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Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic, the UK’s second-largest long-haul airline, is owned by Sir Richard Branson and Singapore Airlines. It flies, in full style with all the perks, between London and the US, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Australia. Virgin’s main base is London Heathrow, with a hub at Gatwick. It also flies from Manchester and Glasgow.
- Check-in times: desks close 60 minutes before departure. You can also check-in online up to 24 hours before departure or use the self-service check-in kiosks at the airport. 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 - you just need to arrive at the departure gate 50 minutes before the flight is due to leave with boarding pass. If you're flying home from Walt Disney World in Florida you can check-in in Downtown Disney, next to the Virgin Megastore, between 8am 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 between 6am and midnight. Perhaps the most attractive is flying back from the Caribbean, where certain hotels will check you in to your flight, give you your boarding card and take your luggage to the airport. So you only have to get to the gate 50 minutes before departure.
- Baggage allowance: varies by destination. On transatlantic, Caribbean and Nigerian routes baggage is measured by size. Economy Class passengers get two pieces of luggage, up to 23kg (50lbs) each; Premium Economy, two pieces each weighing up to 32kg (70lbs); Upper Class, three pieces each weighing up to 32kg. On South African, Australian, Asian, Dubai and Kenya routes baggage is measured by weight: 23kg for Economy and Premium Economy passengers; 30kg (66lbs) for Upper Class flyers. One piece of hand luggage is allowed, with maximum dimensions of 23x36x56cm and a maximum weight of 6kg (13lbs). Excess baggage charges vary by route, so check before you fly. They are not cheap, with the minimum charge at £60 per piece and maximum at £110. Sporting equipment or oversize fragile items incur an extra charge and you must call the reservations number for details and to book them on to the flight.
- Change the passenger name or flight: name changes are not permitted. Other changes can be made depending on the rules of the ticket. Administrative fees vary from not paying anything to around £200.
- Child fares: available for children aged two to twelve. Infants under two can travel on an adult's lap for a reduced fare and even have a luggage allowance of about 10kg. Children between the ages of five and fifteen can travel alone as unaccompanied minors. This service needs to be requested when booking, but cannot be ordered online, only through a travel agent or the call centre.
- Pre-assigned seating: seats can be pre-booked online, either when making the flight reservation or using the "Manage my Booking" tool later on or the DIY online check-in. You can also call the reservation department up to 336 days before departure.
- Legroom: approximate seat pitch in Economy Class 76cm (30in); Premium Economy 96cm (38in); Upper Class, seat reclines into a flat bed.
- In-flight service: 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.
- Air miles: Virgin Atlantic's frequent flyer programme Flying Club lets you collect air miles that can be spent on flights, hotels, upgrades and even a visit to Richard Branson's Necker Island.
- Alliances: Virgin Atlantic is not a member of a specific airline alliance, but has partnerships with many airlines. This means you can be checked straight through with Virgin if taking a connecting flight with one of the partners and connection times have been coordinated. You can also earn and redeem air miles with the partners. These include Singapore Airlines, bmi, Continental, Malaysia Airlines.
- Arrival Airports: : most arrivals are to the main airports in the city, often as well as secondary airports. Most are well-located. If you are flying to a destination with multiple airports, check which one you want to fly in to. For example, in New York you can fly to both JFK and Newark International.
- Departure airports: Virgin Atlantic flies from Gatwick and Heathrow in London and from Manchester and Glasgow.
- Website: www.virgin-atlantic.com
- Telephone number: reservations department: 0870 380 2007.
Updated September 2007
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www.virgin-atlantic.com
