Join us on a Sunday afternoon journey from London Heathrow to JFK aboard a Virgin Atlantic A330 in Business Class. As we navigate the bustling airports, we begin with a pleasant escape in the renowned Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, where the lounge experience offers a touch of luxury before boarding. However, once on the aircraft, the reality of a weak hard product on the A330 becomes apparent, despite the warmth and professionalism of the crew. The overall experience carries a hint of tacky glamour, reminiscent of a time when flying was a rare luxury, yet it’s clear that urgent changes are needed to bring the product up to modern standards. Come along as we explore the highs and lows of this transatlantic journey.
In this review:
Flight Details
Flight No: VS153
From/To: London (LHR) to New York (JFK)
Departure time: 16:35
Ticket Class: Business
Flight time: 7 hours 27 mins
Frequent Flyer Points: 10,000
Status Points: 200
Aircraft: G-VLUV
Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300
Number of classes: 3
Number of seats in flying class: 31
Seat: 5A
Position: left hand side of the aircraft, 5 rows from the front
Airport Experience
I checked in using the Upper Class wing for my Virgin Atlantic flight, where the drop-off area was quiet, though I encountered queues in the foyer while waiting to check in.
My partner was dropping me off, and the staff were kind enough to let him use the loo before heading home, without any hurry to move him on. The dedicated security lane was very quiet, and I passed through with ease—though I immediately exited into the congested far end of the main security hall.
After navigating the crowds and the mandatory duty-free maze, I found myself in the main part of Terminal 3. Following the signs for Lounge H, I made my way across the terminal, past the shops, to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounge. There was no line to be admitted, and the welcome was warm and courteous. I took a moment to admire the display of old crew uniforms outside before heading in.
After finding a nice table with power, I discovered that the Wi-Fi in the lounge was not behaving. Staff confirmed that some areas of the lounge had connectivity issues, so I found another table and eventually managed to connect. While working, I enjoyed a duck bao bun and a glass of Californian Pinot Noir, which was brought to me after ordering on my phone using a QR code. Unfortunately, the music was too loud, and the environment clearly wasn’t designed for business travellers trying to work—it felt more like a Las Vegas stag party vibe.
Boarding & Welcome
It was a long walk to gate 34 at Terminal 3. If anyone in your group struggles with walking long distances quickly, I’d recommend requesting a buggy at the Clubhouse to save the stress. Fortunately, I welcomed the exercise and arrived at the gate as boarding was well underway.
Boarding itself was swift. I was able to board via a priority lane and didn’t encounter any lines along the jet bridge. Taking my seat in 5A, I was offered a glass of champagne.
Seat
The seat in Virgin Atlantic A330 Business Class was the awful old coffin-style business seat, a relic from the days before reverse-herringbone, window-facing seats were even imagined. Yes, they were better than Club World because you didn’t have to climb over someone, but these strange, people-watching, legs-in-the-aisle designs are desperately in need of modernisation. These seats are neither comfortable nor private, and the crew frequently brush past your feet. What’s even crazier is that the cabin density is higher with the newer seat configurations.
Before going further, I must emphasise just how filthy the seat was. Dirt and debris filled every crevice, none of which had seen a hoover or antibacterial cloth in months. It was genuinely disgusting, and I found myself trying to avoid touching anything other than my lap.
Other than a very small (and dirty) cubby in the left wall of the seat, there was little storage room at the seat itself. I found I could put a few items in the area between the window and the back of the seat, although these had to be moved to convert the seat to a bed. There was plenty of space in the overhead luggage bins.
At-seat USB and mains charging were available, though the USB didn’t provide enough power to charge my iPhone. Switching to the mains socket with my adapter solved the issue.
What is the best seat on Virgin Atlantic A330 Business Class?
On the Virgin Atlantic A330, midway along the Business Class cabin on the port side (A seats) is the best choice if you’re seeking relative solitude. If you opt for E or K seats, you’ll have a neighbour opposite with whom you will be exchanging glances throughout the journey.
