Find cheap Virgin Atlantic flights

Virgin Atlantic is a UK-based airline that serves numerous international destinations across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. Even though I live in New York, it’s regularly one of my favorite airlines to fly, thanks to its exceptional array of services and numerous different fare options that cater to the various budgets and preferences of travelers. Read on for more about what to expect when flying Virgin Atlantic.

Fare classes

Virgin Atlantic has a few different fare classes and cabins available, ranging from economy seats and premium economy cabins to Upper Class, its business class product. Economy Light is Virgin Atlantic’s most basic option, providing budget-conscious travelers with the essentials, such as a seat and hand luggage. However, it doesn't include checked baggage or seat selection, which can be added for an additional fee.

Economy Classic

Book an Economy Classic ticket for a slightly more comprehensive package, giving you free checked baggage and the option to select a seat in advance. I prefer this option, when flying in Economy, to balance cost and convenience, because I don’t want to spend eight hours trapped in the middle seat. For a slightly elevated experience at a reasonable economy ticket price, Virgin’s Economy Delight fares offer additional legroom and priority check-in and boarding.

Premium Economy

Premium Class, previously known as Premium Economy, offers a significant upgrade with wider seats, more legroom, and a dedicated cabin. You’ll get priority boarding, increased baggage allowance, and enhanced meal service, making it an excellent choice for those seeking more comfort and convenience on long-haul flights.

Upper Class

Upper Class is Virgin Atlantic's 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 check-in area with private security channels. Depending on the airport, you can also access the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, a lounge offering complimentary gourmet food and drinks and spa treatments. If I have a morning flight out of Heathrow, a full English breakfast before my flight is one of my favorite ways to pass the time at the airport.

When you board in Upper Class, you’ll receive a welcome drink and will be escorted to a spacious, leather-clad suite with a seat that converts to a fully flat bed, plush bedding, and direct aisle access. Privacy is a key feature here, and I’ve slept like a baby on these flights, thanks to the newer aircraft’s high partitions and sliding doors.

Dining is as gourmet as expected, and meals and drinks are served on demand. There’s even a unique onboard bar, allowing passengers to socialize and enjoy a drink mid-flight. On longer flights, I have enjoyed the services there a few times.

Change & cancellation policies

Virgin Atlantic’s change and cancellation policies are designed to offer flexibility and convenience to travelers, but vary depending on the fare class and ticket you buy.

Changes are generally not permitted for Economy Light customers, 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 make changes to your bookings, but this will include a fee – the exact amount depends on the route and timing of the change.

Premium and Upper Class provide the most flexibility to make changes, and some Upper Class tickets may even offer free changes depending on the exact fare conditions. In some cases, fully flexible tickets allow passengers to cancel without fees. 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, and airport kiosks. Online check-in typically opens 24 hours before departure (but may vary depending on destination), allowing you to select your seat and obtain your boarding pass. If you’re flying Upper Class or have elite status with the airline or one of its partners, you’ll enjoy dedicated check-in counters and expedited security screening.

Virgin Atlantic recommends arriving at least three hours before departure for international flights 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.

In-flight experience

Virgin Atlantic's in-flight experience is one of the best out there. It combines comfort, convenience, and entertainment. The journey begins with a seamless boarding process, where passengers in higher fare classes, such as Premium and Upper Class, enjoy priority boarding.

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, 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 long-haul 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 miles for flights, upgrades, and other rewards. Membership is free and comes with three tiers: Red, Silver, and Gold. As you accumulate more miles, you can move up the tiers to enjoy increasing benefits, such as bonus miles, priority boarding, and lounge access.

Flying Club miles can be earned through flights, credit card purchases, and partnering with retailers. Redeeming miles is flexible, allowing you to book flights, upgrade your seat, or even shop for various products and services.

I love Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounges for their unique style and superior service, but they’re not easy to get into. It’ll take top tier Flying Club status, so I don’t recommend devoting your loyalty to Virgin just for this. If you’re already flying a lot with the airline, it’s a fabulous perk, but don’t make it your main reason to aim for status.

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 officially joined the SkyTeam alliance in 2023. One of the 3 main global alliances, SkyTeam is spearheaded by the likes of Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM. These partnerships allow for convenient connections and shared loyalty benefits, making booking and managing travel easier across multiple carriers.

Living in the US, I’m loyal to Delta, and luckily, Virgin’s partnership with them allows me to earn Delta miles by flying Virgin. This is a redemption I’d recommend to almost all US-based travelers unless you travel extensively throughout the UK.

Pet policy

Virgin Atlantic allows pets to travel in the cargo hold on most flights but does not permit pets in the cabin except for 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 branded 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 Flying Club miles on everyday purchases, with the Reward+ card offering a higher earning rate and additional benefits such as bonus miles on anniversaries and upgrades.