virgin airbus a350 premium economy

There was also a bar with bartender service. 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. This flight did not change my earlier thoughts that premium economy is currently overpriced across the industry. 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. Its inaugural operation was on the same route from LHR to JFK on Sept. 10, and it returned to London on the red-eye that night. Premium, upgraded: A review of Virgin Atlantic's new Premium product on 3/1/2020, seat 22D. The seat width, at an impressive 18.5 inches wide is as good as it gets as a global premium economy benchmark. There was a neither-long-nor-short queue, but it looked worse than it was, and I was through in about five minutes. Premium, upgraded: A review of Virgin Atlantic's new Premium product on the A350, This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. 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. Im a Cantonese speaker (cant read Chinese), there was one film, the same film I saw flying to Antigua in April . You'll find the largest, 13.3-inch screens on Airbus A350 aircraft, but only 10.5-inch screens on Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Austrian's B777-200 aircraft hold a total of 24 premium economy seats configured 2-4-2, while B767-300ERs contain 30 seats (expanded from 18) configured 2-2-2. As they could be adjusted in and out more easily. Hot options seemed to be carb heavy: rice, two kinds of penne pasta and what appeared to be a chickpea dish. While this didn't matter as much in the last two years due to low flight loads, this was a busy day for the airline. It was definitely an exciting experience to see the shiny new A350-1000, registration G-VLUX, a three-year-old bird. 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. Additionally, the seats not by the bulkhead had upper and lower seatback storage spaces primarily for literature like the new A350-1000 safety cards. 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: . Lounge access is not provided for Premium passengers and I have no elite status with Virgin Atlantic or its airline partners, as British Airways Executive Club is my go-to program. By comparison, Virgin Atlantic's A350 aircraft has 11.6-inch screens in the economy cabin. That small feature can make all the difference between a comfortable and uncomfortable flight. Pranjal is enthusiastic about new aircraft types and has his stories regularly picked up by renowned publications including Forbes. Wi-Fi typically costs 20.99 pounds (about $26) for the full flight. Meanwhile, India. 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. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. They were fun and conversational rather than cold and unapproachable. Fully open, it was somewhat flimsy, though my 15-inch laptop could fit on it. 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. However, the contents of the meal did not disappoint. The gnocchi were huge, and I soon realized that was because they were stuffed with the ricotta and asparagus. 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. Note: some photos from this review are from a previous flight, where it was easier to snap the cabin. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. TPGs valuations peg the value of Virgin points at 1.5 cents each, so this welcome offer is worth $450. 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. Offer ends 5/3/23. Though the cake itself was on the dry side, the passion fruit icing really moved it along. For larger customers it may well be a problem. Boarding took place via two entrances to the aircraft: one for Upper Class passengers and a rear door for Premium and economy passengers. Virgin Atlantic has 56 Premium seats on both layouts of its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. I got the mozzarella and an English breakfast tea. The headphones weren't noise-canceling but were still a definite step up from the pairs being handed out in economy. Everything from nose to tail feels fresh, contemporary and new. As in, my flight was just the aircraft's third commercial service. It didn't have the luxurious feeling of a leather or solid kit, but it does the trick for me knowing that it was helping to reduce single-use plastics and be less harsh on the environment. Given past trips with Virgin in premium economy, I was hopeful that the A350 would set the benchmark in this competitive market. "And again, we have that Bluetooth connectivity, so at every seat, you can connect your headsets there . Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, Southwest unveils stunning new Hawaii-themed aircraft, How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value, IHG Rewards Premier Business card review: The annual fee is justified. 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. Not only was the service fantastic, but the crew members seemed equally as excited about the new A350 as I was. [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" /]. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. It was a fine, if unremarkable, flight. 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. but the movie and television selection on board is good, but not great. Along with 38 . The cheesecake was the only thing I would ever look to order again from the whole flight. Just before landing, the cabin crew came around with a final treat: Swizzels Love Hearts. 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. AUSTRIAN AIRLINES. Virgin calls the kit the most sustainable in the skies, and it felt like it. Fortunately, I realized this before opening or touching anything and I was able to give the meal back to a crew member so they could serve it to the passenger who actually ordered it. Service was fast and efficient, and everything appeared to be smooth. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Our Airbus A350-900 aircraft offers a variety of signature products and experiences unlike anything else in the sky. Proving that the very best cabins in the world could be unlocked with points became an obsession. Overall, the premium economy on the A350-1000 is a competitive product, still giving British Airways a run for its money. The PE offering was far better than BA and the crew were amazing. Virgin had dedicated check-in lanes for Premium guests (which Economy Delight, the most expensive economy class can also use). I flew PE on the way back from JNB, no problem with space even if the person reclines. Even with the new aircraft, I didn't notice any signs the crew was unfamiliar with it. The dish was absolutely lovely and roaring with flavor. In the evening, the Premium queue was even shorter than the one for Upper Class, and far quicker than economy, which was nearing capacity. 