Economy Delight means you can speed through the airport by using Premium check in desks, enjoy priority boarding, and get first dibs on overhead storage before settling into your extra legroom seat with 34" seat pitch.
Economy Classic comes with advanced standard seat assignment included, so there's no worries about paying extra to get the seats you want, next to the people you want.
And if you're happy to pack less, Economy Light means you still get everything you’d expect on a great flight - but at a price you wouldn’t.
All our Economy services include delicious food, entertainment and irresistible personal service.
Economy Light
Pack light and pay less.
Meals, drinks and snacks included
Hand luggage only
Select standard seat at check in
Economy Classic
Little extras that make a big difference.
Meals, drinks and snacks included
1 x 23kg checked bag*
Select standard seat anytime
Upgradeable with Points
Economy Delight
A bit more legroom, a lot more style.
Meals, drinks and snacks included
1 x 23kg checked bag*
Select seat anytime
Upgradeable with Points
Extra legroom seat
Premium check in
Priority boarding
Treat yourself to Premium
It's the little touches here and there that help you truly enjoy your time in the air. Those extra few inches of space, a glass of bubbly as you board, and a tasty meal served on china crockery with proper cutlery. Just enough to give you a big lift before you get to your destination.
Proud winner of the Skytrax "World’s best Premium cabin" award
Skip the queues
With dedicated check in and bag drop, we'll fast track your airport experience. You’ll also enjoy priority boarding and, where possible, your bag will be one of the first off the plane when we arrive.
Premium comfort
There’s more space to relax, because your leather seat is one of the biggest in its class. It’s up to 21in (53cm) wide, with a footrest, headrest and 38in (96cm) seat pitch.
Stay connected
Keep your gadgets going during the flight when you plug in to your inseat power. Then get online with our onboard WiFi* on selected flights.
*Available on selected flights for a fee.
Sit back and relax
First impressions count. That’s why our cabin crew greet you with a complimentary drink while you settle in.
Extra special extras
On our night flights, you'll be given a Premium amenity kit in a smart wallet, containing all the essentials you’ll need for a great flight.
Choose your seat
As a Premium passenger you can enjoy the luxury of selecting your seat from 331 days before your flight*, free of charge. Just head over to My booking.
Upper Class cabin
Experience the next level of luxurious travel
Enjoy every little moment
Whether you're with us for business or pleasure, travelling in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class makes your journey something to look forward to.
- We've considered every detail, starting with our chauffeur driven car service, which will take you to and from the airport in style.
- Our stylish Clubhouses and lounges have been carefully designed to help you relax and unwind in the airport before you fly.
- Upper Class cabins offer roomy leather seats that double as sumptuous flat beds, ensuring you arrive refreshed and ready for anything.
- We'll offer you the finest food and drink throughout your journey, so just sit back, relax and let us look after you.
- Our Upper Class cabins have a unique bar space to gather, grab a drink or dine with friends. In our new A350 planes, we've replaced the bar with "the Loft", a relaxing social area where you can settle in to watch a show or our live tailcam on the 32 inch TV.
Flying with baggage
Here you'll find useful information about baggage, including check in and hand baggage, baggage restrictions, and extra baggage if your allowance isn't enough.
Top tips
Check in baggage allowance for the hold
Find out what kind of hold baggage is included in your ticket.
This page tells you what you need to know about your free checked in bag allowance. It includes information on children’s baggage allowance, musical instruments, and your allowance if you’re flying with one of our partners.
To find out what you can take with you into the cabin, have a look at our Hand baggage allowance page. If you have questions about anything else, you'll find everything you need to know about flying with baggage here.
All our tickets come with a free hand baggage allowance, and most include a free checked in bag allowance too. The exception is Economy Light, which doesn't include a checked bag.
We made some updates to our baggage policy on the 9th of December to make it more standardised across our network, so please check this info carefully to make sure you're up to date.
Things to keep in mind:
- If you're travelling with other people, you can't combine your luggage allowance, so you'll need separate cases for each person that fit within the allowance.
- If your ticket number does not start with VS then you may need to refer to the Partner Airlines and Connecting flights section below.
Economy baggage allowance
Economy Classic and Delight tickets include one checked in bag*. This can be up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16ins) in size and up to 23kg (50lb) in weight.
