Virgin Holidays has been selling package holidays since 1985, a year after Virgin Atlantic itself took off. It rebranded to Virgin Atlantic Holidays between 2020 and 2022, but it’s the same company, and most people still call it Virgin Holidays. Unlike TUI, Jet2holidays or easyJet Holidays, which specialise in short and mid-haul beach holidays, Virgin Holidays is built around long-haul: the USA, the Caribbean, and worldwide destinations reached mostly on Virgin Atlantic’s own aircraft. This guide covers what you get in the price, whether it’s actually any good, how it compares with the rest of the UK package market, and how to get the best deal.
If you’re ready to browse, search Virgin Holidays packages to see current deals from Heathrow and Manchester.
What does a Virgin Holidays package include?
A Virgin Holidays package bundles return flights, usually on Virgin Atlantic’s own aircraft, with your hotel and full ATOL financial protection (licence number 2358). On Virgin Atlantic operated flights, checked baggage is built into every fare above the entry level: Economy Classic and Economy Delight include a 23kg hold bag per person, Premium Economy includes two 23kg bags, and Upper Class includes two bags up to 32kg each. Only the cheapest Economy Light fare carries no hold luggage as standard.
That’s a meaningful saving if you’d otherwise add checked bags separately on a long-haul flight, where excess or add-on baggage fees run considerably higher than on a short-haul budget airline. Bundling it into the headline package price also means you know the true cost upfront, rather than discovering it at checkout.
| What you get | Virgin Holidays | DIY booking |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | ✓ Mostly Virgin Atlantic metal | Book separately |
| Hotel | ✓ Included | Book separately |
| Checked baggage | 23kg-32kg per person, by cabin | Long-haul add-on fees, higher than short-haul |
| ATOL and ABTA | ✓ Licence 2358, ABTA V2043 | No (unless credit card) |
| Price guarantee | None published; can add a surcharge | N/A |
ATOL protects your money if Virgin Holidays stopped trading before or during your trip. ABTA membership (V2043) covers your right to the holiday you were sold in the first place, including access to ABTA’s independent complaints and arbitration scheme if things go wrong.
Where can you go with Virgin Holidays?
Virgin Holidays’ core strength is long-haul: the USA (New York, Orlando, Las Vegas and beyond), the Caribbean, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean and the Far East. It also runs a well-regarded ski programme, mostly to North America, and a separate Virgin Holidays Cruises division. That’s a different shape of business to TUI, Jet2holidays or easyJet Holidays, none of which fly long-haul in the same way, and it’s why we’ve compared it more closely with British Airways Holidays than with the short-haul specialists elsewhere in this series.
Departures run mainly from Heathrow, with a smaller Manchester programme. Trip lengths vary widely, from a week in the Caribbean to a fortnight touring the US, plus shorter city-break style stays in destinations like New York or Las Vegas.
Is Virgin Holidays actually any good?
Which?’s 2026 holiday research, based on nearly 21,000 holidays, gives Virgin Holidays a mixed but generally decent report card. Family holidays scored 79%, ranking it 5th out of 20 providers, and ski holidays scored 82%. Beach/resort, all-inclusive, tailor-made and adventure holidays all came in at 78%, with a strong four-star accommodation rating and a full five stars for all-inclusive rooms. City breaks are the weak spot: a 74% score left Virgin near the bottom of that table, with just two stars for value for money.
Crucially, Virgin Holidays isn’t a Which? Recommended Provider for package holidays this year, and the reason is telling: it reserves the right to add a surcharge after you’ve booked and paid if its own costs rise, something Which? Recommended Provider Trailfinders doesn’t do. Virgin told Which? that surcharges are extremely rare in practice, but the clause alone is enough to rule it out of the recommended list.
On Trustpilot, Virgin Atlantic Holidays holds a 3.9 out of 5 rating from more than 2,300 reviews (checked 5 July 2026), sitting right at the bottom of Trustpilot’s “Great” band. Customers consistently praise the staff for knowledge and helpfulness, particularly when tailoring a longer or more complex long-haul trip. Book Virgin Holidays for family beach holidays or a North America ski trip, where it performs well. Be more cautious if you’re after a simple city break, where it doesn’t stand out on price or service.
