Virgin Atlantic is a UK-based airline serving international destinations across North America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Living in New York, I fly them regularly because they offer something many carriers don’t: genuine flexibility through multiple fare classes that work for different budgets. Whether you’re looking for bare-bones basics or flat-bed luxury, Virgin’s got options worth considering.
Fare classes
Virgin Atlantic offers fare classes ranging from economy seats and premium economy cabins to Upper Class, its business class product. The options span budget to luxury, giving you real choice in how you want to fly.
Economy Light and Classic
Economy Light is the simplest option, covering the essentials: a seat and 10kg (22lb) of hand luggage. Checked baggage and seat selection cost extra, so factor those fees in if you’re comparing prices.
Economy Classic gives you one 23kg (50lb) checked bag and advance seat selection. I prefer this option when flying economy because it balances cost with convenience, and honestly, I’m not spending eight hours trapped in a middle seat.
Premium Economy
Economy Delight takes it up a notch with additional legroom plus Premium check-in and priority boarding. It’s a reasonable upgrade if you want more comfort without jumping to premium cabins.
Premium, the Virgin Atlantic premium economy product, offers a significant upgrade with wider seats featuring up to 38 inches of pitch, more legroom, and a dedicated cabin. You’ll get priority boarding, 2 x 23kg checked bags, and enhanced meal service served on china crockery and it’s an excellent choice for those seeking more comfort and convenience on long-haul flights.
Upper Class
Upper Class is Virgin Atlantics business class, providing a luxurious experience with fully flat beds, access to exclusive lounges, priority check-in, and personalized service. While fares for the Upper Class can be pricey, it’s an exceptional experience. If you’re flying out of Heathrow (LHR), you can access the Upper Class Wing, a dedicated drop-off and check-in area with a private security channel leading directly to the Clubhouse. Depending on the airport, you can also access the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, a lounge offering complimentary gourmet food and drinks, with some locations offering spa services (which may carry additional fees).
In-flight experience
Virgin Atlantic delivers a solid in-flight experience across the board. From Vera, their entertainment system, to the dining options and Wi-Fi packages, they’ve thought through what makes long-haul flights bearable. Priority boarding for Premium and Upper Class passengers gets things started smoothly.
Seats on board vary in features and comfort depending on the fare class. Economy Light and Classic seats offer standard comfort with adjustable headrests and in-seat entertainment screens, while Economy Delight seats have additional legroom, making long-haul flights more comfortable.
One of the reasons I choose Premium or Upper Class is the in-flight experience. In the Premium cabin, I enjoy the wider seats with extra legroom, a footrest, headrest, a greater recline and a dedicated cabin for a more exclusive feel. In the Upper Class, seats convert into fully flat beds with luxurious bedding and direct aisle access.
Luckily, passengers in all cabins can stay connected with in-flight Wi-Fi; packages are offered to suit varying needs, whether for light browsing or streaming content. Vera, the airline’s in-flight entertainment system, has a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music, and games and is offered on all flights.
Dining on Virgin Atlantic flights is a highlight, with complimentary meals and beverages served across all cabins. The airline is known for its high-quality food and drink options, including special dietary meals upon request. In Premium and Upper Class, my dining experiences with gourmet multi-course meals and premium beverages have been a delight.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club membership
Virgin Atlantic’s loyalty program, Flying Club, allows you to earn and redeem Virgin points for flights, upgrades, and other rewards. Membership is free and comes with three tiers: Red, Silver, and Gold. As you accumulate more points, you can move up the tiers to enjoy increasing benefits, such as bonus miles, priority boarding and lounge access.
Virgin Points can be earned through flights with Virgin Atlantic and SkyTeam partners, co-branded credit cards such as the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, and retail partners via the Shops Away program and other Virgin Group companies. Redeeming points is flexible, allowing you to book any available seat, upgrade your seat or access special Saver reward seats.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounges are genuinely impressive with their unique style and superior service. But here’s the reality: they’re not easy to access.
You’ll need Upper Class tickets or Gold tier Flying Club status, so don’t devote your loyalty to Virgin just for lounge access. If you’re already flying them frequently, it’s a fabulous perk. But as your main reason to chase status? Not worth it.
Achieving elite status with Virgin Atlantic is relatively straightforward compared to other airlines, as it focuses on the number of flights and distance traveled rather than solely on spending.
Virgin Atlantic Alliance and partnerships
Virgin Atlantic recently joined the SkyTeam alliance, becoming SkyTeam’s first UK member airline. One of the 3 main global alliances, SkyTeam features joint venture and codeshare partnerships with the likes of Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM. These partnerships allow for convenient connections and shared loyalty benefits, and it’s easier to book and manage travel across multiple carriers.
Living in the US, I’m loyal to Delta, and the Virgin partnership lets me earn Delta SkyMiles when I fly Virgin Atlantic based on distance flown and fare class. For many US-based travelers, this is the smart play: you get Virgin service while building miles in a program you’ll actually use. The exception? If you’re flying extensively throughout the UK, the Virgin program itself might make more sense.
Change & cancellation policies
Virgin Atlantic’s change and cancellation flexibility depends entirely on which fare class you book. The difference between Economy Light and Upper Class isn’t just comfort, it’s how much control you have over your plans.
Economy Light tickets can be changed, but you’ll pay a change fee plus any fare difference, so be sure of your travel plans when you book since these tickets offer the least flexibility. For Economy Classic and Economy Delight, you can generally make changes without a change fee (paying only the fare difference), although a date change fee may apply if travel is within 7 days of booking.
Premium and Upper Class Flex Fares provide the best flexibility - they’re free to change (subject to fare difference) and are fully refundable. Since my travel plans change often, I prefer these two options.
Check-in
While it can vary from airport to airport, Virgin Atlantic provides multiple check-in options, including online, mobile app, airport kiosks and staffed desks. Online check-in typically opens 24 hours before departure and closes 70 minutes prior, allowing you to select your seat and obtain your boarding pass, though some exceptions apply (like Caribbean inter-island sectors that require airport check-in).
If you’re flying Upper Class or have Gold status with the airline or select partner elites, you’ll enjoy dedicated check-in counters and fast-track or private security screening.
Virgin Atlantic’s guidance varies by airport, with some recommending arriving at least three hours before departure for international flights, while others suggest two hours, to ensure you can complete check-in, security and boarding procedures without stress. But if I’m flying Upper Class out of London, I’ve regularly arrived 90 minutes before departure without any issues. The private check-in and security wing means you’ll be enjoying the lounge before you know it.
Pet policy
Virgin Atlantic allows pets (cats and dogs) to travel in the cargo hold on most flights, handled by Virgin Atlantic Cargo, but does not permit pets in the cabin except for recognised assistance dogs (service animals). Snub-nosed dogs, like bulldogs or Pekingese, are not allowed to fly on Virgin Atlantic because of the additional health risks that come with being exposed to high temperatures.
As I travel with my dog a lot, it’s essential to check the specific entry requirements for your destination country, as these can vary significantly, and additional paperwork is required in many cases.
Virgin Atlantic credit card
Virgin Atlantic offers two co-branded UK credit cards in partnership with Virgin Money: the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card and the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card. Both cards allow you to earn Virgin Points on everyday purchases, with the standard Reward Card earning 0.75 Virgin Points per £1 spent and the Reward+ card offering a higher earning rate at 1.5 Virgin Points per £1. The Reward+ card also provides an annual reward voucher after spending £10,000 in a card membership year, which can be redeemed for a companion seat or cabin upgrade.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
