PAGE:   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  15 September 2009 by Mandy Hepworth   (UK)

LHR-LAX return. Check-in at LHR painless; straight through private security and into Virgin's fabulous Clubhouse. After breakfast from a huge choice, we boarded our aircraft. Flight attendants friendly and helpful, and service good. The seats have a really comfortable recline and can be flipped over into a flat bed with a pillow and duvet and your own pair of pyjamas. There was a great choice of movies and games and could be paused etc. The food was good, but although the menu card said "dine when you choose to dine", the FAs came round to take the orders and didn't offer timing options. The return flight was overnight, and whilst it was great to watch a movie then get some sleep. On arrival at LHR, you can use the Revivals Lounge to get a shower (set-up with about 10 shower/WC cubicles available), and get a coffee or breakfast.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  10 September 2009 by P Miller   (UK)

LHR-LAX, SFO-LHR. Great flights, cabin crew were personable, there was plenty of alcohol available, and frequent water brought around. Food good and sufficient, although the sandwiches prior to arrival in LAX could have been more substantial. Entertainment first-rate: AVOD with big selection. Had bulkhead seats on way out, which spoilt us - on the way back when the seats in front reclined I felt a bit trapped in my seat. Check-in done online and the wait to drop bags was minimal both at LHR and at SFO.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  9 September 2009 by P Beresford   (UK)

Manchester Orlando return, cabin crew poor going out, better coming back. The food was poor both ways. Of major concern to me was the X rated content of the in-flight entertainment system. Bearing in mind the flights were during the school holidays and were packed with kids coming back from Disneyland what did Virgin choose to put out - "Crank High Voltage" (this comprised pornography, swearing, torture and lots of graphical violence including sexual violence). Why then someone at Virgin thinks it's ok to pump out what is basically a video nasty to seats occupied by kids is beyond me.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  5 September 2009 by L Davis   (UK)

Travelled to San Francisco with husband and 9 year old son. The flight was better than I expected but quality of food was not great and portion sizes were appalling. The childs meal for our son arrived on the outward journey (but was inedible) but we had to ask for it on the return. We were told, 'I'll see if there's one spare', when it did arrive, it was labelled with his name anyway! Having flown Singapore and Cathay relatively recently, I was rather surprised at the lack of a drinks service - no alcohol. We were offered only 4-5 small soft drinks/ water on the 10 hour flight - on the return flight, we were more savvy and went regularly to the galley for refills. Unfortunately, after landing at Heathrow, our son vomited. The attendant handed me alcohol wipes and stated 'these are for the seat', perhaps I misunderstood but I wonder whether I was expected to sanitise the seat in time for the next occupant!

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  4 September 2009 by June Maxwell   (South Africa)

I flew to the UK, and on departing Johannesburg found that all aisle and window seats were taken. I was offered an exit seat for an additional sum of R800,00 which I duly paid. Sitting next to me was a young man who did not pay the extra - but obtained the seat anyway! Returning to Johannesburg I was again offered an exit seat for the additional sum of GBP75. Just before take-off, a lady came and sat next to me - she had just moved from another seat and not paid extra! I do not resent paying the extra, providing the same criteria is used for all passengers using the exit seats.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  3 September 2009 by D Allen   (USA)

Chicago to London return. Four course meals, onboard bar and they offer pajamas if we chose to sleep. The seats convert to a flat bed and were positioned to offer privacy for sleeping. The flight attendants were very personable and professional. Check in at both airports was effortless, didn't have to stand in line at Heathrow! Once our luggage was checked, we took the fast lane to a dedicated security clearance and minutes later we were in their amazing lounge.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  31 August 2009 by E Bromage   (UK)

Return LGW-Barbados. Checked in online the day before our outgoing flight, bag-dropped at Gatwick in the late afternoon. Bags tagged with PE labels but no priority boarding that we were aware of at LGW. B747-400 plane with Premium Economy upstairs, which we prefer as it's quieter with 2 toilets between around 40 passengers. Service was good, food of a decent quality, the crew were happy to provide drinks during the flight. Return flight to LGW, checked in using Virgin 'check-in, chill-out' at the hotel, priority boarding at BGI. Same plane configuration as outbound. Two crew not quite so helpful, didn't offer my 18 year old champagne or after dinner liquors but had served her alcohol so aware that she is legally old enough to drink it. Flight 30 minutes late leaving BGI so late arriving at LGW. Seating a little tired and my footrest didn't go back into its proper position at the end of the flight. Blanket a little thin but ok as I had a cardigan to put on. Overall, happy to have paid the extra for Premium Economy and would do so again.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  30 August 2009 by C Ross   (USA)

LAX-LHR-LAX. I bought economy class both ways but was able to upgrade to premium economy at the airport both ways. Staff on both flights were attentive and friendly. Food excellent, with wine and liquors included. I would say they are a class above most (if not all) North American airlines. It was a 747 LAX to LHR and A340-600 on LHR-LAX. I much preferred the seats on the 340. Better recline for sleeping.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  14 August 2009 by L Barnes   (UK)

LGW to Orlando. Flight delayed but this was due to the airport not the airline. They offered apologies but nothing more. Onboard I found that the seat in front of me was held together with Chewing Gum - not a pleasant thing to look at for 9 hours. The AVOD system on the seat back TV was not working and the movies were only on at specific times unlike many other airlines I've flown long haul where you select what and when you want to watch. The variety was also not good. The only good point was the food but even that had no choice as they had run out of the other option.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  14 August 2009 by Adrien Seitenather   (UAE)

