The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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 never knew a flight review could be this exciting to read. At least if I panicked here, nobody would see me. Be aware that some of the food options can take a long time so order early. 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. ©2021 Head for Points. Storing my bag away, she then glided off to get me a drink – returning with a glass of champagne and a warm towel. 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. A place where spa music plays and pre-flight facials take place. We booked this as a return flight, and paid 95,000 Virgin Flying Club miles and £648 tax. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class â the A330 seat. All have been brilliant at their job. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Book an Upper Class ticket with Virgin Atlantic and you’ll automatically have access to its award-winning lounges. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The Clubhouse at Heathrow T3 is open from 6.30am to 10.30pm or last departure. Learn more on our About page. Living in London, I always had the urge to fly Virgin Atlanticâs Upper Class product. It's been years since I was in one of Delta's lounges so was looking forward to seeing this one. Click here to see our recent articles on Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club and click here for our home page with the latest news on earning and spending other airline and hotel points. Adding a new and inventive twist to the humble airplane meal, it seemed that Donal had been busy. Virgin Atlanticâs SFO Clubhouse is a class apart from the average business class lounge â good enough that Iâd go a bit out of my way to ⦠The different textures of the cauliflower, chickpeas and roasted nuts were complimented well with a tahini yoghurt. But there are more differences between the two than are obvious at first glance! Break a bone and arrive on crutches. Indeed, you might wish to simply close your eyes, rather than take numerous photographs of your free toothbrush. Wear casual clothes, but not purple. TOP HOTEL BONUS POINTS OFFERS (JANUARY 2021), Get exclusive benefits on luxury hotel bookings via HfP, How to get free hotel elite status from UK credit cards. For someone who normally feels close to starving during a flight, I was soon to feel extremely full. The best lounge in the world. Would music play and people dance? 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. Itâs 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 doesnât seem so bad. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. To get to it you come out of arrivals and then head towards the lifts for car park and then go up a floor. Today (December 30, 2020): Review of Virgin Atlantic A350âs (new) Upper Class from London to New York. Do not let this moment slip through your fingers; it is one that I promise you won’t forget. This is a review of Virgin Upper Class, and includes the Virgin Wing Drive-in Check In and Virgin Upper Class Lounge at London Heathrow. Knowing that it was every bit as incredible as I had thought. 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. 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. Ask for an upgrade but refer to it as a ‘seat enhancement’. Thatâs more than sufficient, given that almost no one actually eats. My stew arrived and at first glance looked more like Tom Yum. Ten Tips for Selling your Home During Coronavirus, Celebrating Our Failures for World Mental Health Day 2019, Mental Health Awareness Week 2019: From Anxiety to Travel & How It All Began, Episode Twelve (Season Two) The Random Question Podcast, Episode Ten (Season Two) Reflections on Our First TTT Tour, What To Pack For Your First Ski Trip: A Beginner’s Guide, Episode 8 (Season Two): January Adventures 2019, Working With Your Sister: 5 Realities Of Running A Business With Your Sibling, Episode 7 (Season Two): How to Become a Blogger in 2019. Ripping it open, inside I found a selection of Rituals products: balms and creams to keep me hydrated. The Final Verdict. Virgin doesn't have their own here is Seattle, but Upper Class passengers, and I imagine higher status Virgin members as well, are offered use of the Delta Sky Lounge on day of departure. The apartment was beautifully presented with an open plan layout which allowed everyone to watch the chefs at work. They are clearly busy and rushed off their feet – and I’m simply one of many customers vying for their attention. Staring ahead, you can only imagine what life is like for those on the other side of the curtain: an experience no doubt marked by generous neck support and horizontal living. For full details of how your data is used and stored, please see our data processing page here. Weâve taken an in-depth look at fares, entertainment, food, drink, and service to help you come to a d⦠I’ve reached the summit of the cabin world and I can’t look down; that mysterious curtain of separation blocking my way. 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. Exactly what an Upper Class lounge should be. Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft 3 Seater Lounge Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Upper Class Loft Lounge Area. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Next, she helped me to select a few films to watch – pointing to her recent favourite (‘Goodbye Christopher Robin’). This includes using an affiliate tracking cookie if you click an external link. Of those we were offered none contained gluten. However, they were not strictly gluten free so caution would need to be exercised for those with a genuine allergy. She would be on hand for ‘whatever I needed’ throughout the flight, and would be looking after just me and eight other passengers. Flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class was an experience that I truly won’t forget, and one that made flying not a lengthy endurance test, but a day of relaxation. There is also some award availability using Virgin ⦠It seems that as I slept, Amy had brought over a blanket and pillows – carefully tucking me in. I will continue my review tomorrow with the B787 Upper Class flight review. 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. You start to dream of stretching your legs out, or sleeping in a position that doesn’t result in strained neck ligaments. Fresh fruit, snacks and chocolate were always available at the bar, and a premium selection of entertainment was available via Virgin Atlantic’s entertainment system: ‘Vera’. ... heathrow virgin lounge hounslow ⢠london heathrow virgin atlantic hounslow ⢠Additionally, and for the grazers amongst you, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class also offers an ‘Extra Bites’ menu. A little later and I ordered a cup of tea. Making your Upper Class experience even better Introducing PreSelect - We are so excited to be able to offer you the ability to flick through our new dining menu and choose the meal of your choice before you board your flight. Decorated with Virgin Atlantic inspired illustrations, enjoying a cuppa from a real mug had an unexpectedly positive impact on my flying experience. Then I realised at the photo that the article was written by the twins I went to grammar school with! 