Quick Answer: Virgin's A330neo with the Retreat Suite is the best business class seat between London and North America. BA's Club Suite on the A350 comes close. But here's the problem: you can't always choose which plane you get, and both airlines still operate rubbish legacy seats on certain routes.
We've spent more time than is probably healthy comparing these two carriers. Between Cape Town trips, New York weekends, and one particularly excellent wine-fuelled debate at 35,000 feet, we've formed strong opinions about Britain's transatlantic duopoly.
The Short Version: Which Airline Suits You?
Before we dive deep, here's who should book what:
Choose Virgin Atlantic if:
- You're flying to New York, Boston, Miami, or Tampa (best chance of getting the new A330neo)
- The Upper Class Wing private security matters to you
- You prefer the Clubhouse to BA's Galleries lounges
- You're travelling as a couple and want the Retreat Suite
- You value a more relaxed, fun atmosphere
Choose British Airways if:
- You need to connect beyond London to Europe, Africa, or Asia
- You're loyal to Oneworld (better integration than Virgin's SkyTeam partnership)
- You're flying routes guaranteed for Club Suite (A350, 777-300ER)
- You collect Avios and have BA status
- You prefer traditional service over Virgin's "entertainment airline" approach
Avoid both if:
- BA sticks you on a 787-9 or A380 without Club Suite (old rubbish product)
- Virgin puts you on their legacy 787 with the herringbone "coffin" seats
- You're connecting through Gatwick (BA's Gatwick fleet is ancient)
Now let's get into why.
Aircraft and Seats: The Inconsistency Problem
This is where it gets complicated. Both airlines operate multiple business class products, ranging from excellent to what-were-they-thinking. You need to know which plane you're getting.
Virgin Atlantic's Three Products
Virgin A330neo Upper Class (The Winner)
The newest and best. Launched in late 2022, currently flying to Boston, New York, Tampa, and Miami. All seats face forward in a 1-2-1 layout with closing doors. The window seats in even rows (2K, 4K, etc.) are closest to the window for maximum privacy. Odd rows sit closer to the aisle, which we'd skip.
The party piece? Seats 1D and 1G are the Retreat Suites. These aren't just bigger, they're properly spacious with a 6'7" bed, 27-inch TV (versus 17 inches elsewhere), and enough room for two people to sit comfortably together. You'll pay £200-250 extra, bookable 14 days before departure. Worth it for couples or anyone over six feet tall.
Virgin A350 Upper Class (The Divisive One)
Virgin's A350s fly the JFK flagship route. The seats are more spacious than the A330neo but have no doors, just a partial privacy screen. Some people love the openness. We find it a bit exposed, particularly when trying to sleep whilst someone three rows back is having a loud conversation with crew.
The Loft social area upstairs is fun if you're in the mood. Annoying if you're not and people keep congregating near your seat.
Virgin 787 Upper Class (The Old One)
Still operating on some routes. These are the old herringbone seats everyone calls "coffins" because you face away from the window, angled towards the aisle, with your feet in a cubby hole. Zero privacy. Uncomfortable if you're tall. Only pick this if you're desperate or the price is substantially cheaper.
How to check: Look at the seatmap when booking. The A330neo shows clear 1-2-1 rows. The A350 also shows 1-2-1 but no doors. The 787 shows angled seats.
British Airways' Products
BA A350 and 777-300ER Club Suite (The Contender)
This is BA's answer to modern business class. Direct aisle access for everyone in a 1-2-1 configuration with closing doors. The seat itself is excellent-properly private, great for working, comfortable for sleeping. Storage is generous (40% more than old Club World). The 18.5-inch screen is decent.
All 18 A350-1000s have this. All 16 Boeing 777-300ERs have it. If you're booked on one of these aircraft types, you're golden.
BA 777-200ER Club Suite (The Heathrow Special)
BA has 31 Boeing 777-200ERs based at Heathrow, and 28 now have Club Suite fitted. That's roughly an 90% chance of getting the new product on Heathrow routes using this aircraft. But check the seatmap, because three still have old seats.
