Long haul with Virgin

[TulipsAndPancakes]

Hi all..

I haven't been abroad since pre covid and never did more than a 3 hour flight.
We've just booked to go to NYC with the teens.. flying with Virgin. (Economy)
Never done long haul before and wondering how to prep and what to expect.. do we get food, snacks etc?
Can teens use phones and devices on planes?
Bit nervous about it all..

You’ll get given a meal and a snack on board - if you have dietary requirements you can put these onto your booking (e.g vegan). You’ll also get given drinks (non alcoholic and alcoholic). If you’re fussy eaters then it can be worth grabbing a meal deal in the airport first, you can normally see sample menus online too. Teens can use tablets and devices in airplane mode, the WiFi on board isn’t free though so if they want to watch anything you’ll want to download it onto the devices before you fly.

I’ve flown with Virgin to NYC annually pretty much for the last 8 years, it’s a good flight and I fly from Manchester so it’s not too long either!

Is there anything else you’re nervous about?

Yes you get a meal, an icy lolly and then an afternoon tea (sandwich and a cake car type thing).

You can use devices in airplane mode. Virgin usually have a decent range of movies on the setback tv’s, take headphones.

We’ve flown to the US with Virgin numerous times, both before and after Covid, they’re our go to airline for flights there. There’s a really good entertainment system for all ages on the seat backs with a great selection of films (including new releases), TV and music, you can purchase a WiFi package but we’ve never bothered.

Food and drinks service is good and free. Drinks and a small snack are brought around after take off followed soon afterwards with a main meal and then a light meal before landing, they bring around ice creams mid flight too.

Yes, as others have said. A meal and then afternoon tea. Drinks service after takeoff but available throughout from galley. Definitely take your own headphones (the ones they provide are dreadful), noise cancelling over ear ones that can be plugged in.

My husband always downloads stuff to watch on his iPad, I just watch the entertainment films/tv on board.

When you book your seats, go on the left for best views, if JFK.

You are going to have an amazing time! I wouldn't worry about the flight, it's just like going to Europe but longer and more luxurious usually. Sometimes you need to pre-book tickets for things like empire state building, ground zero entrance, statue of liberty boat trip. We didn't go in the met (art gallery) as we had a 2 year old, but can imagine you might need to book that too. Right now looks like you can pretty much turn-up and go in, but don't know if it's like that at busier times.

New York isn’t really long haul. It’s about 6.5 hours so don’t stress.

We’ve flown Virgin to NY and as everyone else has said, you’ll get plenty of food and drinks, download anything you want to watch on iPads or phones first although they have a huge choice of things to watch on their inflight entertainment. I watched 3 movies on the way there. If you have an overnight flight coming home you’ll get blankets, make sure you have warm socks/hoodies as the plane can get quite cold.

We went to London - Boston and then JFK - London in economy last year. It was with AA/BA not Virgin but I imagine the standard is pretty similar.

On the way out (mid morning flight) we got a hot lunch with an alcoholic drink if you wanted it, then free non alcoholic drinks throughout the flights and a hot drink and some biscuits about a hour before landing.

On the way back it was an over night flight so we got a hot meal again with a free alcoholic drink if you wanted and free non alcoholic drinks through out (although over night you needed to call the staff rather than the trolley going up and down). Then as we were flying over Ireland in the morning we got breakfast - so a hot drink, juice, yoghurt with granola, a bread roll and some fruit.

Entertainment was good, there was plenty of choice of films, music, TV shows etc.. I watched Barbie and the Holdovers and then Bridget Jones and a lot of Slow Horses episodes on the way back.

Take your own headphones - the free ones are terrible!

If you have only ever done short haul to Europe then the plane will be a lot bigger than you are used to, with a big middle section. Sadly the room in economy is similar (ie not a lot) so be prepared for that.

As people have said it is only maximum of hours so it won't feel that long really.

If you have a look on you tube and type in “New York Virgin travel day” you’ll find lots and lots of vlogs showing the whole flight and what food you get etc etc. Journeys with Sam is a particularly good one - he’s done Virgin to New York several times and the vlogs are really watchable.

Been several times with Virgin, and other posters are right, it's fine. Some things to add, last went in 2023, so things change

• charge up devices before you go and have your cables to re-charge in your travel pack USB A, not C, you are not allowed to use a power pack on board, I cannot remember whether they have at seat charge, but if they do it will be USB A
• the inflight entertainment was good, although I would recommend some downtime / sleep time - my teen daughter binged watched. and then was a misery on arrival
• Virgin feeds you, and enough, but it is a bit random. We've had brilliant meals and almost inedible ones, take a meal deal, or few cereal bars or snacks as a reserve. They say they have a snack bar where you can help yourself, but when I went this did not exist (nor did it on KLM or AirFrance when I have been in the last two weeks, I was starving on the AF flight when the time between meals was 8 hours)
• Last time I went on Virgin, they had dispensed with a bottle of water due to plastics, giving you instead a small cup of water, probably all fine as you can, of course, call the flight attendant to get another, but it's an odd hassle to have to do.
• It isn't a long flight, relatively, in a wide bodied plane. There is a world of difference between flying on cramped Ryanair for 3 hours and flying on a major airline with full service, and although you will be bored and counting the hours and minutes away at some points no doubt, the level of comfort is different, and you may find you enjoy some of it.
• Finally, try and choose your seats carefully. Depends on your plane config, but 4 in the middle is not as bad an option as you might think. You have two exit routes for toilets etc. you won't be sitting with a stranger. Don't choose near the toilets. you will never get a moment's peace with the door unlock and lock and the flushing, people standing near your seat. The front seats in the cabin are good in one way because there is more leg room but it is also where those with babies go as they can put a bassinet there. You miss the window view obviously in the centre seats, but I think it is a small price to pay.

