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Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Review [JFK to LHR]

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Greg Stone
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Greg Stone

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Greg’s obsession with earning and burning points and miles allows him to travel over 100 days every year, often in some of the most coveted business and first class products available.
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
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Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

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With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...

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Airline: Virgin Atlantic (VS)
Aircraft: Airbus A350 (G-VLUX)
Flight #: VS138
Route: John F. Kennedy International (JFK) > London Heathrow (LHR)
Date: October 29, 2019
Duration: 6hrs 39min
Cabin & Layout: Business Class, 44 seats, 1-2-1 config
Seat(s): 9A
Points Used: 47,500 Virgin Atlantic Points + $624.20 in taxes
Typical Retail Cost: $6,700 per person one-way

Introduction

I have very fond memories of Virgin Atlantic, which all started back in 2004.

My best mate and I started planning a European trip-of-a-lifetime after our university graduation in 2007. It would be my very first time to Europe, the furthest I had ever flown, and my first time on an international trip without my family.

My mate planned on flying Qantas in business class using his dad’s staff travel benefits.

This got me thinking about how much it would cost me to do the same. Qantas was hideously expensive, so that was out of the question, but I found the best value fares on Virgin Atlantic who were flying from Sydney to London via Hong Kong, at the time, using the Airbus A340-600.

Virgin Atlantic doesn’t have a “Business Class,” they called it “Upper Class,” and back then, it was better than anything else flying out of Sydney. It had a proper flatbed (not a sloping lie-flat), an onboard masseuse for complementary treatments, and an onboard bar. I was sold!

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 Upper Class Seats
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 Upper Class Seats. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 Upper Class Bed
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 Upper Class Bed. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 Upper Class Bar
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 Upper Class Bar. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

With 3 years before I could book flights, I worked my butt off at 2 jobs to save for the trip whilst also studying at university.

And it was absolutely fabulous — the whole flight experience remains one of my most memorable flight experiences. Considering I had only ever experienced a Qantas Club lounge before, I was blown away by the Clubhouse lounge at London Heathrow.

It spoilt me, though, and I have never wanted to fly in economy ever since, especially on the 24-hours between Australia and Europe.

Even back then, maximizing loyalty rewards ran through my veins. I had signed up for a rewards credit card, which would net me enough loyalty dollars to use towards the Contiki tour booking for our European adventure.

Plus, I signed up to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club as I worked out that the points earned on this booking would be enough to upgrade a Premium Economy flight from Sydney to Hong Kong to Upper Class if/when I wanted to fly them again.

This singular experience taught me how valuable loyalty rewards programs were and I was determined to do whatever I could to fly like that again, using points instead of dollars.

When I needed to go to Europe with my current job in 2008, I selected Virgin Atlantic again.

Sadly, Virgin Atlantic stopped flying onward from Hong Kong to Sydney in May 2014 so there has not been an opportunity to fly them again.

When the airline announced a brand-new Airbus A350 delivery, and with my points earn healthier than the years before, I wanted to do whatever I could to fly them again.

But would it live up to my lofty expectations and could the experience compare with that very first flight?

Booking Virgin Atlantic Business Class

Thankfully, there are a few ways you can use credit card points and airline miles to book business class award seats on Virgin Atlantic’s brand new A350 from JFK to LHR:

Here’s how many points you’ll need:

  • Delta SkyMiles: 85,000+
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 47,500
  • Virgin Australia Velocity: 49,500

Notice how Delta SkyMiles is listed as “85,000+”? This is because the airline has dynamic flight pricing, meaning that the airline switches up award pricing based on various factors like passenger load, dates, and more.

If you’re lucky enough to find a flight on one of these cheaper dates, you’ll pay very minimal taxes (~$5.60) on the JFK to LHR route.

On the other hand, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers significantly cheaper redemption rates and has a standard award chart. This means you’ll never pay more than 47,500 points for a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class flight from JFK to LHR.

The downside here is taxes and fees. This route has $624.20 in taxes and fees attached to a one-way Upper Class ticket between the cities because the airline passes along fuel surcharges and other taxes to the passenger, so it’s up to you to decide if saving points is worth the added cash cost.

You can transfer miles to Delta SkyMiles from American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

On the other hand, you can transfer points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Marriott Bonvoy at varying rates.

Regardless, you’ll get a good redemption for the points as a paid ticket is often more than $5,000 one-way.

