Came across your channel today and yes after just one video i subscribed, loving everything thank you for putting in the work, very useful for when i plan my next trip to north america.
We flew VS basic LHR-JFK, EWR-LHR last May for my wife’s birthday, and what I like about the A340 and A330 is the 2-4-2 layout when you travel as a couple. We were lucky as travelling with a baby we got built head seats, but normal economy is too tight for a 6 footer. I’d always go BA over VS for economy.
Just caught up with your video here Blake..I’m trying out the BA daytime flight back next month which I’ve never done before - great video and great to see how you found it
A nice review! Expected a better meal service with Virgin though, even in economy. Recline far too big, the main reason I’m not a fan of overnight flights especially and I never recline into the person behind. I always try to buy exit row as it’s well worth the money and takes away that risk of a rude person in front :) great video! But personally I prefer to have a full day in US and then suffer on the overnighter :)
Thanks for watching Steve. While I try not to recline I have no issue with others using it, as is their right if it is available. I can't say that my legs agree with me though on some flights.
Blake Edgington - Airborne I think that’s a good attitude to have, and ultimately my problem is with the airline rather than the passenger. They may consider reclining seats a comfort benefit, but that ignores the comfort of the person behind. A six footer speaking here 😂 keep up the great work Blake!
As always Blake great take off vision and sound !! Seat recliners...all the way uuughh. I usually recline just enough to get comfortable...but not all the way !! A reasonable flight in Economy and the food looked pretty ordinary so I am glad it tasted ok. I like Virgin but sometimes they just let you down with the little things like the "small" breakfast and a bit of a stain here are there! Thanks mate as always for another great review and well done as always !!
Well, as a former airline employee, having flown Virgin many times, I always summed it up like this, great crew, much friendlier than BA, tight seats. Overall, much preferred to fly Virgin over BA. Enjoyed your video.👍
I love these types of flight reports, they make me feel special🤣 shall I tell u why, bc u and the other guys (Noel Phillips) do great informative videos! Please could you do a flight report regarding air malta from LHR to MLA, u will 90% chance get their brand new a320neo, there is no tripreports on it and it’s supposed to be good and modernised, also FIRST! Love the a330!
I flew VSXY when it first launched from Manchester, it looks a bit tired now. I would love a daytime back from the US, but sadly none to Man. We always pay for front row extra legroom seats when on long haul economy, well worth the money, no legroom issues or seat reclining in front of you ! Thanks for another great video
Great video as always Blake, I'm off to America for the first time this year and can't wait. It'll also be my first time flying longhaul alone. Will be doing NZ1 to LAX before they stop it
Sean... I am very jealous of you right now. I was poised to book that flight myself recently but changed my plans last minute. Let me know how your trip goes!
@@BlakeEdgington ah damn would have loved to see your thoughts on them! Especially as not many trip reporters have took that flight. Will do as I'll be visiting San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto and New york too!
Blake Edgington - Airborne No problem mate, i'm flying to menorca with tui in July if this whole pandemic gets better, so i watch all your tui videos especially your birmingham to palma one, it gets me excited for holiday 😃
Great flight report. I'll be taking a red eye with TUI coming back from Barbados to Birmingham in a few weeks time, set off In the evening and around into Birmingham at 6:15am!
Is this plane equivalent to the A330-200? We are flying to LHR on that from Orlando and have seats go to 51 instead of 61 like in the video. We chose 50 and 51 to be close to refreshments and bathrooms
On the A330-200 that will put you at the back of the aircraft. It’s the same layout as shown in the larger -300 in the video. I hope you enjoy your flight.
Another great video, Blake. Keep them coming. I feel you pain. Red eye flights are always horrendous. I overnight from East Africa at least twice a year (flight out is always day time). The overnight is horrendous and worth the Premium Economy upgrade. In my opinion BA still isn't worth the Business Class upgrade until thier new seats become more common though. Comfort on a red eye is worth investing in though!
Thanks David. I have flown BA business on red eye flights before which was obviously much better than economy but I still felt exhausted the following day.
Blake, did 61a have more leg room than other seats near by because of the narrowing of the aircraft? seatguru highlights it and 61k as having more leg room
Another great review! Always wondered about the day flight back but as I live in the north it would mean a night in Heathrow due to connections. I might give to a go one day though
Well done review! If I were to fly home, I'd enjoy a morning flight, but travelling, I prefer the red eye to get the most lf Day 1. Don't think I've ever seen a plane with a phone port... I wonder if people actually used it 9 years ago.
