Until very recently, I had no idea that away from all this – high above the heads of the busy crowds – is a place where airport life is a happy, sunny place. The result is a confusing Rubik’s Cube of criteria. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. We booked my trip between London and New York as a round-trip award, so we paid a total of 95,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles and about $845 in taxes and fees. A sanctuary where you can play a game of Snooker over a glass of white wine, or even try your hand at a computer game. The topic of the free airline upgrade is one that continues to do the rounds; whispers of it heard in airport queues, or in the back of taxicabs. An hour later and I woke up to find myself surrounded by a soft, white duvet. The best lounge in the world. (Note: some airlines also allow their frequent flyers to place themselves on the list). Treatments are not guaranteed and shall be booked on a first come first serve basis. Indeed, it is not an experience one should take too seriously. Ripping it open, inside I found a selection of Rituals products: balms and creams to keep me hydrated. Enjoy Premium Economy and your travels! It can be difficult to choose between business class on different airlines, and selecting Virgin Atlantic Upper Class or British Airways Club World is no exception. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Why I Decided to Take a 1:1 Katharine Graves (KG) Hypnobirthing Course, The Best Winter Skincare Products for 2020, 10 of the Best Sustainable Baby Clothing Brands, Truths of the Second Trimester of Pregnancy, A Review of the Lumie Halo Light Therapy Lamp. Note: Another bonus of flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class is that you’re also able to access the Premium Security Lanes – whisking you past the unenviably lengthy queues. Or as normal as you can feel at 40,000 feet. Virgin Atlantic’s SFO Clubhouse is a class apart from the average business class lounge — good enough that I’d go a bit out of my way to … I would be very interested in trying the menu at altitude to judge how the dishes stand the true test of being prepared in the air. She was holding something in her hand: two white tickets. You can choose from two official Virgin Atlantic credit cards (apply here, one has a bonus of 15,000 Points): The UK’s most generous free Visa or Mastercard at 0.75 points / £1 Read our full review, 15,000 points bonus and the most generous non-Amex for day to day spending Read our full review. However, in Economy Class – and with just a few attendants to an entire room of thirsty, hungry and sleep-deprived individuals – I often feel guilty for adding to their plate. These were items selected from both the new Upper Class menu as well as the new Clubhouse lounges menu. One-way Upper Class tickets cost 47,500 miles plus about £445 tax. Busy, frenetic and filled with queues, they have become a part of travel that I dread. How much you bid is up to you, and bids can be made up to seven days before you fly. Would the In air option be available across all Virgin Atlantic routes? When huddled in Economy Class – your knees locked in that claustrophobic 90 degree position – it’s the idea of room and space that you begin to fantasise about. That’s more than sufficient, given that almost no one actually eats.  That said, I am confident the menu will be well received by all Upper Class and Clubhouse guests. It might therefore come as no surprise to hear that flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class – and experiencing its enormous, comfortable seats – is nothing short of heavenly. Episode Six (Season Two) Where Have We Been For the Last 4 Months? I was enjoying reading this anyway I’m flying Premium Economy with Virgin on Saturday and love to daydream about upgrading! The Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class cabin is set out in a 1-2-1 herringbone layout….. Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class Seat Map courtesy of Seatguru.com …and my first impressions upon boarding were not good. Expecting it to arrive in a (hopefully recyclable) paper cup, I was excited to find that it was instead presented in a Bone China mug. I immediately selected his dish, ordering a warm chocolate salted caramel pudding for dessert. Exactly what an Upper Class lounge should be. Of course, for those amongst you who are fortunate enough to travel Virgin Atlantic Upper Class regularly, this level of enthusiasm might seem a little OTT. This would finally be my opportunity to experience the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and Upper Class Wing! We’ve actually just booked our first ever Premium economy flights for April this year, so exciting!! Whilst I was very happy with my choices, I must admit I did feel small pangs of food envy seeing everyone else’s dishes. Whilst I was very impressed with the quality and flavours of all the dishes, it is difficult to judge whether the quality would be equal when served on a plane. Luckily, too, Virgin is pretty generous whe… Storing my bag away, she then glided off to get me a drink – returning with a glass of champagne and a warm towel. It seems that as I slept, Amy had brought over a blanket and pillows – carefully tucking me in. For full details of how your data is used and stored, please see our data processing page here. The different textures of the cauliflower, chickpeas and roasted nuts were complimented well with a tahini yoghurt. Fingers crossed for more upgrades in future! Somehow, I couldn’t imagine the idea of standing upright at a bar, as my airplane rocketed through the skies. If a seat in Upper Class becomes available, the first names on the list are selected and ét voila: an automatic upgrade is yours. Living in London, I always had the urge to fly Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class product. 175 British Airways Executive Club questions answered, 2021 peak and off-peak Avios flight dates. This includes using an affiliate tracking cookie if you click an external link. Virgin Atlantic A350 Upper Class lounge. You make a big assumption there…and I’m not on about normal people liking spicy food ???? This service is now available on all flights departing the UK. * A charge of £16 will be applied to these treatments if taken as an additional service. Chatting to the bar staff as they poured our drinks, I noticed how adding this everyday environment to the flight helped to normalise things. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses! The new Covid-safe style of "buffet" was in evidence. At time of writing, airfares start at $349 round-trip in economy, $1,133 in premium economy, and $4,881 in Upper Class. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Although I think that the Virgin Atlantic “Upper Class” experience leaves a lot to be desired on the majority of their fleet, the lounge at London Heathrow is a very impressive space. These were items selected from both the new Upper Class menu as well as the new Clubhouse lounges menu. Once everyone had arrived menus were handed out with a choice of three starters and three mains. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This meal in the sky was instead sophisticated, unhurried and truly delicious. It’s a memory that I’ll cling to even in my darkest days, most probably when aboard a red eye flight home and my back is in spasm. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft 3 Seater Lounge Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Area. By design, Virgin Atlantic aims to razzle and dazzle from the moment of boarding, and in this case, it has largely succeeded. Browsing the main courses – spying dishes such as Caramelised Salmon and Glass Noodles – I noticed that several meals had been designed by Food Writer and Celebrity Chef, Donal Skehan. You're welcome to bring a guest to the Clubhouse just as long as they're on the same international Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, Air France or KLM flight as you. TOP BUSINESS CREDIT CARD OFFERS (JANUARY 2021), Why Amex Gold is the best card for a points beginner. Experience the famous Virgin Atlantic Upper (business) Class on this Boeing 787-9 flight from London to Shanghai. Indeed, when writing this Virgin Atlantic Upper Class review – I realised that it was perhaps the staff who truly made the experience. Other little touches included Cowshed toiletries inside the bathrooms, onboard WiFi and a wide selection of Pukka Tea teabags to choose from. Better than cooked food menu IMHO. Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Hayes: See 670 unbiased reviews of Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #1 of 101 restaurants in Hayes. It was, however, delicious! Change your name by Deed Poll to one that begins with ‘A’. Now, there are two things to say about the Upper Class dining experience. Virgin tried to keep the experience as … Love reading this! For more information on Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club programme, see this post. Introduction: Spending The Night With A Virgin Virgin Atlantic 787 Upper Class Hong Kong to London Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge London Heathrow Conrad London St. James Grand Deluxe Room Virgin Atlantic 787 Economy Class London to Hong Kong My dad and I got to the airport at 10:30 PM for our 11:55 PM flight. However, two hours later, and just as we were leaving to board our flight, I noticed a member of the Virgin Atlantic onboarding team heading our way. My stew arrived and at first glance looked more like Tom Yum. Today (December 30, 2020): Review of Virgin Atlantic A350’s (new) Upper Class from London to New York. Bearing in mind that you lose 30% or your taste sensitivity in the air, Donal has designed the menu to be rich and flavourful yet not so heavy as to leave you feeling gorged for the rest of your flight. Learn more on our About page. As the Virgin Clubhouse lounge at Heathrow is generally regarded as one of the top five Business Class lounges in the world I decided to get to the airport early enough to check out the spa and restaurant and look at the different areas. With designer linen draped over my table and delicate cutlery organised next to it, I enjoyed copious amounts of delicious wine, before browsing the cheese trolley as it rolled past. What day of the week was it? All passengers board through the second door of the aircraft, which gives a glimpse into the new Upper Class seats, the new “loft bar” and of course premium and economy. We were more than happy with our seats and had already planned our journey. Lucky for me, Donal ordered extras of all dishes, so we were given the opportunity to sample the items we had not personally ordered. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.  We got to take a look at it (and sample it) at a private dinner event.  As both Rob and I were out of the country, we sent our foodie friend Lisa along to take notes. The evening started with a welcome drink served by two flight attendants followed by mingling with other guests, Donal himself and VP Customer Experience at Virgin Atlantic Daniel Kerzner.  Virgin had hired an apartment opposite Buckingham Palace for the dinner which gave it an air of exclusivity. Virgin Atlantic is set to open its first Clubhouse at Manchester Airport next spring.. Upper Class (business) customers and Gold Card members will get access to the lounge… Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class cabin photo by Tom Mascardo licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0. Then I realised at the photo that the article was written by the twins I went to grammar school with! At least if I panicked here, nobody would see me. A nice lounge offering with a great menu and broad drink selection. I’ve reached the summit of the cabin world and I can’t look down; that mysterious curtain of separation blocking my way. ... heathrow virgin lounge hounslow • london heathrow virgin atlantic hounslow • This piece is a guide to flying Virgin Atlantic in non-COVID-19 times. Was a trumpet going to sound and confetti fall from the sky? I’ve drank champagne whilst flying through a city of clouds; I’ve slept whilst aboard a Boeing 747. Indeed, it makes airline travel something that is actually enjoyable and relaxing; rather than cramped and unpleasant. If you want lounge access, you can buy or use a Priority Pass to access alternative