For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to fly Virgin Atlantic Upper Class.
The bold, British airline has set itself apart from the rest of the airline industry by doing things … well, differently. How many other carriers will actually encourage you to steal the salt shakers on board or give you a free haircut at their signature business class lounge? Well, they used to, anyway.
So I finally made it happen a few weeks back, planting myself inside one of the airline’s fancy new business class suites on their Airbus A330-900neo for the all-too-short flight from New York City (JFK) to London-Heathrow (LHR). It started with a cheeky “Doin’ alright?” at boarding and ended with a simple but quintessentially British breakfast before landing … and in between, Virgin impressed me with unexpected extras like a mattress pad, pajamas, and some of the best in-seat technology you’ll find in the sky.
Even on their newest planes, the business class suites themselves could be bigger and more comfortable. But after actually slashing award rates and fees to book Upper Class flights between the U.S. and London late last year, Virgin business class might be on the radar of more travelers (and especially points and miles aficionados) than ever before.
And if you ask me, it should be.
How We Booked It
You’re in luck: It’s never been cheaper to book a Virgin Atlantic business class seat across the pond using credit card points.
Virgin changed the game – and, honestly, took us all by surprise – late last year when it overhauled its Flying Club rewards program, ushering in dynamic award pricing. Those are dirty words in the world of travel – typically code for “we’re going to charge you a lot more.” But not this time.
Now, you can find and book Virgin business class flights to London-Heathrow (LHR) from East Coast cities like Boston (BOS), New York City (JFK), Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD), or Atlanta (ATL) for as low as 29,000 points and a much more reasonable $255 in taxes.
That’s roughly half the miles and a quarter of the taxes and fees Virgin previously charged for these exact same flights.
You’ll see some higher rates from other cities like Miami (MIA) or Los Angeles (LAX). And Virgin’s dynamic pricing also means you may see higher pricing in the summer, starting at 35,000 miles each way … if not closer to 100,000 points or more.
As word of this new option has spread, finding the award availability to book at these dirt-cheap rates has gotten harder. To find the cheapest awards, you can use the airline’s handy Reward Seat Checker to zero in on those 29,000- or 35,000-point seats. Virgin flags deals with the lowest “Saver” award availability with a red tag.
Award availability at these lower prices seems to come in waves. In the months since Virgin changed its rates, we’ve sent Thrifty Traveler Premium a trio of deals with rates as low as 29,000 miles each way … or less.
It’s not just low rates that make this deal so spectacular. Virgin Atlantic points couldn’t possibly be easier to earn, as the airline is a transfer partner with all the major banks. That means you could send points from a *chase sapphire preferred*, *venture x*, *amex gold*, or even the *Bilt Mastercard* to Virgin and book an Upper Class flight.
Regular transfer bonuses to Virgin Atlantic from the big banks make it even cheaper. Get this: With the previously, record-setting 40% bonuses from both Chase and American Express, just 21,000 points was all you’d need to book a lie-flat seat to London. That’s the cheapest way to get to Europe in business class, period.
But I booked this trip more than a month before Virgin these lowered award rates and fees. At the time, I was much better off booking through Air France/KLM Flying Blue, which charged 68,500 miles and $231.20 in taxes and fees.
We’re always telling travelers to stop waiting around and use their points and miles – over time, they only get less valuable. This was a rare instance where procrastinating could have paid off. Oh well!
At Thrifty Traveler, we don’t accept freebies. We use our own points, miles, or cash to pay for every single flight or hotel you see reviewed here – including this one!
Checking In & Lounge Access
Upper Class passengers departing from New York City (JFK) get the royal treatment long before even stepping onboard.
Virgin is part of Delta’s SkyTeam alliance – and like Delta, it uses JFK’s Terminal 4. That’s a two-for-one victory for Virgin Upper Class customers:
- You can use the private (and incredibly fancy) Delta One check-in area at JFK … including its own dedicate security checkpoint!