Recently been made redundant by Virgin Atlantic in March, I love the company and will always try to fly them first in future. As an employee, it would rattle me when people compared them to BA, they are completely different entities, Virgin have 45 aircraft in the fleet. (Less now I think), pretty sure BA have more than 45 movements on the average pre pandemic morning at Heathrow. I never got to fly the A330 when working with them as I was office based, but I did try upper on the 787 which was fantastic, as well as economy in the upper deck of the 747. One thing I would say is that I have flown BA long haul a lot because you can create your own trip on the BA website (create my trip) add an airport hotel and return flights and it will allow you to pay in instalments. Which is more beneficial to the average person.
I think the comparisons are certainly not always fair based on the scale of each airlines operation. That being said it's hard not to compare when both are British carriers operating from the same hub on a number of the same routes. For me, each has their good and bad points but I would not hesitate to fly with either airline. Very sorry to hear about your job by the way.
Great review as always Blake brought back memories from our A330 experience in 2018. We opted for “economy delight” which did give slightly more legroom than you had but when the guy in front reclines right into your space for 5 of the 6 hours was no fun at all 😡 . I’m very keen to try the A350 but would actively avoid going on an A330 again - the 787 is a FAR better experience.
Blake Edgington - Airborne So far ive only done 2 long haul holidays. I rate Virgin on the outgoing flight as the best flight experience ive had closely followed by Tui to Dom Rep. Still rate the Virgin flight higher than the Tui flight despite the Virgin flight being in Economy and the Tui flight being in the premium cabin. I could have sworn I’d seen you do a 787 Dreamliner review though ?
I’d much prefer these few eastbound daytime flights from New York to London, than the traditional red eyes. Although you land in London in the evening and lose a day from travelling across the Atlantic, during the day. It’s much more worth it, if it means little to no jet lag and not worrying too much on trying to sleep on the plane. I’ve already been on one a couple years back with Norwegian, from JFK to Gatwick. Although we landed at 23:30 and I didn’t get home until before 2am. It was nice just to get home and go straight to bed, than trying to keep awake the rest of the day if you did a a red eye.
Have never flown with Virgin Atlantic, but it is the crew that gets the most positive feedback on trip reports on VS. In other areas, something of a mixed bag. I`m with you on the red eye - cannot stand arriving early morning at my destination having had no sleep on an overnight flight. Give me a daytime trans-Atlantic any day!
Great to hear that you agree! The crew on both this flight and my A350 experience were very good, the cabin crew can make or break a flight in my opinion.
I’ve flown with Virgin in upper class when they still did the Dubai route. Funnily enough I had G-VSXY on the way back. I loved the service onboard, not had it better on other airlines, entertainment was good, but the system was slow. The only other thing that let it down was certain meals. However I’d definitely fly virgin again.
I can't say that the service was the best I have ever experienced but it was very good as I mentioned at the end of the video. Like you, I would have no issue choosing Virgin again.
I've recently flown the reverse trip on G-VKSS, a plane that seems identical. I had the very last seat on the left side of the plane, and agree about legroom, although it did seem comparable to the A350 on the way over to London. The IFE was spotty at best, particularly with respect to the touch-screen. What I don't get however is why would they have removed the cupholders??? They would have been downright useful!
That's an option I have never considered - I always fly overnight Toronto to London, and then spend arrive really exhausted because I can't sleep. My first day in the UK is usually a waste because I am completely wiped out. I will try to find a daytime flight the next time I travel
Flying during the day certainly suited me. As I said in the video I felt fine when I arrived. I have not checked thoroughly but there are daytime flights to London from New York and Boston.
Virgin catering seems to have gone downhill from when I flew them 7-8 years ago. Pasta salad starter doesn’t make much sense if you’re a vegetarian like me who would have chosen the gnocchi, another pasta dish. Also the lack of cheese and crackers or bread roll seems a disappointment to me. In my experience the catering on British airlines on outbound legs from the UK is a lot better so that could have something to do with it ! Great vidéo though Blake as ever !
Glad that you liked the video. There were cheese and crackers but a bread roll would have been nice. I agree that the catering could be improved at least in quantity. In fairness to Virgin though this is a trend that we are seeing across a number of airlines. I am yet to try BA long haul in economy but hope to later this year.
