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Virgin Premium Economy Menu 2026: Meals, Drinks and Desserts

By Umer SattarUpdated 23 Oct 202612 min read

Flying Premium with Virgin Atlantic means the food is a step up from an ordinary airline tray. This is not a restaurant-style menu where you pay dish by dish: the meals, desserts and included drinks on eligible flights are already covered by your ticket, so there is normally no separate charge when the crew serves your main course. Quick answer: The Virgin Premium Economy menu is included in your fare rather than sold item by item, so Virgin Atlantic publishes no individual prices for the dishes — the additional cost to you is $0. Expect a choice of hot mains (recent examples include truffle macaroni cheese, dill-roasted salmon and a herb chicken mini pie), a starter, dessert and cheese, complimentary drinks including a welcome prosecco, and the signature Mile High Tea on most eligible routes. Menus rotate seasonally and differ by route, so the dishes below are documented examples, not a promise for any single flight. Premium dining on Virgin Atlantic centers on a choice of hot entrées, a starter, dessert, cheese, drinks on the house and extra treats on eligible routes. Meals arrive on proper plates with metal cutlery, and the cooking leans on British favorites mixed with flavors from around the world. On a given flight you might be offered chicken pie with herb mash, truffle macaroni cheese, salmon roasted with dill, or a vegetarian plate drawn from a global cuisine. This guide to the Virgin Premium Economy menu in 2026 goes through the published dishes, the food categories, the drinks that come included, the special dietary meals and the prices in US dollars. Because the airline refreshes its menus with the seasons and tailors them to each route, read the items below as documented examples of what has been offered — not a guarantee that a particular dish will appear on your flight.

How the Virgin Premium Economy Menu and Its Pricing Work

The fairest way to understand the Virgin Premium Economy food menu is as a set of included inflight meals, not an à la carte list you pay for. The airline's published 2026 spring/summer menu names several Premium dishes, and its wider Premium dining pages explain the meal service, desserts, drinks and snacks in more detail.

A note on pricing: Virgin Atlantic does not publish individual retail prices for the dishes served in the Premium cabin. Where the tables below show a price, they show what you actually pay on top of your ticket — $0 additional charge for included items — rather than the cost of the food itself or the price of the airfare.

1. Main Courses on the Premium Menu

The entrée is the centerpiece of the meal. Premium passengers are typically offered three main courses to choose from, though the exact selection follows the route and the flight.

1. Main Courses on the Premium Menu
Menu itemDescriptionAdditional price
Truffle Macaroni CheeseCreamy macaroni cheese with truffle, wild mushrooms, garlic crumb, Italian hard cheese, and crispy capersFree
Dill-Roasted SalmonSalmon served with smashed minted peas and crushed parsley potatoesFree
Herb Chicken Mini PieMini chicken pie with herb potato mash, broccoli, baton carrots, and rosemary jusFree
Bagara BainganVegetarian aubergine curry accompanied by vegetable biryani, black bean and cabbage thoran, dal tadka, roasted coconut, and parathaFree
Jjim-Spiced SeabassKorean-inspired seasoned seabass offered on the Seoul route's regional menuFree

These prices describe meals included with the ticket, not separately published food values, and not every dish flies on every route. The details here draw on Virgin Atlantic's 2026 menu announcement together with its Premium dining menu.

Truffle Macaroni Cheese

A meat-free main built on macaroni folded through a creamy, truffle-flavored sauce with wild mushrooms, a garlic crumb and Italian hard cheese. Crispy capers on top cut through the richness, making this a filling choice for anyone who wants a substantial vegetarian dish.

Dill-Roasted Salmon

Here the fish is paired with minted peas that have been smashed and potatoes crushed with parsley — a classic-style plate that matches seafood with familiar vegetable sides.

Herb Chicken Mini Pie

This pie combines seasoned chicken with herb mash, broccoli, carrots and a rosemary jus. It reads like a traditional British plate: protein, vegetables and a potato side in one serving.

Bagara Baingan

A vegetarian meal inspired by Indian cooking, centered on an aubergine curry and surrounded by accompaniments such as vegetable biryani, dal tadka and paratha. With several components on the tray, it feels more elaborate than the typical single-dish vegetarian option.

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2. Breakfast in Premium Economy

Whether breakfast is served — and what it looks like — comes down to when you depart and where you are flying. On overnight services, a breakfast offering may replace the main meal selection you would see on a daytime flight.

Virgin Atlantic's published Premium dining information confirms that breakfast is served onboard, but the airline does not publicly list one fixed breakfast menu with individual prices covering every route.

2. Breakfast in Premium Economy
Breakfast optionDescriptionAdditional price
Hot breakfast selectionBreakfast dishes selected according to the flight's catering menuFree
Warm pastryA warm pastry may be included in the second meal service on eligible night flightsFree
Seasonal fruitFruit served as a lighter breakfast accompaniment when availableFree
YogurtA lighter breakfast item offered as part of some meal servicesFree
Tea or coffeeHot drink served with breakfastFree

Treat these as examples of breakfast components and services rather than a promise that every flight carries every item.

What Breakfast Actually Looks Like Onboard

On an overnight journey, plan on either a lighter morning service or a hot breakfast suited to the route. The main dish, sides and accompaniments can all change from one departure to the next.

If a specific breakfast matters to you, or you have dietary restrictions, review the options attached to your own booking before you travel.

3. Starters and Light Bites

Premium dining is a multi-course affair: the main course is followed by dessert and cheese. One detail that is not standardized is the starter — the airline does not publish a single set dish that appears on every route.

3. Starters and Light Bites
Food categoryWhat to expectAdditional price
StarterA small opening course selected for the flight's menu$0
Light bitesSmaller savory snacks available during the journey$0
Savory snacksSelected snacks available between meal services$0
Cheese courseCheese served as part of the Premium meal service$0

Starters

The starter is a small opening course designed to lead into the main, not to stand in for a meal. Because ingredients and presentation rotate with the seasons, do not count on one particular starter showing up on every US-bound flight.

Light Bites and Snacks Between Meals

If you get hungry mid-flight, ask the cabin crew what snacks are on board. On selected aircraft, Virgin Atlantic also points Premium passengers to a snack area called the Wander Wall; on other flights, snacks are kept near the galley.

4. Desserts and the Mile High Tea

Dessert and cheese form part of the main Premium service. On most eligible routes, the experience also includes Virgin Atlantic's signature Mile High Tea.

4. Desserts and the Mile High Tea
Dessert or sweet optionDescriptionAdditional price
Main-meal dessertA sweet course served after the entrée; the exact item varies by menu$0
Mile High Tea sweet treatsSmall, decorated sweet treats served as part of the afternoon tea experience$0
Traditional British sconesScones served with clotted cream and jam on the airline's signature tea service$0
CakeA cake selection served alongside the afternoon tea components$0
Cheese and accompanimentsA cheese course included in the Premium dining service$0

Mile High Tea

Mile High Tea is one of the airline's signature touches. On most flights from the UK to the United States and the Caribbean, the trolley brings finger sandwiches, traditional British scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet treats and a hot drink.

Think of it as a lighter second dining moment rather than a repeat of the full main course.

The Dessert After Your Main

Which dessert you get shifts with the season and the flight. The airline's 2026 spring/summer announcement names specific desserts for Upper Class and Economy, but those should not simply be assumed to be Premium desserts. The table above therefore sticks to confirmed Premium meal components instead of assigning unverified dishes to this cabin.

5. Drinks Included With Premium

Drinks on the house are a big part of the Premium proposition. The published dining information covers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices, with the final selection depending on the route and what is loaded onboard.

5. Drinks Included With Premium
BeverageDescriptionAdditional price
Welcome proseccoA glass of bubbly offered after boardingFree
WineA selection of wines served with meals or during the flightFree
BeerBeer options available onboardFree
SpiritsSelected spirits served with appropriate mixersFree
Signature Redhead cocktailA signature cocktail listed among the Premium drink optionsFree
Bloody Mary mixA Bloody Mary option included in the airline's drink selectionFree
Soft drinksA selection of non-alcoholic carbonated drinksFree
Fruit juicesJuice options served onboardFree
TeaHot tea, including selected Twinings varietiesFree
CoffeeCoffee served during meal service or on requestFree

Alcoholic Drinks

When they form part of the Premium service, selected wine, beer, prosecco and spirits come with no extra onboard charge. The welcome prosecco, offered after boarding, gives the trip a celebratory start.

Brands, cocktail recipes and wine picks all rotate, and the airline does not attach a fixed retail price to each complimentary pour.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Soft drinks, juices, tea and coffee are available throughout the journey, so passengers who do not drink alcohol still get full use of the included beverage service with the main meal or the afternoon tea.

6. Vegetarian and Special Dietary Meals

Virgin Atlantic covers a wide range of dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher and halal meals. How far ahead you need to order, and what is available, varies by meal type and route.

6. Vegetarian and Special Dietary Meals
Dietary categoryExample or serviceAdditional price
VegetarianTruffle macaroni cheese with wild mushrooms and garlic crumbFree
Vegetarian Indian-style mealBagara baingan with vegetable biryani and accompanimentsFree
VeganRequest an appropriate vegan meal for the specific flightFree
Gluten-freeRequest a meal that meets the applicable dietary requirementFree
HalalRequest a halal meal in advanceFree
KosherRequest a kosher meal, allowing the required notice periodFree
Children's mealAge-appropriate meal options for younger travelersFree

The two named vegetarian dishes are documented examples from the Premium menu. The remaining rows describe special-meal services rather than guarantees of any particular recipe.

How to Order a Special Meal

Look at the options attached to your reservation and put your request in ahead of time. Virgin Atlantic says special dietary meals can generally be requested up to 24 hours before departure, while kosher meals need 48 hours' notice.

If you have a food allergy, contact the airline before you travel as well. Ordering a special meal is sensible, but it should not be read as a guarantee that the aircraft's catering environment is entirely free of a given allergen.

7. The Kids' Menu in Premium

Families can look for meals designed for younger travelers. For 2026, Virgin Atlantic announced a refreshed children's menu for ages 2–12 built around breadcrumb-coated chicken, mashed potato, roasted carrots, broccoli, a creamy cheese sauce and fresh fruit, and the announcement says the updated meal is rolling out across all cabins.

7. The Kids' Menu in Premium
Kids' menu itemDescriptionAdditional price
Breadcrumb-coated chickenChicken served with mashed potato and vegetablesFree
Mashed potatoA soft potato side served with the children's mealFree
Roasted carrots and broccoliVegetable accompanimentsFree
Fresh fruitFruit served alongside the mealFree
Children's dessertA dessert selection that may vary by cabin and routeFree

These items are components of the announced children's meal, not separate dishes you can necessarily order one by one. Check the menu assigned to your flight and request any child meal you need in advance.

8. How the Meal Services Fit Together

Premium food is served as an inflight dining experience. Unlike a restaurant, you do not pick and pay for each component individually.

8. How the Meal Services Fit Together
Meal serviceTypical componentsAdditional price
Main mealStarter, selected main course, dessert, and cheeseFree
Breakfast serviceFlight-dependent breakfast items and hot drinksFree
Afternoon teaFinger sandwiches, scones, sweet treats, and a hot drink on eligible routesFree
Drinks serviceComplimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beveragesFree
Between-meal snacksSelected snacks, depending on aircraft and availabilityFree

Portion Sizes

Virgin Atlantic does not publish standard gram weights or calorie counts for every Premium dish. Portions hinge on the recipe and the onboard catering setup, so quoting exact weights or calories without dependable dish-specific data would be misleading.

The shape of the service is clearer: the main meal is a complete dining occasion, and afternoon tea plus snacks fill the gaps between services.

Can You Choose Your Main Course in Advance?

Yes, on eligible Premium flights. Virgin Atlantic says meal pre-selection opens seven days before departure and closes 24 hours before departure, with the choices depending on your route and booking.

Pre-selecting makes sense if you feel strongly about one of the dishes. Even so, check the options shown for your actual flight, because published menu examples may not match the final selection.

9. Premium Menu Prices for US Travelers

If you are searching from the United States for Virgin Premium Economy menu prices, the crucial distinction is between what the flight costs and what the food onboard costs on top of it.

9. Premium Menu Prices for US Travelers
Item or servicePublished individual menu pricePassenger's additional charge when included
Premium main courseFreeFree
StarterFreeFree
DessertFree$0
Cheese courseFree$0
Mile High TeaFree$0
Welcome proseccoFree$0
Wine, beer, and selected spiritsFree$0
Soft drinks, tea, and coffeeFree$0
Included meal for a childFree$0

None of these figures are retail food prices. They simply show that the items belong to the included onboard service when offered in the applicable cabin and on the applicable flight. What a Virgin Atlantic Premium ticket itself costs depends on the route, the travel date, fare availability and booking conditions.

10. Does the Premium Menu Change?

Yes — the menu evolves as Virgin Atlantic brings in seasonal recipes, refreshes its drinks list and adapts meals to individual routes. The 2026 spring/summer announcement, for instance, highlights updated Premium main courses and a regional Korean-inspired menu for the Seoul route.

Keep the following points in mind:

  • Route: Not every dish is available on every flight.
  • Season: Expect the mains and desserts to rotate as the seasonal menus change.
  • Departure time: Whether you get breakfast or afternoon tea comes down to the journey and the timing of the meal service.
  • Dietary requirements: If you need a special meal, you may have to request it ahead of time.
  • Aircraft and catering: Which snacks are on board, and the exact offerings, can vary from one flight to the next.

For the selection that actually applies to you, check the meal options attached to your booking instead of relying on a menu from another route or travel date.

Final Thoughts

The Virgin Premium Economy menu goes well beyond a standard airline meal: multi-course dining, British-inspired plates, international flavors, desserts, drinks on the house and the signature Mile High Tea on most eligible routes. The dishes worth knowing are the truffle macaroni cheese, the dill-roasted salmon, the herb chicken mini pie and the vegetarian Indian-style options — just remember that your exact menu is set by your route and season, and check your booking for the final word.

Frequently asked questions

What food is served on the Virgin Premium Economy menu?

You get a choice of main courses plus a starter, dessert, cheese, drinks and additional snacks. Published dish examples include truffle macaroni cheese, dill-roasted salmon, herb chicken mini pie and bagara baingan.

What does a Virgin Premium Economy meal cost?

Once you hold the applicable ticket, included Premium meals generally cost $0 extra. You won't find a separate price list for the individual dishes, because Virgin Atlantic doesn't publish retail prices for them.

Which Premium dishes get highlighted most often?

The airline's published menu spotlights dishes such as truffle macaroni cheese, dill-roasted salmon and herb chicken mini pie. Because availability follows the flight, treat them as menu highlights rather than guaranteed choices.

Are vegetarian and children's meals available in Premium?

Yes. Vegetarian dishes are served, children's meals are offered, and other dietary options — vegan, gluten-free, halal and kosher among them — can be requested subject to the airline's arrangements and notice requirements.

Do Premium menu prices stay the same on every flight?

The included meal service has no separate published dish-by-dish price list. The menu itself, however — along with portion details and available choices — can vary by route, season and flight.

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