Virgn Atlantic Online Checkin

At 79.5" (202cms) long (82"/208cm on the upper deck) the Upper Class Suite has the biggest fully flat bed when compared with other airlines business class. Across the shoulders, the bed is 33" (84cm) wide.

Here is the new (left) 21" wide (38" pitch) Premium Economy seat which is being introduced. Many will recall this as reminiscent of the old "club" class cradle seats. In other words, "premium economy" is now "club" and "club" is now "first" - or in Virgin parlance "upper" class. Given that the only other premium economy seat is (so far) on British Airways one can expect that they will not be too far behind. That said, Premium is now that bit extra special and Virgin have stolen a march on the competition as BA are now saddled with 4 cabins across the pond.

Cattle. Every seatback has a seatback TV (which usually works) and an average 31" seat pitch. This includes a gaming consol with about 35 games. Of all airlines, I find Virgin cattle class one of the more tolerable.

Skycots are available for babies up to 12 months and an INFANT CARE CHAIR for 6 to 36 months BUT you have to buy a child seat to use the care chair - and they are not available in Upper Class - as with all these, you must tell the airline when you book that you want a skycot. There are only so many skycot seats and when these run out, it's lap time!

Online check in opens 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the flight and closes 2 hours before. Online Check In is currently unavailable for flights departing from Grenada and Tobago.

If you are a Non US resident visiting the USA you will need to supply details of where you are staying on your first night in the USA and if you are a US citizen holding a permanent resident card you will be required to supply details from your card for travel to the USA. (This is, of course the APIS (Advanced Passenger Info - so they can check up if you are a rabid homicidal maniac or, equally dangerous, you have a couple of outstanding, unpaid parking tickets))

Seating can be pre-arranged and is offered free of charge. Seats can be pre-arranged on the Virgin website (during the flight booking process, or once you have booked a flight by going to the 'Manage Your Flights' section of the site and using the 'Update Booking' option at anytime or the 'Online Check In' option 24 hour before your flight), or pre-requested through our Reservations department up to 336 days in advance of your departure date. Please note that seat numbers are never guaranteed and are subject to operational changes. In other words, they may have to change the seats if the 'plane changes. Do NOT try and be clever by leaving the mid-seat free in block of 3. The airline spots this very easily and will just close you up one way or the other, so you may wind up worse off.

Baggage: For Sth Africa, Oz, Dubai and Asia runs you get: Economy and Premium Economy a maximum of 23 kg TOTAL and Upper Class 30kg; Infants see below. Across the Pond, Caribbean, Nigeria and Kenya, baggage Alowances are ECONOMY 23kg (each of 2 pieces), PREMIUM 32kg (each of 2 pieces) and UPPER CLASS 3 pieces each, "each" weight being 32 kg a piece. Infants get one piece, maximum 10kg and a 6kg hand luggage allowance. Golfers can check in one golf bag (which includes a maximum of 14 clubs, a dozen balls and a pair of shoes) as a single item of Checked In baggage. Alternatively, if you wish to check in a golf bag in addition to your normal baggage allowance you will only be charged 50% of the normal excess fee. Other sporting equipment such as skis (with one pair of poles and one pair of boots), rucksacks, sleeping bags, and bicycles will be considered as one piece of luggage. Excess charges will apply. Mothers-in-Law may NOT be taken as hold luggage but will be considered as cargo.

Need a chauffeur at Heathrow? Click here!

My Ease of Use Rating: 6/10 - Features 7/10

To check in online you will need: The e-ticket number or booking reference and flight details, your passport for travel to the USA, the Caribbean, China, Australia, South Africa or Dubai.

Above all, never, ever, ever check in anywhere, anyhow other than for the flight you are about to take. No matter what - UNLESS you are 150% certain that nothing will possibly ever change. You would not believe how complicated life can become if you check in for the return flight (thinking you are saving time) and then find you need to change it. Trust me.