Boarding took place via two entrances to the aircraft: one for Upper Class passengers and a rear door for Premium and economy passengers. Virgin Airbus A350 | A350 Configuration | Virgin Atlantic Flight Review: Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy - Not The Winner And this flight was no different." Virgin Premium Economy - Airbus A350 DoorsToAuto 3.15K subscribers Description 17K views 5 months ago See the Virgin Premium Economy experience in this review of Virgin Atlantic. One was soft and fluffy while the other was overcooked and as hard as a rock. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. The best part was the chocolate brownie bar, cementing Virgin's prowess in making and choosing desserts. Upper Class travelers (a cabin we reviewed recently too! I tend to chose foreign films I cant easily stream in the UK. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy customers enjoy a dedicated Premium check in lane and are able to check two bags. Each of the Collins Aerospace MiQ seats featured 38 inches of pitch and 7 inches of recline. 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. The food, however, was a comedy of errors, including the wrong items being loaded for the tiny first meal, the messy, upside-down tray for the second meal (with someone else's special order initially served), the hidden tortillas and the warm beer. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). The flight is blocked at six hours and 45 minutes, though it is often much quicker than this, usually at least one hour shorter. [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" /]. 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying. "Starlux is a premier global airline offering world-class service and amenities," said Nap Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance . There were three lavatories in the Premium cabin, which I found to be a perfect number for the number of passengers on my flight. Unfortunately, no Priority Pass lounges were open prior to my 8:15 a.m. departure, either. Ports are easy to reach, which helps me remember not to leave anything behind. Premium Economy Class Comparison Chart - SeatGuru Virgin has long been an industry leader in premium economy products, and this helps the carrier continue to make waves in offering a great experience for passengers in the Premium cabin. It still is, sometimes. VS should be entitled to compete for more slots at their base hub to provide some real competition! Related: Watch TPG UK review all 3 cabins on Virgin Atlantic's brand-new Airbus A350. With new aircraft, several carriers are doing away with overhead air vents for passengers. 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. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying, Breakfast did not match up to dinner. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. In-flight connectivity The A350s come with wifi if you choose to pay for it. AUSTRIAN AIRLINES. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Even for a premium economy snob which I am these seats are excellent. Families, or groups of colleagues may prefer the middle four. As a regular premium economy traveler, I remarked to the crew that Champagne was not usually served in these cabins. Find the right card for you. However, my own personal issue with premium economy remains: You are seated upright for the duration of your journey. I chose orange juice and coffee to go with it I did at least appreciate the sturdy mug the coffee was served in. However, the decisive factor will always be . Not to be outdone, crosstown competitor Virgin Atlantic soon thereafter began taking delivery of its own A350s. Thats what travel is for, right? Recliner. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. This seat definitely felt tight around my hips. During the second meal service, the crew accidentally served me a special gluten-free meal that I had not ordered. I was ravenous by the time the trolleys appeared again in the cabin for the second meal service, about an hour before landing. Even with the new aircraft, I didn't notice any signs the crew was unfamiliar with it. 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. On the A350, The Loft occupies the area in front of the door, giving all passengers a view of the social space reserved for passengers at the front of the plane. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. For each of the seats in the cabin, the tray table ejected from underneath one of the armrests. I did the same journey to AUS on the 380 and back from LAX on the new plane. The PE offering was far better than BA and the crew were amazing. The information for the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. The headphones weren't noise-canceling but were still a definite step up from the pairs being handed out in economy. Premium passengers were entitled to a generous two pieces of baggage, each up to 50 pounds in weight. 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. It was definitely an exciting experience to see the shiny new A350-1000, registration G-VLUX, a three-year-old bird. It seems like its getting better so fingers crossed? But, depending on how you use your points, you may be able to get even more than $450 in value from them. Personally, I've long been a fan of Virgin Atlantic, with its cheeky, fresh and fun approach to flying. All this being said, the Virgin A350 seats aren't uncomfortable in any way. 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. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Observing the crew interactions with other passengers, including a couple with a young toddler, gave a really fun, attentive and caring feel. Lufthansa is adding routes to India, with the airline adding Munich to Bangalore, to be served with an Airbus A350 three times a week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Although I didn't sleep or lounge at all on this flight, I did recline the seat just to test the comfort of it. As they could be adjusted in and out more easily. And in this case, it was just about as good as it gets. There was the standard recline, the legrest option and a footrest option. 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. All information about Airbus A350-1000 Virgin Atlantic Interior First class Business class Check-in Baggage | SeatMaps . Additionally, the seats not by the bulkhead had upper and lower seatback storage spaces primarily for literature like the new A350-1000 safety cards. Like, a lot. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 Seating Chart Most up-to-date seat map 2023. 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 Have you ever flown Virgin Atlantic in premium economy? Our story; Business as a force for good; Media centre; Annual reports; 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Well, not a joy for my hopes of a flat bed, but a joy to see the world traveling again. Taking off at 7PM in New York, its already midnight UK time, so im desperate to conk out ASAP and did exactly that on this flight. Each of the Premium-cabin seats besides the bulkhead seats featured a built-in IFE screen in the back of the headrest. Overall, the premium economy on the A350-1000 is a competitive product, still giving British Airways a run for its money. It is flown by a mix of aircraft, but fortunately on my day of travel, an A350 was scheduled to operate the service. I found the footrest to be rather close in, but the added support was a huge win, especially on a long-haul flight. Virgin Atlantic: Airbus A350-1000 (351) 38: 18.5: On-Demand TV: All Seats: AC Power: Yes: Recliner: Virgin Atlantic: Boeing . Though I found the pitch and recline of the seats to be on the generous side, Virgin cramped up the cabin and seat by shrinking the width of its Premium seats to just 18.5 inches. Of course, in premium economy, you shouldn't expect Bose total noise-canceling headphones, but they could've done better than the economy offering. Though Sept. 11 wouldn't be the date of the inaugural flight, our thinking was the day following the first would be a more accurate representation of what the Premium experience would be like. Offer ends 5/3/23. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This time around, after flying the very luxurious British Airways First to the United States to film an all-cabin video review with the U.K. team, I decided on something a little more economical for the return journey. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Thats why we made sure our new aircraft is super comfortable, with the introduction of The Loft and The Booth in our Upper Class cabin, as well as super stylish. To start, there was only one option: a Cajun pasta salad of fusilli, mixed leaves and mustard vinaigrette. I think that even with a full cabin of 56 passengers, the three lavs would've sufficed. The lounge also boasted shower facilities, though those were subject to an additional charge. During boarding, the crew passed through the Premium cabin with trays of welcome drinks. I believe in personal privacy, and on this night flight I was among the last to board, so I did not take cabin shots which included anyone. My flight departed slightly late but arrived early, as eastbound transatlantic flights often do because of strong tailwinds. Additionally, because Virgin Atlantic is a partner of Delta, I was able to input my SkyMiles number in order to earn me valuable Medallion Qualification Miles on my journey to Platinum Medallion status. With the ricotta and the spiciness of the tomato sauce and zest from the sweet peppers, it was a great dish. Required fields are marked *. To cap off the meal was a slice of passion fruit cake. I arrived at London Heathrow's Terminal 3 about three hours prior to departure. In addition to the tailcam was a selection of 104 movies and about 140 TV shows, as well as games and videos that explored Virgin destinations. Visit delta.com to learn more. 31-3417.4: 45-71: 235: Reviews. Upon entering, I definitely got that new-plane smell. Meanwhile, India. These seats cost around $2,370 roundtrip between NYC and London. In the terminal, there were two Priority Pass lounges: No.1 Lounge and Club Aspire. first airline experience I reviewed for TPG, Watch TPG UK review all 3 cabins on Virgin Atlantic's brand-new Airbus A350, vocal supporter of jetlag-free daytime flights, Sorry, aisle-seat fans: The window seat is the best in the air, Choose this, not that: JFK Priority Pass lounge edition, Delta overhauls the onboard experience, goes all-in on sustainability, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. They had amazing staff there who treated me like an old friend. 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. I was reminded of how phenomenal this cabin is, with one caveat which Ill get to. Both dishes were listed as being served with a side of overnight oats with mango and coconut. 