Flying First Class with Virgin Atlantic

Writing about travel has it’s perks. I may never rake in a six figure salary, but I see so much value in the experiences and travel opportunities that my job brings. That’s one reason why, for me, it trumps any other job going. This week I flew to Antigua courtesy of Virgin Atlantic for my latest press trip to the Four Seasons in St Nevis. When I arrived at Gatwick for my 7am check in, my press ticket was upgraded to First Class (thank you Virgin!) This was my First Class experience…

The Airport Procedure

Flying First Class with Virgin starts long before you step on the plane. From the moment you check in, you’re wrapped up into a world of luxury and exceptional service. After checking in at the Premium Economy & First Class check in bays, our tickets were given an extra silver ‘premium’ ticket, which granted us access to a private VIP route through security, saving us loads of time. Once through security, the VIP experience continues in the Virgin Atlantic Club House. Complimentary breakfasts, coffees and refreshments were on offer, but as we were tight for time we only had a few minutes to pop our heads in and check it out.

Stepping on Board

From the moment I stepped on board, the First Class service was a whole different ball game to Economy, or even Business. I was welcomed by the cabin crew, shown to my seat and introduced to my personally-assigned air host Ben, who was to look after me for the entire flight. Ben gave me a ‘tour’ of my pod, explaining exactly how the seat and entertainment centre worked, before offering me a glass of champagne (at 8.45am no less!) Did I oblige? Of course I did. There was a bar in First Class serving unlimited cocktails, champagne and spirits upon request, but I actually stuck to water and peppermint tea for the majority of the flight. I also found a wash bag on my seat complete with toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask, ear plugs and bed socks. Everything had been thought of and everything was covered.

Foodie Offerings

One thing I couldn’t wait to try once on board was the food. Almost immediately after sitting down, my host Ben gave me the First Class menu to peruse, including a 3 course lunch, afternoon tea, drinks and cocktails. The foodie highlight was lunch; when they laid down the white table cloth and polished cutlery, I knew it was going to be good. With options such as Crayfish and Avocado on Melba Toast, Chicken Katsu Curry and Fillet of Beef, it was a menu fit for one of London’s top restaurants. There were 3 options for each course, as well as a ‘Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea’ menu, a playful twist on the classic afternoon tea which embodied the whimsical side of the Virgin brand perfectly. I opted for a Mozerella and Tomato Salad with Pesto Dressing, Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli with Sweet Potato and Sticky Toffee Pudding. Each course was delicious and perfectly accompanied by a (real) glass of Chablis and still or sparkling water. I was in my element.

 Sitting Back to Relax

I’ve never understood why pilots tell you to ‘sit back, relax and enjoy the flight’ – until now. My seat reclined so far back I was almost horizontal, and that was before transforming the chair into the completely flat bed. A 3 course meal, 2 glasses of wine and The Wolf of Wall Street later, I was ready to convert my seat into a flat bed. The seat retracts in to make a flat mattress, big enough to stretch out completely on – perfect. I can normally never sleep on planes, so was interested to see if the flat bed and extra space would make a difference, and boy it did. The bed is quite firm and not like a sprung mattress, but with the luxurious cotton sheets, down-like pillows , ear plugs and eye mask, I had a deep sleep and was totally undisturbed for about 2 hours.

The Verdict?

Flying First Class with Virgin Atlantic was the ultimate luxury travel experience. The service was flawless from start to finish and I actually enjoyed every minute of my 8 hour flight to Antigua. Being in such comfortable surroundings meant that the 8 hours literally flew by and I stepped off the plain feeling refreshed and energised instead of groggy and achy (my standard symptoms following an Economy long-haul flight). Flying First Class is a huge privilege, but if you ever have the chance or are thinking of splashing out for a really special upcoming trip, I highly recommend you do it. And do it with Virgin.

What did you think of my First Class experience? Have you flown with Virgin before? Let me know what you think by commenting in the box below. I make sure I reply to every comment! Thanks x

Enjoyed this post? Read about my of my first class and business class flight experiences 

First Class interior image courtesy of www.mightytravels.com