Virgin Atlantic Airways - VIR > Reviews > Now I've done virgin I'd do it again

Author's product rating:   

Food Quality	Good
Customer Service	Outstanding
Punctuality	Good
Space	Comfortable
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	comfortable, great service, get a little goody bag
Disadvantages:	is a bit more expensive than some other airlines

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

We went to New York with Virgin Atlantic and I have to say that they were fantastic. Now in the past we’ve been economy class squeeze them in customers. We’ve been on flights where there is so little legroom that most of the people are up and down like yo-yos to try and ward of the dangers of deep vein thrombosis.

We got a four day package break to New York with virgin holidays which cost £445 for the flight and hotel. So it was quite a reasonable price for the flight.

My partner is a vegan so when we booked it we were transferred to virgin Atlantic to book food, because understandably he’s fed up with having nothing to eat on planes but rolls. They were very helpful and even booked our seats for the to and from journey. So there was no need to worry about the possibility of having to sit separately on the way back, which has happened to us a few times.

When we got on the plane there was a relatively large amount of legroom. We were very impressed with the little extra pack that every passenger got. We’re quite low class like that, not used to the slightest amount of luxury! In the pack there was socks, a pen, ear plugs and an eye mask to aid sleep.

On the way back I slept for nearly an hour ( if my other half hadn’t woke me up so I could move my legs I would’ve slept for longer) I’ve never slept for so long on a plane before I usually don’t manage more than ten minutes, I think it was a combination of exhaustion and the eye mask and ear plugs that drown out excess light and noise.

There was a small individual tv screen for each passenger on the back of the seat behind them. This was great no more straining of the neck to see a screen metres away. There was also a choice of four or five different films, which I think is a great idea as if you’ve seen a film and it’s the only one available you’re stuck.

My other half was pleased that I watched Chicago as it saves him having to watch it with me in the future. He was also really impressed with the computer games that you have the option of playing. There were also comedy programmes you could watch like Will and Grace and Absolutely Fabulous.

The food was even quite nice, it would be expecting a bit much for aeroplane food to be excellent! There was a choice out of three different meals, one of them being vegetarian. All kinds of religious meals and special diet meals are provided, if they’re notified before hand.

Extra drinks are free which makes a nice change as I tend to get quite thirsty on planes and there’s nothing more annoying than having to pay a fortune for soft drinks.

The stewards and stewardesses were all really friendly, I wondered if they may get sacked if they don’t smile, About six weeks ago we went to Cyprus and the staff on the Air Cyprus flight were grumpy, sullen and one even accidentally spilt coffee dregs on me and tried to clean it of by throwing hot towels onto my lap, makes you wonder what first aid course he’d been on! The difference between the people working on the two flights was amazing. Although If that were my job I don’t think I’d smile, I can’t think of many jobs more straining than being an air hostess.

My goodness I sound as if I may be on Richard Branson’s payroll! Virgin flights probably do cost slightly more than other airlines, but I think it’s worth it for long haul flights, because I find flying stressful and it’s nice when it’s made a little bit easier.