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. Because it was purchased with the Platinum Card from American Express, directly with the airline, the flight earned 5x Membership Rewards points, for a total of 5,165 points (earn 5x points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year). However, compared to the 787-9, for which I only had positive words last year, this certainly feels like a downgrade. Fortunately, it sounds like Virgins new A330neo aircraft will. This means you can get a 4.5% return on these purchases based on TPG's valuations. also the table came out of the armrest . Families, or groups of colleagues may prefer the middle four. Offer ends 5/3/23. Would we fly virgin premium again. The vegetable samosas came out of a plastic packet, giving them a distinctly un-premium feel, with no standout flavors. The 730 seemed narrower. is a senior writer for TPG UK. The carrier uses two seating configurations on the type, and both outrank the 787 and the A330. Would the A350 talk be just that: talk? While Virgin Atlantic offers a compelling premium economy product, it is surprisingly beat out by its own fleet. There was a neither-long-nor-short queue, but it looked worse than it was, and I was through in about five minutes. Additionally, because I was in the bulkhead row, my inflight-entertainment screen could be ejected from underneath the armrest. 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. Is The White Lotus breaking up with Four Seasons ahead of Season 3? Our Airbus A350-900 aircraft offers a variety of signature products and experiences unlike anything else in the sky. What a contrast with their main UK rivals weak PE offering (& thats before the catering 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. When prices are competitive with economy, that alone can make the cabin worth the upgrade for anyone with lots of baggage. Unfortunately, they were quite cramped and there were no special amenities compared with economy lavatories. 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. She looked at my boarding pass and in an unexpected and pleasant surprise directed me to the priority lane, explaining that Virgin Atlantic Premium passengers were allowed to use it. Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card. 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. Related: Sorry, aisle-seat fans: The window seat is the best in the air. The large check-in area had dedicated lines for Upper Class/Delta One, as well as one for Premium and a large section for economy. When I started blogging, I had one very clear pillar for what success might be. The meal was small and disappointing. I did like the cute little airplane-shaped salt and pepper shakers. The fleece material of the blanket felt almost worn, but I liked that the blanket had a special neck cutout, which made it easier to cover yourself in an upright position in Premium or economy. All three courses appetizer, main and dessert were served at the same time, and I appreciated that they expedited the meal service this way. As far as food, there was a decent selection, both hot and cold. Overall, Virgin Atlantic's Airbus A350 is a great aircraft to fly. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. In April, Simple Flying had the chance to fly Virgin Atlantic's flagship Airbus A350-1000 from London to New Delhi. Virgin Atlantic was one of the first airlines to introduce a premium economy cabin, back in 1992. 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. Terms and Conditions Apply. Because Virgin and Delta had an entirely different entrance for Upper Class/Delta One passengers, the check-in space for those passengers in the main check-in area was fairly limited. The desks were well-staffed, and there was no queue, so I went with the more personal approach and spoke to an agent who was extremely friendly and welcoming. That meant I had no issues when the passenger in front of me reclined their seat. Just before landing, the cabin crew came around with a final treat: Swizzels Love Hearts. 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. However, the contents of the meal did not disappoint. 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. The window seat allows me to doze off without anyone stepping over and the h-u-g-e A350 windows can make for fun viewing, particularly during the dusk departure we were able to enjoy leaving New York Kennedy gorgeous. Additionally, I was a fan of some of the small design features of the seat. You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One miles at a 1:1 ratio to Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program. Beyond the hard product, Virgin Atlantic's service remains top-notch as usual. The basic amenity kit contained an eye-catching, Virgin-branded red eye mask, earplugs, a sustainable pen and a toothbrush with a tiny tube of toothpaste. 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. Especially in a middle block of four seats, it can be hard to provide a lot of storage, but Virgin equipped these seats with about as much as I would think possible. Along with 38 . The Booth is a luxurious spot just for two, to enjoy anything from a wine tasting experience, to a romantic dinner, a nightcap, or just a change of scene. Virgin partners with celebrity ptissier Eric Lanlard for a tea service as a prearrival meal. Award availability on this route is usually good as there are multiple daily frequencies. It's worth noting that taxes and fees can sometimes reach or exceed $500. Which airlines have the best premium economy? 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. Proving that the very best cabins in the world could be unlocked with points became an obsession. The meal service was quick, the crew was attentive and, most importantly, I didn't have anything that I thought was bad except for the tough roll. Discover our brand new A350 aircraft, and see the passion we poured into creating it in this behind the scenes video. Im a Cantonese speaker (cant read Chinese), there was one film, the same film I saw flying to Antigua in April . Once I finally arrived at the space, I saw the shiny, new A350-1000 bird waiting for us. 