Published 17 June 2026 | Updated 2 November 2026 by Kate Acaster
Choosing where to sit on a Virgin Atlantic flight costs nothing in Premium or Upper Class, and nothing for anyone at online check-in, which opens 24 hours before departure. Pick an Economy seat earlier than that and you pay a fee, priced per seat and per flight on the seat map in My Booking. This guide covers each fare, the Flying Club perks and how to dodge the charge.
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How does Virgin Atlantic seat selection work?
The rule is simple: the further forward the cabin, the earlier you can choose a seat for free. Here’s how it splits by fare.
- Economy Light and Economy Classic: a standard seat is free at online check-in, or you pay to choose one any time before that.
- Economy Delight: the same rule, but your seat type is extra legroom, and the fare adds priority check-in and boarding.
- Premium and Upper Class: standard seats are free at any time, from the moment you book.
- Preferred and exit row seats: these cost extra in Economy and Premium unless you hold Flying Club Gold.
Economy seats: what you get in each fare
Economy Light and Classic seats have up to 31 inches of pitch and a width of 17 to 17.9 inches. They recline four to six inches. Every seat has AC and USB power and a touchscreen of up to 13.3 inches. Economy Delight keeps the same width but gives you up to 34 inches of pitch. That’s three inches more than the standard rows, which counts on a long-haul flight.
Virgin Atlantic seat types compared
The table compares seat selection and seat size across the cabins, using Virgin Atlantic’s own seating comparison page.
| Economy Light & Classic | Economy Delight | Premium | Upper Class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat type | Standard | Extra legroom | Extra large leather seat, extra legroom | Converts to a fully flat bed |
| Free choice | At online check-in | At online check-in | Any time (Preferred seats extra) | Any time |
| Earlier choice | Fee, shown on the seat map | Fee, shown on the seat map | Free from booking | Free from booking |
| Seat pitch | Up to 31 in | Up to 34 in | Up to 38 in | Bed up to 6ft 7in |
| Seat width | 17 to 17.9 in | 17 to 17.9 in | 18 to 21 in | 20 to 22 in |
| Recline | 4 to 6 in | 4 to 6 in | 7 to 8 in | Flat in bed mode |
How much does Virgin Atlantic seat selection cost?
Virgin Atlantic doesn’t publish a fixed price list. The fee depends on the route and the seat, and the seat map in My Booking shows the exact price for each seat before you pay. It’s charged per seat, per flight, so a return trip means paying twice, and every extra traveller adds another charge.
- Standard seats: Light, Classic and Delight passengers can buy one any time before check-in opens.
- Preferred seats: these sit towards the front of Economy or Premium, and exit rows count too. Light and Classic passengers can buy them from booking until one hour before departure.
- Exit rows: you must be 16 or over, have full mobility and not be travelling with a baby or young child.
- Refunds: advance seat fees are non-refundable if you change your own plans.
“Virgin Atlantic charges per seat and per flight, so a family of four on a return trip pays the fee eight times before anyone has boarded. If you don’t mind where you sit, wait for online check-in 24 hours out and a standard seat costs nothing. Save the money for the cases that matter: a child who must sit beside you, or a Preferred seat near the front.”Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
Sitting together
If Virgin Atlantic has to move you, it tries to keep everyone on the same booking together, in the same type of seat, but it can’t link separate bookings. So book a group on one reservation. If sitting side by side is essential on a busy flight, paying to choose seats in advance is the only way to lock it in before check-in.
Premium seat selection
Premium passengers can choose a standard seat for free at any time from booking, with no need to wait for check-in. Preferred seats near the front of the cabin and exit rows still cost extra. The seats are 18 to 21 inches wide, with up to 38 inches of pitch, seven to eight inches of recline, AC and USB power, premium headphones and a touchscreen of up to 13.3 inches. Wireless charging is fitted on the A330neo only.
Upper Class seat selection
Upper Class passengers can choose their seat at any time for free. Each seat converts to a fully flat bed up to six foot seven inches long, is 20 to 22 inches wide and has a touchscreen of up to 18.5 inches. Our Virgin Atlantic business class guide shows which aircraft carry which Upper Class cabin.
The Retreat Suite
Selected A330neo aircraft carry six Retreat Suites in Upper Class, including Window Retreat Suites for solo travellers. Each has a touchscreen of up to 32 inches and room for two to dine together. If a flat bed appeals but the fare doesn’t, our guides to the Virgin Atlantic upgrade options and how to get a cheap business class upgrade cover the alternatives.
Who gets free seat selection on Virgin Atlantic?
Beyond the free choice at online check-in, these passengers can pick a seat earlier without paying:
- Flying Club Gold: free Economy seat selection at any time for everyone on the booking, plus free Preferred and exit row seats in Economy and Premium for the member on Virgin Atlantic flights.
- Flying Club Silver: free Economy seat selection from seven days before travel for everyone on the booking, on Virgin Atlantic and Delta flights.
- Premium and Upper Class: free standard seats from booking, whatever your Flying Club tier.
Travelling with children
Children aged two or over need their own seat, and you can book it online along with the rest of the family. Under-twos can sit on an adult’s lap, as long as that adult is 12 or over. Front-row seats behind the cabin dividers are kept for passengers with babies who may need a cot, and for customers with special assistance needs. For bags, see our guides to Virgin Atlantic baggage allowance and Virgin Atlantic hand luggage.
How to select your seat on Virgin Atlantic
Log in to My Booking on virginatlantic.com, open your trip and choose seats from the seat map. It shows which seats are free and which carry a fee. You can also view and change your seat during online check-in, which runs from 24 hours before your flight until 70 minutes before departure.
- Changing a paid Preferred seat for another Preferred seat in the same cabin is free.
- Switching from a paid seat to a non-Preferred one gets you no refund.
- Booking around the best fare matters as much as the seat. Our guide to when to book flights covers the timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is seat selection free on Virgin Atlantic?
Standard seats are free at any time in Premium and Upper Class, and free for everyone at online check-in, 24 hours before departure. Economy Light, Classic and Delight passengers pay a fee to choose earlier.
What is a Preferred seat on Virgin Atlantic?
Preferred seats sit towards the front of the Economy or Premium cabin, and exit rows count too. They cost extra unless you hold Flying Club Gold, which gives the member free Preferred and exit row seats on Virgin Atlantic flights.
Can I change my Virgin Atlantic seat after selecting it?
Yes, in My Booking at any time before check-in, subject to availability. If you paid for a Preferred seat you can move to another Preferred seat in the same cabin for free, but you get no refund if you switch to a non-Preferred seat.
Do Flying Club members get free seat selection?
Gold members get free Economy seat selection at any time for everyone on the booking. Silver members get it from seven days before travel, for everyone on the booking, on Virgin Atlantic and Delta flights.
When does online check-in open on Virgin Atlantic?
Online check-in opens 24 hours before your flight and closes 70 minutes before departure. A standard seat is free to choose once it opens.
Does Economy Delight include seat selection?
Economy Delight gives you an extra-legroom seat with up to 34 inches of pitch, free to choose at online check-in. To pick it earlier you pay a fee, the same as on Light and Classic.
Is it worth paying for a Preferred seat on Virgin Atlantic?
On an overnight transatlantic flight, a seat near the front or in an exit row can make a real difference. Whether the fee makes sense depends on the price on the seat map and how much you value the space. Our long-haul flight tips cover other ways to fly more comfortably.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
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