The answer is still a resounding yes … but with a few more asterisks than before. Here’s my honest take and real photos.
Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Review
1 – You feel like a guest, not a passenger.
You know what it feels like schlepping into economy … like you’re in grade school, being shuffled into a queue one-by-one to board an overcrowded bus with zero personal space and extra germs. For years, there wasn’t any realistic middle ground unless A) you had your own plane, or B) shelling out thousands for a first-class international ticket was chump change.
When I boarded my Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy flight to London (and again on the return) I was greeted with a smile, a selection of reading material, and a glass of champagne. Cheers to that! Premium passengers also get priority check-in and boarding, plus up to two free checked bags, which honestly makes the whole airport experience feel a notch calmer before you ever reach the gate. Each seat is dressed with a contoured pillow, wrapped blanket, and an amenity kit on overnight flights (though I’ll be honest, the amenity kit has gotten more modest over the years). Think eye mask, socks, and earplugs rather than anything that’ll make you feel pampered. Bring your own lip balm.
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2 – There’s plenty of space.
Honestly, this one feature alone as spoiled me from ever flying economy again. There’s plenty of room to stretch out and you don’t feel like you’re having to share too much personal space with fellow passengers. You know what I mean … that awkward “leg-touch” moment with your seatmate, or the silent fight over the armrest. There was even a footrest and enough room for my wellies.
The dedicated Premium cabin features leather seats that are wider than Economy, with up to 7 inches more legroom and an additional 2–3 inches of recline. Also worth noting: the A350 layout is 2-4-2, which means middle seats exist, so when you’re booking, it pays to be choosy about your seat selection.
It’s not as spacious as Upper Class, but honestly if you’ve got that budget, I’d rather put it toward the destination itself.
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3 – You’ll be too entertained to sleep.
This could be a good or bad thing. If you need your rest, I have to warn you, you’ll be tempted by the selection of recent Oscar winning movies, blockbusters, and entire TV series available. Honestly, it’s the best on-flight entertainment system I’ve seen offered — ever. We could have circumnavigated the entire world and there wouldn’t have been enough time to watch everything I wanted to see.
Now, about the headphones: I said in my original review that I wished they were better, and… that’s still the case. The headset can feel dated, with pretty abysmal sound quality. Do yourself a favor and bring your own. The seats have a standard jack, and the difference in your movie experience is night and day. There are also USB ports to keep your phone or iPad charged throughout the flight. Did I mention the magazines and newspapers they handed out when we first boarded the plane? Yeah, it’s impossible to get bored on this flight.
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4 – The Food.
Okay, so it’s not a five-star fine dining experience. But it’s a step up from the usual in-flight frozen dinner served in a cardboard carton. The primary meal is served with real plates, glasses, and a tablecloth. It very much resembles a business class meal in its presentation.
The menu’s vary, but you’ll typically get a nice little starter salad, choice of entree, a dessert, and wine. There’s also cutesy airplane-shaped salt and pepper shakers. For airplane food, it’s pretty damn good. They also have a tea service with cheese and crackers later throughout the flight. So, once you get all cozy with your movies and your food, you really do feel like you’re in your own comfort-pod.
5 – Attitude! The good kind.
Customer service seems to be rare these days, so when the staff at an airport or airline is friendly, I’m floored. But the cabin crew on Virgin went above just being friendly. I felt welcome, as though they were hosting a sophisticated cocktail party in a tiny New York style apartment-in-the-sky. The difference I felt is that they ENJOYED working for Virgin. Believe me, that doesn’t happen all to often with airlines.
I’ll share my favorite crew moment from my original flight, because it still makes me smile: I cut through the galley during a walking lap and noticed a set of adorable flight-themed ceramic coffee mugs. I asked if they were for sale. On my next loop around, the steward handed me one with a “shh, don’t tell” and a wink. The way to my heart is definitely through coffee, and that mug is still in my cabinet.
What I wish they’d add or change:
The headphones. For an airline with such a strong music and entertainment identity, the in-seat headphones remain a weak point. They can feel like they’re from the 1990s with fairly poor sound quality. Just bring your own.
The amenity kit. The kit itself can feel a little flimsy … a thin pillow, cheap eye mask, socks, and earplugs. Nothing that says “premium” the way it once did. (I miss the little bags you used to get!) It gets the job done, but it’s not the treat it used to feel like.
The lounge situation, if you’re flying through Miami. This hasn’t changed: the shared lounge at MIA is still not a Virgin-branded Clubhouse. Lounge access is exclusive to Upper Class passengers, with Premium passengers able to access lounges only through elite status or Priority Pass. If you can route through JFK or Heathrow, the Virgin Clubhouses are the full experience including spa treatments, a real bar, the whole Richard Branson aesthetic. Plan accordingly.
A note on the “sparkle” question. I’ve seen recent reviews asking whether Virgin Premium has lost some of its magic since the old days. Like some of the little extras that once defined the experience seem to have quietly disappeared. I think that’s fair. The experience is still genuinely good, but if you flew it ten years ago, temper your nostalgia slightly. The seat, the space, and the smoother airport experience are still the real reasons to upgrade.
Overall, I still recommend it, especially for a transatlantic overnight flight. I’m still a Flying Club member and still looking for excuses to earn enough miles to do this again. The answer to the headline question remains yes. Just bring your own headphones.
Disclosure: My flight was sponsored courtesy of Visit Britain and Virgin Atlantic. However, all opinions and enthusiasm for travel are entirely my own. All photos taken with my iPhone giving you a real sense of what to expect.
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Updated 2026
I completely agree with you! I recently flew Virgin Atlantic for the first time, as I am a Silver Medallion member on Delta Skymiles. Because Virgin Atlantic was substantially cheaper than Delta during the holidays, I booked two tickets for my husband and I on this airline for the first time. We flew from Heathrow to Atlanta in Economy and it was dreadful. We flew home separately and since I am a Silver Medallion member, for some reason I was upgraded to Premium Economy on Virgin. Everything you indicated is exactly my experience too. It’s far better than Delta’s Premium Economy. However, if you must fly Economy, Delta wins this one. Great to see we shared the same experience on Virgin Atlantic.
I first did the upgrade this September just gone, to ORLANDO , And there is no way i will fly economy again, i wa spolit on that trip, we are flying to Las Vagas this Christmas so we are now looking forward to the flight over and back as well so in my eyes yes it is well worth it, but you will always get people that moan about something some people are never happy.