I really enjoyed going on Virgin Atlantic A330 300. Went to and from Gatwick to Barbados on Beauty Queen in 2017. In 2018 went to Miami on Diamond Girl and back on Lady Stardust although both flights were initially meant to be B787-9 but were changed to A330 300 due to engine problems
I love Virgin Atlantic! I've flown on their A330-300 fairly recently and their 747 about 10 years ago. I thought despite the dated IFE system, the flight was excellent. Now I've flown British Airways (A380), American (777-300ER), United (757-200), and Virgin Atlantic transatlantic. I would rank BA and VS joint first, followed by American, then United. Perhaps that would be a little different now given United now use 767s from Manchester. The service is undoubtedly better on BA and VS though.
I plan on trying BA on this route at some point to compare with Virgin. Although I have flown BA long haul several times, weirdly I have never tried economy class on any of them.
Blake, SeatGuru claims that the aisle seats in row 61 have additional leg room. I suppose that's allegedly due to the narrowing of the cabin but I don't see how that works. Is that true? Thanks!
There was a little space to the side of the seat but nothing worth mentioning. Seat Guru is not always right believe me. I booked a flight with Air France a while ago and no mention of a missing window was made on Seat Guru. Imagine my surprise when there wasn't one!
@@BlakeEdgington , the missing window would be especially bad for your review. I'm not counting on the extra legroom. Just thought a bit more aisle space might be nice.
Daytime eastbound transatlantic flights are indeed very few, mainly due to the fact there isn't enough daytime hours going eastwards...As far as I'm aware there's from JFK 1 each with Virgin, BA & American, 1 from Boston with BA, and 1 from Chicago with American; These flights will work well with some people whom don't have any onward connections from Heathrow as these flights arrive roughly between 7.30pm to 10.30pm, but anyone needing onward flight connections to, say, a UK Domestic or to somewhere in Continental Europe they'll likely need overnight accommodation near Heathrow to have their connection the next day...especially with that aforementioned AA90 From Chicago arriving about 10.30pm...I'd be interested to see when JetBlue Starts transatlantic to / from JFK & Boston (supposed to be sometime next year at the moment) what those reviews will be like, and which London airport they'll use...I can't see it being Heathrow as JB is basically an LCC, and LHR slots (especially Long Haul) are few and far between as well as more expensive, with that in mind they'll more likely choose Gatwick, Stansted or even Luton
You are spot on that for passengers with connections a red eye make more sense. JetBlue will be very interesting if and when the route eventually commences. Obviously the current global situation could mean changes to a number of airlines future plans if demand takes time to return to previous levels.
I travelled through JFK T7 earlier this year and it was disappointing. From what I have heard T4 is by far the best terminal at JFK. Can't wait for next Friday now!
A nice look back at how flying used to be. Hopefully from next year things can return to this, without a "papers please" system being set up to do so. I note the TSA mask mandate ends on 18 Jan 2022, unless extended, so hopefully it isn't and all airlines return to something resembling normal.
Really nice video and I enjoy your style . Honest opinion I thought it was very average . Looked dirty tired and their are better options out there . I’ve had great flights to Cuba with virgin so I do respect them just say not this flight . It’s all Opinions my friend . Safe travels 👍
I would love it if more daytime flights were offered from the US to Europe. I have never been on one as it really is just a handful of flights. From NYC, think they are mostly to London, I think I may have seen 1 to Paris, but that's about it.
I haven’t looked too closely but I believe you are right, the majority of these day time flight are to London. I believe Virgin and BA also operate a day time flight from a Boston to Heathrow.
7:22 - I see what you mean, its very tight, utterly shocked to discover the Virgin A330/300 offers 29-30 inch seat pitch in economy, criminal! People complain about Ryanair who give you 30 inches as standard, Virgin long-haul offer EVEN LESS with many seats at 29 inches! Virgin use the A330/300 from Heathrow and Manchester to Los Angeles, a 12 hour flight , I would loose the will to live if I did that! 10k subscribers are just a few departures away Blake, never mind 5, I subbed you around 100 I think? Keep doing it mate :))
Needless to say I was shocked when I took my seat for this one. I don’t think that I could tolerate a flight to LAX to be honest, and as I said in the video it didn’t even offer as much comfort as many short haul flights. Thanks for your support for such a long time, I genuinely appreciate it.
A really interesting video I have flown with Virgin Atlantic , Australia and USA before they are good the seating didn't look good on the A330 how ever I've flown on their 747 and the seating is good . A airline I use going to the USA that I am really find of American Airlines I did fly from Bristol to Newark on a Continental 757 that was a good flight it took off around 8am but the negitive was it got back to Bristol for 06:00 and was packed I was cramped .
