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VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  31 July 2009 by Z Davis   (USA)

My partner and I flew Virgin Atlantic from LAX to LHR this summer, and came up with the synonym that best fits this airline, Hype! We left the Virgin experience feeling taken for a ride. Worn and tired seats, disgusting, smelly bathrooms (even before the plane took off), an erratic, poorly functioning entertainment system, and worst of all, apathetic and/or patronizing flight attendants. We booked the trip in January, arranging our seats and vegan meals for both legs of the trip. We were served vegetarian meals both journeys, and when my husband inquired whether they had any meals without dairy, the flight attendant actually rolled her eyes at him, and stated that the non-dairy meals had all been distributed! Beverages were served way after the meal had ended, and we were stuck with the trays of half- eaten, lousy food for over an hour. Flight attendants were nowhere to be seen for the most of the flight, and if a passenger called for support, they were met with a look of exasperation from the unhappy crew member. Check-in at LAX went smoothly enough, but the baggage check-in at LHR was an absolute mess, with passengers standing in non-moving lines for almost an hour, with no explanation. Online check-in is useless when you arrive three hours before your flight and barely make it to the gate before they lock the doors, even when it is Virgin's inept baggage check-in that's the cause. The baggage conveyor belts would not move, and the Virgin employees at each check-in station just stood there expressionless, as though it's just par for the course. It was 10:30 am, and our flight was to depart at 11:15 - there we stood - and not a single Virgin employee could be found who cared to do anything about the situation! If this review provides the fodder necessary to prevent just one family from wasting their hard-earned money on this apathetic airline, then I'm glad to have taken the time to write it; we will not be flying or using a Virgin product again. They can keep their hype.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  31 July 2009 by J Drennan   (UK)

Having not flown with Virgin for some time I was pleasantly surprised that the service remains as good as I remembered it. I was combed out of a very short queue at the Upper Class check-in desk, and taken upstairs in a lift to the Drive Through check-in, where I was escorted to a check-in desk. The whole process took about 3 minutes. The private security channel was a bit of a let down, as it took about 20 minutes to get through, but it was the peak of the morning flight departures. The lounge was extremely pleasant and not too busy, with attentive staff offering food and drink. Boarding swift, with dedicated boarding channel for Upper Class, and the cabin looked to be in good, clean order. The meal service was very good, you could select any of the soup, salad, main course, desert, cheese plate options, and I thought it was all good. The crew were attentive. The light snack before arrival with a great selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes. Overall an excellent flight.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  28 July 2009 by Mark Knight   (UK)

Normally very enthusiastic about Virgin however wish to issue a warning. Got to the terminal at Dulles to find that the flight had been cancelled weeks ago and I had been sent just one e- mail - apparently (although I never received anything) which told me the 23.10 flight had been cancelled and we had been re-booked on 18.40 instead. Despite being booked into their flying club and them having all my info I didn't get told when I checked in 5 days before, didn't receive an SMS message or a physical letter. As I was in Upper Class this is very annoying - even when budget airlines change your schedule they send you an e-mail and ask you to accept it. So beware check your flights when you board! I was the only one who had slipped through their fingers apparently but it's worth checking. You only get one e-mail from Virgin!

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  27 July 2009 by Tom Risdale   (UK)

MAN-MCO. B747-400 Premium economy. Checked in online, printed boarding cards and proceeded to bag drop. No difference in queuing time at the airport just seems like checking in as normal. The planes are very shabby and tired looking - seats are worn and uncomfortable and the inflight entertainment is back in the 80's. Food good for an airline meal (chicken korma) but they have made cutbacks on the drinks service. They advertise drinks and snacks are available during the flight but when we asked the stewardess we were pointed to the sweets in the duty free magazine! Cabin crew attentive and Flight manager was happy to mend a broken seat. Tea before landing consisted of a sandwich and oatbar. Come on Virgin you were once the only airline to fly with - you have turned in to a second rate company.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  24 July 2009 by L Merritt   (UK)

Booked our holiday last year for June 2009. Arrived at the airport for check in as we could not do it online. Were given our booking passes and for a family of 4 were sitting in separate seats and not together. My 14 year old child was supposed to sit with my 4 year old son, husband was sitting further up the plane on the right hand side and I was on the left! Obviously I sat with my four year old. Virgin could not accommodate us, there were other families in the same predicament. There was no kids meal even though I had booked it online. Supervisor was helpful. Coming home the plane was delayed 2.5 hours, plane was old and the legroom was terrible. The staff gave the impression they really didn't want to be there. One or two very rude to passengers, especially the supervisor - her attitude was terrible. Inflight entertainment was down more often than on! This wasn't a problem as we were told this happens all the time. Again we were not sitting together. This was the first time we have used Virgin and if we can help it, will be our last! Not a nice experience.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  24 July 2009 by G de Maere   (UK)

