My journey on VS300 began in the evening at Terminal 3 of London Heathrow. Their recruitment must be top notch. The headphones distributed were lightweight and insubstantial. I found the legrest and footrest on the bulkhead row to be useful. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Fortunately, a full-size meal was available and the food corresponded correctly to the menu. . Related: Watch TPG UK review all 3 cabins on Virgin Atlantic's brand-new Airbus A350. also the table came out of the armrest . If youre looking to beat the rush at immigration, this is a prize choice. Virgin Atlantic has 56 Premium seats on both layouts of its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. To cap off the meal was a slice of passion fruit cake. Certain hotels have resort fees. Your email address will not be published. I quickly noticed that there was no additional remote-control option, which likely helped to open up some storage space in the seat. There was plenty to like about this particular flight in Premium from New York to London, too I especially enjoyed the large, crisp inflight entertainment screens and the numerous device charging options. Have you ever flown Virgin Atlantic in premium economy? Beyond the hard product, Virgin Atlantic's service remains top-notch as usual. There was also a bar with bartender service. The Loft is featured on seven of our A350 aircraft: G-VDOT, G-VJAM, G-VLUX, G-VPOP, G-VPRD, G-VRNB, G-VTEA. 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. A small decision goes a long way, in my eyes. On this flight, the sandwiches included: mozzarella with green pesto, slow-roasted tomato and arugula; and salmon, soft cheese, arugula and cucumber. [flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="23" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-meal="2" comp-alcohol="Yes" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. Lead Journalist - India - Pranjal is an experienced journalist with a strong focus on Indian aviation. In my essential food advice for eating on planes, curries and rice are always nice. Once I finally arrived at the space, I saw the shiny, new A350-1000 bird waiting for us. My consistent feeling with premium economy is that its priced well and is a great gap bridger between economy and business class. We know the journey is as important as the destination. Also there were the crew call button and overhead light switch. The Virgin Atlantic Airways Airbus A350-1000 is the flagship of the airline's fleet (July 2019). While not a huge space, and definitely not enough to store a laptop, it was sufficient for my passport, AirPods and my phone. It was definitely an exciting experience to see the shiny new A350-1000, registration G-VLUX, a three-year-old bird. Both the Upper Class and Premium cabins now get a refreshed Goodie Bag amenity kit on select routes, including this A350-operated route. To me, the extra width is a massive bonus and I would always try NOT fly on a Virgin A350 in premium for this reason. The gnocchi were huge, and I soon realized that was because they were stuffed with the ricotta and asparagus. For this route, you need just 10,000 miles for a ticket in the off-peak season. Upper Class travelers (a cabin we reviewed recently too! Menus were handed out during the boarding process and I could see there was a choice between a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit or a Belgian waffle with syrup. 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Unfortunately, I soon realized the wrong items had been loaded onto the aircraft and did not match the menu description at all. Even with the new aircraft, I didn't notice any signs the crew was unfamiliar with it. 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". There was also an excellent interactive flight map available. BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY As in, my flight was just the aircraft's third commercial service. 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. My bulkhead seat came with three preset options for reclining the seat. These seats are referred to as Extra Legroom Seats. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay up to date on everything travel, with our handy newsletter. 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. TPGs valuations peg the value of Virgin points at 1.5 cents each, so this welcome offer is worth $450. However, compared to the 787-9, for which I only had positive words last year, this certainly feels like a downgrade. 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. Premium check in and fast track worth . 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. The screen itself was completely touchscreen, and, as you would hope with a brand-new aircraft, I found the responsiveness to be great. Virgin also refreshed premium economy for the A350. The PE offering was far better than BA and the crew were amazing. I could imagine there being contention about who got the majority of it. The meal was small and disappointing. It was rated first for premium economy in the Skytrax World Airline Awards in 2019. Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card. They were fun and conversational rather than cold and unapproachable. The lounge also boasted shower facilities, though those were subject to an additional charge. Overall, I found the cabin and seat to be comfortable. I found the tea service to be so very pleasant and a phenomenal way to end the flight. 27, 2023 and then six flights daily from May 1, 2023 for the busy summer travel period. Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. One of the many reasons I love daytime flights from New York to London is because the airport is usually quiet, with few international departures. Related: Sorry, aisle-seat fans: The window seat is the best in the air. 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. Both aircrews were fine, the outward bound flight seemed a happier bunch. I passed on the sparkles so that I could manage a flight without climbing over a seat mate, but many people were happily reveling. Review: How Good Is Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy? 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. The breakfast offering took a noticeable hit. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Based on TPG's most recent valuations, those points were worth $103, not a bad return. Because it was free for everyone, I was worried that it would be on the slow side because of bandwidth issues. 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. Fast-track security and Champagne after boarding were both pleasant surprises. 