Economy light tickets don't come with a free checked in bag, but you can buy additional baggage when you check in if you need it.
The allowance is different when flying to or from Delhi, Islamabad, Johannesburg, Lagos, Lahore and Mumbai. See below for further details.
Upper Class baggage allowance
Our checked in bag allowance for Upper Class changed from 9th December 2019. If you booked before the 9th December, you can take up to three pieces of baggage, each weighing up to 32kg (70lb) and with dimensions of up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16ins). After that date, it's two bags (the weight and size stays the same).
Children's baggage allowance
For children and seated infants, the baggage allowances above will apply. For lap infants (this is what we call children that don't need their own seat), the baggage allowance is 1 x 23kg (50lb) bag in any cabin apart from Economy Light, where there is no baggage included.
When travelling with infants or children you can also bring a fully collapsible pushchair (which we can take from you at the gate and pop in the hold) and car seat, in addition to the free check in allowance.
Flying to or from Delhi, Islamabad, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Lahore and Mumbai?
Your ticket might include more than the standard baggage allowance. How much depends on whether you booked before or after the 9th of December 2019, when we made some updates to our baggage policy.
It's important to note that Economy Light Tickets do not include a checked bag, regardless of when you booked.
India
- Before Dec 9th 2019: The free bag allowance includes 3 x 32kg bags in Upper Class, 3 x 23kg bags in Premium and 2 x 23kg bag in Economy Classic or Delight (2 x bags in Economy Classic or Delight only applies when flying UK/USA to India or India to UK/USA).
- After Dec 9th 2019: You can take 2 x 32kg bags in Upper Class and 2 x 23kg bags for free in Premium and Economy Classic and Delight (2 x bags in Economy Classic or Delight only applies when flying UK/USA to India or India to UK/USA).
Nigeria
- Before Dec 9th 2019: The free bag allowance includes 3 x 32kg bags in Upper Class and and 2 x 23kg bags for free in Premium and Economy Classic and Delight.
- After Dec 9th 2019: You can take 2 x 32kg bags in Upper Class and 2 x 23kg bags for free in Premium and Economy Classic and Delight.
Johannesburg
- Before Dec 9th 2019: The free bag allowance includes 3 x 32kg bags in Upper Class, 2 x 23kg bags in Premium, and 1 x 23kg in Economy Classic and Delight (or 2 x 23kg for flights from the US).
- After Dec 9th 2019: You can take 2 x 32 kg bags in Upper Class, 2 x 23kg bags in Premium and 1 x 23kg bag for free in Economy Classic and Delight (which is our standard allowance).
Cape Town
- Before Dec 9th 2019: The free bag allowance includes 3 x 32kg bags in Upper Class, 2 x 23kg bags in Premium, and 1 x 23kg in Economy Classic and Delight (or 2 x 23kg for flights from the US).
- After Dec 9th 2019: You can take 2 x 32 kg bags in Upper Class, 2 x 23kg bags in Premium and 1 x 23kg bag for free in Economy Classic and Delight (which is our standard allowance).
Pakistan
- You can take 2 x 32kg bags in Upper Class and 2 x 23kg bags for free in Premium and Economy Classic and Delight (2 x bags in Economy Classic or Delight only applies when flying UK/USA to Pakistan or Pakistan to UK/USA).
Musical instruments, sports equipment and extra or oversized bags
Musical instruments
Some instruments might be small enough to fit into your hand baggage. To find out the sizes of bags you can take into the cabin, take a look at our Hand baggage allowance page.
If it's too big to take as hand baggage, you’ll can take it as part of your checked bag allowance, or a pay an additional baggage fee. More on taking musical instruments
Taking sports equipment
If you have a piece of sports equipment that you'd like to take, such as skis, you'll be able to take it in place of one of your included bags as long as it weighs 23kg (50lb) or less. Take a look at our Sports equipment page for more information on the dimensions allowed for each sports item.
Taking extra bags
You can check in extra baggage beyond the limits outlined here, but you’ll need to arrange this before you fly and pay an extra baggage fee. You’ll find all the details on our Additional baggage page.
Taking oversized bags
If your bags are bigger than the standard 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16ins), find out more on our Oversized baggage page.