That’s the clearest structural difference from operators like loveholidays or On the Beach, which have no aircraft of their own and package whichever airline happens to be cheapest on the day.
Flying its own metal also gives Virgin Holidays more control if a flight is delayed or disrupted, rather than waiting on a third-party airline’s schedule the way some OTA packages do. It’s not absolute: a handful of routes, including some ski departures to Canada, use a partner airline instead of Virgin Atlantic, so it’s worth checking the flight details on the specific package you’re booking.
Deposits, price guarantee and cancellation terms
The standard deposit is £175 per person, though Virgin Holidays regularly runs promotions with lower deposits from around £75pp, so it’s worth checking what’s currently on offer rather than assuming the full amount applies. The balance is due 12 weeks (84 days) before you travel.
Cancel more than 84 days before departure and you lose only your deposit. Inside that window, charges rise on a sliding scale: 30% at 57-84 days, 50% at 37-56 days, 70% at 22-36 days, 90% at 7-21 days, and 100% inside 7 days. If your deposit works out at more than 30% of the total booking price, Virgin Holidays charges whichever figure is higher.
Unlike TUI, Jet2holidays or loveholidays, Virgin Holidays doesn’t publish a price-match promise. There’s no scheme that refunds the difference if you find the same holiday cheaper elsewhere. Combined with the surcharge clause covered above, it’s the clearest gap between Virgin Holidays and its short-haul rivals on booking terms, even though its actual holiday quality often rates just as well or better.
Is Virgin Holidays the same company you remember?
Yes, and this is worth being upfront about, since the name change causes genuine confusion. Virgin Holidays Limited (company number 01873815) has traded continuously since 1985. Between 2020 and 2022 it rebranded to Virgin Atlantic Holidays, tying the holidays business more closely to the airline brand, but there was no collapse, no new owner and no gap in trading. It remains part of the Virgin Atlantic group, which is 51% owned by Virgin Group and 49% by Delta Air Lines. If you booked with Virgin Holidays a decade ago, you’re booking with the same company today, just under a slightly different name. That’s also a genuine structural difference from operators like loveholidays or On the Beach, which have no aircraft of their own and package whichever airline happens to be cheapest on the day.
Virgin Holidays vs TUI vs Jet2holidays
| Company | Checked baggage | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Holidays | 23kg-32kg per person, by cabin | Long-haul USA, Caribbean and North America ski |
| TUI | 20kg per person (25kg on TUI BLUE and Sensatori) | European beach holidays with some long-haul reach |
| Jet2holidays | 22kg per person (25kg on Indulgent Escapes) | Family beach holidays with a resort rep |
Virgin Holidays isn’t really chasing the same customer as TUI or Jet2holidays. Where TUI and Jet2holidays compete hardest on short and mid-haul European beach holidays with a resort rep on the ground, Virgin Holidays’ strength is long-haul: transatlantic and Caribbean routes flown mostly on its own aircraft, plus a genuinely well-regarded North America ski programme. The nearest true peer is British Airways Holidays, which runs a similar model of packaging its own long-haul flights with hotels. For short-haul beach and city breaks, easyJet Holidays is the more relevant comparison, and it’s also where Virgin Holidays’ city break score falls down. If price matters more than flying with the same airline, loveholidays, On the Beach and Thomas Cook all package third-party flights rather than running their own aircraft, usually at a lower headline price on short-haul routes. For the fuller breakdown of deposits and cancellation terms across UK package operators, see our package holidays comparison.
Virgin Holidays vs booking separately
For a long-haul trip with checked baggage, ATOL cover and one point of contact if something goes wrong, the package usually beats piecing together flights and a hotel yourself, especially once you factor in the cost of adding hold luggage to a long-haul flight booked separately. For a flexible, lightly packed trip where you’re happy managing your own flights and accommodation, a DIY booking can work out cheaper, particularly if you’re using Flying Club points or a fare that already suits your dates.
