Review: Virgin Atlantic Upper Class VS5 LHR-MIA B789.

This is my review of Virgin Atlantic B789 LHR-MIA Upper Class.

Virgin Atlantic Booking.

I decided to fly with Virgin Atlantic to Miami as I had yet to try out their Upper-Class product.

Being a member of Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club and consistently collecting Virgin points via their Virgin Atlantic Reward+ credit card, I accumulated enough points for me and my partner to travel, which I combined with one of the upgrade vouchers sitting in my account after hitting the annual target spend of £10,000.

I started looking for availability, but unfortunately, I could not find any seats available, let alone suitable ones for the dates I was looking to travel. Whenever this happens, I log onto Seat Spy and set up some alerts in case seats become available. This took a couple of weeks, but one morning, I was notified that two seats in the Upper Class had just become available, so I called Virgin straightaway and booked two Premium Economy cash tickets and upgraded to Business Class with the aforementioned voucher.

The initial price to buy the Business Class tickets was 115,000 points. However, using the voucher, I only paid half of that (65,000 points). I also paid the taxes with my Virgin credit card to gain some extra points, as it all adds up. 

The Virgin agent who helped me over the phone with the booking was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, making it an effortless and pleasant booking. 

Pro tip: If you’re looking to book some tickets with Virgin but require help from an agent, it is best to call them first thing in the morning to get connected immediately, as their waiting times can be quite long during the day.

Seat Spy: Having a premium account with Seat Spy certainly paid off, as finding availability on premium dates can be challenging, especially when looking for more than one person.

Virgin Atlantic arrival & Check-in.

For those who may not know- if you fly Virgin Upper Class or Delta One, you can arrive by car at a completely separate wing entrance! Follow the sign to the “Upper-Class wing”, and you will arrive at a barrier where you provide your details. When it is approved, the barrier lifts up and allows you to drive up a private road, where you are greeted by check-in agents already waiting for you outside. They will take your bags, get you seated in the seating area while they review your documents and then proceed to a very swift check-in.
However, if you arrive at the main terminal, there is a doorway that you can go through there as well to get to the private wing, but you will need your boarding pass to get through.

The Virgin Atlantic Club House Lounge.

The lounge’s name indicates the theme and vibe of the place. It is not only a lounge where you relax and wait before embarking on a flight but a place to chill and enjoy. We received a warm and friendly greeting as soon as we walked up the beautiful staircase and into the lounge. 

I first wanted to see the terrace, but the Virgin hostess told us, “If you are going to see the terrace, then you’d need a glass of champagne each!” Which was lovely to hear! It is the small touches that really make an experience more memorable. 

From a pool table and gym equipment to showers, they have it all, and it’s generally a fun environment to be in. They even have a small area to take pictures with lovely backdrops! 

Having looked around the lounge, I realized it was time for breakfast. What a breakfast it was. Great selection of hot and cold food along with cocktails. Having already had 3 cocktails each, we were definitely getting into the holiday spirit…

Virgin Atlantic Flight.

Although my experience with Virgin Atlantic went brilliantly, I have to say that one thing I was not a fan of was the seat configuration on the plane. The 1-1-1 configuration facing outwards away from the window was uncomfortable and awkward as you are head-on facing the rest of the passengers, which removed any much-appreciated privacy. Getting a good view out of the window was a mission as I had to stretch my neck out to get a glimpse, which was very annoying.

On the other hand, the service onboard definitely blew my mind. The cabin crew were naturally friendly, happy and hospitable- nobody was trying to impress or put on a fake smile!
Before the meal was served, there were drinks and pretzels.

Here is the food menu:

I went for the asparagus.

The chicken.

And the passion fruit dome.

I enjoyed the food as it was delicious and well-presented.

Of course, the Virgin bar had snacks and soft drinks on it.
Here is the entertainment screen and handset with a smaller display.

Noise-cancelling headphones were placed at your seats.

Conclusion.

Virgin Atlantic definitely knows the definition of customer service, and I’m glad I chose to fly with them. I’m looking forward to flying with them again in the near future and writing an updated review for Virgin Atlantic.

Have you flown with Virgin before? How was your experience? Let us know in the comment section below!

Find out how you can earn Virgin Flying club points by seeing which credit card is best suited for you. Click to read my full review of the Virgin Atlantic Rewards+ Credit Card or Virgin Atlantic Rewards Credit Card.