I too have flown on the 757 transatlantic with Continental (just before the merger) and as wonderful as the aircraft was, you are correct that it does feel tight on such a long flight.
I only did the Continental flight from Bristol because it was a business trip to chicago for a business meeting the company I worked for was based in Wembley had a contract with Continental so they did the booking . Wouldn't been so bad if I was in business class the flight out had good legroom coming back I was on a bulk head seat so was uncomfortable .
Excellent Review - enjoyed it! Must say the A330 looks rather disappointing considering the premium nature of this route, especially the food & ife. Nonetheless, day flights from the USA seem amazing!
The day flight is now my first choice every time. Made such a difference. The aircraft wasn’t bad as I said in the review but I totally get your point. To be fair the BA 747’s aren’t exactly state of the art anymore either.
Blake Edgington - Airborne Having flown on the 747 recently, I actually have to disagree - the refurbished 747’s were really good, new IFE and seats. Prefer the 747 over the A380 and 777 tbh
Blake Edgington - Airborne that is true, the views are very important! I don’t think I’d mind if I was forced to have an aisle or middle seat, but if you’ve got a window it’s gotta be daytime to see the scenery! :)
Definitely an improved economy experience on the A350 which is no surprise given the age of both aircraft. I am sure that the A330neo will be great when it arrives.
What would you prefer? Daytime flight or red eye? After this I know which suits me better. Enjoy and please subscribe. Let’s get to 5000 subscribers 🤞
Red eye
Thanks for sharing your opinion!
Blake Edgington - Airborne I love flying red eye and always choose to do so. As I can sit back and relax.
@@jonieanthony3991 I wish I could! I struggle to sleep on a red eye and to be honest, I love the view during the day.
I would definitely prefer a daytime flight. I didn't know they existed. I can never sleep on flights
Came across your channel today and yes after just one video i subscribed, loving everything thank you for putting in the work, very useful for when i plan my next trip to north america.
This is my favourite sort of comment. Thanks for subscribing it’s much appreciated.
i love the summing up toward the end of the video. great information for travelers.
Great to hear Tony, I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Nicely done, sad to see the now retired British airways 747’s while taxiing. Great work!
We flew VS basic LHR-JFK, EWR-LHR last May for my wife’s birthday, and what I like about the A340 and A330 is the 2-4-2 layout when you travel as a couple. We were lucky as travelling with a baby we got built head seats, but normal economy is too tight for a 6 footer. I’d always go BA over VS for economy.
I also appreciate the seat pairs on the A330 but as you rightly say, the legroom isn’t the best. Hopefully trying BA long haul later this year.
Just caught up with your video here Blake..I’m trying out the BA daytime flight back next month which I’ve never done before - great video and great to see how you found it
Hopefully trying it with BA at some point later this year. Look forward to seeing your video.
A nice review! Expected a better meal service with Virgin though, even in economy. Recline far too big, the main reason I’m not a fan of overnight flights especially and I never recline into the person behind. I always try to buy exit row as it’s well worth the money and takes away that risk of a rude person in front :) great video! But personally I prefer to have a full day in US and then suffer on the overnighter :)
Thanks for watching Steve. While I try not to recline I have no issue with others using it, as is their right if it is available. I can't say that my legs agree with me though on some flights.
Blake Edgington - Airborne I think that’s a good attitude to have, and ultimately my problem is with the airline rather than the passenger. They may consider reclining seats a comfort benefit, but that ignores the comfort of the person behind. A six footer speaking here 😂 keep up the great work Blake!
I’m really impressed with JFK improvements over the years
As I said in the video I was very surprised as I was not expecting to be impressed based on research before the trip.
I’m going on virgin Atlantic in 3 weeks to Barbados , this video is brilliant and lots of information. Thank You
You are welcome and have a great trip.
As always Blake great take off vision and sound !! Seat recliners...all the way uuughh. I usually recline just enough to get comfortable...but not all the way !! A reasonable flight in Economy and the food looked pretty ordinary so I am glad it tasted ok. I like Virgin but sometimes they just let you down with the little things like the "small" breakfast and a bit of a stain here are there! Thanks mate as always for another great review and well done as always !!
Glad that you enjoyed it Craig!
Well, as a former airline employee, having flown Virgin many times, I always summed it up like this, great crew, much friendlier than BA, tight seats. Overall, much preferred to fly Virgin over BA.
Enjoyed your video.👍
I will be looking to try BA long haul later this year in economy to compare with Virgin. Certainly Virgin are getting a lot of love on here.
