7 Hours in Virgin Atlantic UPPER CLASS - Is It Worth the Hype?
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- čas přidán 14. 07. 2022
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I flew Virgin Atlantic Upper Class on the Airbus A350 en route back from London to New York.
Upper Class is one of the world's most sought-after business class products, so I was curious how the experience would turn out.
With distinctive purple mood lighting, a communal lounge for business class passengers, and a killer ground experience at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in London Heathrow, I was quite impressed by what I saw onboard this evening transatlantic flight.
Booked with: US$900 for New York-London return on Delta and Virgin Atlantic.
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Don’t forget the Upper Class Wing is available for check in too. It’s a completely separate entrance dedicated to Upper Class flyers and leads directly to the private security area then the Clubhouse.
Awesome review! I loved every bit! Just a tip you might have forgot! If you put down the arm rest, the bed will not feel that narrow and will be good enough for sleep!
What a product.. I’m just in love with Virgin Atlantic. Am annoyed they don’t fly to Dubai any longer (where I live). Cause now it’s quite the detour for me to fly.
Congrats on this marvelous video and channel! Loved everything about it!
I flew Virgin Atlantic Upper Class recently from London to Austin and I was blown away. The staff was amazing and the food was excellent. I will find myself looking to fly through LHR just to fly with Virgin Atlantic again in the future.
They kind of ruined first class food for me from other airlines.
The comments here show that most haven’t taken this flight. This is an excellent business class product with quality service.
Amazing to be able to see four runways at a two.runway airport :)
Well london heathrow had 4 runways at one point so he is technically not wrong, 2 are now inactive and turned into taxiways lol
Also note that travellers on Delta One can use the Virgin Clubhouse lounge at LHR.
Recently I flew to Miami in upper class on a 787, I was so underwhelmed that I wouldn’t bother doing it again! Ran out of food, 2.5 hours before landing. Asked for a bottle of water, was given a third of a 2 litre bottle. Seat was broken. Only 6 staff on board! Myself and my wife were not allowed to sit in the ‘lounge’ and eat together!! The lounge at Heathrow was amazing though!!
Watched all of your videos now, please keep them coming
Great videos Ricky. I just discovered your channel yesterday. I hope you continue producing videos, the quality is great, very good editing, and you're a charismatic presenter. Looking forward to see more. Cheers, Aren.
The amenity bag is still really poor for an upper class product.
Great video Ricky!!❤️❤️❤️
Awesome video, man!
Absolutely worth the hype 10000 %
Right - that's cool as. Looks like that's now on the list!
I cant stop watching thus
Thank you for sharing your trip.
That was nice to have the gym in the lounge area besides having food and champagne!!
Wow, that garden was so fun…
Really enjoy travel videos! You have gotten a new subscriber!
Cheers
Love the shirt Goona!
Great video and Great T-shirt 👍🏻
Good job,nice cabin in a350
Ricky is back on the move. He has a sit down with the Italian mafia in Howard Beach 😎
I’m loving this mafia boss fanfic we’ve got going on
Great post and insights Ricky! May need to position from YVR to try this out.
Well Done!
Cheers!
What program do you use for the flight graphics at the station of the video?
Ricky…spotted the Arsenal shirt from a 35k away, my man, it’s a good look!!
Going to Heathrow next month , too, will travel on TG 911 to Bangkok in business class
Great Arsenal shirt man
2:14 "You can see two or three or four different runways"... well since you're at Heathrow I'm guessing it's just two....
Did not know klm was a 'household' airline in the UK either
Great video! FYI there are only two runways at LHR.
Are the seats the flip over ones or do they go flat while you are still sitting in them? On another note, who designs a cabin where the privacy partition barely goes half way?
I really love the seat design. The food looked so great. I’m gonna assume you were still hungry as from you last video you are like a 9 course meal 😂😂😂😂
😂😂 Unfortunately in business class they aren’t quite as generous with multiple portions
Loving the arsenal shirt !
The original colour before red shirts with white sleeve
hey Rick, what type of microphone do you used in this video while you was spoken to camera?
I already like your content, but even more so now knowing you’re a Gooner 👌
It’s a blessing and a curse 😭
very cool, never flew virgin before.
How did you find this round trip in business for 900?! Economy goes for around that or more in summer, and business even in off-season is like 4 grand
There was a short lived fare error a few months ago.
@@fraserdavidson278 Damn how do people find error fares like that
@@varunkamat7390 google alerts. I wrote my own software to send me texts when business class fares get low.