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. See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com. What American Express bonuses are you still eligible for? A little later, and with our meal, we were presented with two tiny Salt & Pepper pots, each designed as small silver airplanes. How do BA American Express companion vouchers work? (Note: for those planning on flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class, you can peruse the menu before your flight – booking your meals ahead of time. I have an Upper Class redemption coming in November so will sample it. Indeed, it is not an experience one should take too seriously. There were only 9 people in upper class and 60 on the whole flight. 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? However, since receiving our free upgrade to Virgin Atlantic Upper Class – a day that will no doubt outshine the birth of my first child – I have a little more insight into how the mythical world of upgrading works. It was, however, delicious! What are the most valuable credit card sign-up bonuses? Background: Virgin Atlantic. Regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a credit broker (FRN 690573). 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. Would the In air option be available across all Virgin Atlantic routes? LIke BA, Virgin have an arrivals lounge for Upper Class passengers at Heathrow. Perhaps it was the early morning champagne, or the excitement of the entire thing, but I quickly fell asleep. Virgin Atlantic A350 Upper Class lounge. 175 British Airways Executive Club questions answered, 2021 peak and off-peak Avios flight dates. ), Maximise your frequent flyer miles and hotel points by signing up to our emails. A moment when she realised we were to be transported into a whole new world of travel? It was an experience that I’ll both never forget, and simultaneously wish had never happened. 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. It was a meal I would be very happy to be served in a restaurant. Paul Doleman April 11, 2014. As soon as I rounded the corner – the magical curtain of entitlement sweeping away – an airline attendant smiled and introduced herself – ‘Amy’. Too often, flying can feel an odd and prescribed affair. 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. Fly on a Wednesday, but not before 12pm. What did they say? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. There was a least a lounge for Virgin Upper Class passengers, although the decor was a little dated. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. We were sent to the Lufthansa lounge instead of the Priority Lounge and they had a much larger variety of food and drink. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. For this reason, I thought I’d put pen to paper and record every small detail that made flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class such a fantastic experience. Having boarded our flight (and having been welcomed on first), we immediately experienced our first taste of Virgin Atlantic Upper Class. Sat at the bar, munching on burgers and flicking through a magazine, I felt completely at ease. Calm, inviting and offering truly brilliant service, the Virgin Atlantic V Room is a place where I’d like to begin every holiday, and is an aspect that certainly needed including in this Virgin Atlantic Upper Class review. We had secured our very first free airline upgrade – and it felt amazing. An hour later and I woke up to find myself surrounded by a soft, white duvet. Simply choose which dish you’d like (Fish & Chips, for example) and let the flight attendant know. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Yet due to the short red-eye flight, I didnât have time to test it out. The Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class cabin is set out in a 1-2-1 herringbone layoutâ¦.. Virgin Atlantic A330 Upper Class Seat Map courtesy of Seatguru.com â¦and my first impressions upon boarding were not good. I could easily have gone for seconds. The next hour passed as a full-dining experience. You can unsubscribe at any point by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. Lucky for me, Donal ordered extras of all dishes, so we were given the opportunity to sample the items we had not personally ordered. 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. Welcome! The new Covid-safe style of "buffet" was in evidence. These cookies do not store any personal information. Love reading this! It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. It’s not a feeling I often feel onboard a flight and is one that thankfully characterised my entire journey. 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. Is IHG Rewards Club the best hotel loyalty scheme? A little later, and the flight attendant brought me a pair of ‘Happy Socks’ – each personalised with Virgin Atlantic branding. Is Hilton Honors the best hotel loyalty scheme? Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses! Somehow, I couldn’t imagine the idea of standing upright at a bar, as my airplane rocketed through the skies. This meal in the sky was instead sophisticated, unhurried and truly delicious. Weâre the UKâs leading source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points. An hour before we landed, I enjoyed a small burger and a glass of beer; the sheer novelty of food on demand playing havoc with my self-restraint. It was a little gesture that I found genuinely touching. On our particular flight, the bar was quiet. TOP BUSINESS CREDIT CARD OFFERS (JANUARY 2021), Why Amex Gold is the best card for a points beginner. Noticing that I was struggling to fit all my many gadgets and distractions into my pockets, she helped me unpack; showing me hidden storage areas in my seat. Some sort of futuristic experience reserved for the super rich. 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. We will never sell your email address or use it for anything except sending our newsletters. An airplane bar has always seemed to me to be something from a movie. Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Virgin Points, our recent articles on Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club, our home page with the latest news on earning and spending other airline and hotel points, Introducing Snoop: a new money-saving and money-management app, The HfP chat thread – Saturday 9th January, No more cheap £4 US to Europe flights on Virgin Points after ‘no notice’ devaluation. From a movie Cowshed toiletries inside the bathrooms, onboard WiFi and a wide selection of Pukka teabags. – my eyes fixed on the whole Upper Class your browsing experience the Clubhouse restaurants exciting the. A reminder, there are two things to say about the Upper Class review suggests least. And a plastic cup filled with wine take it back to your seat or sit at one point my... Fennel salad and baked feta Tom Mascardo licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 note... Card for a Points beginner this anyway I ’ ve drank champagne whilst flying through a magazine, felt! 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