I'm flying Virgin next month from the US to LHR, also with a seat in row 61. I'm flying red eye, which I prefer going to Europe. Thanks for the video!
I hope that you have a great flight and manage to get some sleep!
@@BlakeEdgington , thank you. Me too! Not always easy in economy.
I love these types of flight reports, they make me feel special🤣 shall I tell u why, bc u and the other guys (Noel Phillips) do great informative videos! Please could you do a flight report regarding air malta from LHR to MLA, u will 90% chance get their brand new a320neo, there is no tripreports on it and it’s supposed to be good and modernised, also FIRST! Love the a330!
Oh yeah, liked!
A very interesting suggestion, much appreciated! Glad that you like the video 👍
👍🏻
I flew VSXY when it first launched from Manchester, it looks a bit tired now.
I would love a daytime back from the US, but sadly none to Man. We always pay for front row extra legroom seats when on long haul economy, well worth the money, no legroom issues or seat reclining in front of you !
Thanks for another great video
Thanks for watching Mark. It certainly could use a bit of a refresh but was by no means a terrible experience.
Great video as always Blake, I'm off to America for the first time this year and can't wait. It'll also be my first time flying longhaul alone. Will be doing NZ1 to LAX before they stop it
Sean... I am very jealous of you right now. I was poised to book that flight myself recently but changed my plans last minute. Let me know how your trip goes!
@@BlakeEdgington ah damn would have loved to see your thoughts on them! Especially as not many trip reporters have took that flight. Will do as I'll be visiting San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto and New york too!
Great video as always. I love the livery and i always travel on virgin atlantic
Thank Thomas, I much preferred my A350 flight though.
Blake Edgington - Airborne No problem mate, i'm flying to menorca with tui in July if this whole pandemic gets better, so i watch all your tui videos especially your birmingham to palma one, it gets me excited for holiday 😃
I need to fly TUI again on the 737 when able.
Blake Edgington - Airborne Yes the 737-800 is my favourite aircraft but nothing beats the good old 757-200
Excellent video as hopefully doing same trip next year, many thanks
Have a good one!
Great flight report. I'll be taking a red eye with TUI coming back from Barbados to Birmingham in a few weeks time, set off In the evening and around into Birmingham at 6:15am!
As awesome as the Dreamliner is and TUI offer a very good economy seat I still would prefer a day flight. Not much choice on that route though.
Blake Edgington - Airborne yeah can’t wait to try the Dreamliner with TUI. I’m in premium as well, hopefully they deliver a couple of great flights
Is this plane equivalent to the A330-200? We are flying to LHR on that from Orlando and have seats go to 51 instead of 61 like in the video. We chose 50 and 51 to be close to refreshments and bathrooms
On the A330-200 that will put you at the back of the aircraft. It’s the same layout as shown in the larger -300 in the video. I hope you enjoy your flight.
Another great video, Blake. Keep them coming.
I feel you pain. Red eye flights are always horrendous. I overnight from East Africa at least twice a year (flight out is always day time). The overnight is horrendous and worth the Premium Economy upgrade. In my opinion BA still isn't worth the Business Class upgrade until thier new seats become more common though. Comfort on a red eye is worth investing in though!
Thanks David. I have flown BA business on red eye flights before which was obviously much better than economy but I still felt exhausted the following day.
Blake, did 61a have more leg room than other seats near by because of the narrowing of the aircraft? seatguru highlights it and 61k as having more leg room
There is a little more space to the side as less seats per row but the legroom in front was not great.
I’m on this plane next year and it seems old. Hmmm I wondering if the premium is even worth it
Another great review! Always wondered about the day flight back but as I live in the north it would mean a night in Heathrow due to connections. I might give to a go one day though
For me it is a jet lag beater for sure.
Fantastic video mate, really keen to try Virgin for myself.
Cheers buddy, I would be interested to see what you think of Virgin.
Well done review! If I were to fly home, I'd enjoy a morning flight, but travelling, I prefer the red eye to get the most lf Day 1.
Don't think I've ever seen a plane with a phone port... I wonder if people actually used it 9 years ago.
Maybe a business exec that had to work but who knows?
Very good- looking forward to the neo
Recently been made redundant by Virgin Atlantic in March, I love the company and will always try to fly them first in future.
As an employee, it would rattle me when people compared them to BA, they are completely different entities, Virgin have 45 aircraft in the fleet. (Less now I think), pretty sure BA have more than 45 movements on the average pre pandemic morning at Heathrow.