My Experience Booking Virgin Atlantic Business Class

Virgin Australia is a partner of Virgin Atlantic and considering I already had enough Velocity points in my account already, I first tried to book using these.

At 49,500 points, there was only a premium of 2,000 points compared using Virgin Atlantic and would negate the need to transfer points from American Express to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

You can’t book Virgin Atlantic reward seats on Virgin Australia’s website, so I had to call. The agent needs to process the booking through Virgin Atlantic and wait for it to be “confirmed” by the airline. Sadly, Virgin Atlantic wasn’t releasing any A350 award seats to partners, so my booking was declined.

So, I jumped onto the American Express website and initiated the transfer of 47,500 Virgin Points for the 3,452-mile flight to London. I had to wait an unusually long 3 days before the points hit my Virgin Atlantic account but thankfully the award seat was still available to book. Phew.

In retrospect, I should’ve called Virgin Atlantic to place a hold on this award seat before I made my transfer. The airline lets you hold Virgin Atlantic operated flights for 48 hours. When a ticket is on hold, no one else can book it, so there’s no risk of losing award space.

While I waited 3 days (longer than the 2 day Virgin Atlantic hold time) for my transfer to process, this is unusual as points usually transfer to Virgin Atlantic near-instantly. Regardless, it’s good practice to hold award tickets before you transfer points so that you can be sure you’re able to redeem for your flight of choice.

Virgin Atlantic Booking Calendar
Virgin Atlantic Booking Calendar. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Award Flight Selection. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic Award Flight Selection. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Booking was straight forward, but the carrier charges were on the high-side.

Virgin Atlantic Booking
Virgin Atlantic Booking. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

But the $624.20 carrier and fuel surcharges were a fraction of the $6,703.70 for the full fare.

Virgin Atlantic Paid Fare Comparison
Virgin Atlantic Paid Fare Comparison. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

At JFK Airport – Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Before my flight, I overnighted at the TWA Hotel at JFK and managed to witness V-LUX’s arrival from my Runway View Room — she looked amazing!

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Arrival at JFK
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Arrival at JFK

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Arrival at JFK
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Arrival at JFK

After a brief stroll from the hotel, I arrived at JFK Terminal 4 at 6:30 p.m.

I approached the check-in counters and was told by the staff that the Upper Class check-in was at the far end of the terminal.

Virgin Atlantic Check-In JFK Airport
Virgin Atlantic Check-In JFK Airport

It was a bit of a walk, and by the time I got there, only 1 agent was working the desk and 2 others were in the queue, so it took about 15 minutes before I was served. The agent was super friendly and was telling me that I was going to love the new A350.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In Signage JFK Airport
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In Signage JFK Airport

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In Walkway JFK Airport
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In Walkway JFK Airport

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In Entrance JFK Airport
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In Entrance JFK Airport

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In JFK Airport
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In JFK Airport

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In Counters JFK Airport
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Check-In Counters JFK Airport

It would have been quicker to have checked in at the Premium counter, but the Upper Class check-in did drop me into the priority security queue, which took about 10 minutes.

Through security, I was thirsty and needed a cocktail so headed straight to the Virgin Clubhouse.

JFK Airport Lounge Signage
JFK Airport Lounge Signage

Located near A5, I arrived at the Clubhouse right at 7:00 p.m.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Near Gate A5
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Near Gate A5

I had a quick walk around the lounge to get my bearings and so I could admire the Airbus A330 out of one of the many windows.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Views
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Views

Virgin Atlantic has an Eboni Spa offering select complimentary and paid treatments. I headed there first just so I didn’t miss out on a treatment and booked a complimentary Express Radiant You Facial for towards the end of my lounge visit.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa Menu Skin Care
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa Menu Skin Care

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa Menu Hands & Feet
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa Menu Hands & Feet

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa Menu Body & Soul
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa Menu Body & Soul

I then headed over to the tendered bar to peruse the cocktail menu, but I already knew what I wanted, but an espresso martini was not listed.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bar
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bar

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Cocktail List
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Cocktail List

But ask, and you shall receive.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Espresso Martini Cocktail
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Espresso Martini Cocktail

The red-eye flights to London can take as little as 5 hours 30 minutes up to 6 hours 40 minutes, depending on air traffic and the wind. To maximize sleep onboard, you can enjoy a full a la carte dining experience in the lounge and skip the meal onboard.

I wanted to try both the lounge and onboard service, for the purpose of this review, of course, so I headed to the dining room next.