LHR-DXB Economy. Upper-class and premium economy were fully booked, so I book in economy. Check-in took me around 30 minutes and staff could not care less as it seemed. Boarding was efficient and aircraft interior looked amazing with futuristic and modern material and colors. Entertainment system great with messenger system onboard! However the service was a joke, the dessert was only a spoonful of chocolate fudge and pasta was served cold. Professionalism seems to be inconsistent among the cabin crew, as their grooming standards, with only one crew being professional enough not to call me "Love". Price was cheap but there is way for improvement.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  12 August 2009 by J Slowey   (UK)

Had a pleasant flight out, flight back was terrible. We were seated downstairs, which is a small partitioned area just in front of economy. Although the seats were as big we were given 4 in a row. Being seated in the middle I found sleeping very difficult as I was constantly trying not to disturb passenger beside me. There wasn't the same amount of storage and it felt very claustrophobic. Passengers seated in front of us weren't very happy either! Crew attention was hardly existent. Food not that great. we were left with our trays for ages. Tea and coffee was served long after the meal (the tea was so stewed it was undrinkable). The wrong films were loaded on this flight so we got the same ones out and back. I complained when we got home and received what felt like a standard reply (and rather condescending) of "We are sorry you didn't enjoy the Virgin Experience but they appreciate the feedback and will pass on the comments made". Virgin used to be excellent but I am giving up on them as this isn't our first bad flight.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  10 August 2009 by Stephen Thickett   (UK)

Flying Manchester to Orlando. Virgin cancelled our booking due to no room onboard flight and amazingly offered no alternative. Our travel agent informed us of this and promised to arrange an alternative flight, as it was they who had advised us to use Virgin. They had five days to find another flight and the day before our flight the agent still hadn't found us a flight. The agent informed us that we had an alternative flight via Newark on Continental Airlines and we had to take this or no Mickey Mouse for us. We accepted the offer and flew Continental. On the return flight with Virgin Atlantic we wished that the return flight was with Continental and not Virgin. The flight back to MAN was ruined by the attendants attitude and made even worse by the two girls sat to my right who worked for Virgin Atlantic. They drank more than their weight in alcohol and were constantly helping themselves to drinks - I was told by other passengers that this was normal for Virgin staff returning home and you get used to it. Wrote and complained to Virgin Atlantic about the rubbish service and got a reply of "We are sorry you didn't enjoy the Virgin Experience but they appreciate the feedback and will pass on the comments made to the Training Officer". No doubt so that they can have a good laugh at our great expense. We will fly Continental or British Airways next time.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  9 August 2009 by Hans Meijndert   (Netherlands)

LHR to Los Angeles and back. It started with check in at LHR. long queues although due to lack of staff .There was plenty of Virgin staff available for selling upgrades. Seats in economy are not very spacey. Onboard service is worse than comparable airlines offer. On our way back kids were not given the sleeping kit, due to the fact that they were not loaded on the plane leaving London. In short I see no reason for flying Virgin Atlantic ever again.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  9 August 2009 by Hans Meijndert   (Netherlands)

LHR to Los Angeles and back. It started with check in at LHR. long queues although due to lack of staff .There was plenty of Virgin staff available for selling upgrades. Seats in economy are not very spacey. Onboard service is worse than comparable airlines offer. On our way back kids were not given the sleeping kit, due to the fact that they were not loaded on the plane leaving London. In short I see no reason for flying Virgin Atlantic ever again.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  8 August 2009 by E Lowe   (UK)

Flight was an hour late taking off, but grateful for this as we were one hour late arriving from Houston. We had to collect our boarding card for this flight at check in and the check in / ticket agent did brilliantly easing my clear panic. Flight full, huge but tired looking interior and full of families returning from Disneyworld and craving booze - sorry for the stereotype but it was true in this case. Food was of good quality with a choice of meal for the evening and a breakfast barm in the morning but for a long flight drinks were only offered twice. There was self serve water and juice but this was not announced. Seat back TV had good choice but did not offer pause/rewind and once a film started you had to wait until they were all over until they all started again. Also at the start they knew they had issues with getting all the TVs switched on but started the films before this was resolved. Not as good as I was expecting, by a long shot.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  8 August 2009 by Graham Viles   (UK)

LHR-HKG-LHR. Have avoided Virgin for many years but price and timings made this flight attractive. Despite low expectations this experience was better than expected. The flight out was on an older A340 with a poorer PTV system. The premier economy package is only worth it for the extra legroom. I personally prefer the BA seat. The return was on a newer A340-600 and the AVOD was great. Both flights on time and bags arrived quickly. Service on both flights was fine. The big negative was the quality of the food which at best was average. Back to Qatar Airways for my next trip.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  31 July 2009 by C Hilton   (USA)

LGW to LAS 29 July, after a 2.5 hour delay, the 4 passengers started drinking as soon as alcohol was allowed. They each consumed 6 beers in the first hour, switched to Vodka & Orange, moved onto Bacardi & Coke, Bailey's Irish Creme and lastly whiskey and Coke. They were loud, obnoxious and using the foulest language during the entire trip and not at all quietly. Several passengers complained, including myself, after which we were subjected to vile verbal insults and the playing of drums using shoes on the backs of our seats. We were assured by several FAs that they would not be served any more drinks, but they were continually served by the same FAs until 2 hours before the arrival in LAS. Only twice were they asked to keep the noise down, FAs spent a great deal of time "visiting" with them and having lots of laughs before getting them yet another drink. In 35 years of travel I have never seen such a total disregard of passengers as what was shown on this flight. If these 4 louts had been on the street they would have been arrested immediately, but only on Virgin are they encouraged to display such disgusting behaviour. Every FA in that section should be severely reprimanded especially their supervisor, she ignored the entire situation. I will never again fly with Virgin. They not only ration water, they ration customer relations and in contrast encourage drunken binges, totally disgusting.