I never got to fly the A330 when working with them as I was office based, but I did try upper on the 787 which was fantastic, as well as economy in the upper deck of the 747.
One thing I would say is that I have flown BA long haul a lot because you can create your own trip on the BA website (create my trip) add an airport hotel and return flights and it will allow you to pay in instalments. Which is more beneficial to the average person.
I think the comparisons are certainly not always fair based on the scale of each airlines operation. That being said it's hard not to compare when both are British carriers operating from the same hub on a number of the same routes. For me, each has their good and bad points but I would not hesitate to fly with either airline. Very sorry to hear about your job by the way.
Great review as always Blake brought back memories from our A330 experience in 2018. We opted for “economy delight” which did give slightly more legroom than you had but when the guy in front reclines right into your space for 5 of the 6 hours was no fun at all 😡 . I’m very keen to try the A350 but would actively avoid going on an A330 again - the 787 is a FAR better experience.
The 787 is on my list to try at some point and I found the A350 to be very comfortable. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Blake Edgington - Airborne So far ive only done 2 long haul holidays. I rate Virgin on the outgoing flight as the best flight experience ive had closely followed by Tui to Dom Rep. Still rate the Virgin flight higher than the Tui flight despite the Virgin flight being in Economy and the Tui flight being in the premium cabin.
I could have sworn I’d seen you do a 787 Dreamliner review though ?
caprirob I’m a big fan of TUI myself. I have not flown the 787 with Virgin but have reviewed the aircraft with TUI and Air Europa on the channel.
I love the spoil up of the Trent 700s
Agreed.
I’d much prefer these few eastbound daytime flights from New York to London, than the traditional red eyes. Although you land in London in the evening and lose a day from travelling across the Atlantic, during the day. It’s much more worth it, if it means little to no jet lag and not worrying too much on trying to sleep on the plane. I’ve already been on one a couple years back with Norwegian, from JFK to Gatwick. Although we landed at 23:30 and I didn’t get home until before 2am. It was nice just to get home and go straight to bed, than trying to keep awake the rest of the day if you did a a red eye.
My view exactly Joe. Having tried it on this trip I will definitely look to fly during the day from the states in future.
Have never flown with Virgin Atlantic, but it is the crew that gets the most positive feedback on trip reports on VS. In other areas, something of a mixed bag. I`m with you on the red eye - cannot stand arriving early morning at my destination having had no sleep on an overnight flight. Give me a daytime trans-Atlantic any day!
Great to hear that you agree! The crew on both this flight and my A350 experience were very good, the cabin crew can make or break a flight in my opinion.
I’ve flown with Virgin in upper class when they still did the Dubai route. Funnily enough I had G-VSXY on the way back. I loved the service onboard, not had it better on other airlines, entertainment was good, but the system was slow. The only other thing that let it down was certain meals. However I’d definitely fly virgin again.
I can't say that the service was the best I have ever experienced but it was very good as I mentioned at the end of the video. Like you, I would have no issue choosing Virgin again.
I've recently flown the reverse trip on G-VKSS, a plane that seems identical. I had the very last seat on the left side of the plane, and agree about legroom, although it did seem comparable to the A350 on the way over to London. The IFE was spotty at best, particularly with respect to the touch-screen. What I don't get however is why would they have removed the cupholders??? They would have been downright useful!
Completely agree about the cupholders (assuming that is what was there) it is a great feature on many airlines.
That's an option I have never considered - I always fly overnight Toronto to London, and then spend arrive really exhausted because I can't sleep. My first day in the UK is usually a waste because I am completely wiped out. I will try to find a daytime flight the next time I travel
Flying during the day certainly suited me. As I said in the video I felt fine when I arrived. I have not checked thoroughly but there are daytime flights to London from New York and Boston.
Virgin catering seems to have gone downhill from when I flew them 7-8 years ago. Pasta salad starter doesn’t make much sense if you’re a vegetarian like me who would have chosen the gnocchi, another pasta dish. Also the lack of cheese and crackers or bread roll seems a disappointment to me. In my experience the catering on British airlines on outbound legs from the UK is a lot better so that could have something to do with it ! Great vidéo though Blake as ever !
Glad that you liked the video. There were cheese and crackers but a bread roll would have been nice. I agree that the catering could be improved at least in quantity. In fairness to Virgin though this is a trend that we are seeing across a number of airlines. I am yet to try BA long haul in economy but hope to later this year.