- From there, it’s just a short walk to the new Delta One Lounge at JFK, which you can get into with your Virgin business class ticket
Virgin also has its own Clubhouse Lounge at JFK. And while it’s certainly nice, it doesn’t hold a candle to Delta’s exclusive new business class lounge in New York. While it gets incredibly busy each afternoon, this 40,000-square-foot space – complete with an a la carte restaurant, shower suites, and other amenities – is in another league.
Trust me: This is the place to spend a few hours before boarding your flight to London.
Read our full review of the new Delta One Lounge at JFK!
After a long connection, a hot shower, and a fantastic meal inside Delta’s lounge, I headed to the A concourse of Terminal 4, where all Virgin’s flights depart, to board one of the airline’s newest (and best) planes.
Onboard Virgin’s A330-900neos
It pays to be a bit of a plane nerd when booking Virgin Atlantic business class over to London or back. Picking the right plane type could be the difference between a great flight … and an awkward or even uncomfortable one.
- Virgin still operates many Boeing 787-9 and older Airbus A330s, both of which sport woefully outdated business class cabins with narrow seats
- Upper Class on the airline’s A350-1000 is a big step up, with far more private and stylish seats
- But there’s also the Airbus A330-900neo, its latest aircraft … and arguably its greatest, too
You’ll find those A330-900neos flying to London on all flights from Seattle (SEA); most flights from Boston (BOS) and Tampa (TPA); regularly from New York City (JFK), Washington, D.C. (IAD); and occasionally from Miami (MIA), too. With up to eight flights a day from New York (JFK), it’s a crap shoot as to whether you’ll be on one of these newer planes or an older bird.
But I specifically booked a flight to London to fly Virgin’s A330-900neo. And that’s just what I got.
There are 32 business class suites onboard the Virgin Atlantic, spread across eight rows in a single cabin at the front of the plane. Each row is laid out in a 1-2-1, ensuring every passenger can step out directly into the aisle.
And it was all bathed in Virgin’s classy purple-and-red cabin lighting ahead of our evening departure for London. Virgin really sets the mood right from the get-go.
Honestly, it’s a dead ringer for Delta One Suites on its own A330-900neos – in fact, the bones of the seat are more or less identical. Virgin just dressed its own cabin up with a bit more flair.
The seats themselves are staggered in each row: Some are closer to the aisle with a console table along the side, while others are positioned farther away from the aisle and separated by the console.
And the arrangement alternates row by row. If you’re flying Virgin Upper Class solo on one of these planes, the even-numbered seats along the either wing are closer to the window. Meanwhile, odd-numbered suites along the sides are a bit closer to the aisle.
And then there are pairs of seats in the center aisle, which is where couples and companions should gravitate. Because of how the seats are staggered from row to row, none of these are closer together – you won’t find many “honeymoon” seats here. Still, it’s fairly easy to lean forward and chat with your neighbor … or raise a privacy divider so you don’t have to.
But there’s a pair of extra-special seats at the front of the plane: Virgin calls it the “Retreat Suite.” More legroom and a bigger ottoman – one that doubles as a “buddy seat” to dine face-to-face? Check. Larger, 27-inch seatback screens? Check. More storage? Check again.
These are the best seats in the house – think of it as “First Class Lite,” an option that’s becoming more and more prevalent across the airline industry.
No surprise: Virgin charges extra for them. The price may vary, but Virgin was charging $385 on my flight – and that’s $385 each, not total for the pair of them. There are just two (not four) of these souped-up suites in the center of the cabin’s first row, so it’s best for companions or families happy to splurge for more space – not solo travelers.
There are four lavatories available for business class passengers on Virgin’s A330-900neo: One at the front – though that one was reserved for pilots and crew – and three at the rear, which were shared with premium economy passengers. While the rest of the cabin was stylish, these lavatories were pretty unremarkable.
Finally, there’s an … honestly, I don’t know what to call it, but it’s in the galley behind the business class cabin. Virgin Atlantic calls it “The Loft,” and it’s certainly not the full-fledged bar that the airline installed on previous generations of planes. A community area A spot to go and quickly stretch your legs or get a change of scenery? Anyway, it’s there, with a few places to sit, some snacks set out, and even a small fridge full of single-serving ice cream.
