Virgin also offers priority boarding all over the world for Premium Economy passengers, after their Upper-Class passengers have been asked to board. Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy is supposed to be 2.5 inches wider seat than British Airways (according to published figures). The free Amex Gold Card is an incredible deal with a huge free bonus of Membership Rewards and even more if you apply through our referral link. Virgin Atlantic is a small airline with a limited number of routes but keep in mind that you can spend their air miles on different airlines if their limited and largely transatlantic route network doesn’t work for you. In all honesty, for a transatlantic flight flying New York to London, if I am traveling during the day, Premium Economy does the job almost as well as Business Class. Premium. The biggest reason to upgrade from Premium Economy is to get sleep. Virgin Atlantic also offers priority baggage handling to Premium passengers as well as Business Class passengers. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced. Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class …and the cabin felt like it had been part of a “how many seats can we cram in” exercise. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Steals. Economy Delight allows you to check in at Premium Economy check in desks, enjoy priority boarding, and get first dibs on overhead storage. Alternatively, you can opt for an Exit row seat from £49, which offers more room in front of you to stretch out in. The seats looked tight and coffin like….. Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class. Why we’d choose Virgin Upper Class. On the 747, the Premium Economy cabin is situated between Upper Class and economy and features 35 reclining seats arranged in a 2-3-2 layout. Though it’s always been a fun way to fly, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class is getting a serious makeover this year with flights operated by the A350. We have already compared British Airways Vs. Virgin in Premium Economy. Sleeping upright, even reclined upright, is difficult. Virgin Atlantic goes with the herringbone layout for their Upper-Class cabin, where seats are angled, which feels odd, with window seats facing towards the cabin’s center. They are a fun airline. Privacy policy | When Virgin Atlantic unveiled Upper Class in 1984, the concept was revolutionary: the “bubble” upstairs in the Boeing 747 was transformed into a luxury loft. Is it worth paying to upgrade your next flight from Premium Economy to Business Class? Accessibility | Once you fly Upper Class, it’s kind of hard to fly anything else.This wasn’t my first time flying Upper Class and I was so glad to be back. Answer 1 of 5: I had planned to splurge on business class for an upcoming transatlantic flight, but after reading some negative reviews about the flight which is likely to be an A330 on Virgin Atlantic, I'm doubting whether the upgrade is worth it. Seat 23 C is a standard Economy Class seat that Virgin Atlantic designates as "Economy Delight". About 30 minutes before landing the captain came on the PA to inform us that we’d be touching down at around 11:10AM, only about 20 minutes behind schedule. As I said when I reviewed the Clubhouse, every Virgin Atlantic employee I interacted with the entire day was incredibly friendly, and the crew in particular stood out. In premium, screens on Virgin are again marginally larger at 13.5” vs 13.3”. There is a dedicated Virgin Atlantic Upper-Class check-in. The extra recline also enables me to sleep for a short period if needs be. Please read our travel news updates before flying. The Latest News We Think Every Lover Of Luxury Travel Needs To Know. ©2019 Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. All rights reserved. You also have a touch screen High Definition TV, a USB power plug, as well as the TV remote control. This page tells you about the seat dimensions in each of our cabins. Your personal space is significantly larger and better in Upper Class than in Premium Economy. You get 2 hold suitcases when traveling in Premium Economy, which is a big bonus. While Premium Economy does have more space and better food than the Economy as well as more and better drinks, business Class or Upper Class is better, particularly on the A350 aircraft. Virgin enables you to select your Premium Economy seat for free. The cabin contains 16 rows per 3 seats on each. I’m a big fan of Virgin Atlantic. Bookings made by credit card or debit card no longer incur a fee. For starters, ANA offers the best and most cost-effective way to fly from Europe to Asia and the Business Class deal is so good that you don’t even need to consider flying Premium Economy (you can also earn Virgin Flying Club miles when booking cash tickets on ANA): These are brilliant rates in Business and First when compared to British Airways Avios redemptions. Terms and conditions | They do have a very good recline though and there is a foot rest for each seat making it even easier to stretch your legs. If you fly on British Airways Club World, you run the risk of being in the middle pair of seats. You can shop via their shopping e-portal which will earn you miles from everyday grocery and clothing purchases etc. Once you board the plane you will be very please with the Upper Class Seating and Configuration. Yet due to the short red-eye flight, I didn’t have time to test it out. Well, it is. Canadian tariffs. After all, the entire plane will get to its destination, whichever class you are sitting in. The welcome at the door sets a good first-impression and combined with simple purple mood-lighting and attractively laid out bar area (for the Upper-Class cabin) there is a prestigious feel. This matters if you are potentially ruining the first day of your trip