Booked a hotel on Bath Road, still can't resist ordering an Uber to the Upper Class Wing…
Still the best way to depart Heathrow (in my humble opinion!)
Timeless, stylish and elegant…
No checked bags today, so a quick stop off to film and grab a glass of water before heading towards Virgin's private security channel.
Made it to the Clubhouse before it opened and had to wait 10 minutes. First world problems!
As ex-cabin crew, I LOVE this display. The Vivienne Westwood has to be up there with the best crew uniforms around (that and Ethiopian).
Back in my favourite lounge, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.
There's a range of cold deli options, served for you by a Clubhouse Crew member.
The beetroot smoked trout was great!
Watched the sunrise in the Virgin Atlantic garden terrace.
Another super quirky feature of the Clubhouse!
Time to scan the QR code and get ordering!
Just toast and butter for me though as I want to save myself for the food on-board.
On the drinks front, the signature Virgin Redhead cocktail…
…and this Something & Nothing Yuzu Premium Soda. Exceptional!
Here's our aircraft today, G-VLUX, aptly named 'Red Velvet'.
My seat on-board, 11K. The last row in Upper Class.
The IFE was folded out and an impressive size.
Legroom was on-point with plenty of space to stretch out and relax.
To the right of me, a menu card was waiting.
And before I could turn left, a welcome drink was offered. I went for an orange juice, but champagne as well as still water were offered.
The fabulous crew member, Fiona, brought me some pyjamas. As you can see, the excitement took over as I missed out on these the last time I flew in Upper.
Virgin's "Goodie Bag" amenity kit. Not too fond of the paper design, but props to Virgin for the sustainability tick. Contents fairly standard but the REN cosmetics were great.
Only a few minutes behind schedule, and we roared out of Heathrow.
Heathrow looks small down there. Wait until that third runway appears!
Into the climb, I took to trying out Virgin's "The Loft" space. It's a great place to kick out and stretch your legs.
And if you want, although it feels a bit gimmicky, you can watch a film with your mates and connect up to eight Bluetooth devices at any one time.
The toilets were very clean…
…and featured REN toiletries, the same as those in the amenity kit.
Virgin's service has always held a special place in my heart. Warm, professional, but also relaxed. I never feel on-edge when flying VS.
Another Redhead cocktail for me along with a serving of Bloody Mary crisps.
The food service then began, and I opted for a white crusty baguette and butter to start.
My starter was a chicken terrine with tarragon mayonnaise, pickled carrot and crostini.
Chicken two ways for main. A perfectly cooked chicken breast with chicken jus, butternut squash puree, tenderstem broccoli and a small chicken pie with a cream sauce inside. Delectable!
And for afters, the Gingerbread Pine Cone. A mousse type dessert half creamy, half really fiery ginger parkin. Served with chantilly cream and candied walnuts.
I was then offered the cheese, crackers and port. Oh, go on then!
After all that food, it was time for a midday snooze.
And yes, this bed is SUPER comfortable. At 6ft exactly, there were no complaints from me.
The "Loft" space snack bar.
The IFE was smooth, easy to use and very well stocked. Plenty of great films, TV shows, music and games to keep you going.
90 mins prior to landing and Virgin's signature "Mile High Tea" was served. I went for the cheese and onion sandwiches which came with a crumble topped quiche, cherry galette, red velvet macaron, and warm scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. I went for a mug of Earl Grey tea which was of the Twinings brand.
This really was a special flight for me. Virgin's service just hits different and this was no exception. All booked on points for 29,000 Virgin Points and just shy of £500 in taxes and fees - an absolute steal if you ask me.
New York was looking beautiful on descent. A very clear day in the States.
And that was it, we touched down into JFK a whole hour ahead of schedule. Fabulous crew, great food, and a wonderful experience from start to finish. If you're thinking about doing a flight in Upper Class on Virgin's A350-1000, I'd say go for it!
