As an old gold card holder I used to love the smaller JFK lounge. This was a very large cabin for what is supposed to be a more exclusive product than regular economy, and it left me feeling like I was just another number at times. The breakfast offering took a noticeable hit. Theres something magical about tucking into great entertainment on board, and Im all for any activity to boost this. During the second meal service, the crew accidentally served me a special gluten-free meal that I had not ordered. . I did the same journey to AUS on the 380 and back from LAX on the new plane. What a contrast with their main UK rivals weak PE offering (& thats before the catering Upper Class travelers (a cabin we reviewed recently too! Tip: Not well publicised, if you have the paid version of the Virgin Atlantic Credit Card, you can sign up for free Boingo WiFi to use onboard, unlimited. Two lavatories dedicated to the Premium cabin were located at the front of the seating, just behind the Upper Class social space. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. I didn't eat anything, as I wasn't hungry and wanted to save my appetite for when I got on board. With an early morning departure and an evening arrival at Heathrow, these two meals were the only things I ate all day. She looked at my boarding pass and in an unexpected and pleasant surprise directed me to the priority lane, explaining that Virgin Atlantic Premium passengers were allowed to use it. I found the amenities on the flight to be more than enough especially on a relatively short long-haul flight like London to New York. Seat 14 A is a standard recliner-style Premium Economy Class seat located at an Exit Row. I'm all for sustainability with these kits, but I was not a fan of the crumpled and battered "goodie bag" pouch the items were presented in, as it is not something I would ever use again. first airline experience I reviewed for TPG, Watch TPG UK review all 3 cabins on Virgin Atlantic's brand-new Airbus A350, vocal supporter of jetlag-free daytime flights, Sorry, aisle-seat fans: The window seat is the best in the air, Choose this, not that: JFK Priority Pass lounge edition, Delta overhauls the onboard experience, goes all-in on sustainability, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Taking off at 7PM in New York, its already midnight UK time, so im desperate to conk out ASAP and did exactly that on this flight. The fees, taxes and surcharges were paid with The Platinum Card from American Express, which earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on purchases made directly with airlines (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), picking up a further 1,751 Membership Rewards, worth $35 by TPG's current valuation. I found the legrest and footrest on the bulkhead row to be useful. I was served a tiny, dry bacon roll with no butter, sauce or other condiments, and a small bowl of plain yogurt with some berries and kiwi on top. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Virgin Atlantic charges extra for bulkhead and other seats which have more legroom. Prior to landing, the crew came through the cabin offering water or juice as a prearrival drink. Throughout the flight, crew kept the same positive attitude and smiles throughout their service a nice change from other, legacy carriers I've flown recently. As someone who struggles to sleep sitting up, I don't fancy the thought of flying this on an overnight, long-haul journey to, say, South Africa. Both aircraft offer improved cabin specs, with a more natural humidity, pressurization and noise reduction compared to older aircraft on the route, like a Boeing 767 or 777. My consistent feeling with premium economy is that its priced well and is a great gap bridger between economy and business class. Though I didn't get to spend much time or indulge in the food, I'd definitely return on a future flight out of T3. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 Seating Chart Most up-to-date seat map 2023. cons="Somewhat narrow seats and flimsy headphones." Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Upon entering, I definitely got that new-plane smell. While this is a lot, the high ceilings and straight sidewalls of the A350 give a sense of space, preventing it from feeling claustrophobic. Premium economy is located right behind the second door. It was served with a salted-caramel clair, passion-fruit-and-yuzu macaron and a scone with clotted cream and jam. is a senior writer for TPG UK. About Virgin Atlantic About Virgin Atlantic. is The Points Guy's Global News Editor and is based in London. Not least among them is Virgin's premium economy cabin, simply called Premium, which is available on the carrier's A330-220 and A330-300 planes, its A350-1000s, and Boeing 797-9 Dreamliners. The toilets were kept clean, however, and with several empty seats in the Premium cabin, there was rarely a wait to use them. I'm a major fan of securing a window seat in the two seat, side configurations. Not only was the service fantastic, but the crew members seemed equally as excited about the new A350 as I was. We know the journey is as important as the destination. The best part was the chocolate brownie bar, cementing Virgin's prowess in making and choosing desserts. Virgin Atlantic departs from Terminal 4 at JFK Airport, along with its partners, Delta and KLM (Air France departs from Terminal 1). If you are at all like me, and live for electronic devices packed with shows, its nice to know that Virgin Atlantic has both AC and USB power at every premium seat. My flight was on the emptier side, so most passengers who were seated in the middle section of four seats had empty seats between them. However, this may not hold true. Award availability on this route is usually good as there are multiple daily frequencies. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Though there wasn't a ton of storage in the seat, I found there to be about as much as expected for a premium economy seat. There was a small slot next to the seat, underneath the armrest. For my main, I ordered the vegetarian meal, asparagus and ricotta gnocchi with spicy tomato sauce, sweet peppers and broccoli. UK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic has redesigned its upper class cabin to include an eight-seat lounge called "The Loft" on its new Airbus A350-1000 fleet, replacing its existing upper . For example, while the food for the initial meal service didn't match the menus the crew had handed out, they only seemed to discover this after passengers had finished eating it despite it being obvious the moment I opened my meal. I really liked the sturdy tray table that folded out of the outer armrest. Virgin Atlantic flies 2 versions of Airbus A330-200 (332 . There are four first-class suites, 26 seats in business, 36 in premium economy, and 240 in economy. While the welcome beverages were a pleasant surprise, both meal services were not. If you hate feeling groggy after a flight, youll absolutely love the Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350. Hot options seemed to be carb heavy: rice, two kinds of penne pasta and what appeared to be a chickpea dish. In addition to the tailcam was a selection of 104 movies and about 140 TV shows, as well as games and videos that explored Virgin destinations. Airbus A350 seat map with The Loft. Though I found the pitch and recline of the seats to be on the generous side, Virgin cramped up the cabin and seat by shrinking the width of its Premium seats to just 18.5 inches. Delta Premium Select: 21 - 25 BDGH; Delta Comfort+: 30 - 33 CDFG; Main Cabin: 34 - 39 CDFG, 41 - 54 CDFG, 55 DF * Delta One: Movable armrests require the assistance of a Delta employee. Even at 6'3", my knees weren't even close to the seat in front. The seat definitely felt on the narrow side. The information for the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. Our Dreamliners take efficiency to new heights. Along with a choice of food from the menu. In-flight connectivity The A350s come with wifi if you choose to pay for it. In the center armrest and drinks shelf was another small storage area with a USB charger for small electronic devices. Virgin Atlantic offers 56 seats in a 2-4-2 layout on the A350, spread over seven rows. Bookings made by credit card or debit card no longer incur a fee. The cabin is laid out in a 3-3-3 arrangement and is Virgin's largest economy class barring that onboard the 747. I was able to quickly find something Id happily nod off to, but US airlines including Virgin partner Delta tend to offer wider selections. Boarding took place via two entrances to the aircraft: one for Upper Class passengers and a rear door for Premium and economy passengers. Booking Virgins premium economy on the cabin is a cant go wrong feeling. Lufthansa is adding routes to India, with the airline adding Munich to Bangalore, to be served with an Airbus A350 three times a week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Other than that there was no storage around the seat. ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. As far as the quality, I found the pillows to be perfectly reasonable with stuffing. By contrast, on the carrier's old A340s, 747s, 787s and A330-300s, Premium seats have 21 inches of pitch in a 2-3-2 configuration, though the 747 is also a 2-4-2 because it's a wider aircraft. It was a fine, if unremarkable, flight. Wi-Fi was available throughout the flight, with pricing from 2.40 pounds ($2.60) for a messaging-only option up to 16.80 pounds ($18) for the full-flight option. With an initial five weekly services, later daily, Starlux lifts off to Los Angeles on April 26th. Just before landing, the cabin crew came around with a final treat: Swizzels Love Hearts. Every cabin has been designed with you in mind. Personally, I've long been a fan of Virgin Atlantic, with its cheeky, fresh and fun approach to flying. Thats what travel is for, right? Meanwhile, the rest of the seats in the Premium cabin had just a pedal attached to the seat in front there was no legrest. Plus, we all have different tastes, so even if I like something, you might hate it. So if you're thinking about starting a film close to landing, be sure you have enough time to finish before you're required to store the screen. It was a pleasant enough flight. Flyers have plenty of options to hop across the Atlantic, especially on the busy route between New York and London. Are you able to eat or use laptop when this happens? They can so a lot better than this. Elsewhere in the terminal were Oneworld carriers like Qantas, American, Cathay, Japan Airlines and some British Airways flights. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, Southwest unveils stunning new Hawaii-themed aircraft, How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value, IHG Rewards Premier Business card review: The annual fee is justified. Rich, custom leather seats with a generous 7 inch recline and high end finishes. In addition to a new seat with a large IFE system, Virgin paid attention to details that helped improve the passenger experience. . Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program offers some tremendous value, Virgin unveiled its brand-new amenity kits, called "Goodie Bags. 2022 Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. All rights reserved.Registered office: Registered office: The VHQ, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9DF And it does it well. Fortunately, I realized this before opening or touching anything and I was able to give the meal back to a crew member so they could serve it to the passenger who actually ordered it. Earlier this summer, British Airways launched its first-ever A350 routes to Madrid before launching it on long-haul flights. Virgin calls the kit the most sustainable in the skies, and it felt like it. Find the right card for you. While this didn't matter as much in the last two years due to low flight loads, this was a busy day for the airline. Originally from Australia, he is the primary points and miles writer for the U.K. site. Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. The Virgin Atlantic Airways Airbus A350-1000 is the flagship of the airline's fleet (July 2019). Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). For the newest seats on its newest aircraft, look for A350-operated flights. Both flights were far more comfortable than a standard cattle class seats. During boarding, the crew passed through the Premium cabin with trays of welcome drinks. Families, or groups of colleagues may prefer the middle four. The appetizer was a tomato, mozzarella and pesto salad and the dessert was a raspberry swirl cheesecake. Being Virgin Atlantic's largest passenger-carrying aircraft by length (73.8 meters long vs 62.8 for the 787-9 and 63.7 for the A330-300), the Airbus A350-1000 correspondingly has the largest capacity in the airline's fleet. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Austrian's B777-200 aircraft hold a total of 24 premium economy seats configured 2-4-2, while B767-300ERs contain 30 seats (expanded from 18) configured 2-2-2. Invites will be sent 14 days in advance of the flight and booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Features of the aircraft include: - 44 Upper Class open suites with partial sliding doors - All Upper Class seats face toward the aircraft windows - A new onboard Upper Class lounge named "The Loft" - 56 recliner-style Premium Class seats Tell us about your experience in the comments! The food, however, was a comedy of errors, including the wrong items being loaded for the tiny first meal, the messy, upside-down tray for the second meal (with someone else's special order initially served), the hidden tortillas and the warm beer. I found the salad to be absolutely delightful. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. If I wanted people to take me seriously, I had to prove that every thing I was claiming could come true with points and travel savvy, could actually come true. Alaska Airlines has welcomed Starlux into its fold as its latest airline partner. In total, the carrier offers 235 seats here. 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping, 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases, Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points), Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status, Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award. If youre looking to beat the rush at immigration, this is a prize choice. All information about Airbus A350-1000 Virgin Atlantic Interior First class Business class Check-in Baggage | SeatMaps . Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Enjoy a 11.5 inch seatback screen, USB power, and a six-way adjustable headrestfor ultimate comfort. Additionally, the headrest was customizable, so you could move it up or down to your liking, as well as fold the side flaps for extra support. This was a very large cabin for what is supposed to be a more exclusive product than regular economy, and it left me feeling like I was just another number at times. Taking all that into consideration, Virgin's Premium isn't a bad product just one on the same aircraft as a very solid regular economy product but costing (at least) twice the price. Meanwhile, India. Overall, I found the cabin and seat to be comfortable. Crew then distributed menus for the flight, which included drinks, main courses and the teatime selections. That said, there were significant improvements with this product, as well as design decisions that went a long way in terms of enjoyment. I haven't found my premium economy experiences in the past to be twice as good as economy but was willing to give Virgin a chance. Instead, I opted to pay cash for the round-trip itinerary from London (LHR) to New York-JFK. As a regular premium economy traveler, I remarked to the crew that Champagne was not usually served in these cabins. Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. In April, Simple Flying had the chance to fly Virgin Atlantic's flagship Airbus A350-1000 from London to New Delhi. Discover our brand new A350 aircraft, and see the passion we poured into creating it in this behind the scenes video. Both aircrews were fine, the outward bound flight seemed a happier bunch. The only negative was the roll, which was plastic-wrapped and incredibly tough and dry. Flying from South Africa to the Uk in October 2021 my food tray broken when I told the cabin crew I was told we dont have the tools onboard to fix this problem economy class on my return in February 2023 I decided to check my seat and food tray and get comfortable food tray fine seat broken as I was told on my way out of Africa we dont have tools onboard I did not contact cabin crew needless to say when I could not put my seat in an upright position cabin not impressed with me my thinking was they dont have the tool to fix it Economy class not very impressed, I think a lot of people dont realise that Virgin actually shrunk the size of their premium economy seat when they brought out the A350. This means you can get a 4.5% return on these purchases based on TPG's valuations. I got the mozzarella and an English breakfast tea. Find the best seat wiht our Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 (351) seating chart. At boarding, each of the seats in the Premium cabin was stocked with all of the amenities for the flight: a plastic-wrapped blanket, pillow, amenity kit and set of headphones. For larger customers it may well be a problem. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, Southwest unveils stunning new Hawaii-themed aircraft, How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value, IHG Rewards Premier Business card review: The annual fee is justified. A Virgin Atlantic A350 review from the depths of economy SANspotter 87K views 3 years ago Almost yours: 2 weeks, on us 100+ live channels are waiting for you with zero hidden fees Dismiss Try. I passed on the sparkles so that I could manage a flight without climbing over a seat mate, but many people were happily reveling. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Unfortunately, they were quite cramped and there were no special amenities compared with economy lavatories. There was no wait for check-in and I was helped immediately. Note: some photos from this review are from a previous flight, where it was easier to snap the cabin. I chose orange juice and coffee to go with it I did at least appreciate the sturdy mug the coffee was served in. 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. I think that even with a full cabin of 56 passengers, the three lavs would've sufficed. Overall, the ground experience at Virgin remains an important feature and will only become handier in the future. Going has found deals as low as $1,121 from DCA to London on Virgin Atlantic. Other than its tight width, the seat was comfortable. As someone who enjoys spending as little time in airports as possible, I was happy to whisk through, enjoy a quick dash through security and hop on board. There was plenty to like about this particular flight in Premium from New York to London, too I especially enjoyed the large, crisp inflight entertainment screens and the numerous device charging options. Is The White Lotus breaking up with Four Seasons ahead of Season 3? The A350 may be one of the quietest aircraft out there but having noise cancelling still makes a huge difference so I prefer to bring my own. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying, Breakfast did not match up to dinner. 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping, 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases, Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points), Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status, Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award. Virgin provided the standard premium economy headphones, blanket, and amenity kit on this flight, all of which were helpful (minus the plastic headphones). These seats are referred to as Extra Legroom Seats. The Dreamliner tables were from the back of the passengers seat in from, and seemed more flexible. Related: Sorry, aisle-seat fans: The window seat is the best in the air. With the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard, you can earn 30,000 bonus points (enough to book this flight) after spending $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. Lounge access is not provided for Premium passengers and I have no elite status with Virgin Atlantic or its airline partners, as British Airways Executive Club is my go-to program. The lounge also boasted shower facilities, though those were subject to an additional charge. Immediately upon boarding, cabin crew came around the Premium cabin with a choice of water or prosecco. Or, the Virgin 787 Dreamliner, for that matter. As for service the virgin team are miles ahead. Review: How Good Is Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy? Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Sadly, the check-in perks don't extend to Virgin's private security channel, and it took a full 30 minutes to complete security. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. The other dimensions of the seat were more generous, with 38 inches of legroom and 7 inches of recline, both fairly standard for premium economy. Virgin partners with celebrity ptissier Eric Lanlard for a tea service as a prearrival meal. [flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Ground Experience" tpg-rating="5" tpg-rating-max="10" tail="G-VLUX" age="0.08" departure="13" departure-2="49" duration="07" duration-2="19" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. Virgin Atlantic: Airbus A350-1000 (351) 38: 18.5: On-Demand TV: All Seats: AC Power: Yes: Recliner: Virgin Atlantic: Boeing . The meal service was quick, the crew was attentive and, most importantly, I didn't have anything that I thought was bad except for the tough roll. . Wi-Fi typically costs 20.99 pounds (about $26) for the full flight. The seat width, at an impressive 18.5 inches wide is as good as it gets as a global premium economy benchmark. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Unbeknownst to me, Gate 22 was about a 15-minute trek away.
