Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Experience LHR-JFK
I recently took an around-the-world trip from NYC (with a stay at the new Park Hyatt New York) and then on to Tokyo for 62,500 AA miles and $5.60, with award seats on American's A321 first class JFK-San Francisco (SFO) and JAL's Boeing 777-300ER first class SFO-Tokyo Haneda (HND). I hadn't visited Tokyo for a long time, but it took me no time at all to fall back in love with the city during my stay at the Andaz Tokyo. I was then on to Kyoto and The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, followed by a Malaysia Airlines flight bound for a whirlwind trip to Kuala Lumpur. From there, I visited the Indonesian island of Bali for a relaxing stay at The St. Regis Bali, and then it was on to merry old London, England.
When at last it was time to go home to New York City, I flew in style on Virgin Atlantic—and here's my review of the British carrier's Upper Class Experience.
Clubhouse Lounge at Heathrow (LHR)
This time we did the Upper Class check-in. Our driver had to call on an intercom before being let in to a nice courtyard. From there it's a dedicated check-in area with an entry that feeds into security, where there was no line - a seamless experience. As for baggage, there is an allowance for three pieces of luggage per passenger, each weighing up to 32kg (70lbs) and with dimensions of 90 x 75 x 43cm, (35.5 x 29.5 x 16in). With carry-on they allow various combinations totaling 16kg (35lb), with no bag weighing more than 12kg.
I've been to the Virgin Atlantic lounge at JFK several times—most recently during my July 2014 flight from JFK to London—but never the Clubhouse at LHR, which is chic all around. Though it's surrounded by a great array of quality restaurants in (including an outpost of Piccadilly's swanky Caviar House & Prunier seafood and Champagne bar), the Clubhouse is the place to be in LHR's international Terminal 3, as well as one of the best airport lounges I've ever seen.
Like a kid in a candy store, I took advantage of everything in the Clubhouse that I could, from getting a foot massage in the spa to scarfing down a ton of tapas in the restaurant/dining area.
My favorite part was plane-watching from the open-air rooftop deck, which is sort of like porn for an AV geek like me!
The Clubhouse’s spa, an outpost of London’s popular Cowshed chain, offers a few, short complimentary treatments to help revive you; a large menu of facials, nail care and body treatments; and/or a chance to relax in a co-ed whirlpool/steam/sauna area.
Outside of booking an Upper Class ticket, you can’t buy your way into the Clubhouse. However, Delta elites can now access the Clubhouse due to a new partnership with Virgin Atlantic, and I wasn't remotely surprised to meet Delta business-class passengers who had decided to use this lounge instead of LHR's Skyteam lounge.
Onboard Experience
The flight's 747 (“Mustang Sally”) upper deck seats weren’t available, but I still liked the opportunity to sit in the nose with a traveling partner. Instead of sitting next to each other, we sat across the aisle so we could look at each other.
If you’d like to treat yourself (or can snag one of VA’s frequent sale fares), know that Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class Suite is both fun and ultra-swanky. With soft purple lighting, cozy beds that lie perfectly flat and a dedicated Snooze Zone, you could easily be off to sleep for your entire flight; however, you’d miss the full, free-standing bar and a wide, “anytime” menu of dining choices—including an elaborate British tea service.
Booking Experience
I used 40,000 Virgin Atlantic miles and £353.89 ($546.95 USD) for a $5,000 seat. As I wrote about my JFK-LHR Virgin Atlantic flight back in July, Virgin Atlantic frequent flyer members who redeem for awards are charged huge surcharges, including the United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge ($76) and the United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty ($236). However, it's possible to book awards on Virgin Atlantic without paying these surcharges, since Delta, Hawaiian and Virgin Atlantic are all 1:1 transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards.
Boarding
Champagne and chips (or "crisps" as they say on the far side of the Pond) was the first order of business, and both went down smoothly.
Seat
There are 44 flat-bed seats in Upper Class. Each seat has a pitch of 79.5" and a bed length of 78"; with my 6'7" frame, I wasn't able to lie flat, but I still managed to get comfy.
Each seat includes a task light, USB slots and US/UK sockets, a work/dining table, and an entertainment system. There's also a padded side seat that allows a companion to visit you, or which allows you to put up your feet while you're sitting. When you're ready to lie down, this seat forms the foot end of the flat bed. I was definitely able to sleep on it.
Although I opted for the entertainment on my own laptop (as you can see in the photos), a browse around the in-flight entertainment revealed plenty of top movies and TV shows, as well as a lot of kids' programming.
Food
The food was really good. I had the special Christmas menu, with awesome soup—even if it got a bit dicey with the turbulence we had. Is it just me, or has there been more turbulence over oceans recently? In any case, the meal was beautifully served and delicious - a salmon tartare to start, a carrot and coriander soup, Christmas turkey with traditional English trimmings, and a scrumptious "pudding" for dessert.
Service
There was good service all around, with a friendly staff, just as on my previous Virgin Atlantic flight, although the attendants were younger this time around. As I said above I watched my laptop and slept, which in a way is its own comment on the service; they leave you alone if it's clear you don't want to be bothered.
Overall
My flight experience was similar to my last trip in Virgin Upper Class—an eastbound red-eye—but I enjoyed this trip more, in no small part due to starting out in the Clubhouse at Heathrow. It's not the most advanced Business class product, but it's a sexy experience from start to finish, and it's more than worth it just to check out the Clubhouse.
On board the plane I found the lie-flat bed a bit tight, but still a great value with Virgin Atlantic miles—even with the fuel surcharges—and there was a ton of availability. Rather than trying to jump through hoops to find saver-level space on other carriers, I'd prefer to pay extra in fuel surcharges and have the convenience of maximum flexibility.
[card card-name='Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express' card-id='22034414' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.