@@TheZayzoo willing to share your code?
@@TheZayzoo how would I go about making my own code for this?
While the food didn't appear appetizing. The upper class seats, amenities and experience appeared top notch. 👍
Phenomenal review, Thank you! Considering Virgin for a much longer run (SFO-LHR) on Upper Class so I do have one question: what's your opinion on their Wi Fi (not how much it costs - the more expensive the better actually haha) - is it ViaSat? Latency? Does it hit the US directly from an earth station or are the IPs EU-based? Sorry I'm in tech and connectivity is just as needed as air lol
Let me know how the Wi-Fi is….I’m flying upper class VA from LAX to London next year. My biggest gripe with airlines has always been playing for the Wi-Fi and it being shit! Lol. Would like to know what you think
Virgin Airways is one of my very fav airlines
Classic Arsenal Shirt mate love it
Let me suggest to watchers to use good speakers. The music on this video is amazing! Of course the content is as usual top notch.
Yes, the music reminded me of when i used to fly Virgin..would be interested to know what is is ??
Whats the going rate for business lhr-jfk outside of school hols?
To free up more space you can but the armrest down aswell just press and hold the button
I think Virgin Atlantic are by far the best British airline. What is their lounge experience like in JFK?
Great video! I'd love to see how you feel British Airways new Club Suite compared to the Virgin's new Upper Class!
I’ve done quite a few flights in Club Suites and feel that it’s better than the A350 seat. More personal space, the console doesn’t extend towards the windows as much. The table isn’t as goofy either. The door is a minor plus that makes sleeping feel a little cosier.
There’s not a million miles in it though…
I been on BA 777 and 787 and have to say 777 club suite is much better that 787. In 777 you can't see other passenger even with the privacy window down in aisle
I know you asked Ricky, but my two cents/pence: Based solely on the seat, BA Club Suites beats Virgin A350 Suites by a notch. Complete privacy on BA when you close your compartment door. Beware, not all BA Club World is the same, as the Club Suites are only found on most of BA's 777s, the 787-10, and the A350. If you book any other aircraft, you'll get the old seat (which isn't very good in my opinion).
My own personal preference is that Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow and their ground services in general at Heathrow are significantly better than BA. Service is based on the crew, and of course, variable. Food depends on what day and what caterer - they both seem pretty good, with some hits and misses. I don't like the purple and pink lighting effects in Virgin Cabins, but rather give me the class and calm of BA's interior. I absolutely hate the extra nearly 200 dollars that BA charges me so I can pick my suite when I book. This should be included in the already hefty price of a BA Club World ticket, and is an absolute ripoff !!!
Personally I would never take a transoceanic flight that's not at least business class :) which basically means I can't afford to do it right now lmao. But, I couldn't imagine being stuck in a coach seat for that long! :)
I'm trying to see if I can wait until the Boom Aerospace supersonic flights begin, they said those are going to be priced like a business class ticket for the same distance :)
What kind of camera are you using ?
You’re a fellow arsenal fan?! Big up the gunners!
I am going to fly Vrigin atlantic to lafayette louisiana
Whats the song from before he slept, i could listen to it for hours
Amazing how their upper class is like emirates, etihad’s business class.
In 2015, off set (take away) all my pension in HKG, how wonderful company to worked with👊🏻
Virgin Atlantic is the best
Up the Arsenal!
nice video - do they no longer have a bar you can sit at on the plane? Seem to recall that used to be the case? Guessing various health and safety problems having such a setup on a plane!
The plane I took from LHR to Austin at the begging of July had the bar area
It was in the video
@@journeyswithj246 no he means a bar you can sit AT
It’s now a lounge. The Dreamliner still has the bar.
Your a Arsenal fan. 👍
That bed looked very tight and you’re not a big guy ! Most peeps that can afford to travel Upper Class, live the high life in ways that expand their waistlines. I wouldn’t even fit in that bed 😂😂
Those same people should then be able to afford a personal trainer and/or gym membership.
I think a prolonged period of purple lighting would bother me. Lots of nice little extras included here, but, of course, you're paying for them!
I would e curious how tall you are. I am 6'4" tall, and wonder if I'd just be crammed into the pod?
the express security lane leads directly to the club house? I think not. :P
Ah you got me Linz
is that an old school arsenal jersey?
The rooftop terrace garden 👀🙄
2 or 3 or 4 runways? LHR only has 2 runways at present.