None of the 12 Gatwick-based 777-200ERs have been retrofitted. Avoid.
BA 787-10 Club Suite (The Guaranteed Winner)
All seven 787-10s have Club Suite. Smaller fleet, but if you're assigned one, you're getting the modern product.
BA 787-8, 787-9, A380 (The Gamble)
Here's the frustration. The 787-8 fleet is a mixed bag-some have Club Suite, many don't. No 787-9s have been fitted yet (refits supposedly starting in 2025). And none of the 12 A380s have Club Suite, though BA claims they'll all be done by 2026.
BA originally promised 100% Club Suite rollout by 2025. It's now November 2025, and they're at roughly 58% of Heathrow long-haul aircraft. The remaining 42% still have the old yin-yang seats from 2006-angled, facing different directions, no direct aisle access unless you're in a window seat, minimal privacy. Genuinely awful by 2025 standards.
How to check: Use ExpertFlyer or look at BA's seatmap when booking. Club Suite shows 1-2-1 forward-facing. Old Club World shows a mix of forward and backward-facing seats in varying configurations.
The Verdict on Seats
Best overall: Virgin A330neo Retreat Suite (if you can snag it and afford the upgrade)
Best standard business: Toss-up between Virgin A330neo standard suite and BA Club Suite (A350/777-300ER)
Worst to avoid: Virgin 787 herringbone and BA's old Club World on 787-9/A380
Ground Experience: Where Virgin Wins Big
Virgin Upper Class Wing
If you're arriving by car or taxi to Heathrow Terminal 3, the Upper Class Wing is transformative. You pull up to a separate entrance, staff meet you, take your bags, check you in, and guide you through private security. Car to Clubhouse in 10 minutes, no queuing.
Even if you arrive by public transport, you can access the private security line by checking in at Zone A and taking a lift up. Still faster than the main terminal chaos.
We've used this dozens of times. It makes flying from Heathrow feel less like a punishment and more like something you'd voluntarily do.
Virgin Clubhouse
We've covered this in detail in our dedicated review, but the short version: the Clubhouse is excellent. Proper à la carte food delivered to your seat, legendary Bloody Marys, a rooftop terrace with runway views, and enough space that it never feels oppressive even when busy.
The vibe is relaxed. You can work, you can eat, you can drink, you can stare at planes. All of it works.
BA Galleries Club Lounges
BA operates multiple Galleries Club lounges in Terminal 5. They're fine. Buffet food is adequate, there's plenty of seating, showers are available. They do the job.
But they're nowhere near as enjoyable as the Clubhouse. They feel corporate and often crowded. The B Gates lounge is quieter but requires taking the internal transit, which adds time.
If you're in BA First, the Concorde Room is legitimately excellent-one of the best airline lounges in the world. But we're comparing business class here, where Virgin decisively wins.
BA First Wing
BA's First Wing at Terminal 5 offers similar private check-in and security to Virgin's Upper Class Wing, but it's only for First Class passengers and BA Executive Club Gold members flying in Club Suite. Most business class travellers use the regular check-in and security, which is standard airport chaos.
The Ground Experience Winner: Virgin Atlantic
The Upper Class Wing alone makes Virgin worth choosing if you're departing Heathrow and value your time. Add the superior Clubhouse, and it's not close.
Onboard Experience: Food, Drink, and Service
Dining
Both airlines have upped their game significantly in recent years. Gone are the days when BA served microwaved sludge and Virgin was barely better.
Virgin Atlantic offers an à la carte menu with table service. You order via QR code (on most aircraft) or directly with crew. The food is good-not Michelin-starred, but genuinely enjoyable. We've had everything from full English breakfasts to proper curries. Portions are generous. The Wilbur and Orville salt and pepper shakers (shaped like planes, with "Pinched from Virgin Atlantic" on the feet) are a nice touch.
