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. On an overnight flight where speed is key, this did strike me as slower than usual. Though I didn't use it to sleep, I think it would have been more than sufficient. 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. To cap off the meal was a slice of passion fruit cake. SeatGuru Seat Map Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-900 Seat Maps, Specs & Amenities | Delta Air Lines Please view our advertising policy page for more information. The exterior of the kit itself was made from recyclable kraft paper, which felt like a combination of cardboard and thick paper. Use this seat map to get the most comfortable seats, legroom and recline before booking. Overall, Virgin Atlantic's Airbus A350 is a great aircraft to fly. Just returned from Florida. Both aircraft offer improved cabin specs, with a more natural humidity, pressurization and noise reduction compared to older aircraft on the route, like a Boeing 767 or 777. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. My journey on VS300 began in the evening at Terminal 3 of London Heathrow. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Packed with innovation, our A350 is the new heartbeat of our fleet, and we hope you love it as much as we do. The entre was the exact opposite, a dense, cheesy, sloppy dish overflowing with rice. Virgin also refreshed premium economy for the A350. Floor storage for personal effects is not available for use during takeoff and landing. Virgin had dedicated check-in lanes for Premium guests (which Economy Delight, the most expensive economy class can also use). Virgin Atlantic's New Plane Has an Onboard Lounge That's the - Travel Discover our brand new A350 aircraft, and see the passion we poured into creating it in this behind the scenes video. Cheers to that. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class aboard A350-1000 is breath of fresh air Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program offers some tremendous value, Virgin unveiled its brand-new amenity kits, called "Goodie Bags. This New Aircraft Has Virgin Atlantic's First-ever 'Retreat Suites Even with the new aircraft, I didn't notice any signs the crew was unfamiliar with it. 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. Emotional baggage is best left at your departure point. For the newest seats on its newest aircraft, look for A350-operated flights. The drink was served with sour-cream-and-chive pretzels. The A330 and 787 both have 21 inch wide seats in premium, by far the best of any product out there. Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card. Upper Class travelers (a cabin we reviewed recently too! Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying, Boarding the A350 is definitely an experience. Are you able to eat or use laptop when this happens? Cookie statement | What Is Premium Economy? Is It Worth The Extra? - Simple Flying Is The White Lotus breaking up with Four Seasons ahead of Season 3? 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. More of a wander basket. This means you can get a 4.5% return on these purchases based on TPG's valuations. Overall, the premium economy on the A350-1000 is a competitive product, still giving British Airways a run for its money. Given past trips with Virgin in premium economy, I was hopeful that the A350 would set the benchmark in this competitive market. Every seat is window facing with adjustable moodlighting, an 18.5 inch screen, enhanced privacy and plenty of space and storage. 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. Virgin Atlantic departs from Terminal 4 at JFK Airport, along with its partners, Delta and KLM (Air France departs from Terminal 1). The pillow was thin and its cover was quite scratchy. 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. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. As the table did not slide out very far. but the movie and television selection on board is good, but not great. Our stunning new Upper Class suite is the perfect retreat at 30,000 feet. The best Virgin Atlantic economy seats on the A350 are without a doubt found in rows 45, 52, 53 and 54. Meanwhile, the cold platters featured green salads, fresh vegetables and a couple other pasta-centric salad dishes. The headphones weren't noise-canceling but were still a definite step up from the pairs being handed out in economy. Virgin Atlantic currently flies from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to its home at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) four times daily, increasing to five daily flights from Mar. Premium economy is located right behind the second door. According to their website, in addition to the A330neo, Virgin Atlantic's current fleet includes the Airbus A350-1000, Boeing's 787-9, and Airbus A330-300. Terms and Conditions Apply. Here's how my Virgin Atlantic Premium experience rated. If youre looking to beat the rush at immigration, this is a prize choice. As I wiggled around sitting upright on that narrow seat, just one inch wider than economy and with no leg rest not to mention those out-of-whack meal services I couldn't help thinking I'd save the cash or Virgin Points and just choose economy next time. Unlike passengers in Virgin's Upper Class cabin, those in the Premium cabin weren't entitled to enter the lounge, so my lounge experience isn't factored into the score of this section. 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. Meanwhile, India. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Virgin Atlantic's new plane raises flying standards | The Sacramento Bee 2x points on all other eligible purchases. I could imagine there being contention about who got the majority of it. Both flights were far more comfortable than a standard cattle class seats. Each of the screens in the cabin, whether in the bulkhead row or in one of 48 other seats in the cabin, was 13.3 inches, larger than existing offerings with the carrier. The Premium cabin on the Virgin A350 comprised a total of 56 seats across a single cabin. . My bulkhead seat came with three preset options for reclining the seat. Quality craftsmanship Enjoy a 11.5 inch seatback screen, USB power, and a six-way adjustable headrestfor ultimate comfort. The Virgin A350 Premium Economy Seat Virgin's Premium cabin on the A350 offers 2x4x2 seating. It still is, sometimes. The card also earns 3 Virgin points per dollar spent on Virgin Atlantic tickets and duty-free items purchased directly from Virgin Atlantic. It was a feature that the crew announced prior to takeoff. That small feature can make all the difference between a comfortable and uncomfortable flight. Positioning itself as a luxury yet affordable . Totally agree with all points here. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Terms and conditions | Our newest Economy seats are designed with bespoke woven fabrics inspired by fashion houses. It's worth noting that taxes and fees can sometimes reach or exceed $500. Along with 38 . . A small decision goes a long way, in my eyes. This means you can use the drinks service time to pick one of three mains. My seat, 21A, was a bulkhead window seat, meaning there was no one seated in front of me. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. These seats cost around $2,370 roundtrip between NYC and London. 27, 2023 and then six flights daily from May 1, 2023 for the busy summer travel period. 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. 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. While its new Upper Class Suite got the bulk of the addition and it is a dazzling product, indeed the carrier also gave its Premium product a facelift with the A350. 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). There is no one behind you. I consistently find Virgin Atlantic crews to be among the friendliest in the business. Everything was fresh, and you could feel the excitement of the cabin crew. 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. On the 787 -9, seats measure 21" in width vs 18" in economy and offer 38" in pitch vs 31" (34" in Economy Delight). Even though no one was seated next to me, if someone had been, it would've felt cramped on a long-haul flight especially the armrests, which were on the narrow side. As far as the quality, I found the pillows to be perfectly reasonable with stuffing. The lounge also boasted shower facilities, though those were subject to an additional charge. As for service the virgin team are miles ahead. While it was my fault for not realizing where the tortillas were held, I observed several passengers around me making the same mistake. Virgin Atlantic charges extra for bulkhead and other seats which have more legroom. Or connect your bluetooth headphones to the32 inch TV and watch a show or our live tailcam. Visit delta.com to learn more. 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 . With the ricotta and the spiciness of the tomato sauce and zest from the sweet peppers, it was a great dish. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Additionally, I was a fan of some of the small design features of the seat. It seems like its getting better so fingers crossed? 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. I can easily find comfort in Premium for an overnight. Overall, the meal service was enjoyable and tasty. Related: Watch TPG UK review all 3 cabins on Virgin Atlantic's brand-new Airbus A350. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Alaska Partners With Premium Taiwanese Airline Starlux On this route specifically, you can often find round-trip award flights for just 35,000 Flying Club miles plus taxes and fees. Virgin Airbus A350 | A350 Configuration | Virgin Atlantic To start, there was only one option: a Cajun pasta salad of fusilli, mixed leaves and mustard vinaigrette. 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. There was no wait for check-in and I was helped immediately. Pranjal is enthusiastic about new aircraft types and has his stories regularly picked up by renowned publications including Forbes. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. However, compared to the 787-9, for which I only had positive words last year, this certainly feels like a downgrade. Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Standard seat. It would have taken the crew only a few seconds to tidy up the trays before serving them, but instead, passengers had to do it themselves. I didn't have much time to enjoy the lounge, but I found it to be a nice space overall. Of course, in premium economy, you shouldn't expect Bose total noise-canceling headphones, but they could've done better than the economy offering. Families, or groups of colleagues may prefer the middle four. Even at 6'3", my knees weren't even close to the seat in front. 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. Elsewhere in the terminal were Oneworld carriers like Qantas, American, Cathay, Japan Airlines and some British Airways flights. 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. Just before landing, the cabin crew came around with a final treat: Swizzels Love Hearts. The crew insisted it was the real deal, so I tried a small glass and it did indeed taste like real Champagne. Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy: What to Know - NerdWallet Virgin Atlantics Premium Economy offers a more a la carte service than economy, and that starts with pre-departure bubbles and drink service. Starlux Launches Its Los Angeles Airbus A350 Flights On Wednesday