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. Not such a wander wall. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, Southwest unveils stunning new Hawaii-themed aircraft, How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value, IHG Rewards Premier Business card review: The annual fee is justified. Virgin has remastered the premium economy experience with its Premium A350 product. 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. One was soft and fluffy while the other was overcooked and as hard as a rock. Terms and Conditions Apply. There was no wait for check-in and I was helped immediately. . As a regular premium economy traveler, I remarked to the crew that Champagne was not usually served in these cabins. These seats are referred to as Extra Legroom Seats. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Accessibility | Virgin is still finalizing the exact process but it's expected that Upper Class passengers on revenue fares will be invited to upgrade to the Retreat Suite for around $230 per person per flight. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. The Loft is featured on seven of our A350 aircraft: G-VDOT, G-VJAM, G-VLUX, G-VPOP, G-VPRD, G-VRNB, G-VTEA. 2022 Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. All rights reserved.Registered office: Registered office: The VHQ, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9DF The Complete Guide to Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy - Scott's Cheap My flight departed slightly late but arrived early, as eastbound transatlantic flights often do because of strong tailwinds. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. The past two months have been busy ones for the commercial aviation industry in the UK. Even at 6'3", my knees weren't even close to the seat in front. 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. Cookie statement | There was some issue with getting the service up and running to begin with, but once it was, about 45 minutes into the flight, it worked seamlessly. Meanwhile, the cold platters featured green salads, fresh vegetables and a couple other pasta-centric salad dishes. 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. Virgin Atlantics Premium Economy offers a more a la carte service than economy, and that starts with pre-departure bubbles and drink service. Totally agree with all points here. About Virgin Atlantic About Virgin Atlantic. Nonetheless, I managed to work productively for most of the journey to London, another advantage of daytime flights. The headphones distributed were lightweight and insubstantial. 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. A Virgin Atlantic A350 review from the depths of economy SANspotter 87K views 3 years ago Almost yours: 2 weeks, on us 100+ live channels are waiting for you with zero hidden fees Dismiss Try. Families, or groups of colleagues may prefer the middle four. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. If you fly in the seat, its a benchmark premium experience, up there with Singapore Air and other leaders. Discover our brand new A350 aircraft, and see the passion we poured into creating it in this behind the scenes video. 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. They can so a lot better than this. Enjoy a 11.5 inch seatback screen, USB power, and a six-way adjustable headrestfor ultimate comfort. [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" /]. Upon boarding, crew told passengers that to celebrate the launch of the A350 into service, Wi-Fi would be free for all passengers for the flight. The first row is located next to Upper Class, and also just behind Door L2, which is the primary door used to deplane the aircraft. 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. Find the best seat wiht our Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 (351) seating chart. Everything was fresh, and you could feel the excitement of the cabin crew. But what was it really like? Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) God Save the Points All Rights Reserved.Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this sites author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. 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". You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. . However, I did use my Priority Pass membership, which comes as a benefit of my Platinum Card from American Express (enrollment required). Premium check in and fast track worth . The leather seats offer much more legroom and padding than economy a few rows behind, making for a comfortable flight. The recline function was operated by a single metal lever on the side of the center console. Though I didn't use it to sleep, I think it would have been more than sufficient. 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 730 seemed narrower. 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. The premium economy seats measure 18.5" in width, a full 2.5" smaller than the 787-9s. 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. What Is Premium Economy? Is It Worth The Extra? - Simple Flying On a recent work trip to New York, I needed a one way ticket home to London, and Virgin Premium Economy on the A350 offered the best value, just moderately priced above economy. 