While Virgin Atlantic offers a compelling premium economy product, it is surprisingly beat out by its own fleet. On this route specifically, you can often find round-trip award flights for just 35,000 Flying Club miles plus taxes and fees. 13 Premium Economy Cabins That Are Worth the Splurge Unfortunately, no Priority Pass lounges were open prior to my 8:15 a.m. departure, either. Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program offers some tremendous value especially on Premium itineraries. Quality craftsmanship Virgin Atlantic includes premium economy passengers in the Priority boarding section, right after status holders and Upper Class travelers (a cabin we reviewed recently too!). but the movie and television selection on board is good, but not great. Eight places abreast in each row meant the Premium seats were just 18.5 inches wide, only one inch wider than Virgin Atlantic's economy seats, and narrower than those on low-cost airline Norse Atlantic, which operates the same class of service on the same route. In total, the round-trip ticket cost $1,033 in Premium. The blanket was a deep purple with gold trim. Seat Map Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 (351) - airseatmap.com Virgin Atlantic A350-1000 economy class review: New York - SANspotter I loved the amazing, customized "I (Heart) A350" pillows, which were clearly made just for the introduction of the aircraft into service. After we took off at about 1:49 p.m. and reached 10,000 feet, the crew quickly came around the cabin for drink service at about 2:05 p.m. 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. The last row of premium economy is a great option for sleepers, since you can recline without having to ask or worry if the person behind you might be eating. 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. With its A350-1000s, Virgin Atlantic actually opted for a roomier arrangement with just 335 seats total. 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. VS138 New York, NY (JFK) - London, England (LHR) Monday, September 16, 2019 Aircraft: A350-1042 Registration: G-VLUX Duration: 6 hours 57 minutes Seat: 50D (economy class) Virgin Atlantic A350-1000 side view illustration by Norebbo.com The wander wall on the 730 in comparison with the Dreamliner was also poor. That meant I had no issues when the passenger in front of me reclined their seat. Fast-track security and Champagne after boarding were both pleasant surprises. When prices are competitive with economy, that alone can make the cabin worth the upgrade for anyone with lots of baggage. The main was hot and tasted great, and I could have easily gone for seconds. It was the small side, and I found it to be somewhat difficult to find an open seat., but there was an entire area, the Quiet Area, that I didn't get the chance to explore. I chose a Brewdog Lost lager with my meal. Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. Virgin Atlantics Premium Economy offers a more a la carte service than economy, and that starts with pre-departure bubbles and drink service. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. I did the same journey to AUS on the 380 and back from LAX on the new plane. The drink was served with sour-cream-and-chive pretzels. Its great, unless youre farting! 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. The entre was the exact opposite, a dense, cheesy, sloppy dish overflowing with rice. Review: How Good Is Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy? Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. The seat width, at an impressive 18.5 inches wide is as good as it gets as a global premium economy benchmark. Note, 787 is on a different system,I think ipass. Or, the Virgin 787 Dreamliner, for that matter. Looking at dates in November 2022, most economy fares from the US East Coast were around $800-900 for Virgin Atlantic Economy Classic to London, an additional $140-180 for Economy Delight, and $1200-1500 for Premium. Economy Premium. Being in the front means you'll beat most of the plane through immigration. Sadly, the check-in perks don't extend to Virgin's private security channel, and it took a full 30 minutes to complete security. 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. Related: Choose this, not that: JFK Priority Pass lounge edition. The Complete Guide to Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy - Scott's Cheap To cap off the meal was a slice of passion fruit cake. 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. Other than its tight width, the seat was comfortable. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly Virgins Premium cabin on the A350 offers 2x4x2 seating. 