There was ample lounge seating available and I had no trouble getting a table.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Dining Room
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Dining Room

Next up was a Virgin Redhead (bubbly, berry liqueurs, Bombay Sapphire Gin, and fresh raspberries) whilst I decided on what to eat.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Virgin Redhead Cocktail
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Virgin Redhead Cocktail

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bar Menu Breakfast, Snacks & Salads
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bar Menu Breakfast, Snacks, and Salads

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bar Menu Mains, Deserts, Kids, Tea
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bar Menu Mains, Desserts, Kids, Tea

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Champagne, Wines, and Beer Menu
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Champagne, Wines, and Beer Menu

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Hot Drink Menu
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Hot Drink Menu

Everything sounded amazing, but I didn’t want anything too heavy so I selected the salmon and it was divine. Perfect portion size and cooked to perfection.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Salmon Main
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Salmon Main

Then it was onto a Bramble (fresh blackberries, fresh lemon juice, Aviation Gin, and blackberry liqueur).

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bramble Cocktail
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bramble Cocktail

The “not too heavy” strategy went out the window for dessert when I selected the chocolate fondant.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Chocolate Fondant
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Chocolate Fondant

It was such a shame that it wasn’t soft and gooey on the inside when I broke it open — it was overcooked.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Chocolate Fondant Dry
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Dry Chocolate Fondant

After my first dinner for this evening, I headed to a lounge.

Overall, the lounge has a New York ’60s glam vibe, sort of Austin Powers-esque meets a funky night club or bar. The design uses lots of curves with splashes of Virgin’s signature reds and purples with a huge variety of lounges to choose from.

The lounge uses vertical metal poles, wooden slats, hanging pendants, and ceiling-mounted gold cylinders to differentiate different zones.

Some are form-over-function odd egg-shaped.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Lounge Area
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Lounge Area

The centerpiece red semi-circular sofa.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Pool Table & Lounge Seating
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Pool Table and Lounge Seating

Eames chairs by the window.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Window Seats
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Window Seats

Privacy chairs.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Private Seats
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Private Seats

Or banquette seating.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Lounge Seating
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Lounge Seating

There is even a pool table.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Pool Table
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Pool Table

If you really must work, you can use one of the Apple Macs or connect to the lounge Wi-Fi which clocked mediocre speeds.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Business Center
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Business Center

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Wi-Fi Speed Test
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Wi-Fi Speed Test. Image Credit: Speedtest.net

Read a paper.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Newspapers
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Newspapers

Or grab a magazine.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Reading Material
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Reading Material

Shower suites are available.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bathroom & Shower
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bathroom and Shower

After a brief moment to relax, it was time for my facial at the spa. It was a brilliant way to hydrate my face before the flight.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa Treatment Room
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Spa Treatment Room

I headed back to sit by the window and enjoy a final beverage before my flight where I saw my ride, Red Velvet (G-VLUX), being towed to the gate alongside the second delivered A350, Mamma Mia (G-VPOP).

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK View of Airbus A350
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK View of Airbus A350

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK is fabulous and is one of the best business class lounges I have visited. It’s not as big as the Clubhouse at London Heathrow, but it never felt crowded during the evening. For the dining experience, beverage selection, attentive service, and being able to enjoy a complimentary spa treatment, it’s one of the best places to spend time before a business class flight.

Flight

Aircraft

VS138 is operated by a new Airbus A350-100 which began service in October 2019.

Virgin Atlantic has taken delivery of 4 of the aircraft type with 8 remaining on order.

The aircraft is configured with 44 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration between door 1 and door 2.

Premium economy has 56 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration behind door 2. Economy occupies the rest of the aircraft in 3-3-3 configuration with 235 seats split across 2 cabins.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Seat Map
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Seat Map. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Business Class

Stepping on board, I was instantly impressed by the design of the new Upper Class cabin.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Cabin from Front
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Cabin From Front

Instantly recognizable as a funky Virgin cabin, the white thermoplastics contrast perfectly against the chocolate leather seats, burnt orange seat-surrounds, and gold accents.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Cabin from Rear
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Cabin From Rear

Virgin Atlantic selected the Safran Cirrus NG as the base seat which is herringbone by design, meaning window seats angle towards the window and middle seats angle towards the aisle.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Window Seat from Aisle
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Window Seat From Aisle

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Cabin from Front
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Cabin From Front

