Our recent flight in Virgin Atlantic’s A350 Upper Class was overall a positive experience. The seat was a definite improvement, although the food and drink options still aren’t quite up to the level of other airlines on the lucrative Los Angeles to London route. Making our way through LAX’s busy halls, we visited the impressive Delta Skyclub lounge, which was a nice way to start our journey home. This was our first time on Virgin’s A350 aircraft, and it was a lovely way to end a fantastic trip exploring southern California and Arizona. Read on to find out more about our experience, from the airport lounges to the seat and the in-flight service.
Flight Details
Flight No: VS8
From/To: Los Angeles (LAX) to London (LHR)
Departure time: 18:30
Ticket Class: Upper Class
Flight time: 9 hours 10 mins
Aircraft type: Airbus A350-1000
Number of classes: 3
Number of seats in flying class: 44
Seat: 4k
Position: left hand side of the aircraft, 4 rows from the front
In this review:
Airport Experience
We arrived at LAX with plenty of time to check out some of the lounges. On arrival, all check-in desks were open, with plenty of staff eagerly waiting to assist customers. Separate counters for Upper Class, Premium, and Economy passengers were practically empty. The check-in staff were fast and efficient, skipping small talk. They were so quick that they failed to inform us which lounge to use, instead spending a long time explaining how to find the security gates.
The last time we travelled this route, Virgin had their own lounge, which is now permanently closed. Consequently, we were directed to use the Star Alliance Lounge. However, we first visited the Delta Sky Lounge, which all Virgin Atlantic Upper Class passengers can also use. We were pleasantly impressed with the Delta Sky Lounge—it’s spacious and offers a really good selection of food and drinks, including an outside terrace.
On the other hand, the Star Alliance Lounge, although spacious, served rather unappetising food and the wine was disappointing. Given the choice again, we would spend more time in the Delta Sky Lounge. The only downside is that it’s about a 15-20 minute walk from the gate.
Boarding & Welcome
Boarding was well-organised and orchestrated. Upon arriving at the plane door, friendly cabin crew greeted you and directed you to your seat. Personally, I had high expectations for the new Virgin Atlantic A350 Upper Class Cabin and “Suite”. Sadly, the excitement was quickly replaced by disappointment upon entering. I was surprised by how tight and cramped the cabin and seat felt, and the finishing touches seemed to be completed with what appeared to be cheap plastic.”
Seat
Virgin’s newer “Upper Class Suite” was a welcome improvement on the old coffin seats still flying on most of their older aircraft. The customised Safran Cirrus NG seat layout was reverse herringbone for A and K seats, facing away from the aisle towards the window. Strangely, the middle seats were facing into the aisle. My window seat felt tight, but was comfortable and pitched into a full 180-degree recline. However, the door didn’t close fully, and the remote controlling the seat was rather peculiar. It’s not entirely clear whether the buttons are for raising or lowering the seat. I just kept pressing them until I got the seat into the configuration I wanted. If everyone else is doing this, I don’t think the buttons will last long. In-seat storage was also limited to two open shelves, and I was asked not to place items there during take-off as they may fall off.
The windows are positioned in a peculiar way that makes it difficult to look outside. This design is consistent with the Upper Class Cabin in the 787 as well. It seems their intention is to encourage passengers to look inside rather than outside!
There are two power charging sockets for plugs and USB, making it well-equipped for work or relaxation. While exploring the seat further, I was puzzled by the window layout. Similar to the Upper Class Cabin in Virgin’s 787, you have to curve back on yourself to look out the window.
The toilets were spacious, and it’s always pleasant to have a window, which is rare on a plane.
We were handed pyjamas for the flight, and we were given comfortable bedding that felt luxurious. Additionally, an amenity kit with REN products was provided. It contained all the useful amenities you’d expect.
What is the best seat on Virgin A350 Upper Class
For optimal comfort, we recommend selecting a seat located mid-cabin, ideally in rows 4 to 9. Seats at the front are close to the kitchen, and those at the rear are near the bathrooms; these seats are often noisy, meaning you might be disturbed during the flight.
