Virgin Atlantic Premium is a Finalist for Best Premium Economy Experience at the
2026 Travelling for Business Awards, and few carriers have done more to make the middle cabin feel like a deliberate choice rather than a compromise. Virgin Atlantic helped invent the category three decades ago, and its Premium cabin still carries that pioneer's conviction: if economy is about getting there and Upper Class is about arriving in style, Premium is about working travellers who want comfort without the board-level fare.
The proposition begins at the terminal. Premium passengers use dedicated check-in and premium boarding, so the journey's tone is set before the seatbelt sign. On board, the burgundy leather seats are wider than economy with a generous pitch, deeper recline and proper leg rests on the newest aircraft, arranged so that couples and colleagues can settle in without the scrum. A welcome glass of bubbles on departure remains a signature touch — small theatre, large signal — and amenity details follow through to arrival.
The soft product keeps improving. The airline has unveiled its
spring and summer 2026 menus with new regional dishes and upgraded cabin dining, and Premium sits squarely in the upgrade path: proper china, a dedicated menu and service from a crew whose warmth remains the company's defining asset. Wi-Fi keeps the cabin workable for the inbox hours, and the entertainment system is stocked generously enough for the length of an Atlantic crossing and the wait at either end of it.
Loyalty completes the case. Virgin Atlantic has been
revamping Flying Club so that every seat can be booked with points, which makes Premium a natural target for redemptions and modest cash upgrades alike — the sweet spot where corporate travel policies and personal points balances meet. For companies calibrating budgets, Premium consistently lands as the defensible indulgence: measurably better rest and productivity at a fraction of the front-cabin fare.
A place among the 2026 Finalists recognises the cabin that gave premium economy its personality and has never let it drift into afterthought. Winners will be announced at the 2026 Travelling for Business Awards, and the original challenger will be hard to move from the podium conversation.
