If you don't have a set destination in mind and want to be inspired there is a good special offers page with the best deals, but early booking is essential. Most of the lowest fares insist that you stay over a Saturday night.
When booking for specific destinations a clear booking calendar shows prices for three days on either side of your selected dates, with the lowest fares being clearly labelled.
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Airport check-in desks close 60 minutes before departure. You can also check in online from 24 hours until two hours before scheduled departure. Use the self-service check-in kiosks at Heathrow Airport to avoid queues.
Other destinations have even more attractive check-in options. 'Twilight check-in' at Gatwick allows you to check-in between midday and 9pm the day before your flight, which saves time if you are departing early the following morning. If you're flying home from Walt Disney World, Orlando you can check in at Downtown Disney between 8.15am and 1pm. This is free for Upper Class and Flying Gold passengers, but costs $10 for all other passengers. In Hong Kong you can check in at the Airport Express Train facilities at Hong Kong or Kowloon stations. Las Vegas boasts four off-airport check-in kiosks dotted around the city. Perhaps the most attractive Virgin Atlantic check-in option is flying back from the Caribbean, where certain hotels will check you in for your flight, give you your boarding pass, and take your luggage to the airport. This way, all you need to do is get to the gate 50 minutes before departure.
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Hand luggage: one piece is allowed, with total dimensions of 56 x 36 x 23cm and a maximum weight of 6kg.
Checked: passengers on the vast majority of flights can check in one item of luggage, which must weigh less than 23kg, free of charge. This allowance rises to two items of luggage on flights to Kenya and Nairobi. The fee for checking in additional bags is £32 when booked online or £40 at the airport.
Excess: charges vary by route, so check before you fly. One piece of sporting equipment is permitted on top of your free baggage allowance, though restrictions apply. No bags weighing more than 32kg will be accepted.
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Seats can be pre-booked online during the booking stage, or via the Manage Your Flights
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Name changes are not permitted. However, amendments to a wrongly spelled name can be processed for £30. Other changes can be made depending on the rules of the ticket, with administrative fees ranging from zero to around £200.
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Virgin Atlantic does offer special fares for children age 2 to 11. Infants under two can travel on an adult's lap for a reduced fare and have a luggage allowance of 6kg. The fare varies by route and is subject to availability and seasonality. Strollers will be carried for free. Children between the ages of 5 and 15 can travel alone as unaccompanied minors. This service must be requested when booking, and cannot be ordered online.
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Pets can travel to and from Barbados, Boston, Chicago, Dubai, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, New York-Newark, Orlando, San Francisco, Sydney, Washington and Johannesburg. All pets travel in the hold. To book pet travel call 08450 701 701.
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One piece of sporting equipment is permitted on top of your free baggage allowance, though restrictions apply. A separate seat may be purchased to carry a large or fragile musical instrument instead of checking it in, subject to Virgin Atlantic’s prior approval and in accordance with regulations.
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As you would expect from the first airline to introduce seat-back televisions, Virgin Atlantic's in-flight service offers the full shebang - in-flight meals and drinks, individual seatback TVs so you can choose what film or programmes you want to watch, and an "amenity kit" containing postcards, eyeshades, earplugs, socks and Virgin Vie lip balm and goodie bags for children.
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The frequent flyer programme Flying Club, lets you collect air miles to redeem on flights, hotels, upgrades, and even a visit to Richard Branson's Necker Island.
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The airline's in-flight magazine
Seatback is published four times a month and is available on every flight. On flights to Dubai, the airline also provides a monthly magazine with information and listings on the destination called
DXB.
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Virgin Atlantic is not a member of a specific airline alliance, but has partnerships with many airlines, including Singapore Airlines, America West Airlines, bmi, Continental Airlines, Virgin Nigeria, and Malaysia Airlines. This means you can earn and redeem air miles with Virgin partners and be checked straight through with Virgin if taking a connecting flight with a partner airline.
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