This summer, we took our first family trip to Europe. My kids had never been, and the flight from LAX to London would be the longest they’d ever taken. I’ll admit it: my husband and I were nervous about flying that far with our kids. I was dreading it. But it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m so glad we did. It went well enough that we’re already planning to go back to Europe next summer. The flight was the part I worried about most, so I’m starting this series with our Virgin Atlantic review.
We flew Virgin Atlantic from LAX to London Heathrow on July 19, 2026, and back again at the end of our trip. Here’s our honest Virgin Atlantic review from a family’s point of view: getting to the airport, the seats, the service, the food, the delays, and a flight full of unsupervised high school seniors.
Why We Chose Virgin Atlantic
My husband books all of our trips, and he booked us on Virgin Atlantic. I remember flying Virgin to London when I was a kid and having no complaints, so I was happy with the choice. Virgin flies nonstop between LAX and Heathrow, which matters a lot when you’re traveling with kids. One long flight beats two flights and a layover every time.
Getting to LAX: Uber, TSA PreCheck, and Starbucks
Getting to the airport wasn’t bad at all. We reserved an Uber from our house to LAX about a week in advance. The driver showed up on time, the car was big enough for all of our luggage, and we got to the airport with no issues.
We have TSA PreCheck, and we checked in online before we left the house. I have to tell you, those two things made this experience a million times better. We didn’t wait for anything. If you’re flying internationally with kids and you don’t have PreCheck yet, get it before your trip.
Since we had extra time, we made a quick stop at Starbucks to grab drinks and snacks for the plane. That’s a must with kids on a long flight.
Our Seats: Economy Delight on Virgin Atlantic
Boarding was easy, and the plane was clean. We booked Economy Delight, which is Virgin’s economy seat with extra legroom, and I recommend it. We had a bit of extra room, which matters on a flight that’s over ten hours, and our checked bags were included, so we didn’t have to pay extra for our luggage. The staff was very nice from check-in all the way onto the plane.
The Flight to London (and the High School Graduation Trip)
My only complaint about our flight to London had nothing to do with Virgin Atlantic. About 90% of the plane was filled with high school seniors from schools around LA, mostly on the Westside, on a graduation trip to Europe through a company called BUZZ Adventure Tours. As far as we could tell, there were no chaperones traveling with them on the flight.
The flight crew was furious. From what we could tell, they didn’t know ahead of time that the plane would be full of teenagers with no adults in charge. The kids were so rude and obnoxious that the pilot had to come on the speaker and tell them they needed to be respectful to the crew and follow their instructions, or he would call the authorities when we landed at Heathrow.
I don’t blame Virgin for this at all. But I do think BUZZ Adventure Tours needs to fix how they get these kids to Europe. A plane full of 18-year-olds needs adult supervision. If you’re a parent sending your teen on one of these trips, ask the tour company who is flying with them.
Other than that, the flight was smooth.
Flying Home: Heathrow Is a Different Story
Our flight home was way more difficult, and it started at the airport. We didn’t have TSA PreCheck on the way back, and London Heathrow was a mess. The airport felt outdated and so busy that you could barely walk through the terminal. Security took well over an hour. They were pulling people’s carry-on bags aside left and right to screen them, and people were angry.
We had given ourselves plenty of time before our flight, so we were fine. But if you were cutting it close, you would have missed your flight because of the security line. My advice: get to Heathrow early. Earlier than you think you need to.
Dinner at The Curator in Heathrow Terminal 3
Once we got through security, we had dinner at The Curator, one of the sit-down restaurants in Terminal 3 that we considered semi-nice. It wasn’t relaxing. The restaurant was packed. But the food was good. I had the chicken with bubble and squeak (a classic British side of fried leftover potatoes and cabbage), my husband had sausages, and the kids had pasta with peas.
It was nice to sit down and eat a full dinner before the flight, because dinner on the plane is not good. More on that below.
Last-Minute Shopping at Heathrow: Skip It
We did some last-minute shopping at Heathrow, and it was a huge disappointment. There wasn’t anything there that you couldn’t buy on Amazon and have shipped to your house, without having to carry it through the airport and onto the plane.
