Route guide · Updated 2026
Pick the best of 3 nonstop flights on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. But which flights let you stretch out, defy jetlag, and save hours door-to-door?
Our verdict
Seatmap lottery
British Airways is more likely to give you a bus gate at Heathrow, as well as their short haul destinations abroad. They don't have enough jet bridges for their whoel schedule. Other full service airlines typically use jet bridges all the time.
Seatmap lottery
Virgin's oldest Upper Class cabin divides fans. The design was first offered in 2003. You'll have the same onboard service, but the seat design is much narrower, angled towards the aisle with less privacy and little storage compared to modern configurations. Window gazers will find it frustrating trying to look out at a narrow angle while facing towards the middle of the cabin.
All the seats have aisle access, and these beds benefit from no obstruction to your feet so they're good for sleeping. These are also the only remaining aircraft with the onboard bar. The A330-300s will be out of the fleet by 2028, and the last 787-9 will be reconfigured by 2030.
Until then, you may get more for your money by booking an alternative cabin - either another Virgin flight, or an alternative airline with a more modern business class configuration.
Seatmap lottery
Studies show the effects of lower cabin altitude (more oxygen and humidity) help with feeling less fatigued when you land.
787s, A350s and A380s have lower cabin altitudes than other aircraft. On long flights, like from London to Las Vegas, you'll notice your skin, mouth, and nose dry through the flight.
Faster door-to-door
Rush hour in Las Vegas hits around 3pm to 6pm. If you depart London before 5pm, you'll hit the traffic by the time you land, clear customs, and collect bags. Taxis and Ubers will be more expensive too.
Faster door-to-door
Most international travellers will have to queue at US customs, but these days this is often not much longer than the time for bags to arrive so your door-to-door time isn't affected.
US Customs and Border Protection shows a spike in longer queues for arrivals from 2pm to 3pm, where your door-to-door journey could be delayed. You can avoid this by choosing flights that depart London after 5pm.
Two alternatives exist: US Global Entry programme makes it very quick to be processed, typically a couple of minutes. You could also pre-clear US customs at a connecting airport in Ireland or Canada.
Plane food
Virgin features three distinct meal services with a hot main meal, midflight snack lunch, then a light meal towards the end of the flight. This is more aligned to how often you'll eat normally.
Plane food
The longest US flights get a second hot meal service, but you'll have 7-8 hours between service where you can go hungry. There are snacks onboard, but they tend to be carb-heavy that can spike your blood sugar and not really fill you up. Other airlines pace their meal service better for long dayflights that might leave you wanting more.
Avoid grazing through the flight, and consider high-protein snacks. These do a better job making you feel full and trigger hormones that make you feel more alert. Carb-heavy snacks will send you on a blood sugar rollercoaster that might make you feel less with it when you land.
Plane food
Remember, US customs won't let you bring fresh food items in. That includes things like fruit or sandwiches provided onboard. Save the hassle and eat onboard.
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