Heathrow Clubhouse the deli

The huge Clubhouse at Heathrow is a delight - and one that is well worth while checking in several hours early for, to spend exploring all the options. 2007 saw the launch of Virgin's new checkin desks for Upper Class at Terminal 3, and the new Upper Class Wing walking route, which means you can get from the complimentary chauffeur-driven car to the Clubhouse effortlessly.

It's actually a little bit over the top, and is very much designed for the trendy wow factor - something that is much appreciated by Singapore Airline customers who also tend to wander in, before going along to the much smaller SQ lounge. When you first arrive instead of just coming in, you walk up the Grand Staircase lit up by a chandelier adorned with Swarovski crystals, before presenting you boarding card at the red leather desk, just by the entrance of the lounge.

Heathrow Clubhouse the gamesroom

The centre of the Clubhouse is the 14 metre long cocktail bar. Drinks are well catered for with a long list of champagne cocktails. These are also served at your seat if you go into the lounge area that surrounds the bar, with leather sofas - on these flip open the centre armrests for power and data points for laptops.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse great bar, great food, even great chairs

Food is also far better than at most airline lounges, with a brasserie and deli. You can book a table in the brasserie, with small tables (with rather uncomfortable chairs) or more intimate and cosy raspberry-velour lined booths. The menu is a delight, having everything from a cooked breakfast or bangers and mash to the Club House Burger, lighter sandwiches and salads. Alteratively you can queue up at the deli counter next door, where there is good seafood - with a pint of prawns, spicy Spanish olives and chorizos. The Salmon eggs benedict is highly recommended.

One of the main entertainments in the lounge is "The Cowshed at the Clubhouse" which has a spa pool, sauna, steam rooms and showers. The full cowshed treatment is also available with a deep cleanse, wet shave and massage. Bumble and Bumble even offer haircuts and styling before your flight - this can seem rather weird, having a snip while you look out through the window at the planes. Treatments can be booked in advance up to eight weeks ahead of departure, by calling 020 8897 5055 or email cowshed.heathrow@fly.virgin.com.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse the famous refectory table in the Office

There is "The Office and Library" with a private room with eight computers, fax machines, telephones, printers, photocopiers plus a library with an antique refectory table. It originally came from Sir Richard Branson's house.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

New York JFK Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Be warned that this lounge gets rammed to the gills at around 6pm when there plenty of people waiting for the late evening flights back to London. Occasionally, it is standing room only.

There are good computers, and free wifi. There is also a sauna, steam rooms and showers.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse the office workspace

San Francisco Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse great chairs

There is a great bar, but food is not available after the last UK flight leaves at 1630.

There are signs at checkin saying you can purchase access to the Clubhouse for US$40.

Virgin Atlantic History

Virgin Atlantic 747-400 at London Heathrow

The airline rapidly grew, and by 1986 the airline had two Boeing 747s and started routes to JFK, Miami, Tokyo and LA.

Virgin has always been a competitor and rival of British Airways. In January 1991 the UK Civil Aviation Authority opened the door for Virgin to operate from Heathrow and services were started from July 1991, one of the major causes of the BA "dirty tricks" campaign against Virgin. In 1992 BA's PA director David Burnside published an article in BA News which argued that Branson protestations against British Airways were merely for publicity. Branson sued British Airways for libel. BA settled out of court when its lawyers unearthed evidence of the extraordinary lengths the company went to "kill off" Virgin.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus 340 at London Heathrow

On 5 November 1997, after numerous attempts to shake the jammed main landing gear of Airbus A340-300 G-VSKY failed, the aircraft made an emergency landing at London Heathrow Airport . The aircraft and the runway were damaged as the landing gear collapsed. The aircraft was evacuated safely causing only minor injuries.

In December 1999 49% of Virgin Atlantic was sold to Singapore Airlines for £600.25 million.

In early 2006 Virgin Blue announced its intention to operate up to 7 flights a week to the US using Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and by 2008 these plans had turned into V-Australia.

Airbus A340 Virgin Atlantic A340 at Sydney, Australia

Virgin Atlantic Hints & Tips

Operational Upgrades

Virgin Atlantic website

Address: www.virginatlantic.com
Onboard Services
Entertainment Listings
Baggage
Route map & timetable information
Upper Class Snooze Pack

Note that all reviews and opinions on Virgin Atlantic (VA) food, service, seats, planes, upgrades, lounges, the Red Carpet Club, and the Frequent Flyer scheme is soley at my judgement. No legal liability is accepted if you take my advice.