Flying in different cabins on different flights
If your booking involves travelling in different cabins, you can take the checked in baggage allowance applicable to that cabin. For example, if you are travelling in Economy Classic for your outbound you get one checked in bag, and if you are travelling in Premium for your return you get two checked in bags.
Flying Club Gold members
If you've reached the heady heights of our Flying Club Gold tier, you can check in an extra piece of baggage on all Virgin Atlantic operated flights for no extra charge (weighing up to 23kg). It doesn’t matter which cabin you’re flying in. Find out more about Flying Club Gold benefits.
Baggage on partner airlines and connecting flights
If your flight is to or from the USA and operated by one of our codeshare partner airlines (like Delta) and the ticketed flight number starts with “VS”, then the Virgin Atlantic baggage allowance will apply. If your ticketed flight number is not “VS” then our partner airlines' baggage allowance may apply.
If your flight is not to or from the USA and you are travelling with one of our codeshare partner airlines, their baggage allowance may apply. Please take a moment to check their baggage allowances:
- AeroMexico for flight numbers starting AM
- Air France for flight numbers starting AF
- Air New Zealand for flight numbers starting NZ
- Delta Air Lines for flight numbers starting DL
- KLM for flight numbers starting KL
- Singapore Airlines for flight numbers starting SQ
- WestJet for flight numbers starting WS.
Additional and overweight baggage
What to do if you want to take extra bags, or if your baggage exceeds the standard weight.
This page tells you how to take more than your free bag allowance and how much it will cost.
If your bags are over the standard size of 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16ins), check out our dedicated oversized baggage page
Extra bags
If you'd like to bring more than your free bag allowance, or if you've bought an Economy Light ticket and decided you need a bag after all, you can add up to 7 extra bags per person when you check in online.
Online check in opens 24 hours before your flight is due to depart, and closes 70 minutes before.
You can also pay for extra bags at the airport. it costs exactly the same, but the limit is 10 bags per person.
Overweight bags
The maximum weight in Premium and Economy is 23kg per bag. If yours are heavier than that, you'll need to pay an overweight baggage fee at the airport.
In Upper Class the maximum weight is 32kg per bag.
Sports equipment
If you'd like to take sports equipment as well as your standard bag allowance it will be classed as additional baggage, and the fees in the table below will apply.
You can swap a checked bag out for a sports item. Take a look at our Sports equipment page for more information.
Baggage fees
Additional baggage charges are per flight. Please note that any excess baggage that you buy is non-refundable and non-transferable. If a bag is overweight and also oversize, then both the charges shown below will apply.
Prices are based on whether your trip originates in the UK or US. If you're not flying from the UK or US we'll convert the GBP rate to your local currency.
They apply to adults, young adults, children and seated infants on all routes apart from the following, where the baggage allowance includes 2 checked in bags as standard:
UK/ US - Nigeria
UK/US/Canada - India
UK/US - Pakistan
UK - Australia (Via US/China and Hong Kong)
| Number of bags being checked in | Economy Light | Economy Classic & Delight | Premium | Upper Class* | Overweight | Oversized* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bag 1 | 45 GBP / 60 USD | Included | Included | Included | 65 GBP / 100 USD | 200 GBP / 300 USD |
| Bag 2 | 65 GBP / 100 USD | 65 GBP / 100 USD | Included | Included | 65 GBP / 100 USD | 200 GBP / 300 USD |
| Bag 3 | 140 GBP / 200 USD | 140 GBP / 200 USD | 140 GBP / 200 USD | 140 GBP / 200 USD | 65 GBP / 100 USD | 200 GBP / 300 USD |
| Bag 4 | 140 GBP / 200 USD | 140 GBP / 200 USD | 140 GBP / 200 USD | 140 GBP / 200 USD | 65 GBP / 100 USD | 200 GBP / 300 USD |
Flying with infants?
- The baggage allowance for lap infants (without their own seat) is 1 checked bag, except in Economy Light where no baggage is included
- If you're flying Economy Light, you may purchase 1 bag per infant at 45 GBP/60 USD
- You can also bring a fully collapsible pushchair and car seat in addition to their free bag allowance.
Additional baggage terms and conditions
Purchase of excess baggage terms and conditions
Travelling with a partner airline
If you're travelling with one of our partner airlines or your trip involves a transfer or connection from another airline, they may also charge an extra baggage fee if your checked in bags exceed their limit and you'll need to purchase your extra baggage at the airport.