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 decided on the fajita. I've been impressed both with Virgin Atlantic's economy and Upper Class (business class) on its flagship Airbus A350 aircraft, so I was keen to try premium economy, simply dubbed "Premium," aboard the same jet. 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. Find the right card for you. A small decision goes a long way, in my eyes. Virgin Premium Economy - Airbus A350 - YouTube My seat, 21A, was a bulkhead window seat, meaning there was no one seated in front of me. The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. [flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Ground Experience" tpg-rating="5" tpg-rating-max="10" tail="G-VLUX" age="0.08" departure="13" departure-2="49" duration="07" duration-2="19" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. If you are at all like me, and live for electronic devices packed with shows, its nice to know that Virgin Atlantic has both AC and USB power at every premium seat. Virgin Atlantic's new plane raises flying standards | The Sacramento Bee The leather seats offer much more legroom and padding than economy a few rows behind, making for a comfortable flight. There is no one behind you. 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. In addition to the USB port with the IFE screen, there was a universal power outlet on the side of the seat next to the seat controls. The A350 may be one of the quietest aircraft out there but having noise cancelling still makes a huge difference so I prefer to bring my own. But what was it really like? Alaska Partners With Premium Taiwanese Airline Starlux The first row and the last row of premium make up the dreamboat seats. The cheesecake, which both looked and tasted great, was the highlight of an otherwise mediocre meal. SeatGuru Seat Map Virgin Atlantic 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. For this route, you need just 10,000 miles for a ticket in the off-peak season. 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". The packages are as follows: Messaging - 2.99/$3.99 Chat and Surf - 12.99/$16.99 - 150MB W-Fi Max - 29.99/$39.99 - 500MB 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. We've replaced our Upper Class bar with a unique space to gather, grab a drink or dine with friends. The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. I found the tea service to be so very pleasant and a phenomenal way to end the flight. In the center armrest and drinks shelf was another small storage area with a USB charger for small electronic devices. They provided good sound quality while still feeling comfortable to wear. 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. Virgin provided the standard premium economy headphones, blanket, and amenity kit on this flight, all of which were helpful (minus the plastic headphones). The building on the left was reserved for Virgin Atlantic and its close friend Delta. is The Points Guy's Global News Editor and is based in London. We know the journey is as important as the destination. I quickly noticed that there was no additional remote-control option, which likely helped to open up some storage space in the seat. Based on TPG's most recent valuations, those points were worth $103, not a bad return. 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. I arrived at my gate an hour before departure. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. The tray passed to me didn't look appealing. The Premium cabin on the Virgin A350 comprised a total of 56 seats across a single cabin. The seat width, at an impressive 18.5 inches wide is as good as it gets as a global premium economy benchmark. The Countries Where You'll Get The Most Bang For Your U.S. Dollar, My (Successful) Virgin Atlantic Upgrade Strategy, British Airways Tier Points: Complete Guide To Earning And Status. Cheers to that. While this is a lot, the high ceilings and straight sidewalls of the A350 give a sense of space, preventing it from feeling claustrophobic. This flight did not change my earlier thoughts that premium economy is currently overpriced across the industry. 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. Review: How Good Is Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy? It was served at room temperature, and I had to call the crew to ask for a cup of ice to try and cool it down. This New Aircraft Has Virgin Atlantic's First-ever 'Retreat Suites I flew PE on the way back from JNB, no problem with space even if the person reclines. BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY I was able to quickly find something Id happily nod off to, but US airlines including Virgin partner Delta tend to offer wider selections. The toilets were kept clean, however, and with several empty seats in the Premium cabin, there was rarely a wait to use them. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Every seat is window facing with adjustable moodlighting, an 18.5 inch screen, enhanced privacy and plenty of space and storage. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. There was no wait for check-in and I was helped immediately. Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy: What to Know - NerdWallet This crew was no different, at least as much as I could tell from my 20 minutes of interaction with them. The Premium queue comes with a document check station right at the back, so you don't have to visit two different areas for vaccine and form clearance. A pet peeve of mine is when the crew describes prosecco or other sparkling wine as Champagne.