VS003 LHR-JFK 5 NOV 25 (Upper Class)

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

I recently flew Virgin Atlantic Upper Class from London Heathrow to New York JFK and thought I’d share a full write-up for anyone considering the A350 or weighing VS against other transatlantic options. It had been a while since I’d flown their latest Upper Class Suite, and I was curious how the product stands up in 2025 against competitors like BA Club Suite, Delta One, and AA Flagship Business.


Ground Experience – Upper Class Wing and Clubhouse



Departing from Heathrow is where Virgin Atlantic still shines. The Upper Class Wing remains one of the smoothest premium ground experiences in the UK-private entry, dedicated check-in, and straight into fast-track security. It’s simple but genuinely premium.

The Clubhouse at Heathrow continues to be one of the best business-class lounges in Europe, if not globally. It’s got that signature Virgin personality: bright, stylish, fun, and not trying to be a carbon copy of the classic “international lounge template.” Food quality was solid, service was warm, and the space still feels special even after many years of hype.
Cabin & Hard Product – Upper Class Suite




Virgin’s A350-1000 Upper Class Suite is great and the overall experience is strong. Privacy is a big improvement over the previous herringbone layout, and visually the cabin feels light, modern, and unmistakably “Virgin”.

Storage is adequate, the IFE is crisp and responsive, and I personally found the seat very comfortable for dining and lounging. The seat in bed mode was fantastic and I managed to get a decent forty winks!



The famous Loft social space mid-cabin is still a nice differentiator. It’s not as large as Qatar’s bar or Emirates’ A380 lounge, but it’s a relaxed spot to stand, stretch, grab a drink, and chat.


Soft Product – Crew, Food & Service

Virgin Atlantic crew tend to be the defining feature of the experience, and this flight was no exception. Warm, relaxed, confident - exactly the kind of service personality the airline is known for. It never feels robotic. The food was solid: well-presented, flavourful, not trying too hard. Virgin’s Mile High Tea is still one of the airline’s signature soft-product touches and remains a genuinely nice way to end the flight.

Starter: Chicken terrine with tarragon mayonnaise, pickled carrot and crostini


Main Course: Chicken two ways, seared chicken breast, mini cream of chicken pie, tenderstem broccoli and chicken jus


Dessert: Gingerbread pine cone with chantilly cream and candied walnuts


Cheese Plate and Port:


Pyjamas and the amenity kit were good quality for a daytime transatlantic sector.


IFE & Connectivity

The Vera entertainment system continues to be excellent. Good selection, intuitive interface, and responsive controls. Wi-Fi was available, reasonably priced, and usable for email and messaging.


Value

I redeemed 29,000 Virgin Points + £496.92 in taxes/fees for this flight, which I consider excellent value for Upper Class on the A350. The cash surcharges remain on the high side (as with most ex-UK redemptions), but the points cost is still one of the better sweet spots in the programme.


Overall Impression

Virgin Atlantic remains one of the most enjoyable ways to fly between London and New York. The airline benefits from strong brand character, consistently friendly and professional crews, and a product that feels more “fun and human” than many competitors. The A350 Suite is a solid business-class offering - perhaps not the most private or customisable on the market, but certainly one of the most stylish, pleasant and most importantly, enjoyable!

In short: it’s a well-rounded experience, and I’d happily choose it again, especially ex-LHR where the Upper Class Wing and Clubhouse give VS a genuine advantage.

If anyone is interested in seeing the full journey (ground to landing), I’ve put together a detailed video review here: https://youtu.be/YiZuT_2JW6E