The world's most youthful airline?

What is it like to fly Virgin Atlantic in Economy class

Ah, Virgin, the brainchild of Sir Richard Branson - it began as the go-to place to buy records and books in the UK. Since 1984, it has expanded into air services. So, just how Virgin-like is VS? Let’s find out on their flagship route from JFK to LHR.

Upon boarding, you are greeted with a very eye-catching cabin. As I benefit from preboarding, I got to observe the environment around me. The purple/pink mood lighting can make you feel a bit dizzy at first if you’re not expecting it, but it gives a very joyful atmosphere. Over the tannoy, top-of-the-charts pop songs, which, if you know the history of the Virgin brand, is a nice wink to its inception.

The choice of seats and IFE

The seat itself resembles a modification of the Recaro CL3710 seat (which it probably is), a bestseller featured on many long-haul airlines, including Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and even rival British Airways. It’s very comfortable. However, there was one issue - the IFE screen malfunctioned.

Yeah, not great. But it was a night flight, so I spent most of the time sleeping. What did work, however, is a feature Airbus has become known for on long-haul sectors: their exterior cameras.

It made for absolutely breathtaking views during the descent over the Irish Channel as the sun rose.

Let’s dig in.

Another positive was the food, specifically an Asian-American pasta dish. Although it was a bit spicy, it was the best special meal I’ve had (I ordered a dairy-free option), which is usually a weak spot for airlines.

Virgin, yay or nay?

As I mostly slept and enjoyed the views, there’s not much else to report on the actual flight. However, the crew was so friendly; they went beyond trying to fix my seat, offering me another one instead. I declined, as I wanted the window seat.

So, do I recommend it? It depends on whether you’re travelling with children in their teenage years or as a young couple. The brand likely corresponds to you, and their fares can be affordable. If you’re a businessman, it may be a bit OTT (though I’ve been told the business class is a different story).

In any case, over 40 years of service, VS has remained true to the Virgin way of doing things, which I admire.