Check out what you can expect flying in Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class: The toiletries in the self-titled goodie bag are from Ren and were decent but not amazing. Otherwise, you would be better off taking the premium economy offer. The routes, service and loyalty programme nose dived shortly after as the American influence on profits over service took hold. White wine Journeys End Weather Station, Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa. especially when it came to the rickety ventilation grate next to the armrest. In addition to the bottle of water, we found an amenity kit waiting for us at our seats. It really is such bad business practice to pretend like all their business class seats are equally appealing. Id love to help you find your next memorable vacation. Despite the added privacy of facing a wall, it was jarring to have direct lines of sight to every other passenger in the cabin. Enjoy with a selection of carefully curated wines in partnership with London-based fine wine merchant Jeroboams. A word of warning: Avoid seats in Row 7, as these have no window! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It isn't, however, completely flawless and the narrow footwells and the lack of storage space around the seat are going to irritate quite a few . 5 slices of smoked duck breast from a packet, a few dry slivers of bread, a dollop of chutney and some fennel shavings. But I want to start with a big thank you to Virgin Atlantic. Virgin has plans to retire this aircraft by 2021, so I figured I really ought to ride on one before time was against me. You'll have to be flying on pretty specific routes to fly this unique configuration. The bar on the aircraft has now been replaced with The Loft, which is really a long curved sofa facing a large TV screen. We're talking three courses, an impressive selection . Water, champagne and orange juice were also offered from a tray, prior to take off. To celebrate both Virgin and British Airways collaborated on a dual take-off on the morning of November 8, 2021, with A350 aircraft taking off simultaneously from the two adjacent runways at London Heathrow at 0850. The upper class has its own check-in section, which is always nice. 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. The problem is that VS act like the old coffin seats and the new suites are equivalent products. Here is my Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Review, including how it compares with the airlines premium economy offer and how it compares with business class on similar airlines. * Pre-flight dining 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. They also have sliding doors to create a feeling of privacy. Then again, in this situation, something like a quad suite in Qatars Q suites would be far preferable. I was fiercely loyal to Virgin up until 2012 when their upper class was still state of the art. A stylish lounge, free-flowing champagne and an Upper Class seat that has stood the test of time, Virgin Atlantic continues to impress. Online check-in failed and we then spent 40 mins standing at the Upper Class wing check-in desk whilst agent tried to get hold of the ticketing desk downstairs to resolve it. Passengers enter the cabin to find it bathed in colours including red, pink, orange, purple and blue. For the return flight we bid the 795 and got the upgrade. 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. YES!!!! You are greeted at your cab, your bags are whisked away and you might see another passenger at check in or may not. But my friend who I was traveling with also had problems with them. If you have two devices then the code will work on either, but not on both at the same time. It is hard to beat Virgin Atlantic on the lounge front. Privacy policy | Virgin Atlantic's A350 aircraft features one large Business ("Upper") Class cabin, which is located in the plane's front section. 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. The best thing they can do now if you have any loyalty points left, is book the cheapest Heathrow upper class reward flight you can find enter the amazing clubhouse (which is still awesome) and spend as long as you possibly can inside before they kick you out of the airport and tell you that you are banned from flying Virgin Atlantic ever again. I only managed to get maybe one hour over the 9/10 hour flight. Gourmet fish goujons hot sandwich with tartare sauce, Chicken Caesar club sandwich served with salted crisps, Chickpea fritter and vegetable samosa served with sweet chili pickle and carrot, cucumber and onion seed salad. Looking ahead to brighter skies After eating and working I tried to sleep for an hour or so but it was too noisy, which is fair enough since this was the first flight to New York on November 8, 2021. I also think Virgin Atlantic has the friendliest staff in both the upper class and premium economy. This aircraft has a total of 335 seats configured in three classes: 235 in economy, 56 in premium economy and 44 in business class (or Upper Class as Virgin calls it) in a 1-2-1 configuration of 11 rows (numbered 1-11) in an A-DG-K format. Virgin Atlantic A330-300 Upper Class Seats There's next to nowhere to store a book, cables, chargers, or anything else that a passenger may want close to hand during the flight. I got this to work, but it was quite beyond me to understand how it worked so I just used the touchscreen. Economy Classic: Free; 30 ($38) for preferred seats, 59-89 ($75-$114) for an exit row seat, or 49 ($63) for an exit row seat with reduced legroom. A drinks service was offered prior to lunch being served. Virgin's business class lunch menu (for flights departing between 10am and 4pm) includes a turkey, brie and fig jam sourdough melt. This could mean that those seated in row 11 and maybe 10 and 9 might find passengers to-ing and fro-ing from the Loft, and maybe being rather loud and chatty while they're there. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. The minimum was 780 pounds, we bid 795 .. that was rejected, at the airport they accepted 812. 