Virgin Atlantic Returns to Seoul, Finnair Business Class Deals

Virgin Atlantic has reinstated flights to Seoul, with services commencing on March 29, 2026, operating daily from Heathrow. This new route emerged from a unique opportunity presented by the merger of Korean Air and Asiana, where Virgin Atlantic was granted a daily Heathrow slot pair to ensure UK competition clearance. While beneficial for offering a direct London-Seoul link, questions arise about the “real” competition given Virgin Atlantic and Korean Air's SkyTeam partnership and codeshare agreement. A key long-term benefit for Virgin Atlantic is gaining full ownership of these valuable Heathrow slots after three years of operating the route, enabling future expansion like a 24th daily New York flight or a new destination.

The flights, designated VS208/VS209, will use a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, featuring 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium, and 192 Economy seats. A notable drawback for business travellers is the use of Virgin's older ‘coffin class' Upper Class seats on these significantly long flights, which can exceed 14 hours on the return journey due to the necessary avoidance of Russian airspace. Headline fares are set at £3,113 for Upper Class, £1,493 for Premium, and £799 for Economy. Passengers can also access onward connections with Korean Air to various Asian and Oceanic cities, including Tokyo, Sydney, and Hanoi. Initially, reward seat availability was unclear, but has since been confirmed.

Coincidentally, Finnair has launched its own competitive business class deals to Seoul, valid from January to September 2026. These cash fares present an attractive alternative, with returns from London as low as £1,800, Manchester around £1,650, and Edinburgh approximately £1,700. Even cheaper options exist from Frankfurt or Munich at approximately €1,600. However, these are “Business Light” fares, meaning lounge access and checked baggage are not included, though they can be added for an extra £75-£100 each way. A benefit of the Finnair deal is the ability to earn Avios and tier points, with crediting to The British Airways Club likely being more lucrative (150% of miles flown for R/I class tickets) than Finnair Plus.

(Source: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/11/05/virgin-atlantic-seoul-tickets-available/)