Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Review

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Pros

Friendly service
Mattress pad
Tasty meals
Onboard lounge area

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Cons

Narrow seat
No free Wi-Fi
Limited entertainment selection
Cheap amenity kit

How I Booked My Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Ticket

I paid cash for this ticket, but you can book Virgin Atlantic Upper Class using points by transferring Citi ThankYou Points or Wells Fargo Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

This specific flight was

VS105 Departing London LHR 13:25 arriving at Seattle SEA 15:45.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Seats

Virgin Atlantic's Airbus A330-900neo features the exact same seat as Delta One on Delta’s A330-900neo.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class cabin on the Airbus A330-900neo featuring modern design and private seating. Upper Class cabin.

The seat is sleek and fairly private, but my biggest gripe is how narrow it is. It feels tight on both sides, making it hard to sleep comfortably. Even the aisle entrance to the seat is pretty tight, which can make it tricky to get in and out.

Virgin Atlantic A330-900neo inner aisle seat with privacy divider and limited entry space. Inner aisle seat.

Another issue is how close the seat is to the TV. I found the screen uncomfortably close and really wished for a few more inches of distance. Other than that, the HD touchscreen TV is decent, but the entertainment selection is pretty limited. I was able to scroll through all the movies and TV shows surprisingly quickly.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class in-bed TV screen showing HD entertainment system layout. TV screen when in bed mode.

One interesting note: the seat door doesn't fully close. It is able to get to about 98%, whereas Delta One’s version closes completely.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seat door on the A330-900neo that does not fully close for privacy. Seat door does not fully close.

The seat converts into a lie-flat bed. While it’s still a bit narrow, the included mattress pad adds a noticeable layer of comfort.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class bed mode with mattress pad for improved sleep comfort. Bed with mattress pad.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wifi

Unfortunately, Virgin Atlantic does not offer complimentary Wi-Fi for Upper Class passengers. You can watch two ads to get 20 minutes of free browsing each, but after that, you'll need to purchase a paid plan. When I did connect, the speeds were solid and I had no complaints there.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wi-Fi pricing menu showing paid internet access options. Paid Wi-fi pricing.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class free Facebook Messenger chat feature shown on phone. Free Facebook messenger messaging.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Amenities

Upper Class passengers receive complimentary amenity kits, but I honestly found them pretty disappointing. Virgin Atlantic makes their kits from recycled paper, which is great from a sustainability perspective, but the kits look a bit ugly and feel cheap. They contain the basics: earplugs, an eye mask, a toothbrush, and some creams but the one thing I wish they included was slippers for walking around. Those are especially useful when going to the lavatory.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class amenity kit contents including eye mask, earplugs, and toothbrush. Amenity kit items.

Since this was a daytime flight, no pajamas were provided. However, on overnight flights, Virgin Atlantic does offer pajamas in Upper Class.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Food

Virgin Atlantic lets upper class passengers pre-order a meal a week before the flight.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class pre-order meal menu featuring international cuisine options. Pre-order menu option.

I ended up ordering chicken karahi since it sounded more interesting than the other options and it ended up being not bad but wasn't anything amazing.

Shrimp appetizer served in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class with elegant plating. Shrimp appetizer.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class chicken karahi with paratha served as the main course. Chicken Karahi with paratha.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class salt and pepper shakers with unique airplane-themed design. Very cute salt and pepper shakers.

The meal service was solid overall, and I appreciated touches like the bread basket and chocolate lava cake.

One of the standout features of the A330-900neo is the small onboard lounge located between the Upper Class and Premium cabins. It’s stocked with snacks like granola bars, chips, sodas, and even ice cream.

Virgin Atlantic onboard lounge on the A330-900neo with seating and social space. Onboard lounge.

Snacks and drinks available in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class lounge including ice cream and chips. Snacks and drinks in onboard lounge.

About halfway through the flight, the crew offered passengers a grilled cheese toastie. I tried it, and it was surprisingly tasty. There were carmelized grilled onions inside which made it more flavorful than your average grilled cheese.

Grilled cheese toastie with caramelized onions served mid-flight in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class. Grilled cheese toastie.

About two hours before landing, we were offered a light meal with several options to pick from. I didn’t realize you could choose multiple items, so I only opted for their signature mile-high tea service, and I’m glad I did. The tea, biscuit, clotted cream, and jam were excellent and I'd highly recommend choosing this option if it’s available.

Mile high tea service in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class featuring biscuits with clotted cream and jam. Excellent biscuit and pastries before landing.

Final Thoughts

Overall, my experience in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class was pleasantly surprising. While the seat itself isn’t my favorite mainly due to how narrow it is, the soft product makes up for it. The service stood out most on this flight, with the crew delivering friendly and attentive care throughout.

There are definitely some areas that could be improved (entertainment, amenity kit, seat width), but for the most part, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class is a solid and enjoyable way to cross the Atlantic. I’d happily fly with them again.