To US destinations
NOTE: If you are travelling on a VS* codeshare flight connecting to or from the US (operated by one of our partner airlines), then as the marketing carrier, Virgin Atlantic's baggage allowance applies.
For any additional baggage and additional sporting equipment, you will need to check with the operating airline.
To all other destinations
NOTE: If you are travelling on a VS* codeshare flight to a destination other than the US (operated by one of our partner airlines) there may be different allowances and fees based on the operating airline’s own policies.
Please check with the operating airline to determine its charges.
Hand baggage allowance
Everything you can and can't take into the cabin.
Economy and Premium
All passengers flying in our Economy (Light, Classic & Delight) or Premium cabins can take one piece of hand baggage per person weighing up to 10kg (or 22lb).
Upper Class
All Upper Class passengers can take up to two pieces of hand baggage per person, weighing up to 12kg (26lb) for one bag, or up to 16kg (35lb) combined weight. So for example, you could take a 12kg bag and another little bag of 4kg.
Children's hand baggage
Babies and toddlers aged 0-23 months are entitled to one bag each weighing up to 6kg (or 13lb).
Any children aged 2+ years are entitled to the same amount of hand baggage as an adult in the cabin allowances shown above.
When travelling with infants or children you can bring a fully collapsible pushchair (which we can take from you at the gate and pop in the hold) and car seat, in addition to the free check in allowance.
Alternatively, the following foldable buggies are permitted in the cabin with you as your hand baggage:
GB Pocket
Britax Holiday
SIlver CrossJet
BabyZen YoYo
Additional items you can take with you
To help with baggage conundrums, we’ve compiled the following list to clarify the bits and bobs you can take onboard in addition to the allowances above:
- Your handbag, small backpack/rucksack, pocketbook or purse, as you would normally use it (in other words, not just being used to contain items that would otherwise be regarded as baggage)
- Your overcoat or wrap
- Your umbrella or walking stick (these cannot be pointed or sharp)
- A small camera and/or pair of binoculars
- A reasonable amount of reading matter for the flight
- An infant’s food (for consumption on the flight)
- A small amount of duty free goods
- Headphones for onboard use (they’ll need the standard 3.5mm jack).
Laptops
You can bring laptops onboard, as long as you can fit them into your hand baggage.
If you're planning to bring any large electrical items with you (such as laptops), please remember that you’ll need to remove them from your bag for security screening. You’ll be asked to place them in a tray so they can be clearly scanned.
Mobility aids and wheelchairs
Mobility aids such as walking aids and manual collapsible wheelchairs can also be taken onboard some of our flights. Make sure you have a look at our Mobility aids and wheelchairs page for all the information on this.
Cigarettes, cigars and lighters
You can carry the following items onboard, but you can’t smoke them:
- Electronic cigarettes
- Rolling tobacco
- Cigarette lighters including butane, absorbed fuel (Zippo style) and battery-powered lighters can be carried on the person, except on flights to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Tobago, Havana and Delhi.
- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Cigarette papers
Items not allowed onboard in your hand luggage
- Smart bags (unless the batteries can be removed)
- Torch-style cigarette lighters
- Non-safety matches
- Toy or replica guns (plastic or metal)
- Catapults
- Sharp items – this includes household items such as household cutlery, knives (of any length), paper knives, razor blades or darts
- Hypodermic syringes – unless you have a medical condition that requires you to inject on the flight. Find more information below.
- Scissors (scissors with blunt/round-ended blades, metal or plastic, less than 6cm in length or scissors with metal blades and pointed tips under 3cms are permitted)
- Sporting bats
- Billiard, snooker or pool cues
- Tradesmen’s tools (however, US airports will allow screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers and other tools, but not crowbars, drills, hammers or saws, as long as they are seven inches or less in length)
- Any dangerous articles such as flammables, corrosives, poisons, radioactive materials, ammunition, firearms or explosives.
For the full list of items that are not allowed onboard the flight, head over to our Dangerous articles page.
Hypodermic needles
We realise it’s essential for some of our passengers to carry hypodermic needles and other medical equipment in order to treat a medical condition. If you have a medical reason that requires you to inject during the course of a flight, naturally you can carry your syringes in your hand baggage.
