Luckily he slept comfortably in the bassinet for a good portion of the flight and it was easy to keep a close eye on him at all times. For instance, 2A is a window seat and 7G is in the middle. Even An old Air France Business Flight I Took From Paris to Punta Cana, was miles better than this. However, I was surprised to find that I could either sit completely upright or completely flat no halfway recline in between, which was quite annoying. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can use credit card points and airline miles to book business class award seats on Virgin Atlantic's brand new A350 from JFK to LHR: Here's how many points you'll need: Delta SkyMiles: 85,000+. To see a video of that previous trip for the inaugural of this new Upper Class Seat, see the below video. It definitely felt like I made a far wiser choice with the chicken burger, served with a packet of crisps and a chocolate cake. This is followed by drinks and snacks (usually crisps) after takeoff. This seemed like more of an Economy Class snack; many airlines will serve a ramekin of warm almonds or cashews in Business Class. 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. Double-check which aircraft operates the route that you're about to book. The drinks offered on Virgin Atlantic Upper Class are excellent. The seats are wide, the drinks are cold, and the atmosphere is calming. I selected the braised pork cheek with cauliflower puree, kale and fondant potato as my main course. The crew were very proactive in offering to help with my bed. The newest Upper Class offer is in the Airbus A350-1000 and it has a seat width of 20 inches as does the A330-200. As such, Virgin Atlantic is not an airline that I would currently recommend flying, unless the cost is materially cheaper than the alternatives. On Virgin Atlantic, the staff in Upper Class actually come to your seat and proactively ask if there is anything more you would like. You can lie down for a refreshing sleep, unwind in the exclusive on board bar area and even freshen up with Rituals sleep amenities. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Welcome drinks upon boarding 2. So worry to hear about your experience, Ive never flown Delta but hear great things. Back then I was blown away by the experience, since I only really had economy and a handful of 90s Business Class experiences to compare it to. I have flown Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy several times and it is my favorite premium economy airline offer. Virgin Atlantic 787 Upper Class lunch starter. If you're flying in business class, you want to make sure you're seated in the best possible seat to maximize your travel. 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. Entertainment screens are available on long-haul flights and wifi is offered on selected routes. Not only is it the airline's newest, safest and most environmentally friendly aircraft, but it also boasts the newest, most comfortable and most modern airline seats of the entire Virgin Atlantic fleet. Toward the front of row K isn't a bad second choice, the main difference being that the seat is less private and has a view of other passengers' feet. Related: How to pick your perfect airplane seat. Looking for an alternative booking now. However, it is deli-style (which included things like smoked salmon, fresh fruit and Greek yogurt) and set up behind glass, so passengers must request that a server places everything on the plate. Such a shame that you arent able to guarantee the A350 on longer routes. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Range of Pukka teas, hot chocolate and coffees. 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. Had we been downstairs we or they could have walked over to the ticketing desk, but thats not possible from the Upper Class wing. Sort by. I covered all of the costs of my return Upper Class flights with Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Upper Class Menu Virgin is almost entirely back to pre-covid catering now and the menu included multiple options for each of the three lunch courses. 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. There are two common problems that come up time and time again with Virgin Atlantic seats in Upper Class. What about food and drink onboard? Cabin service was non-existent on the overnight flight I saw people ring their call buttons to never have a FA appear. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Virgin's business class lunch menu (for flights departing between 10am and 4pm) includes a turkey, brie and fig jam sourdough melt. Virgin Atlantic 787 Upper Class seat storage. Meal service and thats it they disappeared. lLondon to JNB) I must say the flight attendants were absolutely fantastic. (NB I use skyscanner.net to compare costs across airlines for both premium economy and business class). And if you want to use the magazine rack to store a tablet or laptop you then have to find somewhere to store the headphones that the airline provides. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. The cabin is laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration with all window seats facing the window and all middle facing seats facing the aisle. Despite the addition of a thin mattress pad, the surface was still very uncomfortable and I struggled to get any sleep at all. 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. Trip Verified | Used Virgin Atlantic for this trip, first time with VA for about 5 years. I then headed to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in area H. I was quite excited as the Virgin Clubhouse has a very good name which I discovered was well deserved. We arrived on time into New York and were quickly off the aircraft. The cabin manager very kindly offered me 20,000 points as compensation as she said she could see that I was a Virgin gold card holder. If you're spending your cold hard cash or splurging your stash of Flying Club miles on an Upper Class ticket, then there are definitely a couple of decisions to make before you click that confirm button. 