With our late evening departure, I didn’t do anything more than poke my head in for a quick photo … and, so far as I could tell, neither did the rest of my fellow Upper Class passengers.
Suites, Not Seats
These Upper Class Suites win on style.
But on substance? On comfort? I’m a bit torn.
Let’s start with the positives. For starters, these seats are just a few years old and it shows, with some of the best in-seat technology – think wireless charging for your phone and Bluetooth connectivity for your own headphones. They’re very well padded and covered in a soft, reddish brown leather, making it easy to relax .. especially with a mattress pad on top in lie-flat mode. And, of course, there are the privacy doors you can close.
But as the flight went on, some cracks started to show. Many flyers adore a suite with a door for additional privacy, but the doors on these Virgin Upper Class suites are more of a gimmick: At just 4 feet or so high, they don’t truly provide that much privacy. Because the A330-900neo has a fairly narrow fuselage, everything felt a bit tight: The whole suite, the seat itself, and especially the footwell in front of you. And that also means there’s not nearly as much storage for your things as you might want.
No matter where you sit, every suite looks more or less the same. There’s a well-padded headrest, a small storage compartment, a reading light, a spot for literature, two sets of seat controls, and a decent-sized console table to the side of the seat itself.
That storage compartment is big enough for a pair of headphones, a can of water, and … honestly, that’s pretty much it. There’s a mirror on the door, which pops in and out with a push. That “Well, don’t you look lovely,” is such a quintessential Virgin touch.
Below that you’ll find the cleverly designed wireless charging pad, which is built with a lip to ensure your phone won’t slide away. There are also three USB sockets – one ultra-speedy USB-C as well as two standard USB-A – plus a universal power outlet. This is also where you’ll find the headphone jack and the first set of seat controls, which is where you can adjust your in-suite lighting or turn on “Do Not Disturb” mode.
There’s another, simpler set of seat controls further down the seat.
Lift up the flap just above that and you’ll find the wired remote for controlling your seatback screen as well as a small mirror. Hello, travelers!
That’s also where you’ll find the tray table, which easily pops and slides out after giving it a push inward.
But there’s no storage underneath the seat in front of you – just a (fairly narrow) footwell. That tight squeeze is even more noticeable in lie-flat mode, when it affects not just your feet but your legs, too. It makes it much harder for side sleepers (like yours truly) to move around or get comfortable.
And while the bed itself was plenty comfortable – especially with a mattress pad on top – it also felt pretty narrow in lie-flat mode. It didn’t help that the armrest along the window side could not be lowered.
Outstanding Amenities
Many carriers skimp on giving even business class passengers extra goodies – especially on the shortest flights to Europe or back, like this one.
Yet Virgin Atlantic goes all out, offering some high-quality amenities and extras that you won’t find on even some 10- or even 15-hour flights on other carriers. Pajamas and slippers? A mattress pad?!
A small amenity kit and bag full of bedding were waiting on each seat at boarding. The airline also stocked a can (yes, can) of water in the storage compartment for each passenger.
The amenity kit was a mixed bag … pun very much intended. The pouch itself is a basic black, paper-like “goodie bag.” I genuinely appreciate that it’s recyclable, but it does seem a bit cheap compared to the leather kits other airlines hand out. I do love Virgin’s cheeky branding here, though.
But the contents were solid: A simple pair of socks, a dental kit, ear plugs, and toiletries from the clean skincare brand Ren, which were good enough for my wife to confiscate when I got home.
As boarding continued, flight attendants came through the aisle with a basket of pajamas and slippers, asking for sizes. These are only available on Virgin’s overnight flights … but the fact that they’re available at all on a transatlantic business class flight is a real rarity. And they’re fairly high quality, to boot!
But the bedding was the real surprise. The duvet inside that big was soft and substantial but not too warm. The pillow was sizable, unlike the postage stamp-size pillows many airlines use. And there was even a mattress pad – again, something you’ll rarely find on business class flights across the Atlantic.
It didn’t make the seat itself any wider, but it made the sleeping surface incredibly comfortable.
The biggest letdown was the headphones, which were pretty basic and uncomfortable.
