virgin atlantic premium vs upper class

Virgin Atlantic offers priority baggage handling to Premium passengers. The extra recline also enables me to sleep for a short period if needs be. Our Economy cabin provides brilliant service, great food and inflight entertainment. You can access Gatwick South Lounges for free with the free (in the first year) American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card, which comes with two Lounge Club passes that can be immediately used at the Priority Pass lounges to enjoy free drinks and food. Our Economy seats are a generous width of up to 17 inches on all of our planes. This page tells you about the seat dimensions in each of our cabins. Cookie statement | Accessibility | Well, it is. 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. When flying in Premium Economy, you don’t get access to any Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounges unless you are a high tier member. Generally, I find award availability through Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Clubto be pretty good, and had there been availability on the flight we needed, it would have cost 47,500 miles plus 447 pounds (about $550) in taxes and fees. 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. If you have an Amex Platinum card, you have one less reason why flying in Business Class is significantly better than flying in Economy. Their management team and staff have a jolly mindset and genuinely seem to care. Sleeping upright, even reclined upright, is difficult. Each one is 21 inches wide and has 38 inches of pitch. Enjoy Economy. The seats looked tight and coffin like….. Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class. These are the best Upper-Class seats in the fleet. In conclusion, the older Business Class seats aren’t great, but they are still significantly better than Premium Economy. Delta One v Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Review. Contact us via our Luxury Travel Concierge page to get a referral link and the extra bonus points. Is it worth paying to upgrade your next flight from Premium Economy to Business Class? 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. My gosh they were all so lovely. You definitely get more and a better choice of food when traveling in Upper-Class Vs. They are a fun airline. Here’s a review of Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy. 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. In fact, the width of Virgin’s Premium Economy seats ranges from 18-21 inches. First class (international flights): 19”-35” width and 58”-94” pitch. You also have a touch screen High Definition TV, a USB power plug, as well as the TV remote control. On BA, you have to check-in with coach passengers. Please read our travel news updates before flying. This is what you pay using Avios for a BA or JAL redemption: There are no fuel surcharges added to ANA redemptions using Virgin miles. If your company is paying for your flights, book Premium, or Business, or First Class! Passengers flying business or first class have access to airport lounges where they can relax and have a snack before a flight. I flew Virgin Atlantic Upper Class on their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from London to Los Angeles, which ended up being my favourite flight I've ever taken! Virgin also offers priority boarding all over the world for Premium Economy passengers, after their Upper-Class passengers have been asked to board. This means that Premium Economy is less than half the price of flying in Business in Flying Club Miles. Virgin Atlantic Carry-On Allowance: Passengers in Economy Light, Economy Class, Economy Delight, and Premium are permitted to bring 1 piece of carry-on luggage plus 1 personal item, such as a handbag or small backpack. Upper Class is Virgin Atlantic’s equivalent to business class. The champagne was Gardet Bru Premier Cru and pleasant. Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class …and the cabin felt like it had been part of a “how many seats can we cram in” exercise. 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. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Seating This is not the case on British Airways. Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class. Bookings made by credit card or debit card no longer incur a fee. Or impossible. Privacy policy | Bid & win a luxury hotel stay or travel item for your next vacation. 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. Virgin’s has an entirely separate entrance to the main terminal where you c… Enjoy our Upper Class cabin which is rammed full of luxury. Besides offering generally solid award availability, it’s easy to accrue Virgin Miles in F… The Virgin Clubhouse lounges are super fun and also offer a larger variety of food and drinks than the Priority Pass and paid lounges, which are your only option if you are flying Premium Economy and are not a high tier member. Virgins Clubhouse lounges and great, so they offer a major advantage if you are flying in Business Class over Premium Economy. The advantages of the Virgin layout are privacy, as you face a wall rather than another passenger. Discover the Premium and Upper Class flight sale here at Virgin Atlantic. There is a dedicated Virgin Atlantic Upper-Class check-in. 17 – two seats. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft 3 Seater Lounge Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Area. It seems that the Virgin upper class configuration on the A330 is sometimes criticized as the seats being cramped and narrow. This handy table shows the seat width, pitch and legroom in each of our cabins. We were swaying back and forth, and the angled seats meant that you feel it even more. There’s quite a difference between the Premium Economy seats across the fleet. 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. British Airways doesn’t. 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. If you fly on British Airways Club World, you run the risk of being in the middle pair of seats. A Luxury Concierge Offering Free Upgrades, Plus Travel Auctions, News, Tips & Reviews Of The World's Best Hotels, support / Privacy / Terms Registered in England, Number: 09272966 Copyright © 2014 - 2021 Luxury Travel Diary Limited. In premium, screens on Virgin are again marginally larger at 13.5” vs 13.3”. 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. To accompany your meal, there was a selection of fine wine from Berry Bros. and Rudd, one of the UK’s most respected wine merchants, or a choice of beers, spirits, etc. Flat seats allow you to sleep. 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! The Upper Class wing is quite different to BA’s First Wing and both have their own advantages. 