LHR to HKG in economy. We got bumped from our seats that we had reserved several weeks in advance (on the side of the aircraft - one window, one aisle) to the middle of the aircraft for "operational reasons" (no clarification was given). The ground staff provided the wrong information regarding the position of the TV screen for our new seats (which was under an angle of 45 degrees). We ordered vegetarian meals and got a vegan meal of extremely poor quality. When questioning why we got vegan, the crew told us that they get a number of vegan and a number of vegetarian meals onboard, of which the vegan ones are assigned at random to the vegetarians. It appears to me that there is no customer care whatsoever in the organisational structure at Virgin Atlantic. In addition, customer's wishes are disregarded whenever it is convenient for the airline.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  24 July 2009 by L Marquis   (UK)

Heathrow to Washington Dulles return. Return flight on newer aircraft. Outbound flight couldn't control time you wished to watch inflight entertainment and plane looked old. Food on both flights very poor, tasteless, breakfast on return flight consisted of a cereal bar. Had already checked-in online but bag drop-off line took just as long as regular check in. Staff responding to requests, very visible.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  22 July 2009 by M Smith   (USA)

LAX to LHR Economy Class. Somewhat disappointed overall, and not the high caliber service of carriers such as SIA, Cathay, Qatar Airways etc. Bottom seat cushion was hard; seat pitch very narrow. Inflight entertainment had wide selection of movies, and newer releases. Quality of food wasn't good - bland airline food. The courtesy of the crew and the inflight entertainment selection were two things to me which gives VA a slight edge over the US carriers. I purchased this one-way ticket for GBP200 one-way Economy for travel in late June which is a very cheap ticket deal.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  22 July 2009 by Paul Bell   (UK)

MAN-ORL Premium Economy return. Both flights on time and the crew where helpful and polite. The aircraft was well past its time, seats where old and falling apart, food on the outbound trip was revolting, inflight entertainment facilities terrible, and toilets smelt disgusting. I have flown with Virgin on many occasions but that was the last time.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  21 July 2009 by G McMahon   (USA)

LHR-BOS upper class on A340. Lounge in LHR is superb. Unfortunately the rest of the experience was disappointing. Boarding was delayed (upper class were left to board last for some odd reason). Cabin and seats were worn, poorly maintained. No consistency in the cabin service who were conspicuously absent for most of the flight. Food selection was limited and lukewarm. IFE selection on board was excellent as usual, but system was rebooted twice (15min reboot both times). Overall, not the best business experience around, Virgin Atlantic has faded from its zenith where it once had enviable service and a quality product.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  21 July 2009 by M Ahluwalia   (UK)

LHR-EWR Upper Class: check in at terminal 3 with a smile and wheel hair assistance called and arrived without delays. The lounge was excellent - got a hair cut and had a lovely meal with my wife. The flight was most comfortable, we enjoy the seats that turn into beds and a great sleep. Hindi language movie and enjoyed a nice snack prior to arrival. We arrived relaxed and had a Virgin representative wait with us til my son arrived. Upper Class is really the way to travel at our age.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  20 July 2009 by Andrew Braham   (USA)

LAX-LHR return. Outbound flight was wonderful. Loved the TV's and excellent food. Cabin crew extremely pleasant and friendly. Return the same, just some of the crew had snobby attitudes, other than that, great!

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  20 July 2009 by Graham Hayes   (UK)

Heathrow to Newark return Upper class. Easy check in at both airports and flights excellent. Cabin crew good, seats good and IFE worked on both flights. Only thing that lets Virgin down is food quality..

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  17 July 2009 by K MacKenzie   (UK)

Virgin Atlantic have clearly made cutbacks in recent times but nothing that effected the overall experience. As a regular Virgin Atlantic traveller I'm happy to continue, providing they maintain the current levels as a minimum - however reading a number of the most recent Virgin Atlantic reviews, it appears that may not be the case. If so I will revert back to BA who I haven't flow with for 10 years.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS review :  15 July 2009 by K Liu   (Australia)

SYD-HKG return economy. The first leg was great, boarding commenced 1 hour early and there were pre flight drinks. Food was ok but a shame they only serve a refreshment for the 2nd meal. Return leg not so great. Crew rushed the passengers onboard, half way down the airbridge we were told the aircraft "wasn't ready for boarding yet." Food unacceptable and when we got to Sydney we had to wait for a gate because of late arrival.