Virgin Atlantic is a long-haul airline that connects North America and The Caribbean with the UK and vice versa. But how is the experience? In this review, I give an open and honest account of what it's like to fly in the Virgin Atlantic premium economy cabin as a plus-sized passenger. Please note that there are several variables to consider, including the plane type and my size. I will cover those details below before jumping into the main review.
Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Review Details
Date of flight: Saturday, May 25, 2024
Route: London Heathrow to Las Vegas, Nevada (10.5hrs)
Plane model: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Seat: 24C
My Measurements:
I'm 5ft 6 inches and around 320lbs (145kg or 22.5 stones for European/UK readers). I carry most of my weight on my stomach and have a small chest. My dress size is 22-24 in the US, 26-28 in the UK, or 54-56 in the EU.
Seat Size and Comfort
Virgin Atlantic offers several seating options: economy, economy delight, premium economy, and first class. I was in the premium economy cabin for this flight, in a 2-3-2 seat configuration. The seat width is 18-21 inches, a few inches bigger than in economy and similar to that offered in first class. The seat felt roomier than in economy, but I think it is mostly because there are only 2 seats rather than 3. As two larger passengers, this was much better for us because we didn't need to worry about encroaching on strangers. This makes the whole experience of flying as a fat person more comfortable.
Although the extra width is a great perk, the true benefit is the increased pitch size. I carry all my weight on my stomach, so more space between me and the seat in front makes a big difference. I needed a seatbelt extender, but I felt comfortable asking, and the cabin crew was very polite and respectful about it. You can see how I fit in the pictures below – consider the measurements I included at the top of this post.
Not everything was perfect. I particularly disliked how the tray table came out from the armrest. I struggle anyway with a tray table in front of me, but it was an even tighter squeeze straight over my lap. It feels like such a waste, considering the additional pitch size. It would have been much better coming down from the seat in front. There is also a little footrest, although I didn't personally see the benefit of using it.
Related: A guide to seat width by airline
Snacks and Beverages
It all starts off very well with a welcome drink as soon as you sit down. The options were prosecco, water, and orange juice. Naturally, I chose the prosecco. It was cold and refreshing and added to the ‘premium' experience. There are also plenty of other drink options during the normal service. More on that below.
There was plenty of food and beverages on offer during the flight. You can select your meal up to a week in advance in Premium Economy, guaranteeing you get what you want. Wine and water are the only options with dinner, but there's a selection of other drinks during the normal service. Here are some images from the menu on our London to Las Vegas flight (click to make it bigger):
I selected the breaded chicken. It was okay, but it wasn't great, and I've had better on previous Virgin PE flights. What's always nice is that it comes on real plates with cutlery instead of plastic. This is also the case with the coffee. There is something enjoyable about drinking hot coffee from a cup instead of plastic at 37,000 feet.
Although the food was average, I had a couple of drinks throughout the flight, and they were all served quickly, with ice, and there were a few premium options.
Did you know? You can get exclusive discounts with Virgin Atlantic when you book through Chubby Travelers? Click here for Virgin Atlantic UK, or click here for Virgin Atlantic US.
Cabin Crew and Service
Honestly, one of the best parts of flying with Virgin Atlantic is the crew. I've flown Virgin many times before, in economy and premium, and have always had a good experience. This flight was no exception. The premium crew greeted me by name – a nice personal touch, and we had several short and polite conversations throughout. It's particularly impressive, considering the flight is 11 hours. Virgin crew really are something special.
We departed around 30 minutes late, but the captain informed us of the delay after we boarded. We made the time up on the flight and landed on time. Delays and travel nightmares can happen on any airline, but I had nothing to complain about this time around.
Ticket Price and Extras
I paid around £3,000 (approx. $3,800) for a return flight from London to Vegas for two people in the last week of May. This included two 23kg (50lbs) suitcases per person, so we had four suitcases in total. It was the only flight that day, so there was no cheaper option, earlier or later.
The frustrating thing is that despite paying for Premium Economy, we still had to pay £60 ($70) per person for our seats each way, which was an additional £280 ($300) on top of the flight price. This is because Virgin only has a handful of seats to book for free, and they call the rest ‘preferred seating' and charge extra for it. There is no difference in these seats; they just market them as a ‘better location' in the cabin. It feels like a way to squeeze more cash from you, taking from the ‘premium' experience.
Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy for Plus-Sized Passengers: My Conclusion
The wider seat and two-seat configuration make Premium Economy an absolute necessity when flying with Virgin as a plus-sized passenger. Does it feel like a really premium product? Not really, but it's significantly more comfortable than the standard premium offering. The extra space and comfort on a long flight are worth the additional $500 per person I paid (return), but this might not always be the case. Premium prices can vary dramatically, depending on route and time of year. Don't forget about the ludicrous seat booking fee you may face.
The tray table is a real problem for me, though. I have a large stomach – if yours is smaller, you will be okay. But if you're even an inch bigger, you won't be able to get it over your lap. A seatbelt extender was necessary but was readily available, and I wasn't made to feel uncomfortable in asking for one.
You won't find many airlines with better crew and in-flight experience than Virgin, and I would recommend it for plus-sized passengers, with a few caveats I've covered in this review.
Better than the economy option
Wider seats, similar to the first class offering. A two-person seat configuration makes it great for couples. Those with large stomaches will struggle with the tray table positioning - I did. Also not happy about paying $300 for reserved seating in premium. But, good drinks, comfier than economy, and exceptional service from the crew.
The Good
- A 20 inch seat
- 2-person configuration
- Fantastic staff
- Extra baggage (2 x 50lbs/23kg)
The Bad
- The tray table across the lap
- Paid seat selection
- Average food
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Seat Size and Comfort7
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Snacks and Beverages6
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Cabin Crew and Service10
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Ticket Price and Extras4