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. The best seats on Virgin Atlantic's A350 economy are rows 45, 52, 53, and 54. The bathroom was also very generously proportioned, with a separate seat next to the toilet. We'll welcome you onboard with a chilled glass of Champagne or English sparkling wine. In a seated, upright position it was hard to shift the impression that this was more of a Premium Economy product in terms of overall privacy. Its a nice to have I guess, and we made the most of it catching up with colleagues, but it isnt the same as the bar and while I completely understand the economics of why the bar had to go (and before that, the on-board massage), its a reminder of the economics of air travel. The dining experience in Upper Class Our menus are designed to compliment your departure time, origin and destination, served throughout your flight on designer linens, plates and cutlery. 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. The crew were really great in trying to help but ultimately they were just as stumped as I was. On day flights, Upper Class passengers will get a second meal service, including Eric Lanlard's Mile High Tea or a lighter option. It felt like I was very much at a tipping point, having enjoyed 3 glasses of champagne and an espresso martini before midday at the Virgin Clubhouse. You go through a private security check and before you know it youre passing through a duty free store on your way to the lounge. However, once she got on the flight, she was confronted by an angry male passenger with his family who insisted that these were his seats, which was quite unpleasant. SIA to acquire 25 per cent stake in Air India. The first being that the window seats on the Airbus A330-300s and 787-9 Dreamliners (rows A and K) actually face inward into the cabin, rather than out of the window. 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. The Upper Class Suite is excellent. The smoked duck breast was very basic in terms of presentation and execution. There is quite a bit of seat size variation across the different Virgin Atlantic fleet planes. The main reason being that each seat faces the back of the seat the row G in the middle, giving the illusion of slightly more privacy. Then again, in this situation, something like a quad suite in Qatars Q suites would be far preferable. For example, seats 3A, 5A, 3K and 5K are called Solo Corner Suites, owing to the added feeling of privacy being farther away from the aisle. This A350-1000 has Virgins new Upper Class Suite fitted. Despite multiple attempts to connect, the in flight wifi just wouldnt work for me on any of my devices. Passengers enter the cabin to find it bathed in colours including red, pink, orange, purple and blue. Personally, I didnt really like this, as one of the best things about business class is having more of a sense of privacy. Red wine: Villa dei Fiori, Primitivo, Italy, or Esquinas, Malbec, Argentina. Virgin Atlantic 787 Upper Class chicken burger. It really is such bad business practice to pretend like all their business class seats are equally appealing. There are several dishes to choose from, some of which are familiar, some that offer a few unexpected delights. Learn how your comment data is processed. I am a big Virgin Atlantic fan but the downside of them having such an excellent premium economy is that the step up to Upper Class doesnt feel like a big deal, particularly when you consider it is normally at least twice the price of Premium. And forget about arriving into T3 at LHR with any hopes of making a connection within a span of at least a 3 hour ordeal if you have to change terminals 2.5 hours to bus from T3 to T5 to catch an intra-Europe BA flight exhausting and stressful. They both have 31 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with a bar at the back of the cabin. Top picks: Number one, without doubt, is the Upper Class Suite onboard the A350s. 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 wonderful Virgin Atlantic staff brought her up to the bar in Upper Class and got her a glass of champagne. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. I have read that Virgin Atlantic has changed this on their latest aircraft, and the seats are now all facing forward. 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. Cookie statement | My shoulders felt quite squeezed in and the right hand armrest was the width of a candy bar. Also took VA from JoBurg on A350 and was totally different experience. The image below serves to highlight another major issue with these window seats: they face into the aisle rather than the window. The seat featured the smallest in-flight entertainment screen Ive seen on any plane in Business Class, although the resolution was up to modern standards. The clubhouse also has several areas that can be used for things other than working, eating, or drinking. Honestly, I suspect that the ticketing desk would have taken just as long to resolve your issue had you been stood at the counter downstairs. Interesting take on the children visiting your seats. A small snack basket had been set up but there was no permanent bartender or indeed much uptake from other passengers wanting to use this space. For take-off and landing, there isnt any, really: just a very thin magazine holder where youll find the headphones when you first board. You also get 10kg hand luggage and 2 x 23kg checked bags and you are welcomed on board with a glass of bubbly. However, this will only apply to a minority of the fleet at the moment. *The Loft is available to customers flying Upper Class on our Airbus A350 aircraft. Starters for dinner were a choice between a chicken parfait with apricot chutney and beetroot with a goats cheese mousse, plus warm artisan pieces of bread. Boutique Hotels Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. The weight limit for one carry-on bag is 26 pounds, while the combined weight limit for two carry . Now we are on the 787 and I am super claustrophobic. First off, every seat in the cabin is both parallel to the sides of the fuselage and faces forwards -- already off to good start. Bog standard business class. Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow Terminal 3 reopens - take a look 15 July 2021 by Rob Burgess The Virgin Clubhouse lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 reopens - and we were there Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. There was also a magazine compartment, just beneath the IFE controller which featured an empower charging socket. Best Spa A drinks service was offered prior to lunch being served. 100% agreed with you on the ground experience. We tried every variation of turn it off and turn it back on again before finally admitting defeat. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. A great selection of premium wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks can be served at your seat, at the bar, or in The Loft.*. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. The toiletries in the self-titled goodie bag are from Ren and were decent but not amazing. There was enough room to slot a bottle of water between the grate and the armrest. 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. For power, there are two USB ports, one just above an AC plug which is at knew level in the body of the seat, and a second under the open shelves. $22.99. 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. Four Seasons Amman - Executive Suite living room, Two main positive points missed: Once the flight took off, it was clear that there were several empty seats in the upper class. I only managed to get maybe one hour over the 9/10 hour flight. 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. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. Not fast track, its own security area. Boarding was rather shambolic, with a huddle at the gate area and no distinction between classes of service. Still feeling peckish? 2022 The Luxury Traveller by Jarvis Marcos | All Rights Reserved. I enjoyed a beetroot and goats cheese salad followed by butter chicken. Newer planes also have the Retreat Suite area at the front of Upper Class. I have visited over 70 countries and love finding hidden gems, boutique hotels and great food and wine. Learn more. Theres a good reason for this from the airlines point of view since it stops people standing on the seats and dirtying them. 1- When arriving LHR by taxi you check in at a private upper class area very far from the maddening crowd. 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. As with Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy, plenty of food is available at all times. The Retreat Suite can only be booked 14 days before departure on a first come, first served basis. There is an Instagram-friendly area with a cool hanging chair and fake flowers. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Assorted Fruit Sours Candy Balls - 5lb. We offer specialised meals which you may prefer for medical or religious reasons. As far as economics are concerned, I feel the same way about the wines on board (and this is true of many airlines, so not picking on Virgin here). The frequent flyer program is absolutely useless but people always say that theyre the best US carrierand by the sounds of things, far better than VS! 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. The cutlery was full sized and of course the iconic Wilbur and Orville salt and pepper shakers were present too with crew encouraging passengers to take them home. Virgin do so much damage to their brand by not acknowledging that people book with the expectation of the product they paid for. Im always happy to get a decent amount of protein when flying but overall this dish was very dry and felt unfinished. It was incredibly kind of them and so thoughtful, as we hadnt even asked. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class A340-600 Atlanta - London Heathrow Check-in and Lounge. Which aircraft offer Upper Class seats? This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 47,500. The ground experience at Heathrow was (as usual) exceptional, the food good, and the service, save for a couple of blips, an absolute blast. Boarding took place at 0745 from gate 5, and there were TV crews filming both for news and documentaries, along with lots of American flag waving. Learn more. Upper Class passengers can check two bags for free, provided they measure no more than 35.5 x 29.5 x 16 inches and weigh 70.5 pounds or less. Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 'Upper Class' business class: the basics. 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. There is also a bassinet directly opposite 1A, meaning you might be seated opposite a baby for your entire flight. I was very impressed. On night flights, there's a choice of three hot breakfasts as well as side dishes, including fresh seasonal fruit, bircher muesli and pastries. - it is worth upgrading to Upper Class if you can afford the upgraded fare. Kamara ordered the Mediterranean mezze, which much like my earlier main course, were awash in a sea of beige. The crew on our flight were fantastic and also helped to make up for some of the shortcomings of the hard product. Despite the added privacy of facing a wall, it was jarring to have direct lines of sight to every other passenger in the cabin. I am now stuck on the 787 and am not happy. I opted to skip dessert since neither the cheese nor the coconut dome appealed much to me. The problem is that VS act like the old coffin seats and the new suites are equivalent products. We had problems in the transit area of Delhi airport due to a lack of staff and a broken printer (believe it or not, the transit area at Delhi airport does not take electronic boarding passes). 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