Are you planning to fly with Virgin Atlantic premium economy soon? If you’re wondering what tasty meals and drinks you’ll enjoy at 30,000 feet, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Virgin Atlantic premium economy menu for 2025. From breakfast to dinner, snacks to drinks, I’ve got the full breakdown of the food experience waiting for you.
When flying premium economy Virgin Atlantic, the food service is a step up from the regular economy cabin. The airline has worked hard to create a premium menu that feels special without going to the extremes of upper class menu options.
Each meal is served on proper plates with metal cutlery, cloth napkins, and glassware – a nice touch that makes the dining experience feel more like a restaurant than airplane food. The menu food Virgin Atlantic premium economy typically includes:
The cabin crew serves everything to your seat, which is different from economy where you might just get handed a tray. The Virgin Atlantic premium economy menu changes regularly, with seasonal updates that keep things fresh for frequent flyers.
The Virgin Atlantic menu premium economy offers several main course options, usually including a meat, fish, and vegetarian choice. Based on recent flights and the 2025 updates, here are some examples of main dishes you might find:
Meat Options:
Fish Options:
Vegetarian Options:
The Virgin Atlantic premium economy menu also includes starters like Caprese salad with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes, seaweed salad with yuzu dressing, or superfood salad with pumpkin seeds.
For dessert, you might enjoy:
If you’re on an overnight flight, breakfast is served about 90 minutes before landing. The Virgin Atlantic premium economy menu for breakfast typically includes:
Vegetarian options are also available, such as mushroom frittatas or vegetable hash with poached egg.
One great feature of flying premium economy is the ability to pre order your meal. Virgin Atlantic customers can choose their preferred meal up to 72 hours before your flight through the airline’s website or app. This ensures you get your first choice and helps the airline reduce waste.
Special dietary requirements are well catered for, including:
If you have food allergies, it’s always best to pre order a special meal rather than hoping there will be something suitable on the standard menu options.
A unique feature for premium economy passengers is access to “The Wander Wall” – a self-service area where you can help yourself to snacks and drinks between meals. This is perfect if you get hungry during a long flight or want something to nibble with your red wine or other drinks.
Typical snacks available include:
The Virgin Atlantic premium drinks menu is comprehensive and included in your ticket price. You’ll be offered a welcome drink (usually orange juice, water or sparkling wine) when you board. After takeoff, the full bar service begins.
Alcoholic drinks include:
Non-alcoholic options:
The cabin crew will come around regularly with water and other drinks throughout the flight, but you can also visit the Wander Wall or ask for drinks at any time.
While the premium economy food experience is definitely a step up from economy, it’s not quite at the level of upper class customers. Here’s how they compare:
Cabin Class Comparison:
Meal Service
Tableware
Menu Choices
Special Meals
Snacks
Drinks
Kids Meals
Upper class customers access a much more extensive menu and can dine on demand, while economy passengers receive a more basic service. Premium economy hits that sweet spot in the middle, offering significantly better food without the upper class price tag.
For many travellers, the improved food and drink service is a major reason to upgrade to premium economy. If you enjoy good food and find that airplane meals are an important part of your travel experience, then the extra cost might be worthwhile.
Based on customer reviews, the Virgin Atlantic premium economy menu typically receives good ratings for fabulous food quality, especially compared to other airlines’ similar cabins. The ability to pre order your preferred meal is also a significant advantage, particularly on busy routes.
Remember that the food service is just one aspect of the premium economy experience, which also includes:
One of the highlights on certain Virgin Atlantic flights is their version of a mile high tea, featuring:
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, you can also arrange for extras like champagne or a cake. These need to be arranged in advance, either when booking or by contacting the airline at least 48 hours before your flight.
Virgin Atlantic understands the importance of making every kid’s journey tasty and fun, so they offer special children’s meals in premium economy. These need to be requested at least 24 hours before your flight.
Children’s options typically include familiar favorites that kids will enjoy, presented in an appealing way. The airline also provides activity packs to keep little ones entertained during the flight.
For 2025, Virgin Atlantic has refreshed their menu options with an emphasis on sustainable ingredients and regional British specialties. They’ve added more plant-based choices to cater to the growing number of passengers seeking vegetarian and vegan options.
Some of the new highlights include:
The airline has also expanded their partnership with award-winning UK producers to source ingredients, enhancing their commitment to quality and sustainability.
The Virgin Atlantic premium economy menu offers a significant step up from regular economy class dining without the premium price of business class or upper class. With plated meals, proper cutlery, a good selection of dishes, and complimentary drinks, it provides a much more enjoyable dining experience at 35,000 feet.
If food quality is important to you when flying, the upgrade to premium economy might be worth considering, especially on longer flights where you’ll enjoy multiple meal services. The ability to pre order your meal and the addition of the Wander Wall for snacks between meals are particularly nice touches that enhance the overall experience.
Whether you’re sampling the Cumberland sausage with parsley mashed potatoes, enjoying a pan roasted cod with wilted winter greens, or indulging in a red velvet pancake stack for dessert, the Virgin Atlantic premium economy menu aims to make your journey more enjoyable through good food and attentive service.
Yes, Virgin Atlantic premium economy menu choices can be pre-ordered online up to 72 hours before your flight through the manage booking section on the airline’s website.
Yes, all drinks including alcoholic beverages are complimentary as part of the Virgin Atlantic premium drinks menu in premium economy.
Virgin Atlantic offers a range of special meals for different dietary needs. These should be requested at least 24-48 hours before your flight.
No, while the premium economy food is better than economy, it’s not the same as the upper class menu. The main differences are in presentation, choice, and quality of ingredients.
Yes, premium economy passengers have access to the Wander Wall where they can help themselves to snacks and drinks throughout the flight.
Premium economy meals are served on proper plates with real cutlery, offer more choices, better quality ingredients, and are generally more restaurant-like than the economy service.
Yes, there are always vegetarian options available, including dishes like Thai vegetable curry, mascarpone pasta, and vegetable dumpling meals.