I really enjoyed going on Virgin Atlantic A330 300. Went to and from Gatwick to Barbados on Beauty Queen in 2017. In 2018 went to Miami on Diamond Girl and back on Lady Stardust although both flights were initially meant to be B787-9 but were changed to A330 300 due to engine problems
Good to read that you had some enjoyable flights, I am looking to try the 787 with Virgin myself at some point.
@@BlakeEdgington me too and the A350
I think it is your best vid yet
That’s very kind. Thanks Noah 😊
Definitely red eye
Noah Woods I really struggle with them.
I love Virgin Atlantic! I've flown on their A330-300 fairly recently and their 747 about 10 years ago. I thought despite the dated IFE system, the flight was excellent. Now I've flown British Airways (A380), American (777-300ER), United (757-200), and Virgin Atlantic transatlantic. I would rank BA and VS joint first, followed by American, then United. Perhaps that would be a little different now given United now use 767s from Manchester. The service is undoubtedly better on BA and VS though.
I plan on trying BA on this route at some point to compare with Virgin. Although I have flown BA long haul several times, weirdly I have never tried economy class on any of them.
Epic stuff!
Haha thanks!
excellent report video , liked
Thank you!
Blake, SeatGuru claims that the aisle seats in row 61 have additional leg room. I suppose that's allegedly due to the narrowing of the cabin but I don't see how that works. Is that true? Thanks!
There was a little space to the side of the seat but nothing worth mentioning. Seat Guru is not always right believe me. I booked a flight with Air France a while ago and no mention of a missing window was made on Seat Guru. Imagine my surprise when there wasn't one!
@@BlakeEdgington , the missing window would be especially bad for your review.
I'm not counting on the extra legroom. Just thought a bit more aisle space might be nice.
Hooray for Caribbean Airlines (CAL) spotted @ 2:35 😃✌🏽🇹🇹
Would be interesting to fly with them at some point.
Daytime eastbound transatlantic flights are indeed very few, mainly due to the fact there isn't enough daytime hours going eastwards...As far as I'm aware there's from JFK 1 each with Virgin, BA & American, 1 from Boston with BA, and 1 from Chicago with American; These flights will work well with some people whom don't have any onward connections from Heathrow as these flights arrive roughly between 7.30pm to 10.30pm, but anyone needing onward flight connections to, say, a UK Domestic or to somewhere in Continental Europe they'll likely need overnight accommodation near Heathrow to have their connection the next day...especially with that aforementioned AA90 From Chicago arriving about 10.30pm...I'd be interested to see when JetBlue Starts transatlantic to / from JFK & Boston (supposed to be sometime next year at the moment) what those reviews will be like, and which London airport they'll use...I can't see it being Heathrow as JB is basically an LCC, and LHR slots (especially Long Haul) are few and far between as well as more expensive, with that in mind they'll more likely choose Gatwick, Stansted or even Luton
You are spot on that for passengers with connections a red eye make more sense. JetBlue will be very interesting if and when the route eventually commences. Obviously the current global situation could mean changes to a number of airlines future plans if demand takes time to return to previous levels.
I travelled through JFK T7 earlier this year and it was disappointing. From what I have heard T4 is by far the best terminal at JFK. Can't wait for next Friday now!
I was genuinely surprised based on what I have heard about JFK. Maybe I just got lucky with the terminal and I am sure that I will try more in future.
A nice look back at how flying used to be. Hopefully from next year things can return to this, without a "papers please" system being set up to do so. I note the TSA mask mandate ends on 18 Jan 2022, unless extended, so hopefully it isn't and all airlines return to something resembling normal.
We all live in hope 👍
Really nice video and I enjoy your style . Honest opinion I thought it was very average . Looked dirty tired and their are better options out there . I’ve had great flights to Cuba with virgin so I do respect them just say not this flight . It’s all
Opinions my friend . Safe travels 👍
Every flight is different which is half of the fun. Not Virgin's best showing overall but by no means a terrible experience.
I would love it if more daytime flights were offered from the US to Europe. I have never been on one as it really is just a handful of flights. From NYC, think they are mostly to London, I think I may have seen 1 to Paris, but that's about it.
I haven’t looked too closely but I believe you are right, the majority of these day time flight are to London. I believe Virgin and BA also operate a day time flight from a Boston to Heathrow.
Your reviews are so professional compared to mine 😂
Watch some of my early work and you will change your mind!
7:22 - I see what you mean, its very tight, utterly shocked to discover the Virgin A330/300 offers 29-30 inch seat pitch in economy, criminal!