For a fairly new aircraft, it was already getting pretty grubby. It was dusty and dirty in places, and part of the seats seem to be on its way to breaking.
See the seating plan on SeatGuru.
Onboard Experience
To be frank, the service on the flight was disappointing, especially considering it was an overnight journey. It began sluggishly, with an hour passing after take-off before the crew even made an appearance to offer us a drink. The gesture was accompanied by a measly thimble of crisps, which hardly satisfied anyone’s hunger. Following this initial interaction, we were left to fend for ourselves for another 30 minutes before the crew finally took our orders. The delay was frustrating, particularly when passengers were hoping to settle in for the night and perhaps get some rest. Overall, there was nothing remarkable about this flight experience, and the lacklustre service only added to the sense of mediocrity.
The “bar area” that is a feature Upper Class Cabin in the older 787s in the referred to as “The Loft” here. It’s uninspiring and not welcoming at all. It may look nice in the purple lighting, but in the cold light of day… it’s just a corridor with seats in it. A bit of a non-event.
Food & Drink
There was a good selection of drinks on offer, along with a choice of a few starters and mains, including options for vegetarians. Chicken definitely seemed to be the chef’s favourite, as it was featured as the choice of meat on the menu. The second option was some sort of fish, in this case, a seafood paella, which is an interesting choice for a plane. Because it was such a novel option, we felt it was a must-try. However, it turned out to be the wrong choice.
The noticeable thing about this night flight is the speed of service. On other airlines, it’s always been a rush to serve dinner and get everyone to bed on an overnight flight, but not this one. The meal service started two hours after take-off, and I finished my dessert over three hours after takeoff.
Seafood paella on a flight? A Good idea?
The slow service may also explain why my food was cold when it arrived. I suspect it had been sitting out for a while. When the paella arrived, it was cold. I don’t mean lukewarm, it was cold. I asked the crew for one that was hot. Not sure what the crew did, but the paella came back a bit warmer, and I ate it.
Unbeknownst to me, my partner—who also ordered the seafood paella—vomited in the middle of the night. We provided feedback to the Cabin Service Manager. He apologised and logged a report but nothing else happened. Lesson learned: Don’t go for seafood paella 34,000 feet up in the air; bad idea.
A few hours before landing, we were also served breakfast. I wasn’t too fussed as I wanted more sleep, but it’s always hard to do that when everyone’s plates and the crew are clanking around. So, I opted for a croissant and a hot drink. The experience on Virgin Atlantic was as disappointing as the chocolate croissant looked. By this point, I was ready to disembark.
In-flight Entertainment
The A350-1000 is fairly new, with a large screen that is responsive and easy to navigate. There is a broad selection of movies, shows, and audio tracks. It was down by the quality of the headphones. Noise-canceling headphones in premium cabins are a must. A travel tip: get your own. Make sure you bring your own and get a Bluetooth connector if you have wireless headphones. It’s one of my “must-haves” when travelling. These work pretty well and are simple to set up. I’m super glad that I have my own noise-canceling headphones, as they went some way in blocking out the crying toddler seated in the seat next to me.
The soft spongy part for the headphones kept falling off, and I asked for a spare where the same issue happened. I gave up in the end.
BG1 Verdict on Virgin A350 Upper Class
Our expectations were high for this flight, but it fell short. Previously, we had a better experience on the Upper Class 787 flight to LAX, thanks to a more relaxed and efficient crew. Consistency is key, and Virgin seems to struggle with this, as experiences can vary widely. Based on this, I’m not eager to book another Virgin A350 Upper Class flight. Furthermore, we consider the British Airways A350 Club Suite to be a superior product, offering a higher level of comfort and service.
BG1 Tip
One top tip gleaned from the experience is to bring your own noise-canceling headphones when flying in the Virgin Atlantic A350 Upper Class cabin, especially on long-haul journeys. This ensures a more comfortable travel experience by blocking out unwanted noise. Additionally, it’s advisable to research lounge options in advance to avoid disappointment and make the most of available amenities during layovers or pre-flight waits
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