Hope this helps, and don't be nervous. It will be fine. x

I’ve not flown to NYC in a while, but when I did Virgin were probably the best economy experience. The food was decent and the entertainment systems okay too. It’s much nicer than travelling with a short hop airline!

NYC isn’t long haul. Medium at a push
You get food about an hour after takeoff plus drinks. Maybe several rounds
They might throw you a snack an hour before landing
Massive choice of films on IFE, music, games etc. they will give you headphones
If plane has wifi can use phones but not for streaming and not out loud. Take headphones. Wifi is paid for and drops out or needs reconnecting a lot so I’d suggest you avoid that.

I thought a long haul flight was over 6 hours? The flight to the US will be 8+ hours and you’ll be on the plane for longer. Don’t board the plane too early otherwise it will be even longer. If you’re taking a checked bag, keep your hand luggage to a minimum then you can board whenever you like and not worry about locker space for your wheelie. The return journey is shorter. I do it several times a year (though via Amsterdam and then a regional airport in the UK) but occasionally go direct. Virgin isn’t the airline it once was and some of the planes are a bit tatty now but it’s still alright. The food is semi-decent and the afternoon tea part is really quite nice. If you’re offered a cheap upgrade to Economy Delight, do not bother. It really is no different to regular economy and you’ll be wishing you’d kept your money to spend when you’re in the city.

At certain points during the flight, it will seem never ending but remember you will get there, all you have to do is sit there. Not much consolation when you’re 5 hours in and still have more than 3 to go but trust the process!

Be prepared for a long line at immigration if you’re flying into JFK. Fingers crossed you get lucky and there isn’t much of a queue.

Presumably you’re staying in Manhattan so have a think about how you’re going to get into the city from the airport. Train is the fastest but it’s a convoluted pain in the arse when you have big cases and are knackered after the travel day AND once you arrive at the railway station, you still have to get to your accommodation. As there are 4 of you, I would consider an Uber XL. Traffic can hold you up though but as long as you’re aware, you’ll be fine. Offical yellow cabs are also available for a fixed price, including tips and tolls.

Only advice is to buy a large bottle of water at the airport as Virgin don’t supply any plastic water bottles and it’s a pain on a long (ish) flight.

Have a fab time!

@Beekman

I thought a long haul flight was over 6 hours?

AFAIK as far as the industry goes (the likes of IATA and ICAo) there's no single definition...

FWIW from a passenger POV there isn't a universal hard definition of Ultra-Longhaul either.

If you work in the industry you sometimes see definitions in company documentation/rules related to things like crew rostering but outside of that there's not really any need.....

@ImPamDoove

When you book your seats, go on the left for best views, if JFK.

TBH that depends on the runway being used for landing, but yes, if JFK are landing to the south east or northeast that's the best side.

I’m being a bit facetious as my flights are all ultra long haul (27 hours) so an LHR -JFK is a wee hop to me.

Single sector in the airline environment or is something you can't say anymore about?

Ha no. 9 hours then 18 hours. Usually a 2 hour DXB changeover

I've flown London to NYC a few times OP, and I reckon Virgin is probably the best economy service out there. Just grab a big bottle of water before take off, but there is usually 2 meal services - one a main meal and one a snack eg. afternoon tea or supper. There is quite often a snack bar on board too so you can help yourself to drinks and things if the stewards are busy.

I flew back to and from Barbados with Virgin two weeks ago.
Entertainment was rubbish. If in economy the seat space was really tight and not comfortable to look at the screen,
We booked lates and were in the second last row, only vegetarian meal,choice available by the time the trolley got to us, however, on a 9am flight, we we given a drink and small bag of nibbles after about 40 minutes, then straight after a main meal. An ice cream a couple of hours later, then an afternoon tea box an hour before landing.
Drinks were freely available on request or you could get your own.

Take a neck pillow (especially for the return flight), own headphones, water bottle (purchased air-side), some snacks (cost a fortune on board). If the flight isn't full, book the window and aisle in a row of 3 to get a spare seat in the middle (to feel less cramped). Get up and move around so you don't get DVT. The inflight entertainment is sufficient to keep most kids entertained and includes films, TV shows, podcasts and games. Neck pillow can be sat on too when your bum goes to sleep (a lot of Virgin planes are now old and quite uncomfortable).

Ah, OK, thanks...you had me confused for a minute (easily done).

We're old hands at long haul flights but have never travelled with Virgin to date (usually prefer Asian or Middle Eastern airlines). We'll be flying Virgin for the first time soon - going to South Korea so approx 12 hours. Hope it'll be OK