It’s not pudding it’s custard! A British staple
Hes a gooner COYG 🔴⚪️
Can you smoke in lounge rooftop garden?
Was anyone else on the flight with you
Thanks for sharing. The Virgin Atlantic food doesn’t look very premium standard to me and looks very heavy but it seems you enjoyed it. The lounge food looked better quality. Economy and premium economy passengers also get scones and cream on Virgin so I hope the ones you were served were a superior quality! 👍
well you clearly aren't an expert
@@ant2312 😂😂😂
Flew Upperclass on A350 LHR - LAX and was enjoyable.
Then flew back SFO - LHR on 787 this wasn’t enjoyable.
Will try and fly A350 Business in the future, as Upperclass is just not worth the money, unless you fly with UAE airlines.
Your voice is nice
nice
Superb 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂
Just got back from Atlanta to MAN and have learned my lesson after 7 return flights to and from USA.In Upper Class . Going to USA is great. Coming back is Grim. First Clue ,There is no eye-contact between the Boss GARY and his deputy Vanessa . TROUBLE ! Passengers and crew are tired and just want to sleep. By 8-30 PM the meal has been served and I am in the Bar networking. The two younger attendants are telling me and my friend Jane their life-story, and the lovely second in command Vanessa is chatting when GARRY the boss comes by and says " The Bar Is Closed"! Vanessa says, "You had better go back to your seat". Moral of this story. Fly Out Upper Class and Back in premium and save £1K each.
at 10:22 "I can see 2 or 3 or 4 different runways..." Heathrow only has TWO runways 27L & 27R. Too much fizz in the bar?
If you are lucky to get the A350, then yes, it would be nice. If you get the older A330, or the 787 variants, then it is awful. The main reason, for me, to book a business class, is to be able to relax and ultimitely sleep. Their previous generation of seat, which is the main backbone of the fleet, is awful and I would never pay for it again. And, now that they are introducing another seat option on the new A330neo, I wouldn't risk booking and playing pot-luck with the seats.
the 787/A330 seat is better as a bed as it's wider and footspace is better, but is worse as a seat overall. Be interested to see how the new A330 neo seats are
@@guillodean I found the bed so hard, it was uncomfortable to sleep on. I don't know if I was missing some sort of mattress pad, but it was likes peeling on a flat piece of wood. Really unpleasant flight from JNB to LHR.
@@andiscott8470 yeah you should have had a mattress topper and quilt. Much better with those!
@@guillodean Maybe I need to ask for a refund then... Definitely missing that.
@@andiscott8470 it will have been behind your seat or in the overhead bins
I took the same VS25 a couple of weeks back in Upper Class. Same aircraft, same main course too! I thought it was pretty decent but not without fault. Service in the Clubhouse was super slow, check-in (at the Wing) took an age for no reason and boarding was a complete mess. Am BA Gold and think the Club World Suite with Emerald benefits on the ground were better but I do really like the Clubhouse!
I agree, the Club World suite is amazing! A fully closing door too!
I would always fly the Emirates A380 East & VA West when ever possible.It's interesting when i chat to the Emirates staff in business, they always speak so highly of VA, but seldom have a positive word for BA. I find BA out of touch with the paying public, the 777 is such a dated plane, likewise with the Emirates 777. BA were once ranked #1 airline only as 2006, now they don't even make the top 30.. For the lounge, Emirates lounge at Birmingham is disappointing at best, Heathrow is superb.The BA lounge,i haven't been for four years to LHR, but again, would always try an book with VA. I just find their lounge to be more vibrant & customer service to be awesome, but i guess that's why it was voted lounge of the year.. Again, that's my choice & opinion..
@@jasongabb1671 yes the Virgin lounge is really good. Unfortunately I find their customer service to be awful. I had a cancelled flight and they were demanding I pay more money to rebook even though it was the same route and slightly different fees. The BA suite on the 777 is much better than the Virgin Atlantic “suite”. The door first fully closed and there isn’t much storage on the Virgin suite.
@@jacquelineserna5313 Hi, agree to disagree. I left BA as i find them rude and arrogant and their 777 product outdated. As for the issue with your flight, i have heard this has happened with other airlines including BA & not just VA. My friend who got married in St Lucia in June, they had to keep calling BA customer services 24/7 to get their flights reimbursed, for when they were cancelled during Covid(The Credit Card company had to intervene). But this applied to lots of other airlines. As for the space, i can only compare it to the A380 & the A330-300. Pretty happy with the space on the 787-9 VA. I believe that the new A330 Neo, will have the full closing door in UC. Flights will start from LHR to Boston in October...
