In October 2022 Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first Airbus A330-900neo into their fleet. The A330neo had registration code G-VJAZ paying tribute to Billie Holiday. Virgin Atlantic celebrated their new aircraft delivery and new route to Tampa in November. On February 12, 2023 we boarded G-VJAZ from Boston Logan International Airport to London Heathrow Airport. In this Virgin Atlantic A330neo review we detail the Virgin experience and what a flight is like onboard their new product.
In this review:
✈Ground Experience
✈Inflight Entertainment And WIFI
✈Dinner Time
✈Final Approach
Ground Experience
Virgin Atlantic operates out of Boston Logan Terminal E. The check in desk was not crowded. Baggage was dropped and boarding passes were obtained in a matter of minutes. The ticketing agents were professional but not necessarily welcoming or personable. Security was a breeze thanks to TSA precheck making it possible to bypass the busy main security line. Flight VS12 on 2/12/2023 saw a very light load factor of only 80 passengers which made the boarding process extremely quick. Virgin Atlantic upgraded our economy seat to an economy delight, changing this Virgin Atlantic A330-900neo economy review to an economy delight review. Immediately upon boarding it is abundantly clear that this is a Virgin Atlantic aircraft. With the red/purple hue lighting and upbeat boarding music it instantly sets the mood for a comfortable flight. When boarding the aircraft, you are greeted with flight attendants who assist with directions to the seats and you enter the aircraft in the middle of the cabin by the hangout spot dubbed The Loft.
Each seat in economy and economy delight are situated with a pair of headphones, a pillow and a red blanket. Economy delight pillows have a pillowcase states “reserved for economy delight.” The economy delight seat offers a winged headrest. The economy and economy delight section of the cabin are set up in a 2-4-2 configuration. While only a few seats in the rear of the aircraft are in the 2-3-2 configuration. The economy delight seat offers a generous 34” of legroom. One thing that is noticed upon seating is the large in-flight entertainment screen. The IFE screens are 13.3” and are the largest economy IFE’s screens in any Virgin Atlantic aircraft. Power outlets are located in the seat near the seatback pocket. A USB charger is available below the IFE screen.
Inflight Entertainment And WIFI
The IFE system has a vast array of TV shows, movies and games. The system operates via touch screen or via your personal smartphone. Connecting was flawless and provided a basic interface making operating the screen a breeze. Passengers can even summon the crew through this feature. Browsing through the movies section there was approximately 20 movies to choose from. The TV shows consisted of various shows and documentaries. There is a section to listen to music through a Spotify like platform, however this was not operational on this flight but was available on the return flight. There are various games available to play including chess, ball defenders and more. A kids section is available including age appropriate movies and games with a simplified user interface. WIFI is available for purchase. Plans vary from one hour to the entire duration of the flight. Free WIFI is available for only 20 minutes after watching a sponsored advertisement. The functionality was spotty during that timeframe albeit the aircraft was located somewhere over the Atlantic ocean during that time.
Dinner Time
After takeoff the crew immediately started beverage service, Virgin Atlantic offered beer, wine, juices, tea, coffee, and soft drinks. Shortly after beverage service, dinner was served. Passengers had the option of a butter chicken dish or a vegetarian tortellini pasta dish. Alongside each dish was cheese & crackers, Greek salad, a dinner roll and brownie. The vegetarian tortellini seemed like it had no purpose, there was a red sauce, melted cheese some cut veggies, a few olives sprinkled on top of the melted cheese and what tasted like a pesto inside of the noodle. The tortellini seemed like a mix between a tortellini dish and a Mediterranean dish but lacked identity. The accompanying sides to the meal were also average. The butter chicken had a strong curry taste accompanied with bland tasting rice. If you are not a fan of curry, the butter chicken is not advisable.
Before landing Virgin Atlantic offered a light breakfast service which was inadequate compared to other airlines. Virgin Atlantic offered a box with a yogurt and granola bar, as well as handed each passenger a pre-wrapped chocolate croissant. Beverages were offered at this time as well. The coffee was as average as airplane coffee goes. Overall, this was the most disappointing aspect of the flight thus far.
Final Approach
In the final thoughts, it is clear with their updated cabin, large IFE screens, and comfortable seating, that Virgin Atlantic offers one of the best economy long haul products. The seat proved to be comfortable with the padding, spacious with the legroom and a large tray table made dining and getting work done a breeze. The cabin crew were all phenomenal and attentive and ensured everyone had a comfortable flight. The only place where Virgin Atlantic falls behind the competition on their long-haul route is the food selection offered to each passenger in economy. The food seemed thrown together and almost a second thought. Despite the shortcomings with the meal offerings, Virgin Atlantic offers a solid economy product aboard their brand new Airbus A330neo. The transatlantic market is rapidly expanding with ever changing products, Virgin Atlantic brings a stellar product to the table with very few shortcomings.