The Return Flight: A Long Wait on the Tarmac
We flew Virgin Atlantic home as well. Again, the plane was clean. But we sat on the tarmac for an hour and a half to two hours before takeoff because of an “electrical issue” with the plane, and they wouldn’t let us off. Once the electrical issue was fixed, they had to refuel the plane, so it took even longer.
This was rough. The kids were super antsy. There were lots of families on this flight, and the boys sitting behind me took their shoes off to get comfortable. I almost died from the smell. Please don’t let your kids take their shoes off on a plane, and don’t take yours off either. Your feet stink, and the plane floor is covered in germs. As a nurse, trust me on this one.
Virgin Atlantic Food: What We Actually Ate
The airplane food was not good. The adult meal was mac and cheese, and it gave me heartburn.
We ordered kids’ meals for our kids, which you have to do ahead of your flight, not on the plane. They barely ate them.
The one thing I liked was Virgin’s cute Tea Time box, with a scone, a little tea sandwich, and a cookie. It was the only food on the flight that I’d call edible, besides the tiny crackers they give you with your drink. My advice: eat a real meal before you board, and pack plenty of snacks.
Getting Home From LAX: Book the Uber Black
When we landed at LAX, we booked an Uber Black to take us home, and I totally recommend it. You pay a little extra, and the driver meets you at baggage claim and helps you carry your bags to the car. After being on the plane for about 12 hours, we were exhausted, and this was so worth it. No issues at all. I would do this every single time.
Book Your Return Seats at the Same Time
Here’s one lesson we learned the hard way. For some reason, we had a hard time getting Economy Delight seats on our flight home. I don’t know if we made a mistake when we booked the return flight or what, but when we tried to upgrade before our trip, Virgin wanted $4,000 on top of what we’d already paid to move us to Economy Delight. Sooooo not worth it. Even the Virgin Atlantic agent helping us over the phone was laughing as he told us the price.
If you want the same seats in both directions, double-check that your return flight is booked in the same cabin before you pay. Fixing it later can cost a fortune.
Tips for Flying Virgin Atlantic With Kids
- Book Economy Delight in both directions when you buy your tickets. The extra room and included bags are worth it, and upgrading later can be very expensive.
- Get TSA PreCheck and check in online. It made leaving LAX stress-free.
- Get to Heathrow early. Security took us over an hour.
- Eat before you board. A sit-down meal at the airport beats airplane food.
- Pre-order kids’ meals ahead of your flight, but pack snacks anyway in case your kids won’t eat them.
- Keep your shoes on. Please.
- Book an Uber Black home. Having the driver meet you at baggage claim after a 12-hour travel day is worth every penny.
Our Virgin Atlantic Review: Would We Fly It Again?
Sure! Nothing was wrong with it. I didn’t love it, but it was fine. The planes were clean, the staff was nice, and they got us there and back safely. Flying that far is hard, and Virgin delivered what you pay for. Most of what made our flights stressful, from the unsupervised teenagers to the chaos at Heathrow, wasn’t the airline’s fault.
Most importantly, our kids handled their first long-haul flight better than I expected, and we’re already planning our next trip to Europe.
More From Our Europe Trip
This post is part of our series on our summer trip to London and our Celebrity Apex cruise to Spain, Portugal, and France.
London With Kids
- Virgin Atlantic Review: Flying LAX to London With Kids
- London Marriott County Hall Review: A Family Stay by Big Ben
- London With Kids: One Big Thing a Day (Our Easy Itinerary)
- Getting Around London With Kids: The Best Ways, Honestly
- Dining in London With Kids: Our Honest Reviews of 4 Spots
Our Celebrity Apex Cruise
- The Retreat on Celebrity Apex With Kids: Was It Worth It?
- Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour From a Cruise Ship: Fun, Hot, and Worth It With Kids
- Porto Cruise Port Without an Excursion: Hot Dogs, Vinho Verde, and Shopping With Kids
- Vigo and La Coruña Cruise Ports With Kids: A Walking Tour, Galician Food, and Gelato
- Bilbao Shore Excursion With Kids: The Guggenheim, the Market, and the Pintxos We Missed
- Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge: Our Cruise Excursion With Kids
- Le Havre to Paris on a Cruise With Kids: Is the Long Day Worth It?
Planning a cruise? These are already on the blog:
