One of the best airlines around (Virgin Atlantic)

Member Name: Ghostkov

Product:	Virgin Atlantic
Date:	24/09/09 (216 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Top notch Upper class, good legroom even in economy, great service and food

Disadvantages: Not so stellar Premium economy

Virgin Atlantic is one of the largest airlines in the UK and a major player worldwide as well, serving Europe, America, Asia and Australia. The planes have the distinct Virgin Atlantic logo on their fin tail and often have artwork on the sides with a girlish name for the plane and when it first started flying.

I've been a long time Virgin Atlantic customer and have been flying international routes only, so I cannot speak for domestic routes quite as much.

Virgin Atlantic has both airport and online check-in systems as most other major airlines. Usually, online check-in ensures you get the seat you want, including emergency exit seats, but using online check-in does mean that your chance of getting a seat upgrade is lower, as the upgrade lists are at terminal and the first person who checks in offline basically has the advantage, if they also have a membership card.

Speaking of the membership card, its about the size of your average credit card and varies in color depending on your frequent flyer status. The cards come with some big advantages when checking in, such as being able to go to premium economy or upper class check in booths when you booked economy and getting 25 - 50% additional miles for your trip. They also entitle you to partner benefits and some exclusive offers Virgin Atlantic sends you via email. If that wasn't enough, you also get discounted Heathrow Express tickets every year and entries to competitions. Note that if you bought an upper class ticket, you also get complementary limousine service to and from the airport, free, which saves a lot of hassle on the day.

In terms of queuing at the airport, Virgin Atlantic seems a lot more efficient than other major airlines and their queues tend to move very quickly. Note that the economy queue is usually really long, and unless you are really lucky, or have a frequent flyer card of the appropriate level, you won't be able to check-in at the higher class booths. The premium economy and upper class booths are generally empty or have very short queues, so you can really save yourself a good half hour. Additionally, if you booked premium economy or upper class, you are sometimes (or always with upper class) given an invite to go through fast-track security at Heathrow, saving you another hour.

If you got the highest card status or booked upper class, you can now take advantage of the Virgin Club Lounge, which is a huge structure with lounge, business center, hairdresser, cocktail bar, restaurant, big screen television, masseurs and what have you. The best part about the lounge? Its all completely free, so get pampered or eat to your heart's delight! And its not just the crappy food you get at other lounges both business and first class, but proper restaurant food with a huge selection, all prepared freshly for you and with the service coming to you rather than you having to go to the desk to order. The service will also come and remind you personally when its time to board your plane.

Once on the plane, depending on the class you checked in to, you will be offered a drink, a snack and a wet towel along with a flyer kit with your usual goodies inside. Legroom increases greatly across classes, but even the economy class I found to be a lot larger and more comfortable than that of other airlines. Their premium economy isn't too great compared to business classes of other airlines, but their upper class is second to none. Essentially your seat is fully convertible into a bed within a minute, its very private and facing diagonally with screens to cover you for privacy. In the past you would also get beauty therapists coming to give you a massage during the plane, but this service has since ceased. The plane also has its own bar with drinks and snack served and spacious toilets with lots of beauty materials.

The entertainment program has a huge selection of movies, TV shows, documentaries, news and music as well as games on it. And all on-demand and you can even queue them up so they play in the order you want them to and you can always fast forward or rewind. What I found best about this was that it offers the latest movies out on the big screen, so you essentially save a few trips to your cinema.

The food is great and in upper class its served on a real plate with stainless steel cutlery. And you can have as much of this food as you want, just ask the service. And what's more, you can have it when you want, and are not restricted to certain times. In premium economy and economy the selection of course becomes more limited, and the quality decreases, but its still better than what you get at say Lufthansa or British Airways. I realize there has been a horrible food article out and about regarding Virgin Atlantic's Singapore line, but I have not had the problem with London-Shanghai or London-Hong Kong, ever.

On the plane, you can also do loads of shopping and reading about your travel destination and once off the plane, you can use the Virgin Atlantic website to shop for extra miles, including on eBay. Last but not least, the cabin crew is very courteous and well-mannered and the support on the call centers and via email is equally efficient and friendly.

If you have some money to spend on your next holiday, I'd warmly recommend you trying Virgin Atlantic, and if you have a bit of extra cash, do try their Upper Class, you will not regret it!

Summary: If you got some money to spend, fly Virgin on long haul. With some extra, upgrade to Upper class!