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Curious about when you'll get to board a Virgin Atlantic flight as a Flying Club member? Basic airline
In 2024, Virgin Atlantic changed that by offering Flying Club members priority boarding in economy. Now, the airline starts with the highest Flying Club elite statuses and ends with the lowest economy classes. Here are the Virgin Atlantic boarding groups and when you should arrive at your gate.
Virgin Atlantic Boarding Groups
Like other airlines, Virgin Atlantic has several boarding groups. Passengers needing special assistance or traveling with young children board first. After that, passengers with the highest Virgin Atlantic elite statuses board first. Then come elite status members with partner airlines. Before Economy Classic and Economy Light board, Virgin Atlantic lets Flying Club Red members board.
Virgin Atlantic lets everyone on the same booking board with the passenger in the highest group. For instance, a group traveling with a parent who has achieved Virgin Atlantic Premium would all get to board in Group 2.
The current boarding groups for Virgin Atlantic flights are as follows:
Pre-boarding
- Passengers requiring special assistance
- Passengers traveling with young children
Group 1
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold
Group 2
- Virgin Atlantic Premium
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver
Group 3
- SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Flying Blue Platinum
- Flying Blue Gold
- Delta Diamond Medallion
- Delta Platinum Medallion
- Delta Gold Medallion
Group 4
- Economy Delight
- SkyTeam Elite
- Flying Blue Silver
- Delta Silver Medallion
- Virgin Australia Velocity Club
- Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum
- Virgin Australia Velocity Gold
Group 5
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Red
Groups 6-9 (based on the seat row)
- Economy Classic
- Economy Light
When Does Virgin Atlantic Boarding Start?
Virgin Atlantic boarding starts 60 minutes before departure, and passengers are asked to arrive at the gate no later than 35 minutes before the scheduled departure time, unless advised otherwise. If you are in a higher boarding group, it's wise to get to your gate closer to that hour-before-departure mark.
At some airports, such as Heathrow, gate numbers are only shown when boarding starts. At these airports, be ready to move quickly, especially if you are in the higher boarding groups.
Virgin Atlantic Advanced Boarding for Flying Club Red Members
Priority boarding is typically a benefit reserved for elite status members, co-branded credit card holders, or travelers who pay for the benefit. Base-level airline loyalty program members usually get few benefits, if any. Benefits only start at the first tier of elite status. Normally, the only benefits for new members are the ability to earn and spend miles/points and access to member portals (to earn and spend points).
Since March 14, 2024, Flying Club Red members (entry-level members) get “Advanced Economy Boarding” in boarding group 5. That means they board before Economy Classic and Economy Light passengers. Not a big deal for entry-level members, but certainly better than nothing. The change also gives new members a taste of the benefits available at higher elite statuses.
Our Take
One nice benefit of airline elite status is priority boarding, which helps you get to your seat faster and lets you pick first from the overhead bins. Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Red members board ahead of Economy Classic and Economy Light passengers, allowing them to get to their seats a little faster and giving them earlier access to the overhead bins. It's nice to see basic airline loyalty program members get a benefit when they usually get nothing beyond the ability to earn and redeem points.
Are you a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club member? What do you think about the Advanced Economy Boarding benefit for Red members?