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. Bed widths on these planes are 33 inches. In Upper Class we focus on offering you high quality, innovative food with attention to detail. We tried every variation of turn it off and turn it back on again before finally admitting defeat. Such a shame that you arent able to guarantee the A350 on longer routes. This seemed like more of an Economy Class snack; many airlines will serve a ramekin of warm almonds or cashews in Business Class. Bog standard business class. the 2nd daily San Francisco flight having been switched from an A350 to a B787. (NB I use skyscanner.net to compare costs across airlines for both premium economy and business class). Virgin has fixed this in their newest aircraft but they represent the minority of flights. 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. Once on board I was offered a choice of orange juice, Champagne or water. Not sure what idiot dreamed up this seating idea. 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). Quite possibly the least healthy meal Ive ever seen in my life, especially since I was back on the champagne at this pointbut delicious nonetheless. Kamara ordered the Mediterranean mezze, which much like my earlier main course, were awash in a sea of beige. As of May 2022 this is still not something that British Airways is able to offer. He found an empty row for her in the economy cabin, which was great news. The seats and layout was a let down. Very unfortunate and had I known I would have flown direct on a different airline. I have visited over 70 countries and love finding hidden gems, boutique hotels and great food and wine. And for those traveling lovers, Virgin has called three sets of its middle seats the Love Suites 1E, 1F, 3E, 3F, 5E and 5F. (For take-off and landing, there is an over the shoulder strap as well as a waist strap.). It offers a host of additional benefits which add the most luxurious touches to your flight experience. I love the Upper Class wing and the Clubhouse hence my very positive review of that portion of the trip! The new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class suite on ther airline's A350-1000 is a huge step up from the Upper Class seat offered on Virgin's other aircraft and in many ways is a very good seat indeed. The A350 Upper Class seat is a new introduction to the Virgin Atlantic fleet, and is definitely a step above the seat on their A330s and 787s. However, for an added feel of privacy and those views that we live for, any A and K window seat is slightly better than a D or G seat. 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. 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 seats have a more spacious area and also have benches at the end of the seat so that the area can seat four people. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. One of the highlights of flying with Virgin Atlantic is the extremely friendly staff, no matter what cabin you are in. The Upper Class Wing and Clubhouse still offer one of the greatest Business Class experiences in the world. This was the first flight after the lifting of restrictions on UK citizens (and EO citizens) travelling to the US. The Luxury Traveller is a luxury travel agency affiliated with Classic Travel. A lip balm, hand cream, and global protection day cream. To be fair, much of what youve said applies to BA too, if youre unlucky enough to end up in the old Club World seats. Upper Class is Virgin's most premium upgrade available. Main Meal Starter Mozzarella and tomato salad with micro basil and cress (v) Ciabatta roll with butter Main Roasted Salmon Find the right card for you. Created for the most discerning kids, a variety of familiar dishes can be pre-ordered in My Booking or by phone. We arrived on time into New York and were quickly off the aircraft. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. I have read that Virgin Atlantic has changed this on their latest aircraft, and the seats are now all facing forward. The Booth takes two people and can be booked with the crew. After a quick refurb, the seats are up there among our favorite Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats. Im Amanda, an Australian who has called London home for over 15 years. It also had the advantage that when the food is served you can move your laptop or work to one side and eat without having to put everything away. Learn more. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. On the plane, you'll receive a welcome glass of champagne, hot and cold menu choices based on time of day and destination, and luxury table settings. After a couple of minutes peeled away and then headed off to New York. Best Spa It might be worth noting that the Loft, an area that was designed as a social hangout to replace the bar, is situated at the back of the cabin. Virgin made headlines some time ago, when they decided to remove beef from all flights due to the environmental impact. I took a taxi to the airport and arrived at about 0615 for the 0830 planned departure of VS3 to New York, with a flight time of around six and a half hours. It is visually much brighter than their A330, but I think it still . I appreciated the fact that the Coke Zero was served in a proper tumbler with full sized ice cubes, rather than the thimble-like vessels used by some other carriers. 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. A great selection of premium wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks can be served at your seat, at the bar, or in The Loft. However, if you have a seat in the middle, you will be directly facing those who have a seat on the right-hand side of the plane and vice versa. There is also a QR code menu where guests can order food and drinks from their seats in the clubhouse on their phones. Goodbye Virgin forever. Cellar selection of the day (there wasnt one). It was a flight on Virgin Upper Class on the A340. I chose cheese rather than dessert. 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. I was flying from London to Bhutan via Delhi and got an excellent deal with Virgin Atlantic on upper class I was shocked by how reasonable the price was compared to flying with Virgin Atlantic upper class to the USA. 