Virgin Atlantic Upper Class โ what can you say?
A mix of some excellent highlights, some average elements, and a few misses. But overall, the product sits at a solid premium level.
We were among the first passengers on board, and it actually took a while before the Upper Class cabin filled up. We had seats in rows 6 and 7, roughly in the middle of the cabin. The first impression is the space โ plenty of room, both in the seat and for carry-on luggage. Boarding through the front door at Heathrow means a right turn into business class on this A350-1000.
Also read our review of Clubhouse lounge at Heathrow
First impressions of the seat
After settling in, the pros and cons quickly became clear:
+ Really generous space
+ Excellent table design โ stable and practical
โ Odd placement of the screen
โ Easy to accidentally hit the seat controls
Virgin deserves credit for an entertaining and unconventional safety video. But the IFE isnโt available until after takeoff, which always feels a bit dated when youโre sitting there waiting.
Pre-departure drink
Choices were water, orange juice, or sparkling wine. The sparkling wine was fine, not spectacular. A slightly underwhelming start, but things improved later.
The cabin was fully ready well ahead of the scheduled departure, and flight time was announced at 6h48m, compared to a block time of 7h50m. We hoped for an early arrival, but ended up waiting over 40 minutes in line for takeoff. There went that time savings.
Takeoff & first meal service
Virginโs tail camera is fun for aviation geeks, even if only the nose gear camera was active.
Once airborne, the crew came around for drink and meal orders. We had pre-selected our main courses, but only three of the four orders were correctly registered. Luckily, everyone had chosen dishes that were still available.
I chose one of Virginโs signature cocktails (a rare chance since I donโt have to drive upon arrival in the U.S.). For the starter, we all went for truffle mac and cheese with Chardonnay and water.
It looked simple, but tasted fantastic โ a strong start to the meal.
For the main, I chose chicken karahi, while the others went for the standard chicken breast.
No regrets. The karahi was full of flavour and I ate every bite. The chicken breast also got praise, though the 16-year-old found the portion a bit small.
Dessert was a generous chocolate fudge cake โ rich, sweet, and very good. A cheese plate was also available but none of us managed more food at that point.
Overall meal rating: 4/5
IFE & Wi-Fi
The screen feels larger than the SAS equivalent, though I might be mistaken. The movie selection was good, but Delta and KLM still offer broader libraries.
Wi-Fiโฆ less impressive.
The โbestโ package costs over ยฃ20, which is simply not worth it. Delta offers equally good, or even better connectivity for $5.
The Loft (onboard lounge)
Virginโs signature onboard lounge, The Loft, is a fun concept โ snacks, a social space, and room to sit together.
Unfortunately, it wasnโt at its best on this flight:
โ Snacks were not replenished
โ Crumbs and debris on the floor
โ Overall not very inviting
This was one of the bigger disappointments and definitely pulled the experience down.
Lavatories
Three lavatories were available for Upper Class. Small but functional. No wow-factor and they could have benefited from more frequent cleaning during the flight.
Midway through the flight we received a cherry ice cream, surprisingly good despite the fact I donโt usually like cherry. That says something.
Afternoon tea before landing
Approaching JFK, afternoon tea was served. You can pick one or several items, but most of us were full, so three chose scones.
Sweet and tasty, but very sweet.
If you prefer something lighter, go for the sandwiches.
According to those who had it, the coffee was โpretty goodโfor an airplane.โ
Seat & comfort
The seat itself is comfortable, but if you sit in the middle section, youโre angled away from each other. Several people struggled with the seat controls, and some parts of the seat looked worn. Still, the comfort level was absolutely fine for a seven-hour flight.
One annoyance: the wooden trim near the footrest. It sits right where your leg wants to be and becomes irritating over time.
Landing at JFK
We touched down roughly 20 minutes early but spent 10โ15 minutes waiting for a gate, so we ended up deplaning around the scheduled time.
โญย Final verdict: Virgin Atlantic Upper Class on the A350
A very good business class experience overall.
Highlights include the service, meal quality, space, and general atmosphere.
Some elements were just okay (Wi-Fi, screen placement) and a couple genuinely disappointing (The Loft, cleanliness).
Final Rating: 4/5
A strong product with room for improvement โ and absolutely worth flying again.