The clearest advantage of booking the package is simplicity on a long-haul trip: one booking, ATOL cover without needing to remember to pay by credit card, and baggage that’s already accounted for in the price.
To compare directly, add the cost of flights, hotel and hold luggage for your specific trip. On a long-haul beach holiday for a family, the package is often close to or cheaper than the DIY total once bags are included.
How to get the best price on Virgin Holidays
Booking well ahead gives the best choice of dates and hotels, particularly for peak summer Caribbean and ski season departures. Watch for the periodic low-deposit promotions, which can bring the upfront cost down from the standard £175pp to around £75pp, useful for securing a popular date while you sort out the rest of the payment.
If you’re a Flying Club member, you’ll earn Virgin Points on the holiday itself as well as the flight, and Gold members get an extra checked bag on top of the cabin allowance above. Our guide to when Virgin Atlantic has sales covers the main promotional windows, and if you’re planning far ahead, our guide to when Virgin Atlantic releases flights explains the 331-day booking window that also governs when new holiday packages come on sale.
Browse current Virgin Holidays packages to see live prices from Heathrow or Manchester.
Practical guides for Virgin Atlantic travellers
Virgin Atlantic baggage allowance: full checked and hand luggage limits by cabin class.
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class: what you get for the fare, and whether it’s worth the price.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: how the loyalty programme works and whether it’s worth joining.
When does Virgin Atlantic release flights? The 331-day booking window explained.
Frequently asked questions
Is Virgin Holidays ATOL and ABTA protected?
Yes. Virgin Holidays Limited, trading as Virgin Atlantic Holidays, holds ATOL licence number 2358 and is an ABTA member (V2043). ATOL protects your money if the company stops trading. ABTA covers your right to the holiday you were sold.
Does Virgin Holidays fly its own aircraft?
Mostly, yes. Virgin Holidays packages are built around Virgin Atlantic’s own long-haul network to the USA, Caribbean and beyond, unlike online travel agents that resell whichever airline is cheapest. Some ski and long-haul routes use partner airlines rather than Virgin Atlantic metal, so check the flight details on your specific booking.
How much luggage is included with Virgin Holidays?
On Virgin Atlantic operated flights, Economy Classic and Economy Delight include one 23kg hold bag per person, Premium Economy includes two 23kg bags, and Upper Class includes two bags up to 32kg each. The entry-level Economy Light fare doesn’t include hold luggage.
How much deposit does Virgin Holidays need?
The standard deposit is £175 per person, though Virgin Holidays regularly runs promotions with lower deposits from around £75pp. The balance is due 12 weeks (84 days) before you travel.
What happens if you cancel a Virgin Holidays booking?
You lose your deposit if you cancel more than 84 days before travel. Charges then rise on a sliding scale, 30% at 57-84 days, 50% at 37-56 days, 70% at 22-36 days, 90% at 7-21 days, up to 100% inside 7 days.
Does Virgin Holidays have a price guarantee?
No. Unlike TUI, Jet2holidays and loveholidays, Virgin Holidays doesn’t publish a price-match promise, and it reserves the right to add a surcharge after you’ve booked if its own costs rise. This is a key reason Which? doesn’t rate it a Recommended Provider for package holidays.
Is Virgin Holidays actually any good?
Reviews are mixed but lean positive for family and ski holidays. Which? gave it 79% for family holidays (5th of 20 providers) and 82% for ski, though only 74% for city breaks. Trustpilot rates it 3.9 out of 5 from over 2,300 reviews.
Is Virgin Holidays the same company as before?
Yes. Virgin Holidays rebranded to Virgin Atlantic Holidays between 2020 and 2022 to align more closely with the airline, but it’s the same company, Virgin Holidays Limited, trading continuously since 1985. It hasn’t collapsed or changed hands.
How does Virgin Holidays compare with TUI and Jet2holidays?
Virgin Holidays specialises in long-haul: the USA, Caribbean and beyond, flying its own aircraft on most routes. TUI and Jet2holidays are stronger for short and mid-haul beach holidays in Europe, with wider hotel choice and, in TUI’s case, some long-haul reach too.
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.
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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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