@@jasongabb1671 Yes, I completely agree that BA's 777 Club World product was outdated 4 years ago (you indicated you last sampled BA Club World 4 years ago). The new BA Club World Suites on the 777, A350, and 787-10 are worlds different. I know exactly the awful outdated BA seat you are talking about but I the new Suite may pleasantly surprise you. It is an adapted version of the Collins Super Diamond seat that is also used by Qatar Airways for their Business class product. It sounds that you have had it with BA service and other factors, and I completely understand. I for one believe it is outrageous that they charge an exorbitant fee to pre-select your seat months in advance (unless you are an upper tier BA level member). Having first hand knowledge of both the new BA Club World Suite and the Virgin Upper Class suite on the A350, in my opinion BA's seat beats the Virgin seat by a small margin, and has the added advantage of complete privacy by the ability to close off the compartment with a door.
It sounds like you have a disdain for the 777 but the new retrofitted BA plane looked great to me, not to mention the 787-10 that I recently tried. I really enjoy the Virgin A350 Upper Class as well, but the disco purple and pink lighting effect is a bit annoying, I'm not 20 any more and not into the clubbing vibe. The Virgin Clubhouse beats BA's Heathrow Lounges, no doubt. It's not even a point of discussion.
Nonetheless it sounds like there's a whole lot that you don't like about BA and the 777, but just thought to be fair, I might point out that there's a new excellent seat on BA's 777s, and your posts above seem to be based on the old product (the new BA Suites didn't exist or were just planning to be introduced 4 years ago). Both BA and Virgin are behind Qatar, IMO, when it comes to international business class, though.
How could you see 3 or 4 runways when there are only 2?
Love their product, so looking forward to getting on the new A330 NEO. Always fly VA West and Emirates East. Virgin leaving Leaving BA behind and continue to do so...
apple crumble with some pudding? it is pudding
Did you book on points or with cash? Taxes and fees are stupid high on award flights!
Cash - $900 roundtrip!
I would be interested if you could do a video on how you booked that trip so cheap
@@briangasser973 the aircraft was empty..go online there are bargains to be had
Have you tried contact lenses?
COYG
Both BA and Virgin need to lower the taxes and fees.
They are set by the government not the airlines.
Sadly it’s the government and Heathrow. They won’t budge either it’s so awful
I wish I could fly upper class, my family can afford it, it’s just that they don’t book upper class, always wanted to experience it myself though. Great review!
Pity they axed the direct LHR to YVR route.. Not everyone wants to fly via the US.
Great to be wealthy!
I find Virgin gimmicky. Whilst the clubhouse is one of the best global lounges the gym used to be a spa. Inflight service seems to have gone down in quality and the old style bar was better than the lounge. Customer service in general is also one of the worst. Was travelling in a party where sadly one of the group a 23 yr old committed suicide. They wouldn’t make free changes without death certificate which wasn’t issued until after the inquest. The coroners interim death certificate which was a legal document and enough to carry out all other formalities wasn’t enough proof of death. Would never use them again if they were the only airline.
2,3 or 4 runways. LHR has 2
For the money...can go on a luxury 14 day cruise...
Roof top terrace was underwhelming for me. I've been to airports with terraces like this not even in a lounge.
That rooftop terrace is cheaply done and poorly executed. Chicken wire fencing and a few chairs with so-so views of the aircraft. The Virgin Clubhouse is certainly very nice, but the terrace is a letdown.
I like the idea of a garden but design-wise it's pretty poor. They could have done a much better job there when the rest of the lounge is so luxurious
Come on Asian daddy!!!
My living room looks more comfy, plus its lower carbon.
That is odd
I just flew Virgin from JFK to Manchester UK and my review is a lot different than this one. Service was so-so, but it was the seat in Upper Class that was really subpar. If you are a typical overweight American/UK citizen you’ll have problems with comfort in those seats. So tight with no place to stare a book, glasses, etc. Sleep was difficult to impossible in the “made up” bed. Concrete seems more comfortable. It’s better to stay in the seat back as far it will go. Not great value for comfort.
What a wonderful reason to lose some weight then!
@@garethtcollins with a mattress as hard as what you’re on, it’s better to have some natural cushions. even for a skinny person.
I think they only put in effort into the money making cities like London.
OK. So it’s an advert. With adverts.
The lounge is called “The Loft”. It’s nothing special
Two, three or four runways? There’s only two 🙄