Published 17 June 2026 | Updated 2 November 2026 by Kate Acaster
Virgin Atlantic business class is called Upper Class. Every seat turns into a fully flat bed of up to 6ft 7in, with direct aisle access, and the fare includes two checked bags of up to 32kg each. What you get depends on the aircraft. At Heathrow, the ticket opens a private route from car to lounge.
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What Virgin Atlantic business class includes
| Item | What Virgin lists |
|---|---|
| Seat | A fully flat bed of up to 6ft 7in (200cm) with direct aisle access, storage and shoe space, and a privacy door or divider |
| Screen and power | A 17.3in touchscreen with Bluetooth audio, USB and USB-C ports, an AC socket and wireless charging |
| Checked bags | Two bags, up to 32kg each, with priority bag collection |
| Hand luggage | Two items, up to 16kg in total |
| At the airport | Dedicated Upper Class check-in, fast track security where available and priority boarding |
| Lounges | Clubhouse or partner lounge access, plus the Revivals arrivals lounge at Heathrow |
| Meals | Choose your main meal from 7 days to 24 hours before the flight, on certain routes only |
Drinks are included, from beers and wines to cocktails and spirits, and bubbly comes on boarding. The menus are in our Virgin Atlantic food guide, and our baggage allowance guide compares the cabins.
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats by aircraft
Four aircraft types carry Upper Class: the A330neo, the A350-1000, the A330-300 and the Boeing 787-9. Every seat is a fully flat bed of up to 6ft 7in. Seat width runs from 20 to 22 inches, and the social space changes with the aircraft.
| Aircraft | Seat width | Social space | Upper Class seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A330neo | Up to 22in | The Loft, or the Wander Wall snack bar instead on selected aircraft | 32 or 48, by layout |
| Airbus A350-1000 | 20in | The Loft on some aircraft, The Booth on others | 44 on A350s with The Loft |
| Airbus A330-300 | 22in | The Bar | 31 |
| Boeing 787-9 | Up to 22in | The Bar | 31 |
The Loft is a social area to gather, work or stretch out with a coffee. The Booth, on a separate group of A350s, is a private spot for two with Scottish leather seats. Virgin says Starlink Wi-Fi is now on its A350s, with more aircraft to follow.
Bar or Loft, 31 seats or 44: the same fare buys a different cabin depending on the aircraft on your date. Virgin shows the layout for your flight when you choose your seat. Our seat selection guide covers which seats to pick.
The Retreat Suite: where it flies and what it is
The Retreat Suite is Virgin’s most spacious Upper Class option, on selected A330neo aircraft only. You get either two or six, depending on the layout. The six-suite layout includes Window Retreat Suites for solo travellers and central suites with quad dining. Virgin says you can dine with a companion in pairs, or in groups of four in the central suites, and screens go up to 32 inches.
“Two Upper Class fares can buy different cabins. A 787-9 has a bar and 31 seats, an A350-1000 seat is 20 inches wide, and the Retreat Suite flies on selected A330neos only. You can’t compare prices fairly until you know which aircraft you’re on, so check that first.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
Virgin’s advice is to look for the Retreat Suite when booking if you want maximum space and privacy. The pages we read print no price for it. The newest A330neo layout has six suites and 48 Upper Class seats. Another layout has 32.
Heathrow: the Upper Class Wing, Clubhouse and Revivals
At Heathrow Terminal 3, Upper Class passengers can use the Upper Class Wing, a private route from car to Clubhouse. Revivals is Heathrow’s arrivals lounge, for when you land back in London.
| Stage | What Virgin says |
|---|---|
| Upper Class Wing | Open daily 05:00 to 21:30. Staff greet you at your car, check you in, take your bags and guide you through a private security channel to the Clubhouse |
| By public transport | Check in at Zone A in the main Terminal 3 check-in area, then take the lift up to the Wing |
| Drop-off charge | The Heathrow terminal drop-off charge doesn’t apply to cars using the Wing. Number plate cameras exempt the fee |
| Clubhouse | A Brasserie with waiter service, a self-serve deli bar and a bar. Order by QR code at your table elsewhere in the Clubhouse. Vegan, vegetarian and kosher options are always available |
| Revivals, on arrival | Showers, clothes pressing, a cooked breakfast, luggage storage and free Wi-Fi. It closes at 12:30pm |
Virgin has Clubhouses at six airports: Heathrow, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Washington Dulles and Johannesburg. Elsewhere, Upper Class passengers use partner lounges. Virgin says those aren’t Clubhouses, so you won’t get its signature cocktails, but calls them welcoming spaces to unwind. Our check-in guide covers timing.