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. "Starlux is a premier global airline offering world-class service and amenities," said Nap Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance . The last row of premium economy is a great option for sleepers, since you can recline without having to ask or worry if the person behind you might be eating. The "Cheapest" Way To Try Emirates First Class Is Back (Under $625)! I can easily find comfort in Premium for an overnight. Virgin Atlantic A330neo Plane From NYC to London, Review With - Insider 27, 2023 and then six flights daily from May 1, 2023 for the busy summer travel period. [flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Service" tpg-rating="24" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" blurb="I've flown with Virgin quite a few times, and I've never have a bad experience when it comes to service. I appreciated that each Premium passenger had their own personal universal charging point in the center console near their feet. The best part was the chocolate brownie bar, cementing Virgin's prowess in making and choosing desserts. The beer I had with dinner wasn't cold, and setting up the meal trays with a little care before serving them would have made a big difference in the experience. I arrived at my gate an hour before departure. I had a glass of the Casa Piero sauvignon blanc from Spain, which was bright and crisp. SeatGuru Seat Map Virgin Atlantic Earlier this summer, British Airways launched its first-ever A350 routes to Madrid before launching it on long-haul flights. Inside, they were pretty standard economy-size lavatories with no special features or extras. For passengers traveling in Premium with Virgin, there were two options for checking in: using a kiosk to print out your boarding pass or visiting a check-in agent. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. The mozzarella salad was tasty and fresh, though the portion was a little small given how light the first meal was. 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. SeatGuru Seat Map Virgin Atlantic The cheesecake, which both looked and tasted great, was the highlight of an otherwise mediocre meal. 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. Not to be outdone, crosstown competitor Virgin Atlantic soon thereafter began taking delivery of its own A350s. Well, not a joy for my hopes of a flat bed, but a joy to see the world traveling again. For example, the tray table and two drink spaces on the armrest were colored in a faux-granite design. Floor storage for personal effects is not available for use during takeoff and landing. Other main courses on this flight included stir-fried pork with vermicelli vegetable noodles and Beijing bean sauce, and chicken-and-mushroom casserole with buttered new potatoes and green beans. The Dreamliner tables were from the back of the passengers seat in from, and seemed more flexible. Related: Watch TPG UK review all 3 cabins on Virgin Atlantic's brand-new Airbus A350. All three courses appetizer, main and dessert were served at the same time, and I appreciated that they expedited the meal service this way. To start, there was only one option: a Cajun pasta salad of fusilli, mixed leaves and mustard vinaigrette. When prices are competitive with economy, that alone can make the cabin worth the upgrade for anyone with lots of baggage. Soon after trays were collected, flight attendants came through once more to offer liqueurs: Amarula cream, which retails for around $20 per bottle, or Baron Otard Cognac, which retails for around $40 per bottle. Its great, unless youre farting! 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. Economy To Premium Economy On Virgin Atlantic: Is The Upgrade Worth It? Based in New Delhi, India. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The meal was small and disappointing. The information for the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. Which airlines have the best premium economy? 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. 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. This New Aircraft Has Virgin Atlantic's First-ever 'Retreat Suites 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. Unfortunately, Virgin opted not to install leg rests on its A350 Premium seats, a surprising oversight and one that made this seat less ergonomic than those in other airlines' premium economy cabins. There was a small slot next to the seat, underneath the armrest. However, one point to note is that dinner took a full two hours from takeoff to table. Check here before booking an award fare. 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. 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. 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. 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. No tears in seat upholstery, no nicked corners or stained carpets. 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. This crew was no different, at least as much as I could tell from my 20 minutes of interaction with them. During the course of the flight, crew members left out a small bin of chips and snacks for the taking in the galley. Each has the same configuration. Flying from South Africa to the Uk in October 2021 my food tray broken when I told the cabin crew I was told we dont have the tools onboard to fix this problem economy class on my return in February 2023 I decided to check my seat and food tray and get comfortable food tray fine seat broken as I was told on my way out of Africa we dont have tools onboard I did not contact cabin crew needless to say when I could not put my seat in an upright position cabin not impressed with me my thinking was they dont have the tool to fix it Economy class not very impressed, I think a lot of people dont realise that Virgin actually shrunk the size of their premium economy seat when they brought out the A350. Each of the Premium-cabin seats besides the bulkhead seats featured a built-in IFE screen in the back of the headrest. will join Delhi and Mumbai, which are served by the . 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. About 20 minutes later, the crew came around the cabin with meals. Overall, the premium economy on the A350-1000 is a competitive product, still giving British Airways a run for its money. 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). In my essential food advice for eating on planes, curries and rice are always nice. So if you're thinking about starting a film close to landing, be sure you have enough time to finish before you're required to store the screen. The blanket was a deep purple with gold trim. Virgin Atlantic's new plane raises flying standards | The Sacramento Bee Upon entering, I definitely got that new-plane smell. 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. 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. 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. 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!). 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. If you happen to find space in Upper Class and want to use Virgin Points, booking premium is a strategic way to upgrade to the top cabin.
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