Choosing where to sit on a Virgin Atlantic flight can be free or can cost up to around £60 per sector, depending on your fare. The rules vary across the airline’s three Economy sub-fares and two premium cabins.
This guide covers how Virgin Atlantic seat selection works, what you’ll pay in each cabin, and when you can pick a seat without anything extra on the bill. Before you fly, it’s also worth checking our Virgin Atlantic baggage allowance guide and the rules on Virgin Atlantic hand luggage.
How does Virgin Atlantic seat selection work?
The system works differently depending on which fare and cabin you’ve booked. The basic rule is this: the further up the cabin you go, the earlier you can pick your seat for free.
Economy passengers on Light and Classic fares can choose a standard seat at no charge when online check-in opens, 24 hours before departure. If you want to select earlier, you pay a fee. Preferred seats, which include exit row and bulkhead positions with extra legroom, always cost extra in Economy regardless of when you select.
Economy Delight passengers are in a slightly different position. Their included seat type is an extra-legroom seat, so even the free check-in allocation comes with more space. They still pay if they want to confirm that seat in advance.
Economy seats: what you get in each fare
Economy Light and Classic both assign a standard seat at check-in for free. The pitch is up to 31 inches, the width is 17 to 17.9 inches, and the recline is between four and six inches. Every Economy seat has USB power, a blanket and pillow, and a touchscreen entertainment screen of up to 13.3 inches.
Economy Delight upgrades you to a seat with up to 34 inches of pitch, three inches more than the standard rows. The seat width stays the same, but the extra legroom makes a real difference on a long-haul flight.
Economy seat types and what they include
The table below compares seat selection across all four Virgin Atlantic fare types. Data is from the official Virgin Atlantic seating page.
| Economy Light & Classic | Economy Delight | Premium Economy | Upper Class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat type | Standard | Extra legroom | Wider, leather, extra legroom | Fully flat bed suite |
| Advance selection | Fee (from ~£25/sector) | Fee (from ~£25/sector) | Free from booking | Free from booking |
| Free selection | 24hr check-in | 24hr check-in | Anytime, free | Anytime, free |
| Seat pitch | Up to 31" | Up to 34" | Up to 38" | Up to 6ft 7" (bed) |
| Seat width | 17–17.9" | 17–17.9" | 18–21" | 20–22" |
How much does Virgin Atlantic seat selection cost?
If you’re on an Economy Light or Classic fare and want to choose your seat before check-in opens, you’ll pay a fee. The exact amount depends on the route and the type of seat.
Standard Economy seats typically start from around £25 per person per sector on long-haul routes. Preferred seats, such as exit rows and bulkhead positions, cost more and can run to £50–£60 or above per sector on busy transatlantic services. On a return flight, that adds up quickly.
The seat map in your booking shows the exact price for each seat before you commit, so you can compare options before paying. Prices are not fixed and can change as the flight fills up.
Window and aisle seats
Window and aisle seats cost more than middle seats if you want to guarantee one before check-in. If you’re travelling with someone and need to sit together, paying for advance selection is the most reliable option. Waiting until check-in can work on quieter flights, but on a busy transatlantic service at peak season you may not have much choice left.
Families travelling with children under 14 should note that Virgin Atlantic will try to seat them in the same row at no extra charge, but the airline can’t guarantee it without advance selection. If sitting together is essential, selecting early removes the uncertainty.
Premium Economy seat selection
Premium Economy passengers can select their seat at any time from the moment they book, at no extra charge. There’s no need to wait for check-in or pay an advance selection fee.
Premium Economy seats are 18 to 21 inches wide with up to 38 inches of pitch and a recline of seven to eight inches. They include leather upholstery, wireless charging, AC power, premium headphones, and an entertainment screen of up to 13.3 inches. The cabin sits between Economy and Upper Class, offering significantly more space than Economy Delight without the full flat-bed experience.
Upper Class seat selection
Upper Class passengers can choose their seat from booking at no charge. The cabin uses a herringbone layout with seats that convert to a fully flat bed up to six foot seven inches long.
The Retreat Suite
On selected aircraft, Upper Class includes The Retreat Suite, a double-width space that can be used as a shared seating area. Seats in the Upper Class cabin are 20 to 22 inches wide with wireless charging, AC power, premium headphones, and an entertainment screen of up to 18.5 inches. The Retreat Suite has a screen of up to 32 inches.
If a flat-bed seat is something you’re considering but the price is holding you back, our guide to how to get a cheap business class upgrade covers your options.
Who gets free seat selection on Virgin Atlantic?
Several groups of passengers can select their seat for free before the 24-hour check-in window opens.
Flying Club Gold members can choose any seat at the time of booking without paying a fee. This applies even on Economy Light and Classic fares where standard passengers would otherwise pay for advance selection. Flying Club Silver members get free seat selection from seven days before departure.
All Premium Economy and Upper Class passengers get free seat selection from booking as part of their fare, regardless of Flying Club status.
Travelling with children
Virgin Atlantic’s policy is to try to seat children under 14 with an adult in the same booking, but this isn’t guaranteed without advance selection. If you’re travelling as a family and need to sit together, selecting seats in advance removes the risk of being split across the cabin on a full flight.
If you’re also wondering about bags, see our guides to Virgin Atlantic baggage allowance and Virgin Atlantic hand luggage for the full picture.
How to select your seat on Virgin Atlantic
The easiest way to choose your seat is through the Manage My Booking section of the Virgin Atlantic website. Log in, select your booking, and click ‘Choose seats’. The seat map shows which seats are available, which carry a fee, and which are free.
You can also select your seat through the Virgin Atlantic app on iOS and Android. If you book through a travel agent, you’ll need to ask them to assign a seat or access the seat map directly via virginatlantic.com using your booking reference.
Check-in opens 24 hours before departure for most Virgin Atlantic flights. At that point, any unassigned Economy seats become available to select without a fee. If you’re planning to wait and pick a seat at check-in, it’s worth reading our guide on when to book flights for the same cost-conscious approach to the rest of your trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is seat selection free on Virgin Atlantic?
Seat selection is free for Premium Economy and Upper Class passengers at any time, and for all passengers at check-in 24 hours before departure. Economy Light and Classic passengers pay a fee if they want to choose a seat earlier than that.
What is a preferred seat on Virgin Atlantic?
A preferred seat is any seat with extra features, such as extra legroom in an exit row or bulkhead, or a position at the front of the Economy cabin. These seats cost more to select in advance and are not included in the standard fee.
Can I change my Virgin Atlantic seat after selecting it?
Yes, you can change your seat after selecting it, subject to availability. If you paid for a seat and want to change to a different paid seat, the fee you’ve already paid may or may not be transferable, depending on the booking.
Do Flying Club members get free seat selection?
Flying Club Gold members get free seat selection from the time of booking on any fare. Flying Club Silver members get free seat selection from seven days before departure. Red members do not receive free advance seat selection.
When does online check-in open on Virgin Atlantic?
Online check-in opens 24 hours before your scheduled departure. At this point, standard Economy seats that haven’t been assigned become available to select for free.
Does Economy Delight include seat selection?
Economy Delight includes an extra-legroom seat as the default allocation at check-in. To select a specific extra-legroom seat in advance, you still pay a fee. The difference versus Light and Classic is that your free check-in seat already comes with more pitch.
Is it worth paying for a preferred seat on Virgin Atlantic?
On a long-haul flight of nine hours or more, extra legroom is worth considering, particularly in an exit row. Whether the fee makes sense depends on the price, the route, and how much you value the extra space. If you want practical advice on getting more comfort without paying full Upper Class prices, our guide to long-haul flight tips covers the options.