How to pay for Virgin Atlantic business class
Virgin states the points route plainly, and the pages we read print no cash fares. For cash, compare the Upper Class fare with Virgin’s Premium cabin on the same flight.
| Way to pay | What Virgin says |
|---|---|
| Virgin Points | Virgin says every seat on any date can be bought with points. The number varies by route, date and availability |
| Points Plus Money | Use points in blocks of 3,000, at least one block per person. Each block takes £16.50 off the cash price, or 0.55p a point |
| Cash | Not shown on the pages we read. Check the live price for your route and date |
Our Flying Club guide explains how to earn points, and our guides to when Virgin Atlantic has sales and when it releases flights cover timing. For fresh offers, see our latest UK travel deals.
Upgrading to Upper Class
If you already hold an Economy or Premium ticket, Virgin offers four ways to upgrade a ticket in a lower cabin. The pages we read don’t say which starting cabins each covers. Our Virgin Atlantic upgrade guide covers each, and our cheap business class upgrade guide compares Virgin with BA and Lufthansa.
| Route | Where you ask | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | The seat map in My Booking. Hover or tap a seat to see the price | If no option shows, Virgin says that doesn’t necessarily mean none is available. Contact its Customer Centre |
| Points | By phone | Can’t currently be done online in My Booking. Within 24 hours or at the airport, Virgin quotes points plus taxes and fees if an upgrade is available |
| Your Bid | Virgin’s bid service, on selected flights only | Virgin assesses bids 7 to 2 days before departure. Your card is charged only if the bid wins, and payment is then non-refundable, with exceptions if Virgin can’t deliver |
| Reward vouchers | Earned with the Virgin Atlantic credit card or Gold Flying Club status | Each carries a maximum points value that can buy any seat or upgrade |
Bids cover everyone on the booking. Virgin’s example: four passengers who want to bid £100 each must bid £400 in total. Acceptance depends on the amount, the seats left in the upgraded cabin, the number of passengers and when Virgin receives the bid. Winners get Clubhouse or partner lounge access at the departure airport, subject to space, and the higher baggage allowance, on the upgraded flight. A successful bid earns no extra Virgin Points or Tier Points, and neither does an upgrade paid for within 24 hours of departure.
Virgin Atlantic business class FAQs
What is Virgin Atlantic business class called?
Virgin Atlantic calls its business class Upper Class. Every seat converts to a fully flat bed of up to 6ft 7in with direct aisle access.
Which Virgin Atlantic aircraft has the roomiest Upper Class?
Virgin lists seats up to 22 inches wide on the A330neo, A330-300 and 787-9, and 20 inches on the A350-1000. Its most spacious option is the Retreat Suite, on selected A330neos only.
Do Upper Class passengers get lounge access?
Yes, the fare includes Clubhouse or partner lounge access. Virgin has Clubhouses at Heathrow, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Washington Dulles and Johannesburg.
How much luggage does Virgin Atlantic Upper Class include?
Virgin lists two checked bags of up to 32kg each and two hand luggage items of up to 16kg in total. Priority bag collection is included.
Can I book Virgin Atlantic business class with points?
Yes, Virgin says every seat on any date can be bought with Virgin Points. The number of points varies by route, date and availability.
Can I upgrade to Upper Class after booking?
Yes, when one is available. Virgin offers upgrades for cash, points, Your Bid and reward vouchers.
Does Virgin Atlantic business class have Wi-Fi?
Virgin says Starlink is now available across its A350 fleet, with more aircraft to follow. The pages we read don’t say whether other aircraft have Wi-Fi or what it costs.
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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