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. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. 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. I was able to quickly find something Id happily nod off to, but US airlines including Virgin partner Delta tend to offer wider selections. During the course of the flight, crew members left out a small bin of chips and snacks for the taking in the galley. Virgin Atlantic departs from Terminal 4 at JFK Airport, along with its partners, Delta and KLM (Air France departs from Terminal 1). Find the best seat wiht our Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 (351) seating chart. It was a fine, if unremarkable, flight. Our story; Business as a force for good; Media centre; Annual reports; Im a Cantonese speaker (cant read Chinese), there was one film, the same film I saw flying to Antigua in April . Is The White Lotus breaking up with Four Seasons ahead of Season 3? Inside were more environmentally friendly products, such as a bamboo toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, paper-wrapped pen, eye mask and earplugs. [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" /]. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Seats in Premium are roomy: They're up to 21 inches wide (four inches wider than economy), have seven to eight inches of recline, and up to 38 inches of pitch. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying, Around 70 airlines will be affected by the strike. 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. 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. Instead, Virgin let passengers connect their phone to the screen via Bluetooth and then control it from there. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This flight did not change my earlier thoughts that premium economy is currently overpriced across the industry. 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. Virgin Atlantic charges extra for bulkhead and other seats which have more legroom. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Overall, the ground experience at Virgin remains an important feature and will only become handier in the future. 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. Additionally, the headrest was customizable, so you could move it up or down to your liking, as well as fold the side flaps for extra support. It was a bifold tray table, which was perfect for just a small plate or to rest a drink. I think everyone felt valued and welcomed. In April, Simple Flying had the chance to fly Virgin Atlantic's flagship Airbus A350-1000 from London to New Delhi. For larger customers it may well be a problem. 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. 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. The other dimensions of the seat were more generous, with 38 inches of legroom and 7 inches of recline, both fairly standard for premium economy. The leather seats offer much more legroom and padding than economy a few rows behind, making for a comfortable flight. "Starlux is a premier global airline offering world-class service and amenities," said Nap Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance . 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. In the evening, the Premium queue was even shorter than the one for Upper Class, and far quicker than economy, which was nearing capacity. Immediately upon boarding, cabin crew came around the Premium cabin with a choice of water or prosecco. Registered as G-VLUX and nicknamed "Red Velvet," the aircraft was delivered to Virgin on Aug. 10. The cabin was arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration. Not to be outdone, crosstown competitor Virgin Atlantic soon thereafter began taking delivery of its own A350s. I had assumed only French airlines would be generous enough to serve actual Champagne in premium economy, so I politely asked to clarify if it was actual Champagne, or just sparking wine. 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. There was a small slot next to the seat, underneath the armrest. Virgin has one of the younger fleets in the skies nowadays, and if you fly frequently you can truly feel the difference. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. I got the mozzarella and an English breakfast tea. But, depending on how you use your points, you may be able to get even more than $450 in value from them. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 Seating Chart Most up-to-date seat map 2023. I loved the amazing, customized "I (Heart) A350" pillows, which were clearly made just for the introduction of the aircraft into service. It will use 306-seat A350-900s, of which it presently has three. Virgin Atlantic was one of the first airlines to introduce a premium economy cabin, back in 1992. My flight departed slightly late but arrived early, as eastbound transatlantic flights often do because of strong tailwinds. I really try not to eat on planes and always aim to eat a healthy meal on destination time before departing for the airport. That meant I had no issues when the passenger in front of me reclined their seat. 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. Virgin Atlantic includes premium economy passengers in the Priority boarding section, right after status holders and Upper Class travelers (a cabin we reviewed recently too!). I did not realize until I had finished the meal that there were two small tortillas folded up in the foil lid to enjoy with the meal. The flight is blocked at six hours and 45 minutes, though it is often much quicker than this, usually at least one hour shorter. 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. Delta Premium Select: 21 - 25 BDGH; Delta Comfort+: 30 - 33 CDFG; Main Cabin: 34 - 39 CDFG, 41 - 54 CDFG, 55 DF * Delta One: Movable armrests require the assistance of a Delta employee. 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. /]. You'll find the largest, 13.3-inch screens on Airbus A350 aircraft, but only 10.5-inch screens on Airbus A330-300 aircraft. I tried a bite of it and didn't go back. "And again, we have that Bluetooth connectivity, so at every seat, you can connect your headsets there . While it was small and thin, it was cleverly designed to rest with a rubber edge against the center drinks console, meaning it remained stable while being used. I finished it only because I like Mexican food and was starving, but it wasn't visually appealing and not something I would serve a guest in my home. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Though the cake itself was on the dry side, the passion fruit icing really moved it along. Additionally, because I was in the bulkhead row, my inflight-entertainment screen could be ejected from underneath the armrest. Unbeknownst to me, Gate 22 was about a 15-minute trek away. Note, 787 is on a different system,I think ipass. 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. The building on the left was reserved for Virgin Atlantic and its close friend Delta. Would we fly virgin premium again. I haven't found my premium economy experiences in the past to be twice as good as economy but was willing to give Virgin a chance. Virgin has remastered the premium economy experience with its Premium A350 product. That's why I practically gasped when I saw the massive security queue awaiting me in Terminal 4. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. SANspotter style. compared to the 787-9, for which I only had positive words last year, giving British Airways a run for its money. I can easily find comfort in Premium for an overnight. Your email address will not be published. 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. Service is one of those things that can either make or break a flight. Find the right card for you. And this flight was no different." the Luxury Travel Expert 1.1M subscribers Subscribe Share 760K views 2 years ago Join me on a. The physical kind, of course. Plus, we all have different tastes, so even if I like something, you might hate it. Virgin opted for the denser layout on the 350, resulting in some noticeable changes. As a regular premium economy traveler, I remarked to the crew that Champagne was not usually served in these cabins. On this route specifically, you can often find round-trip award flights for just 35,000 Flying Club miles plus taxes and fees. Sadly, the check-in perks don't extend to Virgin's private security channel, and it took a full 30 minutes to complete security. On the 730. Other than its tight width, the seat was comfortable. In the center armrest and drinks shelf was another small storage area with a USB charger for small electronic devices. 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. There were three choices for an entree fajita chicken, red Thai curry, or vegetarian shepherd's pie. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. How bad is it when the seat in front of you fully reclines? The Virgin A350 Premium Economy Seat Virgin's Premium cabin on the A350 offers 2x4x2 seating. Economy Delight Premium Upper Class; Width of seat: 17.4 inches: 17.4 inches: 18.5 inches: 20 inches: Seat recline: 5 inches: 5 inches: . While it was nice to have the screen out when I wanted it and stored when I didn't, I had to have it stored for taxi, takeoff and landing. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying, Boarding the A350 is definitely an experience. 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. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. There was the standard recline, the legrest option and a footrest option. 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. I flew PE on the way back from JNB, no problem with space even if the person reclines. 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. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. The exterior of the kit itself was made from recyclable kraft paper, which felt like a combination of cardboard and thick paper. And so begins an extremely thorough review of the Virgin Atlantic A350-1000. Just returned from Florida. For example, while the food for the initial meal service didn't match the menus the crew had handed out, they only seemed to discover this after passengers had finished eating it despite it being obvious the moment I opened my meal. Ive been a Virgin Flying Club Gold member for quite a few years now, so I was able to use the Upper Class check-in desk, but both lines were empty. Airbus A350 seat map with The Loft. With new aircraft, several carriers are doing away with overhead air vents for passengers. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Discover our brand new A350 aircraft, and see the passion we poured into creating it in this behind the scenes video. Nonetheless, I managed to work productively for most of the journey to London, another advantage of daytime flights. Virgin Atlantic A350 (new) Upper Class from London to New York: a fabulous flight experience! Looking at dates in November 2022, most economy fares from the US East Coast were around $800-900 for Virgin Atlantic Economy Classic to London, an additional $140-180 for Economy Delight, and $1200-1500 for Premium. This was a great perk and made my security wait time much shorter (I'm unfortunately ineligible for TSA PreCheck or Clear with an Australian passport). The mozzarella salad was tasty and fresh, though the portion was a little small given how light the first meal was. Aside from better air quality, the cabin lighting is fun and jazzy and the higher ceilings give an added sense of space on this Airbus A350. Seat 14 A is a standard recliner-style Premium Economy Class seat located at an Exit Row. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Depending on your aircraft, premium economy is laid out in a 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 arrangement. The cabin crew on board was absolutely phenomenal and uniquely Virgin. Premium Economy is found mostly on international flights and, compared to standard Economy, offers about 5-7 inches of extra legroom as well as additional amenities, which can include: 1-2 extra inches of seat width . The crew that worked the Premium cabin on my flight to London was friendly and well-meaning, but not overly polished. Less than one week before launching A350 service, Virgin unveiled its brand-new amenity kits, called "Goodie Bags." The A380 offers 8 seats in First Class, 78 seats in Business Class and 52 seats in Premium Economy. Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. While this is a lot, the high ceilings and straight sidewalls of the A350 give a sense of space, preventing it from feeling claustrophobic. As for service the virgin team are miles ahead. For a day flight, its a total no brainer. Elsewhere in the terminal were Oneworld carriers like Qantas, American, Cathay, Japan Airlines and some British Airways flights. Cheers to that. Designated toilet area . About 20 minutes later, the crew came around the cabin with meals. The flight leaves New York at 8:15 a.m. daily, touching down at London Heathrow Terminal 3 at 8 p.m. 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.

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