Virgin Atlantic Economy Review

In 2012, I flew with the iconic Virgin Atlantic airways in Economy between London Heathrow and Los Angeles.
Before I begin, here are a few facts about travelling in Economy with the “red” airline.

Number of seats: Usually more than 200
Seat and Seat-Pitch: A contoured seat with an average 31” seat pitch.
Entertainment: V-Port offers over 300 hours of on demand entertainment.
Extras: Complimentary meals, snacks and drinks are provided, with the exception of champagne.
You’ll also receive an amenity kit during the flight.

My Experience
From the moment you board the aircraft, you are greeted by the cabin crew and given the easiest route to your designated seat. The seats in Economy are comfortable and offer a comfortable seat pitch of 31”, however this can vary to where you are seated and the aircraft type. Each seat has it’s own seat-back television, complete with a remote which offers V-Port, the on demand entertainment system that offers over 300 hours of films, television, audio and games for you to enjoy. On newer aircraft and some of the more-recently refurbished Boeing 747’s; V-Port is replaced with JAM! – the newer IFE system… which again features over 300 hours of on demand entertainment however you have a touch-screen remote, allowing you to seamlessly search for what you want to watch and you can also plug in your iPod or MP3 player into the device too, handy huh?

Once you’re up in the air, the Economy Meal Service begins. This consists of a welcome-cocktail or mocktail served in a stylish purple glass with a small snack, which in my case was a packet of yummy Penn-State Pretzels. You are then given a small menu which details what culinary delights await you aboard.

The food service on my journey between London and Los Angeles consisted of a main meal service ( a starter, choice of main course, and a dessert), a movie-time treat and then an afternoon snack, however this will vary based on the duration and destination of your flight. The cabin crew also pass through at frequent intervals offering drinks since it is incredibly important to keep hydrated when flying. I also thought it was good than there is a water fountain located in the middle of the Economy cabin; something of which I had never come across before. I chose:

Starter Garden salad served with a warmed roll
Entrée Beef stew with boiled potatoes and seasonal vegetables
Dessert Mango & passion-fruit “Gu” chocolate pot

Overall the food was good… not the best I have had whilst flying, but still better than some airlines. Tea and coffee was served whilst you are enjoying your dessert, before the tray-tables are cleared away and you are free to get some rest, or just check out the in-flight entertainment system like I did.

The V-Port on-demand IFE is good and there is certainly a lot of variety in terms of movies, tv shows, audio and games to choose from. It can sometimes be a bit fiddly navigating using the remote control, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. A movie-time treat was served half-way through the flight and on this particular occasion it was an ice-cream bar; which was very refreshing. Finally a couple of hours before landing a light snack was served consisting of a Virgin Atlantic afternoon tea box, which was filled with sweet and savoury treats.

My verdict
Compared with other airlines, Virgin Atlantic’s Economy Class is great with friendly service from the cabin-crew, good food and a wide selection on the in-flight entertainment system. It has been a couple of years since I flew with Virgin Atlantic; therefore I am hopeful to be flying “red” in the future so I can see how the experience has changed and conduct a more in-depth review.

Service: 7.5/10