However, please ensure you’re able to provide adequate medical evidence in the form of a doctor’s letter and prescription. You’ll be asked to show this when you check in and at security screening, and you should keep it with you at all times. We also ask that you bring your own sharps box so you can dispose of your needles safely and hygienically.
For more information, please refer to our page on flying with medication.
Additional security
- Do not pack wrapped gifts as our security agents may have to unwrap them for the purpose of searches.
- Remember that no sharp objects are permitted in your hand baggage, so pack them in your hold luggage before checking in. All sharp items in hand baggage will be removed and confiscated at security search and anyone trying to take an illegal item through security could be prosecuted.
- Open drinks are not allowed through security controls.
- Do not carry packages at the request of people not known to you.
- Do not leave your baggage unattended at any time.
- Take all reasonable steps to prevent anyone from placing anything in your baggage without your knowledge.
The security measures in place are there to protect you, and we ask for your co-operation and patience. Please proceed to the security control and then the departure gate in a timely manner as we will not delay an aircraft departure due to late arriving passengers.
Garment bags, wedding dresses and suits
Garment bags
A garment bag can only be used as your hand baggage in Economy or Premium if it fits the dimensions of the hand baggage allowance. If you’d like to bring one but it exceeds 23 x 36 x 56 cm, it will need to be as additional checked in baggage.
In Upper Class, your hand baggage can also include one garment bag, 20cm (8 inches) thick - again, this shouldn't exceed 12kg. This will count towards your two bag limit.
Wedding dresses and wedding suits
You’re welcome to take your wedding dress or wedding suit onboard in addition to your hand luggage. Our crew will, where space permits, hang your dress or suit for you but on some flights the wardrobe space is very limited so we can't guarantee this. Please pack your dress in a box or bag so that when the crew can’t find space to hang it, it can be safely stowed. With any wedding suits, please make sure they're packed in a soft suit carrier.
If you prefer not to carry it and would like to check it in, please pack your dress or suit into a separate suitcase and mark the suitcase as ‘fragile wedding garments’. Where possible the items should be packed into a plastic bag for extra protection. Please note that if the separate suitcase is outside of your baggage allowance you will need to purchase additional baggage.
Check-in at home or at the airport
Virgin Atlantic offers several ways to check in for your flight:
Online: Checking in online for your Virgin Atlantic flight is the quickest and easiest way to seat select and print off your boarding pass. Just go to the ‘Manage Your Flights’ icon on the Virgin Atlantic website and proceed from there.
Mobile Check In: Check in on your mobile device between 24 and 2 hours before departure and make your seat selection. Simply print your boarding pass at the airport kiosk or bag drop off area.
Kiosk: Kiosk check in is only available at U.K. and U.S. airports. Follow the prompts, print off your boarding pass and proceed to the bag drop off point before heading to the gate.
Airport Counter: Airport check in counters are available for bag drop off and seat selection several hours before flight departure. Dedicated lines are normally available for Virgin Atlantic's Premium and Upper Class passengers.
International Check-in Guide
at home
Getting there
Be at the airport at least
120 minutes
prior to scheduled departure time
At the airport
Unwind in the Virgin Atlantic Lounge
Virgin Atlantic lounges are innovative, exclusive hideaways that offer attractive spaces to relax before a flight. These spaces are reserved for those flying Upper Class as well as Flying Club Gold members. Guests can enjoy a meal, freshen up with a hot shower or sit at the bar with a drink. It’s the perfect place to unwind.
Virgin Atlantic’s inviting lounges can be found at 10 of their global destinations. Where Virgin Atlantic does not have their own, the airline offers lounge access at partner airline lounge facilities. For flights from Australia, Upper Class guests have the use of Air New Zealand’s lounge. Virgin Atlantic has its own Clubhouse in Hong Kong for those connecting on to London.
Virgin Atlantic's Loyalty Benefits
Virgin Atlantic's Loyalty benefits, the Flying Club program, rewards flyers based on three status tiers; Red, Silver and Gold. Silver members enjoy a 50 percent points bonus and have priority check in advantages. Gold members earn an extra 100 percent miles bonus, Clubhouse access, priority check in and boarding and much more.
Explore the fleet
Airbus A330-300
A350-1000
A330-200
Boeing 787-9
