Flyers have plenty of options to hop across the Atlantic, especially on the busy route between New York and London. 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. Upper Class travelers (a cabin we reviewed recently too! The 730 seemed narrower. will join Delhi and Mumbai, which are served by the . As to the food, Im the worst person to ask. 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. BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY I did like the cute little airplane-shaped salt and pepper shakers. "And again, we have that Bluetooth connectivity, so at every seat, you can connect your headsets . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Is The White Lotus breaking up with Four Seasons ahead of Season 3? This means you can use the drinks service time to pick one of three mains. The main was hot and tasted great, and I could have easily gone for seconds. is a senior writer for TPG UK. The Dreamliner gives what feels like a much bigger seat. It was a feature that the crew announced prior to takeoff. Have you ever flown Virgin Atlantic in premium economy? There was also a bar with bartender service. Waiting for me on my seat when I boarded was a pillow, blanket and amenity kit. 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. Virgin Atlantic: Airbus A350-1000 (351) 38: 18.5: On-Demand TV: All Seats: AC Power: Yes: Recliner: Virgin Atlantic: Boeing . is The Points Guy's Global News Editor and is based in London. 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. Thats a lot better than most airlines these days. On this flight, the sandwiches included: mozzarella with green pesto, slow-roasted tomato and arugula; and salmon, soft cheese, arugula and cucumber. 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. Virgin also refreshed premium economy for the A350. But what was it really like? The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 aircraft features a three class configuration with 31 lie-flat bed Upper Class seats, 35 Premium Economy seats, and 198 standard Economy class seats. It wasn't a long trek from the duty-free maze to the gate, which was helpful considering I didn't leave much time for leisure at the airport. the Luxury Travel Expert 1.1M subscribers Subscribe Share 760K views 2 years ago Join me on a. Because it was free for everyone, I was worried that it would be on the slow side because of bandwidth issues. 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. With the ricotta and the spiciness of the tomato sauce and zest from the sweet peppers, it was a great dish. Use this seat map to get the most comfortable seats, legroom and recline before booking. Find the right card for you. They provided good sound quality while still feeling comfortable to wear. The answers yes. For example, the tray table and two drink spaces on the armrest were colored in a faux-granite design. Instead, other passengers and I were able to FaceTime with friends and family on the ground. I appreciated their high spirits for this early morning departure and they made me feel very welcome, but there were service gaps during mealtimes. . I counted 117 movies and 81 TV shows to choose from, including "Top Gun Maverick," "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" and "Sing 2." The card also earns 3 Virgin points per dollar spent on Virgin Atlantic tickets and duty-free items purchased directly from Virgin Atlantic. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. 38: 18.5: 21-27: 56: Economy. Booking Virgins premium economy on the cabin is a cant go wrong feeling. Virgin operates a mix of aircraft on this important route, with Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A330 and A350 aircraft being used each day. 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 screen tilted slightly up and down for easier viewing by folks of different heights, and it also had a USB charging point at its base. Crew then distributed menus for the flight, which included drinks, main courses and the teatime selections. While it was my fault for not realizing where the tortillas were held, I observed several passengers around me making the same mistake. And this flight was no different." My only minor gripe was the foreign language films. 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. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. However, this may not hold true. 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. Virgin Premium was the very first airline experience I reviewed for TPG roughly three-and-a-half years ago on a much older aircraft. As for service the virgin team are miles ahead. 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. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to God Save the Points with appropriate and specific directions to the original content. I headed to Gate 22 about 10 minutes before boarding was set to begin. If youre looking to beat the rush at immigration, this is a prize choice. 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. These seats are referred to as Extra Legroom Seats. There was the standard recline, the legrest option and a footrest option. Being in the front means you'll beat most of the plane through immigration. Personally, I've long been a fan of Virgin Atlantic, with its cheeky, fresh and fun approach to flying. The information for the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. Bookings made by credit card or debit card no longer incur a fee. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. 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. I chose a Brewdog Lost lager with my meal. That said, there were significant improvements with this product, as well as design decisions that went a long way in terms of enjoyment. 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. There were three choices for an entree fajita chicken, red Thai curry, or vegetarian shepherd's pie. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. 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. ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. 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. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Would we fly virgin premium again. This flight did not change my earlier thoughts that premium economy is currently overpriced across the industry. The dish was absolutely lovely and roaring with flavor. By comparison, Virgin Atlantic's A350 aircraft has 11.6-inch screens in the economy cabin. This means you can get a 4.5% return on these purchases based on TPG's valuations. But the real world doesnt often have the flexibility needed to enjoy those opportunities every time you fly, and you know what, it aint half bad. Related: Choose this, not that: JFK Priority Pass lounge edition. 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. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. It would have taken the crew only a few seconds to tidy up the trays before serving them, but instead, passengers had to do it themselves. 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. In the evening, the Premium queue was even shorter than the one for Upper Class, and far quicker than economy, which was nearing capacity. Based in New Delhi, India. 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. 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. Although I didn't sleep or lounge at all on this flight, I did recline the seat just to test the comfort of it. Review: How Good Is Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy? Note: some photos from this review are from a previous flight, where it was easier to snap the cabin. They had amazing staff there who treated me like an old friend. Your email address will not be published. This version features 335 seats, including 44 seats in Upper Class and 56 in Premium Economy, making it quite a . However, I did use my Priority Pass membership, which comes as a benefit of my Platinum Card from American Express (enrollment required). Virgin Atlantic flies 2 versions of Airbus A330-200 (332 . With new aircraft, several carriers are doing away with overhead air vents for passengers. Economy Premium. 