See the seating plan on SeatGuru.
Onboard Experience
A well-stocked, attended bar with three seats was set up at the rear of the Virgin Atlantic A330 Business Class cabin, just before the premium economy section.
There were 3 washrooms; one at the front and two at the rear of the cabin that appeared to be shared with passengers in the Premium Economy. They were kept clean and well-serviced throughput the journey. Ren hand wash and moisturising cream was provided.
The Virgin Atlantic business class amenity was presented in scruffy “sustainable” pouch. However, it seemed pretty basic compared to what’s offered by other premium airlines and unlikely to be kept and reused. The kit included the essentials, such as an eye mask, earplugs, socks, and a toothbrush with toothpaste. It also contained Ren hand cream, face cream and lip balm, which all helped to stay feeling fresh through the flight.
The general appointment of the Virgin Atlantic A330 business class cabin reflects a blend of style and functionality, though it’s really showing the signs of age. The layout is designed for high-density seating, but this comes at the expense of privacy and comfort. While bar area at the rear of the cabin adds a touch of glamour, offering a social space for passengers to enjoy a drink, though it can also contribute to noise levels in the nearby seats. Overall, the cabin retains a certain charm, but it’s clear that it’s in need of an upgrade to meet current business class standards.
Food & Drink
For the Virgin Atlantic A330 Business Class meal service, I opted for soup as the starter. Although smaller than I’d expected, it was tasty with a nice amount of spice, and I paired it with a French unoaked Chardonnay, which was pleasant.
Unfortunately, the food service fell apart after that. I waited a long time with nothing in front of me until the cabin service manager came to inform me that they had already served the cod main to everyone else. Not feeling a heavy pie on a plane (and worrying about how the pastry would turn out), I chose the pumpkin pasta. It was fine, if a bit dry, and not particularly special.
Dessert was a chocolate and berry creation, which I washed down with an Australian Grenache. As with previous Virgin flights we’ve reviewed on BoardingGroup.One, the meal service was a disappointment. From my discussions with the crew, it seems they’re equally frustrated with having to serve sub-standard food and deal with the complaints.
Just over halfway through the flight, the crew came around with tubs of chocolate ice cream and mango sorbet.
Before landing, they served a second, lighter meal. I chose the crispy chicken bao bun, which arrived without cutlery or a napkin—unfortunate, as it was the soggiest, stickiest bao bun I’ve ever eaten.
The underside was so wet that it was unpleasant. Thankfully, a crew member noticed the mess I was in and brought a napkin. The bao buns I had earlier in the Clubhouse were far superior.
In-flight Entertainment
The touchscreen on the Virgin Atlantic A330 Business Class seat folded out from the side and was loaded with on-demand movie content, including a small number of new releases and a sizeable back catalogue, such as the entire Harry Potter series. The user interface – Vera – was fairly responsive, and the audio through the noise-cancelling headphones was good.
However, the Wi-Fi was atrocious throughout the flight. I purchased a full-flight pass hoping to get 1-2 hours of work done, but when the connection worked at all, it barely reached dial-up speeds. Web pages rarely fully loaded, making the experience unusable for anything beyond messaging. Virgin should reconsider marketing “web browsing” as a feature, as this wasn’t possible for most of the 7-hour journey.
BG1 Verdict
Overall, the Virgin Atlantic A330 Business Class experience was another pretty disappointing Virgin Upper Class flight. Beyond the superficial glitz of the Clubhouse and the friendliness of the crew, there isn’t much substance to the Virgin business class product. Perhaps “tacky” is the best way to describe it these days. The old seats are uncomfortable and lack the privacy that has become standard in business class. Our old 787 Upper Class review reflected on a similar experience. It wouldn’t surprise me if Virgin’s years-long decline eventually leads to them being fully absorbed into Delta.
BG1 Tip
If you’re flying on the old A330s or 787s, select A seats to achieve better privacy.
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