lounges. Like 1966 or England winning the Eurovision Song Contest, perhaps. To get to it you come out of arrivals and then head towards the lifts for car park and then go up a floor. Yet, our flight in the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class cabin was an experience that I don’t want to forget. It’s a staggering amount to pay on top of a mileage redemption, but when you consider that round-trip business-class tickets between the two cities regularly sell for anywhere from $2,700 to over $8,000, it doesn’t seem so bad. Propped up on a row of pillows, with a remote in hand, I felt like I was watching TV in bed at home – the clouds sailing passed my window. I’m intrigued about the Available Only Upgrade List – did you tell the airline staff about Twins That Travel when you checked in, or did they already know about you? On the bottom of each were written the words: ‘Pinched From Virgin Atlantic’; a deliberate ploy intended to encourage guests to steal (not leave) the little dispensers. All you can do to maintain your sanity is to stare ahead: towards that mysterious curtain that marks the end of one world, and the start of another. It was an experience that I’ll both never forget, and simultaneously wish had never happened. What are the most valuable credit card sign-up bonuses? On our particular flight, the bar was quiet. Editor’s note: The coronavirus has had a huge impact on the aviation industry. What a great ride.. and oh wow those socks! I tend to walk onboard and feel like a school kid: mindful that I must pay attention to all the rules and be a ‘good’ passenger. Air travel can be cramped, relentless and often accompanied by rising levels of stress. x. Why can’t they stick to plain non spicy food thst rverykne can meet. (Laura, I was in your class). A little later, and with our meal, we were presented with two tiny Salt & Pepper pots, each designed as small silver airplanes. Not only ensuring that you’ll secure yourself a lovely meal, this also helps the airline to cut down on food waste). These cookies do not store any personal information. Regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a credit broker (FRN 690573). Arriving in my seat, I noticed a Herschel cosmetics bag on my chair. Founded by Richard Branson in 1984 to shake up the aviation industry, Virgin has a reputation … As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Virgin Points from UK credit cards. What is the best Virgin Atlantic credit card? A star name in Ireland, Donal is best known in the UK as one of the rotating hosts of Saturday Kitchen.  He is also a TV regular in the US, and this was presumably a key factor for Virgin Atlantic who wanted someone who was familiar in both of their core markets. Simply choose which dish you’d like (Fish & Chips, for example) and let the flight attendant know. To end our meal, we were served the new Eric Lanlard-designed high tea, which was rolled out earlier this year, with a great selection of cakes slices and macaroons.  Head for Points wrote about the launch here. Filled with appetisers such as Spicy Butternut Soup and Chicken Satay, and accompanied by a list of different cocktails, I immediately forgot that we were aboard a plane. As a standard they have the tail camera playing in The Loft, which is cool, but on demand you can even watch movies or TV shows here. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class – the A330 seat. There was plenty of chunky chorizo and seafood and the flavours were perfectly balanced. Having finally – triumphantly – clawed my way into that magenta-hued haven of relaxation, I’ll now be unable to sit through an Economy Class flight again. Would music play and people dance? It was a meal I would be very happy to be served in a restaurant. She would be on hand for ‘whatever I needed’ throughout the flight, and would be looking after just me and eight other passengers. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Seating This website uses cookies to improve your experience. There is also some award availability using Virgin … From the novelty Salt & Pepper pots, to the innovative cocktail menu, our eight hours aboard our Virgin Atlantic flight was a vacation in itself. In London, it is hard to go a day without seeing an advertising board showing the incredible service or luxury lounge. We’re the UK’s leading source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. This … This video gives you an overview of the whole Upper Class experience. a tray of food perched in front of you and a plastic cup filled with wine. For someone who normally feels close to starving during a flight, I was soon to feel extremely full. Flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class is perhaps a hollow victory for someone soon to take a 12-hour flight in Economy. In short, this list tends to comprise of airline staff members, their family and friends, or press and PR – and works on a first-come-first-serve basis. In a bid to escape the madness, I tend to find chairs in empty terminals and sit there in silence – watching as floor polisher machines drift by. I chose the chorizo, tomato and fish stew for a starter and the Ras El Hanout chicken thighs for my main. Is Hilton Honors the best hotel loyalty scheme? However, a friend then suggested that we explore the possibility of getting our names onto the mysterious ‘available only upgrade list’. You can also earn Virgin Points from various American Express cards – and these have sign-up bonuses too. Adding a new and inventive twist to the humble airplane meal, it seemed that Donal had been busy. A place where spa music plays and pre-flight facials take place. Because most of us normals like a bit of spicy food? The only downside to experiencing it? Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. 22 inches wide and extending to 6ft 7.5 inches when flat, my chair engulfed me from the moment I sat down. My fear of flying comes not from the idea that I’ll panic, but the risk that I’ll panic in front of people. We’ve taken an in-depth look at fares, entertainment, food, drink, and service to help you come to a d… Too often, flying can feel an odd and prescribed affair. 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