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Middle Seat from Aisle
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Middle Seat From Aisle

This is different from most other herringbone configurations which have the middle seats closer to the aisle and facing towards the middle. This design means middle passengers have their heads closer together, meaning it’s easier to lean around the seat shell to talk instead of when the seats are further apart.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Middle Seats
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Middle Seats

I loved that the seat isn’t overloaded with linen, which is stored in the overhead bins instead.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat 9A from Aisle
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat 9A From Aisle

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat 9A
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat 9A

On the leading edge of the seat console are the seat controls and shortcut buttons for the IFE and crew call buttons.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat Controls
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat Controls

Down alongside the window are the literature pocket, USB, and power socket.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Literature Pocket
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Literature Pocket

But after I got settled, I started noticing flaws. The most obvious is the total lack of storage.

While the glass shelf looks great, it doesn’t have a door, so it’s not certified for takeoff and landing storage. Nor can you just leave your personal belongings (including that bottle of water) on the console.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Window Seat
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Window Seat

I also looked under one of the leather pads in search of a storage pocket and the leather just lifted off. Nope, not there.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Looking for Storage
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Looking for Storage

Looking next at the height adjustable armrest, which would usually house a storage compartment — no storage there, either.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Armrest Lowered
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Armrest Lowered

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Height Adjustable Armrest
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Height Adjustable Armrest

So, I had to store my camera bag on the ottoman after I put all my camera lenses back inside.

After pushing back from the gate, I also found out that the ottoman also isn’t certified for takeoff or landing storage. The crew had to tell passengers that absolutely everything had to be put into the overhead bins or held.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Footwell
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Footwell

I had a similar complaint with storage with the Safran seat installed on Finnair’s Airbus A350 also. Yet there is oodles of storage on the Safran seat on Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A350.

I then tested the tray table, which folds from the seat in front, and it’s actually too big and prevents you from moving in or out of your seat during meal service. The reach also can’t be adjusted so larger-waisted passengers will be wedged into the seat.

I’ve heard that Virgin is currently replacing these with a new design to correct this issue.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Large Tray Table
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Large Tray Table

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Tray Table Swung into Place
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Tray Table Swung Into Place

And, it was surprising to see the seat controls were showing wear and tear already.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Wear & Tear
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Wear and Tear

Whereas its nearest competitor, British Airways, also opted for a herringbone design, it optioned the seats with closing doors. Virgin’s research determined its passengers prefer crew interaction, so it decided to install small sliding partitions instead.

The seats are offset between rows.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Offset Seats for added Privacy
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Offset Seats for Added Privacy

And the seat shells are high enough that you don’t see other passengers unless you sit up off your seat.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class High Seat Shells
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class High Seat Shells

But the privacy screens between middle passengers are welcome if you don’t know your seat-mate.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat 9D
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat 9D

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Middle Seats with Privacy Screen Closed
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Middle Seats With Privacy Screen Closed

For window seats, I personally don’t think the screens are necessary. I didn’t even think to use the screen until just before landing into London Heathrow and you can see that it does nothing to increase my privacy.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Privacy Screen Open
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Privacy Screen Open

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Privacy Screen Closed
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Privacy Screen Closed

Individual airflow nozzles are overhead for all passengers.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Individual Air Nozzles
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Individual Air Nozzles

Gone is the Virgin signature bar — instead, the space is used for the new “Loft,” a casual lounge space with seating for 6 guests.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Area
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Area

Loft features a 3-seater, 2 solo seats opposite a table, and a solo chair for the anti-social person in the cabin.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft 3 Seater Lounge
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft 3 Seater Lounge

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Area
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Area

A 32-inch television screen allows up to 8 passengers to pair Bluetooth headsets to the screen. Yet due to the short red-eye flight, I didn’t have time to test it out.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Seating
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Seating

Back at my seat, I was really impressed by the comfort due to the excellent cushioning and space around my seat.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat from Point of View
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Seat From Point of View

When it came to sleep, the Virgin Atlantic crew offer personalized turndown service. By the time I changed into my pajamas in a lavatory, the crew had made my seat into a bed, with one of the most comfortable business class mattress toppers I have slept on (on par with Virgin Australia’s “the business” mattress pad).

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Flat Bed with Linen
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Flat Bed With Linen

The linen was perfect, the cabin was kept cool, and I slept a solid 3 hours 40 minutes, which unfortunately wasn’t enough time. I was woken by the captain’s PA to advise of arrival information into London Heathrow 45 minutes before landing.