People complain about Ryanair who give you 30 inches as standard, Virgin long-haul offer EVEN LESS with many seats at 29 inches!
Virgin use the A330/300 from Heathrow and Manchester to Los Angeles, a 12 hour flight , I would loose the will to live if I did that!
10k subscribers are just a few departures away Blake, never mind 5, I subbed you around 100 I think? Keep doing it mate :))
Needless to say I was shocked when I took my seat for this one. I don’t think that I could tolerate a flight to LAX to be honest, and as I said in the video it didn’t even offer as much comfort as many short haul flights. Thanks for your support for such a long time, I genuinely appreciate it.
Hi Blake, did you get a bread roll and cheese with your main meal?
No bread roll but cheese and crackers were provided.
T4 at jfk is very much like schiphol in way finding due to the shared operations between delta and the schiphol group
A really interesting video I have flown with Virgin Atlantic , Australia and USA before they are good the seating didn't look good on the A330 how ever I've flown on their 747 and the seating is good . A airline I use going to the USA that I am really find of
American Airlines I did fly from Bristol to Newark on a Continental 757 that was a good flight it took off around 8am but the negitive was it got back to Bristol for 06:00 and was packed I was cramped .
I too have flown on the 757 transatlantic with Continental (just before the merger) and as wonderful as the aircraft was, you are correct that it does feel tight on such a long flight.
I only did the Continental flight from Bristol because it was a business trip to chicago for a business meeting the company I worked for was based in Wembley had a contract with Continental so they did the booking . Wouldn't been so bad if I was in business class the flight out had good legroom coming back I was on a bulk head seat so was uncomfortable .
Excellent Review - enjoyed it! Must say the A330 looks rather disappointing considering the premium nature of this route, especially the food & ife. Nonetheless, day flights from the USA seem amazing!
The day flight is now my first choice every time. Made such a difference. The aircraft wasn’t bad as I said in the review but I totally get your point. To be fair the BA 747’s aren’t exactly state of the art anymore either.
Blake Edgington - Airborne Having flown on the 747 recently, I actually have to disagree - the refurbished 747’s were really good, new IFE and seats. Prefer the 747 over the A380 and 777 tbh
Heathrow Flyer interesting. I will have to see for myself 😊
Great blog the seats look very uncomfortable
Thanks!
What brand are your models?
A bit of a mixture but the majority are skymarks.
What is your longest flight you've ever been on?
For the channel it was my flight from Washington to Munich with United Airlines.
I had pulled pork on VS128 and I had one bite and left it
I didn't mind it personally but I will eat most things.
What kind of models do you have on your shelves
Generally I buy models of flights that have been significant to me personally. They are from various suppliers I am not loyal to a brand.
@@BlakeEdgington oh ok so you buy models of airplane or airline you've flown on??
Mo Miami correct but not from every flight.
Not bad. So frm all the flights you've taken which one did you enjoy more. And is miami on your Itinerary again? We have some nice airplane spots here
When you can please do a flight report from Stansted airport please sir.?
There are a number of UK airports that I am yet to visit but rest assured that Stansted is on the list.
According to seatguru some of their seats in the A333 have 30 and some have 29 inches of pitch. Bad luck I guess :(
I saw the same thing, thanks for the info.
Awesome review, personally prefer daytime flights!
Me too! Felt better and flying at night means I can’t enjoy the views.
Blake Edgington - Airborne that is true, the views are very important! I don’t think I’d mind if I was forced to have an aisle or middle seat, but if you’ve got a window it’s gotta be daytime to see the scenery! :)
A350 is better it looks like. More comfortable and a better IFE system. Atleast the crew are always top notch.
Definitely an improved economy experience on the A350 which is no surprise given the age of both aircraft. I am sure that the A330neo will be great when it arrives.
Good flight for those following WeightWatchers?
Hangry!
Colin Renfrew 😂 yeah I agree fruit for breakfast I’ll pass
I didn’t quite reach hangry levels thankfully but I was glad when the second meal arrived.
Blake Edgington - Airborne Yeah I’ve only flown virgin once on little red from Aberdeen to Heathrow and we got a bacon butty, that was good.
Aberdeen Aviation that would have been epic
Can you send one of you planes on the shelf to me. I would really appreciate it a lot. You have a lot
Product doesn't look very impressive. BA seems like a better option
Have yet to try long haul economy with BA myself but hopefully that will change later this year.
That leg room was ridiculous 30 ins I bet
SeatGuru information states 29-30 inches in economy, I have to say it was much more like 29 inches at best for my seat.