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. Another point worth noting is that service is generally started at the front of the cabin, meaning the farther back you sit, it could take longer for you to get those all-important food and drinks. During our final approach I had to carry out quite the act of contortion, to snap this quick picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. Prices vary based on the route, and there is often an offer for a limited time period and one for access for the entire flight. Unlike many lounges these days, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow terminal three still does overhead calls when flights begin boarding upper-class passengers. These are wines I would quite happily drink at home, but given that drinking in the air isnt advisable because of dehydration, jet lag or the fact you might have meetings when you arrive, it does have to be a little bit special for me to be tempted, and wines around the 10 mark are fine if you really want a drink, but also are easy to refuse. The A350 is a beautiful aircraft, and the new Upper Class Suite is a huge step forward for Virgin, allowing it to compete again on the international business-class stage. You also get 10kg hand luggage and 2 x 23kg checked bags and you are welcomed on board with a glass of bubbly. 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. UC has no such thing as a dress code. In a reversal of the simplification of its food and beverage service due to COVID, the airline is looking towards a return of some of the most popular elements of its Upper Class service. The reason we suggest seats 2A-5A rather than starting at 1A, is because this seat looks onto the galley and therefore might be noisy and less private than if you sit a few rows behind. To learn more about Virgin's Flying Club, you can read our guide here. 100% agreed with you on the ground experience. Related: A350 suite showdown: British Airways' Club Suite versus Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class Suite. Baggage allowance in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class. Strangest of all was the proximity that we had to neighbouring passengers heads, that peered up over the very short walls of their seats. My shoulders felt quite squeezed in and the right hand armrest was the width of a candy bar. 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. There are also a variety of crisps and chocolate bars available at any time throughout the flight. Im always happy to get a decent amount of protein when flying but overall this dish was very dry and felt unfinished. We also like there to be some flexibility to the service, so on many flights we offer 'Extra Bites' you can order at any time. Looking for an alternative booking now. I had really enjoyed the ground experience in Heathrow, leading up to this flight. The headphones were very plasticky and cheap feeling, a world away from the excellent noise cancelling headsets provided by American Airlines in Business Class. Upper Class. After this meal it was time to get changed back into regular clothes but I kept the seat down in bed mode for as long as I could, so I could enjoy the views from the window, without the seat getting in the way. Extra bites rules were the same as the flight over eg after the first meal up to 40 minutes pre-landing and the following were on offer: Seabass fillet marinated in green chutney with mustard potatoes and tomato sauce, Butter chicken slider with yoghurt slaw and potato wedges, Salted caramel cheesecake with a berry compote, The wines and port available were the same as the flight from London Heathrow to Delhi. 2 My wife and I were traveling with our grandkids (ages 10 and 7). However, sometimes my articles including affiliate links. There was also a magazine compartment, just beneath the IFE controller which featured an empower charging socket. 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. The IFE screens are tiny and the pull out arm digs into your body when youre lying down. On this leg dinner (which was served around 11 am local time) was as follows: Tandoori Chicken bites with a cucumber, baby tomato and pepper salad, Barley salad with feta cheese, spring onions, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, pomegranate seeds, and a lemon mint dressing. After spending my 20s and 30s as a Marketing Director who made use of every vacation day travelling the world I am now a nearly full time travel blogger who focuses on unique adventures in interesting places which end with a high thread count on the sheets and a decent glass of wine! Even better, it has its own elevator (with its own little red carpet), which takes Upper-Class passengers up to security, where Virgin Atlantic Upper Class has its own security area. Then, four coveted seats 3A, 5A, 3K and 5K are flush against the window for those all-important photo ops in the sky. In Fall 2019, the long-awaited A350 started flying to New York (JFK) and is slowly being . I had flown Virgin Atlantic Upper Class about ten years ago in my pre-travel blogging days. Had we been downstairs we or they could have walked over to the ticketing desk, but thats not possible from the Upper Class wing. The overall maintenance and cleanliness left a lot to be desired. There was enough room to slot a bottle of water between the grate and the armrest. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Having said that, I think the problem may have been my slightly old laptop. Privacy Policy, Hi! The bait and switch is a real issue and one that I had not considered prior to booking. 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. Once at check-in my documents were quickly checked and there was no queue at the dedicated fast track security. Vegetable korma with green beans, pilau rice and paratha. This aircraft has a total of 335 seats configured in three classes: 235 in economy, 56 in premium economy and 44 in business class. Top picks: Number one, without doubt, is the Upper Class Suite onboard the A350s. Interesting take on the children visiting your seats. 29 Most Corrupt Countries in the World (2023) Revealed. Virgin Atlantic 787 Upper Class ice lolly. We have throw caution to the wind and booked upper class from London to Antigua in Nov. Has anyone flown upper class recently. Definitely not an ideal situation though! Learn how your comment data is processed. Cookie statement | I was very impressed. 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". 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. Routes to fly this unique configuration code will work on either, but I think it.! The flight is an over the shoulder strap as well as a dress code A350 on longer routes Booth two. York ( JFK ) and is slowly being pretend like all their business Class seats food with attention detail! 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