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. My seat, 21A, was a bulkhead window seat, meaning there was no one seated in front of me. The past two months have been busy ones for the commercial aviation industry in the UK. How bad is it when the seat in front of you fully reclines? I was reminded of how phenomenal this cabin is, with one caveat which Ill get to. I found the footrest to be rather close in, but the added support was a huge win, especially on a long-haul flight. It seems like its getting better so fingers crossed? If you fly in the seat, its a benchmark premium experience, up there with Singapore Air and other leaders. For my main, I ordered the vegetarian meal, asparagus and ricotta gnocchi with spicy tomato sauce, sweet peppers and broccoli. Premium passengers were entitled to a generous two pieces of baggage, each up to 50 pounds in weight. Fully open, it was somewhat flimsy, though my 15-inch laptop could fit on it. Virgin Atlantic has 56 Premium seats on both layouts of its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. Other than that there was no storage around the seat. To cap off the meal was a slice of passion fruit cake. I didn't eat anything, as I wasn't hungry and wanted to save my appetite for when I got on board. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. This particular airframe, registered as G-VDOT, actually operated as a testbed for Airbus from 2017 until delivery to Virgin in September 2020, a neat trivia fact for any #AvGeek. 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. Check here before booking an award fare. It was served with a salted-caramel clair, passion-fruit-and-yuzu macaron and a scone with clotted cream and jam. Just before landing, the cabin crew came around with a final treat: Swizzels Love Hearts. Have you ever flown Virgin Atlantic in premium economy? 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. The cabin was arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration. As far as the quality, I found the pillows to be perfectly reasonable with stuffing. Not to be outdone, crosstown competitor Virgin Atlantic soon thereafter began taking delivery of its own A350s. Hot options seemed to be carb heavy: rice, two kinds of penne pasta and what appeared to be a chickpea dish. There was a literature pocket in the seatback in front of me as well as a thin open storage shelf below the inflight entertainment screen, which was handy for storing a phone or small tablet. Designated toilet area . I went for the chicken lasagna, which was well plated and came with a vacuum-sealed bread roll, chickpea salad, and dessert. Based on TPG's most recent valuations, those points were worth $103, not a bad return. However, with each award ticket comes a hefty amount of taxes and fees -- in this case about $250. The Virgin Atlantic Airways Airbus A350-1000 is the flagship of the airline's fleet (July 2019). All three courses appetizer, main and dessert were served at the same time, and I appreciated that they expedited the meal service this way. 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. I flew LHR to JNB in August. I'm torn about this. More of a wander basket. Is The White Lotus breaking up with Four Seasons ahead of Season 3? That breaks down to 44 seats in Upper Class, 56 in premium economy, and 235 seats in. 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Virgin's Premium queue likely shaved off substantial time from my check-in experience. We've written extensively about the premium economy offerings on Virgin's Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A350-1000s in the last year. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. There was some issue with getting the service up and running to begin with, but once it was, about 45 minutes into the flight, it worked seamlessly. I couldve just as easily used premium and finished in the same time. The mozzarella salad was tasty and fresh, though the portion was a little small given how light the first meal was. Observing the crew interactions with other passengers, including a couple with a young toddler, gave a really fun, attentive and caring feel. Certain hotels have resort fees. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. "And again, we have that Bluetooth connectivity, so at every seat, you can connect your headsets there . Virgin Atlantic premium economy seats recline between 7 and 8. 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. In the terminal, there were two Priority Pass lounges: No.1 Lounge and Club Aspire. Floor storage for personal effects is not available for use during takeoff and landing. Award availability on this route is usually good as there are multiple daily frequencies. Today it operates a stylish premium economy cabin, branded as Premium, on all its aircraft. I found the legrest and footrest on the bulkhead row to be useful. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 Seating Chart Most up-to-date seat map 2023. Pitch remains the same, but the seat did lose some points due to the standard footrest in front, which doesn't offer the most room to stretch out when sleeping. To start, there was only one option: a Cajun pasta salad of fusilli, mixed leaves and mustard vinaigrette. The lounge also boasted shower facilities, though those were subject to an additional charge. The headphones distributed were lightweight and insubstantial. Because my itinerary was booked shortly after Virgin put A350 flights on sale, award availability wasn't great. Virgin had dedicated check-in lanes for Premium guests (which Economy Delight, the most expensive economy class can also use). The crew insisted it was the real deal, so I tried a small glass and it did indeed taste like real Champagne. 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. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. I passed on the sparkles so that I could manage a flight without climbing over a seat mate, but many people were happily reveling. Obviously, everyone has their own needs, but I think people arent unaware. There was a small slot next to the seat, underneath the armrest. Premium, upgraded: A review of Virgin Atlantic's new Premium product on the A350, This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. I could imagine there being contention about who got the majority of it. A small decision goes a long way, in my eyes. On this route specifically, you can often find round-trip award flights for just 35,000 Flying Club miles plus taxes and fees. The first row and the last row of premium make up the dreamboat seats. For each of the seats in the cabin, the tray table ejected from underneath one of the armrests. Related: Sorry, aisle-seat fans: The window seat is the best in the air. The physical kind, of course. 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. As someone who goes from being hot to cold and vice versa quickly, I'm a huge fan of being able to control the air flow at my seat. In-flight connectivity The A350s come with wifi if you choose to pay for it. As in, my flight was just the aircraft's third commercial service. Less than one week before launching A350 service, Virgin unveiled its brand-new amenity kits, called "Goodie Bags." Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year. Airbus A350 seat map with The Loft. . Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Virgin's A350s come equipped Inmarsat's GX Aviation Wi-Fi. Invites will be sent 14 days in advance of the flight and booked on a first-come, first-served basis. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay up to date on everything travel, with our handy newsletter. The cabin was arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration. Find the best seat wiht our Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 (351) seating chart. 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.
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