Flying with Virgin Atlantic means choosing the UK’s second-largest long-haul airline. It flies from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Belfast to destinations across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Unlike a budget airline, Virgin Atlantic is a full-service carrier: meals, entertainment, and a checked bag are included in most fare types.
When does Virgin Atlantic release flights?When flying with Virgin Atlantic, you have four cabin options: Economy, Premium Economy, and Upper Class. Economy is split into Light (hand luggage only) and Classic (includes a hold bag). Understanding which fare you have booked determines what you’re entitled to before you even reach the airport.
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| What is included | Economy Light | Economy Classic | Premium Economy | Upper Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin bag (56x36x23cm) | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Hold luggage | Not included | 23kg included | 2 x 23kg | 2 x 32kg |
| In-flight meals | Included | Included | Enhanced menu | Multi-course dining |
| Seat selection | Chargeable | Chargeable | Included | Included |
| Flying Club miles | 25% earn rate | 100% earn rate | 150% earn rate | 200% earn rate |
| Lounge access | No | No | No | The Clubhouse |
| Flexible changes | Fees apply | Fees apply | Fees apply | More flexible |
Hold luggage when flying with Virgin Atlantic
Economy Light fares include no hold luggage. If you’re travelling with more than a cabin bag, you either need to book a Classic fare or add hold luggage separately during the booking process. Adding it afterwards still works, but the price is usually lower at the point of booking.
Our Virgin Atlantic baggage allowance guide covers every fare type in full, including fees for adding luggage after booking and the rules around sporting equipment and pushchairs.
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Cabin baggage
Every fare includes one cabin bag, with maximum dimensions of 56 x 36 x 23cm and a weight limit of 10kg. You can also bring one personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag, provided it fits under the seat in front. The cabin bag goes in the overhead locker above your seat.
Our Virgin Atlantic hand luggage guide covers the exact dimensions, the personal item rules, and what to do if your bag is flagged at the gate.
Choosing your seat
Seat selection on Economy fares isn’t included. You can pay to choose your seat during booking or up to 24 hours before departure via Manage My Booking. Virgin Atlantic assigns a seat free of charge at check-in if you have not paid to select one, but you can’t choose which row or window versus aisle.
Our Virgin Atlantic seat selection guide explains which rows are worth paying for, what the charges look like by route, and how to find the best free seats if you would rather wait for check-in.
Checking in
Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure and closes two hours before the flight. You can check in through the Virgin Atlantic app or website. Boarding passes are available digitally through the app, or as a PDF to print at home.
Our guide to when Virgin Atlantic check-in opens covers the full timeline by airport and cabin class, including bag drop cut-offs and what to do if you miss the online window.
Flying Club
Flying Club is Virgin Atlantic’s loyalty programme. You earn points on flights, hotel bookings, car hire, and with a range of retail and financial partners. Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and hotel stays.
Our Flying Club guide covers how points work, what each status tier unlocks, and the most efficient ways to earn and redeem across the programme.
Upper Class
Upper Class is Virgin Atlantic’s business class product. Seats convert to fully flat beds on long-haul routes. The seat pitch and width varies by aircraft type, but all Upper Class seats offer direct aisle access. On Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the seat layout means no passenger has to climb over another to reach the aisle.
We have two guides covering the premium cabin in full: our Virgin Atlantic Upper Class review looks at the onboard product by aircraft, and our Virgin Atlantic upgrade guide explains how to bid or use points to move up from Economy.
WiFi and in-flight entertainment
Virgin Atlantic offers WiFi on the majority of its long-haul fleet. Coverage varies by route and aircraft type. WiFi is available to purchase before departure or once on board, with packages sold by data allowance or duration. The cost is lower when bought ahead of flying through the Virgin Atlantic app or website.
Our Virgin Atlantic WiFi guide covers connection speeds by aircraft, the current pricing structure, and whether the pass is worth buying for a typical long-haul journey.
Food and drink
All cabins receive a complimentary meal service on long-haul flights. Economy passengers are offered two meal services on longer routes, typically a main meal shortly after take-off and a lighter meal or snack before landing. Meal choices vary by route and the number of passengers on board.
Our Virgin Atlantic food guide covers the full menu structure by cabin class, how to request a special meal, and what to expect from the Economy meal service on key routes.
Frequently asked questions
Does Virgin Atlantic include a meal in Economy?
Yes. All Virgin Atlantic fares include complimentary meals on long-haul flights, including Economy Light. This is one of the key differences between Virgin Atlantic and budget carriers on long-haul routes. Economy Light passengers don’t get a hold bag, but meals are included as standard.
Can I choose my seat for free on Virgin Atlantic?
Not in advance. Economy passengers are assigned a seat free of charge at check-in, but you can’t choose which seat you get without paying the selection fee. If sitting together as a group matters, it’s worth paying to select seats when booking. Premium Economy and Upper Class include seat selection.
When does Virgin Atlantic check-in open?
Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure. It closes two hours before the flight. You can check in through the Virgin Atlantic app or website and receive a digital boarding pass. If you have bags to check, you’ll need to visit bag drop at the airport even after completing online check-in.
Virgin Atlantic’s economy cabin includes a meal, entertainment screen, and a checked bag on most transatlantic routes. It’s a different experience from a budget short-haul airline.
If you’re comparing fares, check whether the ticket includes luggage before assuming it’s cheaper. A budget fare plus added bags often costs more than Virgin’s inclusive price.
Is Virgin Atlantic’s Economy Light fare worth it?
It depends on how you travel. Economy Light includes a cabin bag and in-flight meals but no hold luggage, and it earns miles at a reduced rate (25% rather than 100%). If you’re travelling light and want the cheapest possible fare, it can represent good value. If you need a hold bag, adding one to a Light fare often makes the Classic fare cheaper overall.
How do I earn Flying Club points?
Points are earned on Virgin Atlantic flights, Delta Air Lines flights, partner hotels, car hire, and with retail and financial partners. The earn rate on flights depends on your cabin class and status tier: Economy Classic earns at 100%, Premium Economy at 150%, and Upper Class at 200%. Economy Light earns at 25%. Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and hotel stays.
Does Virgin Atlantic fly from Manchester?
Yes. Virgin Atlantic operates routes from Manchester to a number of US destinations including New York JFK, Los Angeles, and Orlando. Manchester is the airline’s second-largest UK base after London Heathrow. Some seasonal routes are added during peak summer periods.
This guide is part of our airlines hub, where you’ll find every UK airline’s baggage rules, seat policies and sale dates in one place.
Jane Robinson is Senior Editor at Flight Tribe. She has a Master’s in English and Journalism, and writes about flight deals, holiday offers and practical ways UK travellers can spend less without wasting time on weak promotions. Jane has spent time living and working across Asia and New Zealand, which gave her a lasting interest in how people travel, eat, move around and spend their free time in different places.
At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on verified prices, realistic travel dates, booking terms and whether a deal is actually worth attention.
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