Editor’s note: The coronavirus has had a huge impact on the aviation industry. As a result, airlines are constantly having to adapt, from schedules to in-flight service. This piece is a guide to flying Virgin Atlantic in non-COVID-19 times.
Founded by Richard Branson in 1984 to shake up the aviation industry, Virgin has a reputation of being one of the more fun airlines in the sky. Virgin Atlantic is one the main flag carriers of the U.K. and operates a global, long-haul route network from three main airport hubs across the country: London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW) and Manchester (MAN).
At the time of writing, the airline’s fleet is made up of a total of 42 aircraft comprising of A330-200s, A330-300s, A350-1000s, Boeing 747s and Boeing 787-9s. The last of the airline’s old and significantly less fuel-efficient A340-600s was retired in March 2020, earlier than originally scheduled.
This guide is a one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about what it’s like to fly with Virgin. From using your points and miles to book to explaining the differences between the seats on aircraft and the food you can expect on board, we’ve got it covered.