because you’ve not spent the extra on upgrading your flight. Virgin currently only operates long-haul routes using wide-bodied aircraft — each one complete with an Upper Class … You can book Premium Economy, Business, and First on other airlines. Our Economy cabin provides brilliant service, great food and inflight entertainment. It is worth noting that the Boeing 787 service offers one of the newer versions of the Upper-Class seat (with a curvier seat shell and a new shade of purply leather), but the Virgin seat varies across aircraft types. You would feel much better if you flew in Business Class. The seat are large and confortable, and the food is well above economy quality, the toilet are together with the business class, overall excellent. The advantages of the Virgin layout are privacy, as you face a wall rather than another passenger. We flown from London to Miami on Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic on a Airbus 333. Add to this. With so many different amenities and pricing models, it might seem like they’re virtually equivalent. Yes, he certainly gets a lot more premium flights than me! We were swaying back and forth, and the angled seats meant that you feel it even more. Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class cabin in the morning. Virgin’s Premium Economy has so many advantages. Virgin’s Upper Class screen wins by 0.5” at 18.5”. All that said, whichever plane you fly on, for an overnight flight, Virgin’s Upper Class gives you the chance of getting some sleep. Premium Economy. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Suite Airbus A330 Aircraft (Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic) Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Suite Boeing 787-9 Aircraft (Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic) “Suite And Inncocent” Now this is frankly bizarre. Once in a while, you may feel like treating yourself, or perhaps have worked hard saving up your air miles, or like my husband, you have to fly a lot for work and one of the perks is having your company stump up the bill for a business class flight. It seems that the Virgin upper class configuration on the A330 is sometimes criticized as the seats being cramped and narrow. If you want lounge access, you can buy or use a Priority Pass to access alternative lounges. I would not pay to upgrade from Premium Economy to Business Class on a transatlantic daytime flight, particularly on the short ones from London to New York. Premium Economy; the cost, the seat, the food, the check-in, and the airport lounge. Virgin Atlantic is one of the few reliable option left in the Delta SkyMiles program. Head over to My booking where you can see the available seats for your flight and choose your favourite spot. The new Upper-Class product features an all-new flat-bed seat measuring 6ft 10in, a sliding privacy door, and an area known as The Loft for socializing can be found on Virgin Atlantic’s new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft on the Heathrow-New York JFK route. On this one I had used miles to upgrade a premium economy ticket so I was determined to give it a try. You just access the lounge with your Business Class ticket. Passengers in Upper Class are permitted to bring 2 pieces of carry-on luggage plus 1 personal item. The seats convert into a 79” fully flat bedand come with a quilted blanket and comfortable pillows. The ones on their A340 are some of the worst and look tatty. Virgin Atlantic offers priority baggage handling to Premium passengers. This is a major advantage of flying in Business Class and a major advantage over British Airways, who let you have only TWO 32kg bags each. You then get up to 4 unlimited free airport lounge passes as you can get two people into the most Priority Pass and all Centurion airport lounges by flashing your Platinum card. If you have an Amex Platinum card, you have one less reason why flying in Business Class is significantly better than flying in Economy. With my referral link, you will also get bonus points. Here’s a review of Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy. Virgins Clubhouse lounges and great, so they offer a major advantage if you are flying in Business Class over Premium Economy. For me, the extra elbow room in the Premium Economy seats enables me to work more comfortably on my laptop. Upper Class is significantly more expensive, and the product is but is also inconsistent across the fleet, so you may or may not get lucky with your plane type and the Upper-Class seat you experience on your flight. Cookie statement | It’s worth paying the extra to upgrade from Economy if you can afford it. The snack bar on the 787 aircraft also offers a place to walk to and collect free snacks and drinks on a help-yourself basis, which we like. Still, for overnight flights, the flatbed makes all the difference. The Loft is unique and follows the trend of Emirates with their onboard bars, “As the largest social space in the airline’s fleet, it’s designed for customers to gather, chat, enjoy a drink or dine with friends,” says Virgin. The good news is that if you fly in Upper Class, you don’t have to faff around with Priority Passes or Lounge Passes or credit cards. But the difference is greater between the old and new Business Class or Upper-Class seats. When flying in the Premium Economy seat, the wider seat with additional pitch is incredibly useful. Virgin also offers priority boarding all over the world for Premium Economy passengers, after their Upper-Class passengers have been asked to board. For unlimited airport lounge access, you will need to apply for the Platinum card right here. Explore our cabins. This seat has an additional 4" of legroom compared to Economy Class seats. Additional fares (fuel surcharges) are also much less in premium economy. Virgin offers a special Premium Economy check-in desk. Now we review Virgin Atlantic Business Class named “Upper Class” Vs. Virgin Atlantic also offers priority baggage handling to Premium passengers as well as Business Class passengers. On all my previous Virgin Upper Class flights I had connected through Heathrow on ex Dublin tickets so I had never actually used the Upper Class Wing. Here you’ll find short lines for check-in and security, so you can maximise your time in Virgin Atlantic’s well-stocked Heathrow lounge. Examples of puddings include lemon curd sponge, which was very good, and strawberry panna cotta. You definitely get more and a better choice of food when traveling in Upper-Class Vs. I also have reviewed Virgin Atlantic in Upper Class. In terms of pricing, expect to pay in the region of £300 GBP return for the cheapest “economy light” fare on Virgin Atlantic from London to New York. If your company is paying for your flights, book Premium, or Business, or First Class! On my most recent Virgin flight from London to San Francisco, before take-off, I was offered a glass of champagne and crisps?! You will only have to pay the usual Air Passenger Duty, Heathrow departure taxes, etc. It is fairly easy it is to collect Flying Club miles, even without flying Virgin Atlantic or its partners. Flat seats allow you to sleep. With a range of cabin classes available with Virgin Atlantic, you can design the way want to fly, so take a look at all the different cabins and seating options. On BA, you have to check-in with coach passengers. Discover Economy. For more info about your exact wiggle room on each plane, take a look at our fleet pages. Their management team and staff have a jolly mindset and genuinely seem to care. Virgin Atlantic Airways: Upper Class Vs Premium Economy - See 15,153 traveler reviews, 2,724 candid photos, and great deals for Virgin Atlantic Airways, at Tripadvisor. Virgin Atlantic First class seats (Upper) Virgin Atlantic Business class seats (Premiun) Airport Lounges. Discover Economy. Bid & win a luxury hotel stay or travel item for your next vacation. Discover the Premium and Upper Class flight sale here at Virgin Atlantic. The downside of this is that the booths are so private that you will have difficulty sharing the flight with your partner or children as you can’t see anyone else! This is not the case on British Airways. The Virgin Atlantic Upper Class experience starts well before you board the plane with a chauffeured car service to and from the airport plus access to their award winning Clubhouse lounge at the airport. When comparing BA Business Class Vs. Virgin Business (Upper Class), British Airways has a great new Business Class while Virgin has an inconsistent Business Class across its fleet, so the winner is not so clear cut. If you can’t find availability on the ANA flights from London, they also fly to Tokyo from Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Brussels, and Paris. Business Class 'Great Escapade' tickets (in conjunction with Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Silk Air) represent fantastic round the world value for money. In this review, we focus on the worst and best Premium Economy and Upper-Class seats on Virgin Atlantic. Flying Club is also a transfer partner of most of the major point currencies: Remember, if you collect flying club miles, you are not restricted to using them on the Virgin Atlantic route network only. It goes from a cozy, solid seat to a brand new suite, with loads of privacy and lots more space to store your stuff. Travel tips for the luxury traveler featuring guides comparisons & more. A 32-inch television screen allows up to 8 passengers to pair Bluetooth headsets to the screen. All Rights Reserved, Join our mailing list for exclusive updates, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 1 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 2 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 3 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 4 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 5 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 6 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 7 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 8 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 9 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 10 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 11 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 12 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 13 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 14 of 15, Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Vs Upper Class Image 15 of 15, Book with us for free upgrades & benefits at Four Season's & Other Luxury Hotels, secret to getting the best deal at luxury hotels, UK & US American Express Membership Rewards (1:1, instant transfer), US Readers: Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1, instant transfer), US Readers: Citi ThankYou Points (1:1, instant transfer), Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 with a 5,000-mile bonus for transferring 60,000 points, less than 48 hour transfer time), That means that it’s easy to earn transferable points to transfer to Flying Club, Economy return flight (London to Tokyo) is 65,000 Virgin miles, Business return flight (London to Tokyo) is 95,000 Virgin miles, First return flight (London to Tokyo) is 120,000 Virgin miles, Economy return flight (London to Tokyo) is 39,000 Avios off-peak or 60,000 Avios peak, Business return flight (London to Tokyo) is 150,000 Avios off-peak or 180,000 Avios peak, First return flight (London to Tokyo) is 204,000 Avios off-peak or 240,000 Avios peak, Access to the Virgin Atlantic airport lounges, Exclusivity. 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