There are 2 lavatories up the front of the aircraft exclusively for Upper Class passengers which also feature windows and are stocked with Ren products. Another 3 lavatories are between the bar and Premium which can be used by either cabin passengers.

As such, it is a little hard to determine the passenger-to-toilet ratio but, I never had to queue for a bathroom during this flight.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Bathroom with a Window
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Bathroom with a Window

Amenities

The new Virgin “goodie bag” was sitting on my console upon boarding.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Shelves and Welcome Amenities
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Shelves and Welcome Amenities

It’s so great to see the airline addressing the issue of single-use plastics with this new, more sustainable amenity kit.

The bag itself is made from recycled kraft paper. The contents included a bamboo toothbrush, earplugs in paper packaging, and kraft paper pens.

There’s no escaping plastic completely with the Ren Clean Skincare products.

High-quality socks are also included which are not like the rubbish thin ones you would usually leave behind. The kit also included a satin eyeshade.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Amenity Kit Contents
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Amenity Kit Contents

The new kits will save 945 tons of plastic each year, the airline says.

Sleep suits are handed out by the crew before take-off with a reminder to take and “reuse me” at home.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Sleep Suit
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Sleep Suit

Entertainment

Inflight entertainment is provided courtesy of a Safran RAVE IFE solution with a crystal clear 18.5-inch screen that swings out from the seat in front.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 IFE Welcome Screen
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 IFE Welcome Screen

As a brand-new system, it was very responsive to touch and no additional remote control has been installed or is necessary. You can also control the screen with your mobile, but I didn’t as the screen was perfect.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Connection
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Connection. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Headphones are provided and had decent noise-canceling functionality.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Noisecanelling Headphones
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Noise-Canceling Headphones

The menu structure could use clearer icons as at a glance, they all look the same.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 IFE Menu Screen
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 IFE Menu Screen

Plenty of content is available, but I didn’t have time to watch anything on this quick hop across the Atlantic.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 IFE Movie Selection
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 IFE Movie Selection

Food and beverage could also be ordered through the IFE, yet every time I checked, the functionality was disabled.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 IFE Food & Drink Ordering
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 IFE Food and Drink Ordering

I absolutely loved watching the HD tail-cam coming into land, which is noticeably clearer than other tail-cams I have seen.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Tailcam
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Tail-Cam

There’s also an interactive map.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Interactive Map
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Interactive Map

Wi-Fi is available using Inmarsat’s GX Aviation technology with plans that thankfully provide unlimited data volume, unlike some data-capped plans on other airlines.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Plans 1
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Plans. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Plans
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Plans. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Plans
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Plans. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Speeds were impressive and pretty close to the speeds clocked on the ground in the Clubhouse.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Speed Test
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Wi-Fi Speed Test. Image Credit: Speedtest.net

Meal and Service

Boarding commenced right on schedule at 9:10 p.m.

Entering the aircraft, I was welcomed by Rachel at the door who directed me into the Upper Class cabin. There I was greeted by Darren who offered me a choice of Canard-Duchene Champagne, orange juice, or water. I was referred to by name for the duration of the flight by all the crew.

I was asked if I would be dining on the aircraft or heading to sleep. As I was planning to eat, my meal order was taken.

Whilst I was photographing the “Loft” lounge area before take-off, I had the pleasure of meeting more of the fabulous crew including Rima, Karl, and Colin, the Customer Service Manager. They were all very excited about their shiny new aircraft and explained this was only their second flight, after flying over from London just a day before.

They also explained that there were only 8 empty seats in Upper Class, 10 in Premium, and 30 in Economy — about 86% full.

Due to the short 6-hour red-eye flight, straight after take-off the crew burst into action and did a fantastic job of prioritizing the turndown service for those who wanted to skip the onboard meal service and get straight to sleep.

As a collective team, it took them no time at all. If Virgin Atlantic can get this amazing turn-down service done correctly on a 6-hour flight, you would think Qantas could do so on a 9-hour flight?

