American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. My flight was on the emptier side, so most passengers who were seated in the middle section of four seats had empty seats between them. I had a glass of the Casa Piero sauvignon blanc from Spain, which was bright and crisp. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Seats are in a 2-4-2 configuration, with everyone just one seat . I quickly noticed that there was no additional remote-control option, which likely helped to open up some storage space in the seat. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-200 economy seat map (Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic) Best economy seats on a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000. On board, Virgin Atlantic offers high-quality food and drink options, starting with a glass of bubbly before departure and continuing with meals served on real dishes with metal cutlery. Hot options seemed to be carb heavy: rice, two kinds of penne pasta and what appeared to be a chickpea dish. At present, you can choose your seat for free from when you make your booking when flying Virgin Atlantic Premium. The seats are wide, the drinks are cold, and the atmosphere is calming. Virgin Atlantic premium economy passengers get a dedicated Premium check-in and bag drop line. You won't get priority security or. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for websites like GoAbroad and Go Overseas. Premium economy allows access to a dedicated queue at check-in, early boarding, and extra baggage allowance. BERLIN Lufthansa's new Allegris generation of business class seats Allegris being the internal Lufthansa-mainline brand for this Lufthansa Group-wide generation of longhaul cabins, referred to across the airlines as FICE, for Future Inter-Continental Experience are a paradox of contrasts, both familiar and novel, an old story and a new approach. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Enjoy comfortable journey in the world's largest airline. Preferred seats are available at an extra charge, so if you'd really like to secure a seat towards the front of Economy or Premium, this is the way to go. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Seat Selection. Economy Light: Free at the airport or via online check-in, prior to the airport: 30 ($38) for standard seats and 40 ($56) for preferred seats. Sleeping. This Virgin Atlantic A330-300 configuration features 3 classes including Upper Class, Premium Economy, and Economy seating options. Each of the bulkhead seats had the advantage of both a leg- and a footrest. Cookie statement | The blanket was a deep purple with gold trim. Because my itinerary was booked shortly after Virgin put A350 flights on sale, award availability wasn't great. And the large premium economy cabins may lead to slow service. That said, there were significant improvements with this product, as well as design decisions that went a long way in terms of enjoyment. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Virgin Atlantic's trademark burgundy Premium seats, with a 38" pitch remain, but they're accompanied by calf rests in every seat and a 13.3" touchscreen with Bluetooth audio. There are more Dreamliners in Virgin's fleet than any other aircraft, so you're more than likely to encounter it on your route. On this flight, the sandwiches included: mozzarella with green pesto, slow-roasted tomato and arugula; and salmon, soft cheese, arugula and cucumber. 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. 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. Pricing is very similar. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Due to the differences in each aircraft, the Premium cabins vary quite significantly so it's good to know which aircraft you're flying on, and which seats to pick before you fly. The upgrade can cost as little as 7,500 Virgin points plus any associated taxes and fees (up to $180-$200 depending on the route). The 787s (and A330s) represent a huge leap for us and our whole industry in improving our carbon footprint. The Vi. While Virgin Atlantic premium economy passengers get airport perks like priority check-in and priority boarding, they don't get priority security or lounge access. This was a brand-new aircraft for Virgin. When it comes to onboard food and drink, Virgin Atlantic clearly aims to impress. . . . The minimum bid is linked to seat availability and how far out you choose to place one. Find the best seat wiht our Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-300 (333) seating chart. Accessibility | All Virgin Atlantic premium economy seats measure 38 inches of pitch. Still, Virgin Atlantic premium economy doesn't check all the boxes. Instead, I opted to pay cash for the round-trip itinerary from London (LHR) to New York-JFK. So how do we make money? Of course, in premium economy, you shouldn't expect Bose total noise-canceling headphones, but they could've done better than the economy offering. I swear I was considering going back and taking a forward facing seat in Premium Economy. It's also the farthest back you can sit before your view out the window starts getting too obstructed by the wing. Is the upgrade worth it? This innovative aircraft joined the Virgin Atlantic fleet in October 2014. How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2023? The Virgin Atlantic Airways Airbus A350-1000 is the flagship of the airline's fleet (July 2019). DAL appears to be using a 767-400 and VA uses the A330-300 to LHR and the A330-200 to MAN. As you might expect with an iconic founder like Sir Richard Branson, is built a bit differently from other airlines. As you might expect with an iconic founder like Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic is built a bit differently from other airlines. Upgrades for infants not occupying a seat will be charged at: Economy to Premium - 1,000 points per flight Premium to Upper Class - 2,500 points per flight We've picked the best seats based on the one that would be best for a solo traveler. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. After working as a tax accountant for a decade, JT turned his analytical skills to points, miles and credit cards. But the star of the show is an even more premium seat . And it's 4 more inches of legroom than what you'll find in Virgin Atlantic's extra-legroom Economy Delight seats. Bidding is rarely the cheapest way to upgrade so try to avoid overpaying here. You can watch our comparison of all three cabins on the Virgin A350 here. The building on the left was reserved for Virgin Atlantic and its close friend Delta. Additionally, because I was in the bulkhead row, my inflight-entertainment screen could be ejected from underneath the armrest. Premium Economy vs. Business Class: Cabin. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Welcome to Virgin Atlantic. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. To learn more about booking Premium economy using miles through Virgin's Flying Club, you can read our guide here. 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. Economy To Premium Economy On Virgin Atlantic: Is The Upgrade Worth It. Check out what you can expect flying in Virgin . Upon entering, I definitely got that new-plane smell. Overall, the meal service was enjoyable and tasty. Plus Ups are excluded. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free. . Because it was free for everyone, I was worried that it would be on the slow side because of bandwidth issues. Just enough to give you a big lift before you get to your destination. Shortly thereafter, it was time for tea service. Virgin Atlantic charges extra for bulkhead and other seats which have more legroom. Premium economy features pretty much the same seat on all Virgin Atlantic aircraft, with the exception of the Airbus A330-200. Why expect less? The first-class cabin, called Upper Class, offers amenities travelers have come to expect when flying in elevated luxury. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. The cabin was arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration. There are 56 seats in the cabin on both the Heathrow and 'leisure configured' A350s. Whats the value of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points? Plus, your own feed of TPG content. That small feature can make all the difference between a comfortable and uncomfortable flight. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. TPG U.K.'s Emily McNutt flew the product from London (LHR) to New York (JFK) on the A350 and noticed the two-and-a-half inches less of seat width is really quite noticeable and means the armrests are not really big enough for two to share. Service is one of those things that can either make or break a flight. Our opinions are our own. Taiwan's EVA Air and the UK's Virgin Atlantic were the ones who pioneered the in-between service class in the early 1990s, . Virgin Atlantic advertises that these amenity kits are only for overnight flights. 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. While not a huge space, and definitely not enough to store a laptop, it was sufficient for my passport, AirPods and my phone. By contrast, on the carrier's old A340s, 747s, 787s and A330-300s, Premium seats have 21 inches of pitch in a 2-3-2 configuration, though the 747 is also a 2-4-2 because it's a wider aircraft. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. It's worth noting that taxes and fees can sometimes reach or exceed $500. As far as food, there was a decent selection, both hot and cold. Then again, the catch is that Virgin Atlantic has hefty carrier imposed surcharges on award tickets, so you're going to be paying . Passengers can choose their seat online as soon as they book . See more IndiGo, our newest codeshare partner. is The Points Guy's Global News Editor and is based in London. My TPG UK colleague Dan Ross has reviewed all of LHR's lounges, and he's determined that, between the Priority Pass options in T3, Club Aspire is the way to go. All three courses appetizer, main and dessert were served at the same time, and I appreciated that they expedited the meal service this way. In-flight entertainment: Virgin Atlantic boasts over 300 hours of movies and TV shows in premium economy. Depending on your route, an upgrade might just make sense. Virgin cramped up the cabin and seat by shrinking the width of its Premium seats to just 18.5 inches. Book your Economy Delight seat today. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. BUY OUR BRAND-NEW TPG UK MERCHANDISE HERE: https://represent.com/store/thepointsguyukWe flew on Virgin Atlantic's brand new A350 in all three cabins for our . Overhead storage in Virgin Atlantic premium economy. Baggage 1 x 10kg hand luggage 2 x 23kg checked bag* Priority baggage delivery. She might be old, but she offered the most private Premium experience of all of Virgin's aircraft. Learn more. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food. Related reading: Virgin Atlantic reveals 5th A350 destination. It was a feature that the crew announced prior to takeoff. Given that moving up to this offering can be as little as 60 ($73), it gives a serious premium economy a serious run for its money. Prior to landing, the crew came through the cabin offering water or juice as a prearrival drink. cons="Somewhat narrow seats and flimsy headphones." With 35 seats in total in a slightly staggered 2-3-2 configuration, the cabin is cozy and compact. Choose Economy Classic for the great value service you know and love, including 23kg baggage allowance, plus hand luggage and free seat selection. Bookings made by credit card or debit card no longer incur a fee. Virgin Atlantic A330-900neo Premium. It's worth noting just how big Virgin Atlantic premium economy cabins are. To justify its price, Virgin Atlantic offers some nice touches to the onboard service. There was plenty of room in the standard overhead bin and a pocket in the seat-back for storage. The second reason is that the entire cabin is situated on and behind the wing, meaning that there's no real decent vantage spot anywhere in the cabin. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Each one is 21 inches wide and has 38 inches of pitch. Just before landing, the cabin crew came around with a final treat: Swizzels Love Hearts. Even the extra-legroom Economy Delight fares get only one free checked bag. The drink was served with sour-cream-and-chive pretzels. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Virgin Atlantic's A330-300s have seven rows of Premium, mostly in a 2-3-2 configuration. At boarding, each of the seats in the Premium cabin was stocked with all of the amenities for the flight: a plastic-wrapped blanket, pillow, amenity kit and set of headphones. To cap off the meal was a slice of passion fruit cake. Our Economy cabin provides brilliant service, great food and inflight entertainment. Find our best fares on your next flights to the US and beyond, with a fantastic choice of food, drinks, award winning entertainment and onboard WiFi. SeatSpy Pricing. Or, if you're a Flying Club or Virgin Red member, you can use your Virgin Points to upgrade. How Much Does It Cost To Fly Virgin Atlantic?, headquartered in Chicago, is the world's largest airline . Wi-Fi typically costs 20.99 pounds (about $26) for the full flight. Was a bit nervous whether it would really recline fully. The A350 has a slightly tighter layout with a width of 18.5" vs 17.4" and the same pitch of 38" vs 31-34". Screen sizes vary by aircraft but this time the pattern is reversed from what you can expect with seats. The first is that instead of the usual 2-3-2 configuration on most of its own aircraft and many other premium economy cabins around the world, the airline decided to go for a more tightly packed 2-4-2 config. 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. The seats are still 21 inches wide and 38 inches in pitch with the same 2-3-2 configuration, but the cabin is significantly larger. 22 D: None: No Power Let us know if you need any help and we'll make you feel at home, no matter where you're sitting. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. I got the mozzarella and an English breakfast tea. On our night flights, you'll be given a Premium amenity kit in a smart wallet, containing all the essentials youll need for a great flight. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Not to be outdone, crosstown competitor Virgin Atlantic soon thereafter began taking delivery of its own A350s. The airline's fleet consists of 10 Airbus A330-300, 11 Airbus A340-600, 12 Boeing 747-400 and seven Boeing 787-9 planes. By contrast, on the carrier's old A340s, 747s, 787s and A330-300s, Premium seats have 21 inches of pitch in a 2-3-2 configuration, though the 747 is also a 2-4-2 . If you'd rather speed through the airport using Premium check in desks and priority boarding (to get first dibs on overhead storage), Economy Delight offers all this, plus extra legroom on board. Taxes, fees, and carrier imposed surcharges apply to all reward flights. If you're looking to travel in style, this is the way to do it. Virgin Atlantic A330-900neo Premium. Top picks: 20A, 20K or row 25. Seat 22 C is a standard Economy Class seat that Virgin Atlantic designates as "Economy Delight". Virgin Atlantic boasts over 300 hours of movies and TV shows in premium economy. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Premium Upper Class; Width of seat: Up to 17 inches: Up to 17 inches: 21 inches: 22 inches: Seat recline: 5 inches: 5 inches: Up to 8 inches: 17-42 degrees and . There is also a pull-out footrest - or if you are in the front row the attendant brings a footrest all of your own. We plan to sit in Premium Economy. The cabin crew on board was absolutely phenomenal and uniquely Virgin. Austrian . Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Serving up a restaurant experience in the sky. Economy Delight allows you to check in at Premium Economy check in desks, enjoy priority boarding, and get first dibs on overhead storage. Several times prior to takeoff and upon landing, the crew took particular interest in reminding passengers it was a new aircraft and how to enjoy its new features. The aircraft showed its youth especially considering that we were parked next to one of the oldest aircraft in the airline's fleet, an A340-600 that was brought out of retirement in February 2018. Find the right card for you. Included extras Upgradeable with Virgin Points Extra legroom seat Premium check in Priority boarding Top picks: 45A and 45K. Here's a look at a menu from one of our recent trips. I tried a bite of it and didn't go back. 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