9 airlines with premium economy cabins worth splurging on 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. The A330 and 787 both have 21 inch wide seats in premium, by far the best of any product out there. Waiting for me on my seat when I boarded was a pillow, blanket and amenity kit. I didn't eat anything, as I wasn't hungry and wanted to save my appetite for when I got on board. Virgin Airbus A350 | A350 Configuration | Virgin Atlantic 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 While it was my fault for not realizing where the tortillas were held, I observed several passengers around me making the same mistake. Economy To Premium Economy On Virgin Atlantic: Is The Upgrade - MSN 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. Overall, I found the cabin and seat to be comfortable. ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I was reminded of how phenomenal this cabin is, with one caveat which Ill get to. I passed on the sparkles so that I could manage a flight without climbing over a seat mate, but many people were happily reveling. Upon boarding, crew told passengers that to celebrate the launch of the A350 into service, Wi-Fi would be free for all passengers for the flight. Both dishes were listed as being served with a side of overnight oats with mango and coconut. Each of the bulkhead seats had the advantage of both a leg- and a footrest. I think any seat width about 18 doesnt really make much of a factor. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying, The tighter seats take away from one of premium economy's major selling points. A seat in premium economy on A350-1000 V.2 directly between the main and business class cabins is measurably more expensive than an economy . While its new Upper Class Suite got the bulk of the addition and it is a dazzling product, indeed the carrier also gave its Premium product a facelift with the A350. After a seamless bag-check experience and obtaining my boarding pass, I ascended the nearby escalator to the security checkpoint. On a recent work trip to New York, I needed a one way ticket home to London, and Virgin Premium Economy on the A350 offered the best value, just moderately priced above economy. 31-3417.4: 45-71: 235: Reviews. I flew LHR to JNB in August. cons="Somewhat narrow seats and flimsy headphones." It was a bifold tray table, which was perfect for just a small plate or to rest a drink. There are four first-class suites, 26 seats in business, 36 in premium economy, and 240 in economy. The first row is located next to Upper Class, and also just behind Door L2, which is the primary door used to deplane the aircraft. compared to the 787-9, for which I only had positive words last year, giving British Airways a run for its money. More by Gilbert Ott. Shortly thereafter, it was time for tea service. The Premium cabin on the Virgin A350 comprised a total of 56 seats across a single cabin. Airbus A350-1000 Virtual tours Upper Class Premium Economy Economy Our newest Economy seats are designed with bespoke woven fabrics inspired by fashion houses. SANspotter style. Starlux Launches Its Los Angeles Airbus A350 Flights On Wednesday Economy Delight Premium Upper Class; Width of seat: 17.4 inches: 17.4 inches: 18.5 inches: 20 inches: Seat recline: 5 inches: 5 inches: . 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 A350 Premium Economy Seat Virgin's Premium cabin on the A350 offers 2x4x2 seating. However, if you have a choice, always pick the Boeing 787-9 in premium economy with Virgin Atlantic, which remains one of the best in the game. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class aboard A350-1000 is breath of fresh air 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. Meanwhile, India. And in this case, it was just about as good as it gets. Related: Delta overhauls the onboard experience, goes all-in on sustainability. I couldve just as easily used premium and finished in the same time. Once connected, I registered speeds of an acceptable 11 Mbps download but no speed to upload anything. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. With the sun barely up, I initially opted for an orange juice, but when the crew mentioned Champagne was also on offer, it piqued my interest. I think that even with a full cabin of 56 passengers, the three lavs would've sufficed. While the welcome beverages were a pleasant surprise, both meal services were not. I'm a major fan of securing a window seat in the two seat, side configurations. Despite boarding near the end, I was offered a welcome beverage of choice in a glass, a nice touch in premium economy. Instead, Virgin let passengers connect their phone to the screen via Bluetooth and then control it from there. 