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. The cabin can be a little worn and tatty. Virgin currently only operates long-haul routes using wide-bodied aircraft — each one complete with an Upper Class … Fly with us to over 30 destinations in style, including our award-winning Premium cabin. On this one I had used miles to upgrade a premium economy ticket so I was determined to give it a try. Upper Class passengers also have access to a chauffeured transfer at both ends of the journey, as well as the option of a ‘Limobike’ transfer in London, a motorcycle transfer that helps you avoid London traffic - but if that’… Here are a few ways to make the most out of your next Upper Class Virgin Atlantic experience. For unlimited airport lounge access, whether you are flying Economy or Premium Economy, Business or First, you will need to apply for the Platinum American Express card. 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. Alternatively, you can opt for an Exit row seat from £49, which offers more room in front of you to stretch out in. Upper-Class seats are bigger and you can sleep on them, Better food and more choice of food and drink, Amenity kit which includes skincare products and various travel accessories. BA only offers priority boarding out of Heathrow. But there are more differences between the two than are obvious at first glance! 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. Wherever you choose to fly, we reveal the secret to getting the best deal at luxury hotels, once you get to your destination, so that you not only fly but also stay in style. The result of these upright seats is that you can feel pretty grotty after no sleep on a Premium Economy flight when you get to your destination. Head over to My booking where you can see the available seats for your flight and choose your favourite spot. After all, the entire plane will get to its destination, whichever class you are sitting in. 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. Later in the flight, you could eat a choice of sandwiches, cakes, jam, and clotted cream scones or a burger as my flight was a day flight. The ones on their A340 are some of the worst and look tatty. 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. Examples of puddings include lemon curd sponge, which was very good, and strawberry panna cotta. 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. Still, for overnight flights, the flatbed makes all the difference. Virgin Atlantic also offers priority baggage handling to Premium passengers as well as Business Class passengers. The cabin contains 16 rows per 3 seats on each. Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class cabin in the morning. The seats convert into a 79” fully flat bedand come with a quilted blanket and comfortable pillows. 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. 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. With so many different amenities and pricing models, it might seem like they’re virtually equivalent. You get 2 hold suitcases when traveling in Premium Economy, which is a big bonus. What is great beyond the wide reclining chairs with footrests is an enhanced menu offering served on china with stainless steel cutlery. Premium economy is located just behind the Upper Class “loft bar”, which means if you’re looking to make a quick getaway from the flight, this is a great option. If you want lounge access, you can buy or use a Priority Pass to access alternative lounges. Virgin also offers priority boarding all over the world for Premium Economy passengers, after their Upper-Class passengers have been asked to board. If you can’t find availability on the ANA flights from London, they also fly to Tokyo from Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Brussels, and Paris. Flying London Heathrow LHR to New York JFK one way costs 20,000 Virgin Club miles in Economy + taxes and fees, 35,000 Virgin Club miles in Premium Economy + taxes and fees, 95,000 Virgin Club miles in Business/Upper Class + taxes and fees. The major differentiator comes at night as the Premium Economy seats do not recline to a flatbed so you are unlikely to achieve any length of sleep in Premium Economy when compared to Business Class. Our approach was extremely turbulent, especially at lower altitudes. When comparing Upper Class to its rivals, it’s definitely a Business Class rather than a First Class service, but it’s one of the best around. 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. Even if the price is your biggest factor when choosing between Premium Economy and Business Class, Premium Economy can mean that you avoid wasting a day of your holiday, which may ultimately be worth more than the price difference. Premium Economy tickets are bookable with SkyMiles for about 40 percent fewer miles than Upper Class, depending on the route. Virgin’s Premium Economy has so many advantages. It’s worth paying the extra to upgrade from Economy if you can afford it. All that said, whichever plane you fly on, for an overnight flight, Virgin’s Upper Class gives you the chance of getting some sleep. Be it the old or the new Business Class. Additional fares (fuel surcharges) are also much less in premium economy. I have compared British Airways Premium Economy Vs Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy. You will only have to pay the usual Air Passenger Duty, Heathrow departure taxes, etc. Recently I flew to London for a few days and I was so excited to learn I was upgraded to Upper Class Virgin Atlantic for my return flight. 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. We discuss whether it’s worth upgrading from Premium Economy to Business, particularly if you are flying on an unrefurbished plane. Registered office: Registered office: The VHQ, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9DF 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. Virgin’s Upper Class screen wins by 0.5” at 18.5”. Virgin offers priority boarding all over the world for Premium Economy passengers. Virgin enables you to select your Premium Economy seat for free. We flown from London to Miami on Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic on a Airbus 333. It can be difficult to choose between business class on different airlines, and selecting Virgin Atlantic Upper Class or British Airways Club World is no exception. ©2019 Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. All rights reserved. Virgin Atlantic is one of the few reliable option left in the Delta SkyMiles program. This matters if you are potentially ruining the first day of your trip because you’ve not spent the extra on upgrading your flight. 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. The difference in cost is significant when you upgrade from Premium Economy to Upper Class. Reviews of the best hotels, resorts & transport for hi end travellers. Fly in Club Europe or Business Class, and you can take THREE bags at 32kg each. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced. If you are booked onto an unrefurbished plane, you may be extremely disappointed by both the Premium Economy and Business Class seats. In fact, there are 17 rows but the row 1 contains one seat, and the row No. 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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