Your guide to the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing at Heathrow Terminal 3

The nearest that any London airport has to Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal in Frankfurt (old review here) is Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class Wing.

It’s not really a fair comparison, of course. Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal is a totally separate building, allowing you to check in, eat, drink, clear security and be driven (yes, driven) to the steps of your aircraft without having to dirty your feet in the main terminal building.

The Upper Class Wing isn’t like that, but it is still quite cool. There is a page dedicated to it on the Virgin Atlantic website which you can find here.

I thought it was worth a quick primer on how it works.

Getting to Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class Wing

The key thing you need to know, if flying Upper Class or Delta One from Heathrow Terminal 3, is that the entrance is totally separate from the main Terminal 3 drop-off area.

(You can also use the Wing if you have Virgin Flying Club Gold status and are flying in Premium or Economy on Virgin Atlantic or Delta. The detailed list of access rules is below.)

It opens at 5am and closes at 9.30pm. If you are arriving outside these hours, you need to use the main terminal entrance.

If you are arriving by Uber, the app has ‘Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing’ as a known drop-off point. If you are taking a black cab, make sure the driver knows exactly where to drop you.

If you are being dropped off by a friend or relative, remember that the entrance to the Wing is inside the drop off charge zone at Heathrow. Whoever drives you will be liable for a £5 fee.

Note that it is not possible to use the Upper Class Wing check-in if arriving on public transport. The only way in is by car. You can use the Upper Class Wing security line by taking a lift in Zone A of the main terminal.

As you head towards Terminal 3 in your taxi or Uber, you are looking out for this sign:

As you turn towards the Upper Class Wing, you are met by a barrier and an intercom.

This is farcical, frankly. The only person who can speak into it is the driver, because of how it is positioned, but whoever answers it insists on speaking to the flyer. The flyer will never be the driver. Last time I was there I tried shouting from the passenger seat (at least I wasn’t in the back) but I couldn’t be heard. I tried to get the taxi driver to speak on my behalf but the person couldn’t understand anything.

‘He’s flying to Boston’. ‘Atlanta? I can’t see a Burgess flying to Atlanta’. ‘No, Boston’. ‘Is he sure he’s flying Virgin Atlantic to Atlanta?’

In the end the person on the intercom gave up and lifted the barrier anyway.

You then head down this dodgy looking bit of road:

…. until you finally appear in something suitably classy:

There are two things to note here. You cannot park your car anywhere – it is strictly a drop-off area. Because of the turning circle, it cannot accept stretched cars or oversized vehicles.

You enter here. Someone should be waiting at the door to relieve you of your luggage:

Inside it is a fairly sparse space. To your right you have some toilets and some seating, in case the two check-in desks are occupied:

…. and next to that, a model aircraft and a fridge containing soft drinks – you can see it in the top photograph above, which is a PR image.

Once you’ve dropped your bags, if you have any, you walk down this corridor:

…. and turn left at the end. You are immediately at a security belt. Here is a PR shot from the Virgin Atlantic website although this may have changed since new security equipment was installed earlier this year:

At this point, you realise that the Upper Class Wing is, in some ways, a big trick. The security lane is part of the main bank of security lanes inside Terminal 3, albeit dedicated to Upper Class Wing users. You have been inside the main terminal building all the time.

Once you have cleared security, you exit in the same place as everyone else coming into Terminal 3, trapped in the World Duty Free maze. It is a long walk to the Clubhouse lounge (review) but no worse than it is for people checking in via the main terminal.

How does the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing in Terminal 3 compare to the British Airways First Wing in Terminal 5?

Whilst these two ‘exclusive’ areas seem similar, in reality they operate in different ways.

Who can use it?

Virgin Atlantic allows the following to use the Upper Class Wing, according to its website:

Passengers travelling in the following cabins:

• Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic + a guest travelling with Virgin Atlantic or Delta
• Delta One on Delta

Passengers with the following loyalty status:

• Flying Club Gold card members + a guest travelling with Virgin Atlantic or Delta
• Delta Sky Miles Diamond and Platinum Medallions + a guest travelling on Virgin Atlantic or Delta
• Flying Blue Platinum Members + a guest travelling on Virgin Atlantic or Delta
• Virgin Australia Velocity Club Gold, Platinum and The Club card holders travelling on Virgin Atlantic

Intriguingly, Virgin Atlantic has – since we last looked at this topic – removed a line saying that other SkyTeam Elite Plus members with a guest were welcome when travelling with Virgin Atlantic or Delta. Are they still welcome or are they now banned?

The British Airways First Wing is only for Executive Club Gold members or equivalents or First Class passengers

Do you have a dedicated drop-off area and someone to carry your luggage?

• Virgin UCW – yes
• BA FW – no

Do you avoid the main terminal?

• Virgin UCW – yes, until you exit security, then you join the throng on your way to the Clubhouse lounge

• BA FW – you need to enter Terminal 5 to access the First Wing but once in it, you have a private channel all the way to the Galleries First lounge

Can you use it if arriving by public transport?

• Virgin UCW – no, only car drop off is allowed, but you can use the private security channel by taking the lift in Zone A of Terminal 3 to the Upper Class Wing

• BA FW – yes

You can find out more about the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing on its website here.

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How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards (April 2025)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Virgin Points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

You can choose from two official Virgin Atlantic credit cards (apply here, the Reward+ card has a bonus of 18,000 Virgin Points and the free card has a bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points):

You can also earn Virgin Points from various American Express cards – and these have sign-up bonuses too.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for a year and comes with 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 20,000 Virgin Points.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with 50,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 50,000 Virgin Points.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

Small business owners should consider the two American Express Business cards. Points convert at 1:1 into Virgin Points.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Virgin Points.