The bar service is excellent. The Bloody Marys really are as good as everyone says. Wine selection skews towards English sparkling at Heathrow, which we appreciate. Beer, cocktails, and spirits are all free and plentiful.
British Airways has improved dramatically. The Club Suite launch coincided with a proper focus on food quality. Multi-course meals, decent wine list, table service. We'd rate it roughly equal to Virgin in terms of quality.
BA edges ahead slightly in wine selection-more French options, which some prefer. Virgin wins on cocktails and the overall bar vibe.
Winner: Draw, with a slight edge to Virgin for cocktails and atmosphere.
Service
This is subjective and varies wildly by crew. We've had brilliant service on both airlines and mediocre service on both.
Virgin Atlantic markets itself as "the entertainment airline" with bubbly, personable crew. When it works, it's lovely-chatty, fun, genuinely engaging. When it doesn't, it can feel forced or over-the-top.
British Airways goes for professionalism and traditional service. When it works, it's seamless and attentive. When it doesn't, it feels robotic and disinterested.
Both airlines have multilingual crew on key routes, which is helpful.
Winner: Personal preference. We slightly prefer Virgin's approach, but your mileage will vary.
In-Flight Entertainment and WiFi
Virgin A330neo has the edge on tech. Wireless charging, USB-C ports, Bluetooth headphone pairing, large screens (27 inches in Retreat Suite, 17 inches elsewhere). The IFE content library is decent but not massive. Some reviewers complain about limited selections and laggy touch screens. We've not found it a deal-breaker.
BA A350 and newer Club Suite aircraft have 18.5-inch screens with improved IFE systems. The older 777s with Club Suite have older Panasonic systems that can be laggy with lower-resolution screens. Content selection is solid.
WiFi on both airlines is paid unless you're in Virgin's Retreat Suite or BA First. Virgin charges around £7.99 per hour or £25 for full flight. BA charges roughly £5 per hour or £20 for full flight. Neither is particularly fast, but both work for email and messaging.
Winner: Virgin A330neo for tech, roughly equal for content.
Routes and Network
This is where BA dominates. British Airways flies to over 180 destinations worldwide, including extensive European, African, Middle Eastern, and Asian networks. If you need to connect beyond London, BA is usually more convenient.
Virgin Atlantic flies to roughly 30 destinations, focused primarily on North America, the Caribbean, and a handful of African and Asian routes. Great if your destination is New York, LA, or Johannesburg. Limiting if you need to go elsewhere.
Winner: British Airways by a mile.
Value and Pricing
Here's where it gets frustrating: pricing is dynamic and varies wildly by route, date, and how far in advance you book. We've seen identical routes on the same date where Virgin is £500 cheaper. We've also seen BA come in £300 under Virgin.
General observations:
- Virgin tends to be competitive on key US routes (JFK, LAX, Boston)
- BA often undercuts Virgin on less popular routes
- Both airlines charge similar premiums for business over economy (200-400%)
- Virgin's Retreat Suite at £200-250 extra is decent value if you want the space
- BA's dynamic Avios pricing can offer excellent value for points redemptions
Booking tip: Check both airlines for your specific route and dates. Use Google Flights to compare, then check airline websites directly for any sales.
Loyalty Programmes: Where It Gets Interesting
This is where Virgin and BA diverge significantly. Both programmes have completely overhauled their redemption structures in the past two years, with Virgin going dynamic in October 2024 and BA gradually tightening availability. Here's the reality behind the marketing.
Virgin Flying Club: The Frustrating Revolution
Virgin's October 2024 changes were marketed as "every seat now available with points." Technically true. Practically? It's complicated.
The Good:
Virgin's new Saver rates on off-peak dates are genuinely excellent. Economy to London from the US East Coast can cost as little as 6,000 Virgin points one-way, premium economy 10,500 points, and Upper Class just 29,000 points-roughly half what they charged before. With carrier-imposed surcharges also reduced to approximately £45 in economy, £78 in premium, and £227 in Upper Class from New York to London, these are the lowest redemption rates of any major airline loyalty programme.
Virgin guarantees 12 seats per flight at fixed Saver pricing: two in Upper Class, two in Premium, eight in Economy. If you're flexible with dates, these represent outstanding value. We've genuinely seen Upper Class to New York for 29,000 points plus £580 in fees-that's exceptional.
Virgin points never expire, which removes the pressure to use them before they vanish. The programme also makes it remarkably easy to earn status through a status match, particularly if you already hold mid-tier status elsewhere. Book one Premium Economy or Upper Class flight, provide evidence of your existing status, and Virgin will match you to Silver or Gold.
The Bad:
Dynamic pricing means peak dates have become obscenely expensive. The same Upper Class seat that costs 29,000 points on a Tuesday in January could require 350,000 points on a Friday before Christmas. Virgin's route to the Maldives has become so expensive that two people travelling in January 2026 would save 1 million points and £988 by choosing BA over Virgin.
The Saver seats genuinely exist, but they're limited. If your travel dates aren't flexible-school holidays, wedding weekends, Christmas-you're often looking at redemption rates that make cash tickets seem reasonable. Virgin openly admits they're happy with increased Economy redemptions because Upper Class has been priced out of reach for most people on popular leisure routes.
Routes like Heathrow to Cape Town have literally zero days when you can book Upper Class at a Saver rate. Four return tickets we could have booked for 540,000 points under the old system now cost 1.56 million points for identical flights.
The earning structure is straightforward-you earn between 25% and 400% of flight distance depending on fare class, with elite bonuses adding 30% (Silver) or 60% (Gold). But with SkyTeam partners now bookable, you're often better using Virgin points for partner airlines like Delta or ANA where pricing remains distance-based rather than dynamic.
Credit Cards:
Virgin's credit card options are solid. The Virgin Atlantic Reward card (Mastercard, so more widely accepted than Amex) offers 2 miles per £1 on Virgin bookings and 1 mile per £1 elsewhere, with a generous welcome bonus requiring just £1 minimum spend. The Reward+ card offers slightly better earn rates. Both cards include an annual companion voucher worth up to 75,000 points (or 150,000 for Gold members) when you hit spending thresholds.
However, these vouchers have gotten trickier to use under dynamic pricing. You can't directly offset Upper Class redemptions. Instead, you need to book economy with points, then call Virgin to upgrade using the voucher. It works, but it's faffy.
BA Executive Club: The Establishment Choice
BA's programme feels more established and less volatile than Virgin's recent changes, though that doesn't mean it's without frustration.
The Good:
Avios are incredibly easy to earn. BA partners with Chase, Amex, Capital One, Bilt, and Citi for 1:1 transfers. The British Airways Visa Signature card offers 75,000 Avios after £5,000 spend in three months-a genuinely valuable sign-up bonus. You also earn 3 Avios per £1 on BA, Aer Lingus, and Iberia purchases, 2 per £1 on hotels, and 1 per £1 elsewhere.
BA's distance-based award chart still exists (though unpublished), which means you can predict costs. A Club World redemption from London to New York in off-peak is around 50,000 Avios one-way. Peak dates go up to 62,500 Avios, but at least you know what you're paying before searching. There's no nasty surprise where Tuesday costs 50,000 and Wednesday costs 180,000.
BA's oneworld network is vastly superior to Virgin's SkyTeam partnership, with partners including American Airlines, Iberia, Qatar, and Cathay Pacific. This matters enormously if you need to connect beyond London or want to redeem Avios for flights in Latin America, the Middle East, or Asia.
BA's Reward Flight Saver option lets you pay more Avios and less cash, which significantly reduces the carrier-imposed surcharges BA loves to levy. For routes with £400+ fees, this can transform a mediocre redemption into decent value.
Household accounts allow up to six people at the same address to pool Avios, making family travel easier. Virgin only allows this for Gold members.
The 2-4-1 companion voucher from the BA Amex Premium Plus card remains one of the best perks in loyalty programmes. Spend £10,000 annually, get a voucher that lets you book two Upper Class seats for the Avios price of one (though you pay fees for both). For couples, this effectively halves your points requirement.
The Bad:
Availability. This is BA's Achilles heel. Finding two Club World seats on desirable dates can be genuinely difficult. BA releases some seats early, but popular routes (New York, Dubai, Singapore) get snapped up by Gold members using their priority access.
Several frequent flyers report BA Executive Club reward availability is significantly better than Virgin's, particularly on routes they fly regularly. However, this seems route-dependent. US East Coast redemptions are relatively easy. Southeast Asia in school holidays? Good luck.
BA's carrier-imposed surcharges are notorious. A Club World redemption to New York might cost 50,000 Avios plus £400 in fees. Reward Flight Saver helps, but you're still paying substantial cash on top of points. One-way awards from the US to London can cost as few as 16,250 Avios but require around $230 in taxes and fees, and that's before considering seat selection fees unless you have status.
The recent move to revenue-based earning for BA, Iberia, and American flights (from April 2025) means you now earn based on spending rather than distance. This benefits high-yield travellers but punishes those who find cheap fares.
Unless you have Executive Club Silver or oneworld status, you'll pay to select seats more than 24 hours before departure. This feels petty on long-haul business class bookings.
The Honest Comparison
For earning potential: BA wins for most people. Avios transfer from more credit cards, you can earn on BA's short-haul network, and household accounts are available to everyone. Virgin's earn rates are decent, but the limited route network means fewer opportunities.
For redemption value: It depends entirely on your flexibility. Virgin's Saver seats offer unbeatable value if you can travel off-peak. BA's distance-based chart offers predictability but often worse value, particularly when fees are high.
For programme stability: BA feels more reliable. Virgin's October 2024 changes effectively killed Upper Class redemptions on many routes. Will they reverse this? Unclear. BA's programme has remained relatively consistent (aside from the revenue-based earning change).
For network: BA destroys Virgin. Oneworld is a superior alliance to SkyTeam, particularly from the UK. If you need to connect anywhere beyond Virgin's 30 destinations, BA is your only real option.
For status benefits: Both offer lounge access, priority boarding, and baggage allowances. Virgin's status is easier to earn (cheaper spend requirements, status matches) but less useful overall because the route network is smaller. BA Gold gets you into better lounges globally and benefits across oneworld.
Which Programme Should You Choose?
If you primarily fly transatlantic and have flexible dates, Virgin Flying Club is excellent. The Saver rates genuinely offer better value than BA, and the Clubhouse experience at Heathrow is superior.
If you travel frequently, need connections, or value programme stability, BA Executive Club makes more sense. The wider earning options, oneworld network, and predictable (if expensive) redemptions give you more utility.
We lean slightly towards Virgin because we love the brand ethos-it feels less corporate, more fun, and when the programme works, it works brilliantly. The Saver rates to New York are genuinely half what BA charges. But we're not blind to the frustrations. Dynamic pricing has made Virgin less compelling for non-flexible travellers, and BA's network advantages are impossible to ignore.
The smart move? Join both, earn in whichever programme suits each specific trip, and use Virgin for US East Coast off-peak redemptions whilst keeping BA for everything else. You can't pool points between them, but having optionality matters more than loyalty when airlines keep changing the rules.
The Routes Each Airline Does Best
Virgin Atlantic shines on:
- New York JFK (A350 or A330neo, excellent frequency)
- Boston (A330neo)
- Miami (A330neo)
- Los Angeles (A350, though BA also good here)
- Orlando (competitive pricing, good for families)
British Airways excels on:
- Anything requiring connections (their network is unmatched)
- Routes guaranteed for Club Suite (check aircraft type)
- Cape Town (though Virgin also flies this and is excellent)
- Dubai (A350 with Club Suite)
- Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo (if you get Club Suite)
Both are solid on:
- Barbados, Antigua, Caribbean routes
- Johannesburg
- Seattle, San Francisco, Washington DC
Our Honest Take
We genuinely like both airlines, which is why this comparison exists. The "right" choice depends entirely on your specific flight.
If we're booking tomorrow for New York, we're checking which airline offers the A330neo or A350 (Virgin) or Club Suite A350/777-300ER (BA), then picking whichever is cheaper or better-timed. If Virgin is £100 more but includes the Upper Class Wing experience, we'll pay it. If BA is £300 cheaper with Club Suite guaranteed, we'll book BA.
We'd actively avoid Virgin's 787 and BA's old Club World at any price beyond bare minimum. Life's too short for rubbish business class.
The Virgin A330neo Retreat Suite is genuinely the best business class product for couples flying between London and the US. Nothing else comes close for two people travelling together.
For solo travellers, it's closer. BA Club Suite on the right aircraft is excellent. Virgin A330neo standard suite is equally good. The Clubhouse tips us slightly towards Virgin if all else is equal.
How to Book Smart
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Check aircraft type first. Don't book blind. Use ExpertFlyer, check the seatmap, or call the airline to confirm which plane is scheduled.
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Know that aircraft swaps happen. Airlines change equipment. If you booked BA specifically for Club Suite and get downgraded to old Club World, complain loudly. You should get compensation or a future voucher.
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Book Virgin's Retreat Suite exactly 14 days before departure. Set a calendar reminder. The seats open at midnight. Log in with your booking reference and grab them before Flying Club elites do.
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Use Google Flights to compare, but check airline sites directly. Sometimes airlines offer sales not visible through aggregators.
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Consider positioning flights. If Virgin's A330neo only flies from Heathrow but you're near Manchester, it might be worth an internal flight or train to access the better product.
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Don't assume the price you see today will be the price tomorrow. Business class fares fluctuate wildly. If you see a good deal, book it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Virgin Atlantic business class better than BA?
Depends on the aircraft. Virgin A330neo beats BA's old Club World easily. BA Club Suite (A350, 777-300ER) is roughly equal to Virgin A330neo standard suite. Virgin's legacy 787 is worse than both.
Which airline has the better lounge at Heathrow?
Virgin Clubhouse is substantially better than BA Galleries Club for business class passengers. BA Concorde Room (First only) beats Virgin, but that's not a fair comparison.
Can you sleep well on both airlines?
Yes, if you get the modern products. The Club Suite and Virgin A330neo both have proper flat beds. BA's old Club World and Virgin's 787 are less comfortable.
What's the seat pitch in Virgin Upper Class vs BA Club World?
Both offer fully flat beds around 6'2"-6'7" depending on aircraft. The Retreat Suite is 6'7", which is genuinely long.
Do you get pyjamas on both airlines?
Yes, on night flights. Virgin's are comfortable. BA's are fine. Neither will change your life.
Which airline is better for families?
BA's bigger network makes connections easier. Virgin's fun atmosphere appeals to some families. Both allow children in business class.
Can you use Avios to book Virgin flights?
No, Virgin isn't in oneworld. You'd need Virgin Points (Flying Club) or partner miles like Delta SkyMiles or Flying Blue.
Which airline is more LGBTQ+-friendly?
Both are excellent. Virgin actively markets to LGBTQ+ travellers. BA is more corporate but equally welcoming. We've never had issues on either.
Final Verdict
There is no universal winner. Virgin Atlantic's A330neo is the best product overall, particularly the Retreat Suite. But BA's network, Club Suite on newer aircraft, and oneworld benefits make it equally compelling for different reasons.
Check the aircraft type, compare prices, factor in your loyalty programme, and book the one that suits your specific trip.
And if you end up on Virgin's 787 or BA's A380 without Club Suite? Our commiserations. At least the lounges are good.
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