Maximizing Your Virgin Atlantic First Class Experience

Virgin Atlantic’s first-class cabin offers lie-flat seats with direct aisle access, along with onboard social spaces for added comfort. Recognized globally, Virgin Atlantic serves over 30 destinations worldwide, with even more options available through its partnerships with Delta, Air France, and KLM.

First-class passengers enjoy a premium travel experience, including private chauffeur service to and from the airport and access to exclusive airport lounges.

In this Virgin Atlantic first class guide, we’ll cover what to expect on board, how to book a ticket, and the best ways to maximize value.

Experience Luxury with Virgin Atlantic Upper Class

Flying Virgin Atlantic first class, known as Upper Class, means indulging in luxury from start to finish. Your journey begins with a chauffeured ride to the airport and exclusive lounge access—all before you even take off.

Perks of Flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class:

• Generous Baggage Allowance

Enjoy the convenience of checking up to two pieces of luggage, each weighing up to 70 pounds. Additionally, you can bring two pieces of hand baggage on board with a combined weight limit of 35 pounds.

• Priority Boarding & Deplaning

Upper Class passengers enjoy priority boarding and disembarkation, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience.

• Spacious & Comfortable Seating

Recline in luxurious seats that range from 20 to 22 inches wide—the largest on Virgin Atlantic. When in bed mode, the fully flat seats offer over 6.5 feet of space, perfect for rest and relaxation.

• Exclusive Onboard Social Areas

First-class cabins feature dedicated social spaces where you can unwind, enjoy a drink, or dine with fellow passengers. While older aircraft feature a bar, the newer A350 planes boast The Loft, a stylish lounge area for socializing.

• Access to Premium Lounges

The Upper Class Wing at London Heathrow is Virgin Atlantic’s flagship first-class lounge. Additionally, Upper Class passengers have access to seven Clubhouse lounges worldwide, along with partner lounges offering fine dining, premium drinks, and even wellness spas.

• Gourmet Dining & Champagne Service

Indulge in five-star dining at 30,000 feet, starting with a glass of chilled Champagne before takeoff. Full-service dining is available in lounges, and in-flight meals are curated based on your departure time.

• Complimentary Chauffeur Service

Passengers flying on paid first-class tickets can enjoy a complimentary chauffeur service within 75 miles at select airports. Those traveling on award tickets can also arrange chauffeur service for an additional fee.

From seamless airport transfers to world-class service, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class redefines the meaning of luxury travel.

How to Book a First-Class Ticket with Virgin Atlantic

Booking a first-class flight with Virgin Atlantic is simple, whether you're paying with cash or using points. Follow these steps to secure your seat:

1. Enter your departure and arrival airports, travel dates, number of passengers, and choose between a one-way or round-trip flight.
2. Check the Show Flexible Dates box to explore a wider range of pricing options.
3. Click Advanced Search, select Upper Class, and choose your preferred payment method—cash, points, or a combination of both.
4. Click Search to view available flights.

The search results will display various departure and arrival dates within a ±3-day window, highlighting the lowest fare options.

After selecting your preferred travel dates, choose your specific flight. If availability is limited, the website will indicate the number of remaining seats.

Virgin Atlantic’s first-class seating follows a 1-1-1 configuration, ensuring each passenger has direct aisle access. You can select a window or middle seat based on your preference.

Ways to Get the Best Value on First Class Flights

When booking a Virgin Atlantic First Class ticket, follow these expert tips to maximize your experience and get the best First Class Flight Deals.

Book Virgin Atlantic Upper Class with Points

Flying First Class can be expensive, but booking Virgin Atlantic Upper Class with points offers outstanding value. However, be aware that some flights come with fuel surcharges, which can impact the overall value of your redemption.

Earn a Companion Ticket with Your Spending

By spending at least $25,000 annually with the Bank of America Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®, you’ll receive a Companion Ticket. This allows you to book a travel partner in the same class for a small fee when purchasing a cash fare.

Upgrade a Paid Ticket to Upper Class

If you don’t have enough points to book a full First Class Flight, you can use points to upgrade an existing cash ticket. The number of points required depends on your original fare class and route. For example, upgrading from economy to Upper Class on a Boston to London flight costs 71,200 points. During peak seasons, additional costs of 10,000–15,000 points each way may apply.

Book an Upper Class Chauffeur Service

Enhance your Luxury Travel experience by using your points to book a chauffeur service to or from the airport. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members can book a chauffeured ride within 75 miles of London Heathrow, Manchester, or select U.S. airports for just 17,500 miles each way.

Combine Points and Cash for First Class Tickets

To maximize your savings, you can book First Class Tickets using a mix of points and cash. For every 3,000 points redeemed, the cash price of your flight is reduced. However, since the value can sometimes be lower than one cent per point, travelers may want to compare options for the best deal. These flights must be booked online—mobile app and phone bookings are not available.

Why Choose Virgin Atlantic First Class?

Booking a First Class Flight on Virgin Atlantic offers an exceptional travel experience. From a luxurious chauffeured airport transfer to premium lounges and lie-flat seats, passengers enjoy world-class service. Plus, flightslux travelers can access onboard social spaces and top-tier amenities.

Virgin Atlantic’s credit card earns points toward First Class Flight Deals and perks like Companion Tickets and elite tier status. While award flights may include high fuel surcharges, one-way First Class flights from the U.S. to London can be found for under 50,000 points. With the card’s limited-time welcome bonus of 60,000 Virgin Points after spending $2,000 within the first 90 days, earning free First Class Tickets is more attainable than ever.

For personalized luxury travel planning, consider booking through a Luxury Travel Agency to find exclusive First Class Flight Deals and premium experiences tailored to your needs.