Service & Dining
Virgin Atlantic’s cheeky British service is legendary – it’s part of who they are and what sets them apart. So I was delighted to walk onto the plane and hear not a stuffy “Welcome aboard, sir,” but a quick “Doin’ alright?” from a flight attendant with a wide smile at the boarding door.
On a sub-seven-hour overnight flight from the East Coast over to London, there’s not much time for over-the-top service – the entire flight is structured around getting passengers fed and put to bed. But from start to finish, the service was efficient yet still warm and friendly. And Virgin even offers a few clever options that allow Upper Class customers to maximize rest on the brief flight.
After a pre-boarding beverage and takeoff, the crew sprang into action, offering another drink and a bowl of chips – they’d call them “crisps.” If you ask me, it’s a refreshing break from the standard mixed nuts and another reminder that this airline does things differently.
Virgin has a fairly expansive drink selection: three types of sparkling wine (including Laurent-Perrier champagne and a tasty British-made sparkling); a surprising amount of different wines and beers; a few specialty cocktails; and non-alcoholic options like kombucha, soda, and (of course) tea.
In addition to your usual, three- to four-course meal, Virgin offers a “speedy supper” option on these overnight flights: They’ll drop off your choice of a starter and dessert along with a quick-and-easy entree. I went for the full dinner service instead.
But there were even more entrees to choose from. Exactly seven days before my flight, I got an email from Virgin with the subject line: “Psst…order your meal before everyone else!” Sure enough, I could lock in my meal selection beforehand – and not just from the three options onboard, but there were a handful additional meals available to reserve exclusively online.
I started with a plate of duck prosciutto, melon, and goat cheese, which was excellent. Virgin flight attendants also came through with a bread basket and butter. Oh, and check those plane-shaped salt and pepper shakers! They’re so tempting to take home, the airline decided to put a disclosure on the bottom: “Pinched from Virgin Atlantic.”
For the entree, I pre-selected the pork bolognese pasta from that exclusive online menu. While a tad bland, it was tasty and fairly light.
And for dessert, I went with the apple tartlet with a small container of fresh cream on the side. It was warm, flaky, and delicious.
The flight attendants did their best to keep service speedy with a nearly full business class cabin. But by the time the plates were cleared, there were just four hours and change left before arriving … and barely two hours before breakfast service would begin.
So I love that Virgin offers a breakfast card shortly after boarding to expedite the ordering process while also offering an “Express breakfast,” which is served just 40 minutes before landing.
Much as a full English breakfast might have been nice, it was great to get another hour of sleep and wake up for a warm bacon roll and a coffee. And even that express option was still more substantial than some of the pre-landing meals you get on many other European airlines.
High-Tech Entertainment
Between all the ways to charge your devices and use your own headphones, the technology inside Virgin’s Upper Class suites on its A330-900neos is second-to- … well, not quite none. But it’s really, really good.
It starts with an incredibly crisp, 17.3-inch touchscreen seatback monitor. While a tad larger screen might have been nice, I’m guessing that’s impossible with the curvature of the suite wall in front of you.
There’s a solid, though not quite spectacular, selection of movies and TV shows available. There’s also a slick and easy-to-use map feature to track the progress of your flight.
Forget about the wireless and USB-C charging for your phone. The best feature is that you can connect your own headphones to the entertainment system via Bluetooth. That meant Virgin’s flimsy headphones were no issue – I could whip out and connect my trusty pair of Bose.
Virgin offers Wi-Fi on these planes, including two complimentary 20-minute sessions if you watch an ad. If that’s not enough, you can buy a one-hour pass for 5.99 pounds (about $7.40 USD) or a full-flight pass for 18.99 pounds (or $23.40 USD).
I didn’t need to get online for long, but the internet seemed speedy enough during my free 20-minute session.
Bottom Line
I wouldn’t quite call Virgin Atlantic business class my favorite way to fly business class across the pond. While stylish and fun, the suites onboard their A330-900neos are a bit too cramped.
But everything else, from the food to the fun service to the extra amenities to the overall vibes lived up to that “Upper Class” branding. Case in point: I’m already booked booked for another trip with Virgin this coming summer.