By 10:30 p.m., just 20 minutes after take-off, my post-take off Sunset Martini arrived. It’s good to see no single-use plastic straw, but the paper straw is enormous.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Post-Take-Off Beverage and Crisps
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Post-Take-Off Beverage and Crisps

The tray table was set with a purple placemat, side plate, and the iconic Wilbur and Orville salt and pepper shakers.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Place Setting
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Place Setting

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Wilbur & Orville Salt & Pepper Shakers
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Wilbur and Orville Salt and Pepper Shakers

A selection of bread arrived at 10:50 p.m. My meal followed shortly 10 minutes later. I ordered the grilled fillet steak with red bliss mashed potatoes, sautéed green beans, mushrooms, and cocoa sauce.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Main Meal
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Main Meal

It was perfectly cooked, still moist, and a little red inside and I loved how the sauce was served on the side so I could control how much to add.

A side salad of heirloom tomatoes, rocket, kalamata olives, mozzarella, fennel, and raspberry vinaigrette accompanied the steak and was served at the same time for efficiency.

The other side option was miso corn soup.

Other main options:

  • Vegetarian gnocchi
  • Sriracha chicken salad

I ordered the flourless Valrhona chocolate cake for dessert because I hadn’t had enough chocolate cake this evening, which came with fresh berries and raspberry coulis.

It arrived at 11:25 p.m. and tasted much better than the fondant I had at the Clubhouse.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Dessert
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Dessert

A selection of cheeses was the only other dessert option.

From placemat to empty dessert plate, the whole service took less than 40 minutes which is a fantastic job for such a short flight as I really needed to get some sleep.

I had completed a breakfast card before take-off, but whilst I was sleeping, Darren tapped me on the shoulder to check if I still wanted to eat, which I declined. I can only guess it was just a couple hours after finishing dinner.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Breakfast Card
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Breakfast Card

Throughout the flight I was blown away by service from this crew — they were so much fun, and you could tell they all loved what they do by the way they interacted with each other and the passengers. Their performance made me understand why closing doors are not needed for this new product.

Even though it was only their second flight, the service was faultless and proactive.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 at London Heathrow Airport
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 at London Heathrow Airport

At London Heathrow Airport– Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge

After touching down at 8:54 a.m., and collecting my bag, I popped in to check out the Revivals Lounge, which all arriving Upper Class and Delta One passengers can visit.

London Heathrow Terminal 3 Arrivals
London Heathrow Terminal 3 Arrivals

Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Entrance
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Entrance

I only did a quick walk-around of the Revivals Lounge and the a la carte menu looked like it had some excellent breakfast options if you missed out on breakfast on the plane. But I still wasn’t hungry yet.

Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge

Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Dining
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Dining

Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Dining Banquette Seating
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Dining Banquette Seating

Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Dining Tables
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Dining Tables

Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Sofa
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Sofa

Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge DIning Menu
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Dining Menu

Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Pastries
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Pastries

Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Newspapers
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge Newspapers

Not only was I not hungry, but I was also totally wrecked after only getting a few hours’ sleep on the plane — I asked the friendly lounge staff and they said that the Aerotel was just around the corner and would be the perfect place to catch up on sleep.

Final Thoughts

So, did this live up to my high expectations and did it rekindle my love of Virgin Atlantic?

Overall, I absolutely loved this Virgin Atlantic flight.

However, I found the lack of storage and issue with the tray table a huge oversight. Surely during the development stage of this new business class product, passengers would have been consulted and this would have been flagged well before entering into service? Maybe the airline only gained feedback from loyal Virgin passengers who were used to not having any storage in the old seat so they didn’t pick up on it?

I was also surprised to see the seat surfaces were already damaged on such a relatively new aircraft.

But sleep quality and service will always trump storage in my eyes, and Virgin delivered both of these in abundance. The new seat is also a huge improvement over the old configuration.

The small privacy screen isn’t necessary, and I preferred the interaction with the fabulous crew to being shut off from them.

The entire Upper Class crew on VS138 on this flight epitomizes the Virgin Atlantic brand and how I remember my previous flights — fabulous, fun, and all whilst providing a rock star service.

But 6 hours and 39 minutes wasn’t enough time to experience this product. I would love to see Virgin Atlantic return to Australia. Back in October 2018, Richard Branson said he wants to launch London to Australia flights “as soon as possible.” 17 hours would be a much better test for this new Upper Class!

The Fabulous Virgin Atlantic Crew of VS138
The Fabulous Virgin Atlantic Crew of VS138

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About Greg Stone

Greg got bitten by the travel bug at a young age while traveling with his Dad on business trips to Asia. He took over the family business in 2012 and uses it to maximize his loyalty points earning. His obsession with earning and burning loyalty rewards points allows him to travel over 100 days every year.

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