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. I decided on the fajita. Unbeknownst to me, Gate 22 was about a 15-minute trek away. The first row and the last row of premium make up the dreamboat seats. We flew out to Las Vegas In premium on the Dreamliner . Cash fares in Premium on Virgin Atlantic currently start from $1,160 round trip, which is just over twice the price of Virgin's economy fares on the same dates. What a contrast with their main UK rivals weak PE offering (& thats before the catering Perhaps the personal freedoms Virgin (rightly) affords employees plays a role there. With the ricotta and the spiciness of the tomato sauce and zest from the sweet peppers, it was a great dish. With an early morning departure and an evening arrival at Heathrow, these two meals were the only things I ate all day. Is The White Lotus breaking up with Four Seasons ahead of Season 3? Fortunately, it sounds like Virgins new A330neo aircraft will. "And again, we have that Bluetooth connectivity, so at every seat, you can connect your headsets there . That said, there were significant improvements with this product, as well as design decisions that went a long way in terms of enjoyment. Alaska Partners With Premium Taiwanese Airline Starlux After being one of the first carriers to introduce a proper premium economy cabin, Virgin launched its A350 with new seats, larger inflight-entertainment screens and a supposedly more comfortable experience. Proving that the very best cabins in the world could be unlocked with points became an obsession. Check here before booking an award fare. There were three choices for an entree fajita chicken, red Thai curry, or vegetarian shepherd's pie. We booked this flight using 27,500 Virgin Points plus $350.30 in fees, taxes and fuel surcharges for a one-way flight in Premium. Meanwhile, the rest of the seats in the Premium cabin had just a pedal attached to the seat in front there was no legrest. 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. After flying during the health crisis to mostly empty cabins, it was a joy to see that Upper Class was entirely full, and I had zero chance of an upgrade. The headphones distributed were lightweight and insubstantial. Are you able to eat or use laptop when this happens? As far as food, there was a decent selection, both hot and cold. Visit delta.com to learn more. All this being said, the Virgin A350 seats aren't uncomfortable in any way. With my paid fare, I was able to select my seat for free and chose a window seat in the last row of the cabin, so I could both look out the window, and observe the service flow. There was definitely a Cajun kick to it, and the twang from the mustard made it really enjoyable. Virgin Atlantic was one of the first airlines to introduce a premium economy cabin, back in 1992. My flight departed slightly late but arrived early, as eastbound transatlantic flights often do because of strong tailwinds. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The dish was absolutely lovely and roaring with flavor. Floor storage for personal effects is not available for use during takeoff and landing. Two lavatories dedicated to the Premium cabin were located at the front of the seating, just behind the Upper Class social space. I consistently find Virgin Atlantic crews to be among the friendliest in the business. There was also a bar with bartender service. Recliner. Virgin's Premium queue likely shaved off substantial time from my check-in experience. The blanket also appeared the same as the one that was provided to economy passengers, although this wasn't such a big deal on a relatively short daytime flight. Even though no one was seated next to me, if someone had been, it would've felt cramped on a long-haul flight especially the armrests, which were on the narrow side. Brilliant Guide To British Airways Upgrades Using Avios Or Cash. The sunrise provided a gorgeous backdrop to the sleek Airbus A350 aircraft with its signature curved wingtips, standing ready to take me home to London. For the month between delivery and its first commercial operation, the aircraft operated several test flights within the UK, mostly from Glasgow (GLA) to Glasgow, according to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24. 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. Now, while the -1000 is wider than the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (2-3-2 layout), there isn't really enough space to add another seat without sacrificing the experience. The bad news is that only some Virgin Atlantic aircraft offer a Premium Economy seat with an impressive width of 21 - the A330-200s and the new A350s both offer Premium Economy Seats that are noticeably narrower - so if lateral space is important to you make sure you check which aircraft you're likely to be flying as all are definitely not equal. Other than that there was no storage around the seat. As they could be adjusted in and out more easily. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. We've written extensively about the premium economy offerings on Virgin's Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A350-1000s in the last year. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy: What to Know - NerdWallet I finished it only because I like Mexican food and was starving, but it wasn't visually appealing and not something I would serve a guest in my home. Aside from better air quality, the cabin lighting is fun and jazzy and the higher ceilings give an added sense of space on this Airbus A350. Premium Rich, custom leather seats with a generous 7 inch recline and high end finishes. As far as the quality, I found the pillows to be perfectly reasonable with stuffing. No judgement! As a regular premium economy traveler, I remarked to the crew that Champagne was not usually served in these cabins. Airbus A350-900 Seat Maps, Specs & Amenities | Delta Air Lines Because my itinerary was booked shortly after Virgin put A350 flights on sale, award availability wasn't great. There's USB power and a 13 inch screen for our next-gen entertainment system, plus a lot more storage for your bits and pieces. Airlines seem to insist on having only one full meal on flights between New York and London, with a second meal being a lighter "snack." Find the right card for you. Booking Virgins premium economy on the cabin is a cant go wrong feeling. By comparison, Virgin Atlantic's A350 aircraft has 11.6-inch screens in the economy cabin. There was also an excellent interactive flight map available. Review: How Good Is Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy? We all know tray tables are plastic in economy and premium economy, and it's a small but noticeable decision for a carrier to either go with a basic plastic color or to add a little oomph to the aesthetics. Arguably the highlight of the flight was the terrific inflight entertainment via the crisp and up-to-date 13.5-inch touchscreen that could also be controlled by my mobile phone once connected via Bluetooth. Virgin Premium Economy - Airbus A350 - YouTube I had a glass of the Casa Piero sauvignon blanc from Spain, which was bright and crisp. Virgin has remastered the premium economy experience with its Premium A350 product. Both flights were far more comfortable than a standard cattle class seats. Virgin Atlantic's Airbus A350 Fleet: Everything You Need To Know Inside, they were pretty standard economy-size lavatories with no special features or extras. 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. About Virgin Atlantic About Virgin Atlantic. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. That small feature can make all the difference between a comfortable and uncomfortable flight. I got the mozzarella and an English breakfast tea. Our stunning new Upper Class suite is the perfect retreat at 30,000 feet. The flight leaves New York at 8:15 a.m. daily, touching down at London Heathrow Terminal 3 at 8 p.m. Terms and Conditions Apply. . Ive been a Virgin Flying Club Gold member for quite a few years now, so I was able to use the Upper Class check-in desk, but both lines were empty. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying, Around 70 airlines will be affected by the strike. While it was nice to have the screen out when I wanted it and stored when I didn't, I had to have it stored for taxi, takeoff and landing. The physical kind, of course. About 20 minutes later, the crew came around the cabin with meals. 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. 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. [flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Cabin and Seat" tpg-rating="21" tpg-rating-max="25" configuration="2" configuration-2="4" configuration-3="2" width="18.5" pitch="38" lavs="3" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. 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. Terms and conditions | Elsewhere in the terminal were Oneworld carriers like Qantas, American, Cathay, Japan Airlines and some British Airways flights. For passengers traveling in Premium with Virgin, there were two options for checking in: using a kiosk to print out your boarding pass or visiting a check-in agent. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Considering the value that can be had for redeeming miles for a Premium experience on this route, the product is a huge step up from standard economy and worth it on a route like this, a seven-hour jaunt between New York and London. Flight Review: Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy - Not The Winner In the evening, the Premium queue was even shorter than the one for Upper Class, and far quicker than economy, which was nearing capacity. Offer ends 5/3/23. I really try not to eat on planes and always aim to eat a healthy meal on destination time before departing for the airport. For each of the seats in the cabin, the tray table ejected from underneath one of the armrests. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Along with a choice of food from the menu. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Included in the IFE system was an AvGeek favorite, the tailcam. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. 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. 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. Inside were more environmentally friendly products, such as a bamboo toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, paper-wrapped pen, eye mask and earplugs. Even with the new aircraft, I didn't notice any signs the crew was unfamiliar with it. [flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Amenities and IFE" tpg-rating="12" tpg-rating-max="15" screen="13.3" movies="104" tv-shows="140" live-tv="No" tailcam="Yes" headphones="Yes" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /].