Review: Virgin America Loft LAX

I have used this lounge while waiting to depart in Virgin Australia business class back when VA was in T3, and it was typically overflowing and nearly impossible to find a seat when the VA flights were about to depart. There was also the better food selection you describe (as of March 2013) and the wifi essentially didn't work at all because it was so overloaded. So I guess VA moving to TBIT has been a mixed bag for the lounge...

This lounge does get crowded around the time of the VA flights. Otherwise, I'm not surprised that it would sit empty most of the time.

Does anyone really pay money to access these domestic lounges?

Did you ask for a refund since food was not as advertised? 😉

Huh, I was there in April and it was exactly as advertised, with food that was pretty good and several solid cocktails. Too bad it didn't measure up this time. The clubhouse in SFO is still head and tails above

Is this the old TWA Ambassador's Club space - which I believe back in the day was shared with Alaska?

@Lucky - I was there just before Thanksgiving and they had the food on mini-platters as advertised. It may be a daytime-only affair (we were there around 11am) but we had plenty of breakfast and lunch options available. I suspect the majority of the VX flights out of LAX leave before 6pm, so it doesn't make sense for them to stock it in the afternoon once the food goes stale? Particularly if you're flying first class domestically and bound to get a full dinner on board?

@ Mike -- Yep, it's the former Alaska Airlines Board Room!

VA stopped using T3 (except for check-in) on 1 December 2013. I expect the catering has been downgraded significantly now that this huge revenue stream has pulled out from using the Loft.

Is the Men's room still tiled in black from the TWA days?

I hope that Amex doesn't do the same with the food in the Centurion lounges.

I can't imagine spending $40/day to visit the lounge, but VX doesn't have enough lounges to justify an annual membership either. Too bad they don't do a deal with Amex or Priority Pass

I visited last month before my VA flight and it was a severe disappointment. I agree the furniture is cheap Ikea meets frat house chic. When the VA flight departed it was madly full to the brim. Fortunately the VA flights have been moved to Tom Bradley International to the NZ lounge. The food at the Loft was lame and disappointing at best. Thanks for the review.

Just was told when I checked in to the loft today that they are setting up an agreement with Amex Plat/Cent starting early Jan. That's the good news, the bad news is as noted the food options have been dramatically downgraded.

Was invited to use the VA lounge as an Upper Class V Atlantic customer

Previously we had used the Air New Zealand lounge which was great

The VA lounge is poor in comparison and I am surprised that it would even be offered rather than the ANZ lounge

Very poor food offering - soup, bread, cheese and cookies

No shower which came as a huge surprise as we always enjoyed the ANZ showers

This has put me off Flying V Atlantic to LAX in future - we will choose an alternative airline

Waste of 40$. I should have read reviews. Pretty dumpy. I expected more as the planes and flights have been nice. I ate cheese and crackers and a rubber bagel. How pathetic. had to bloody Mary's so I would not feel totally ripped off. There should gave been something to eat for that price. So disappointed.

I've just used the lounge last weekend, perhaps the most disappointing lounge I've come across thus far. Thankfully, I did not have to pay for it, having booked a Virgin America domestic flight on First Class.

The only upside of the lounge would be that no one goes there. I almost had the entire lounge to myself at some points of time as I had a long transit of around 4 hours. The main boarding gate area was extremely crowded so this quiet lounge is a good respite. Apart from that, service is horrible, restrooms belong to a dingy cinema, food selection (what selection?), and the list goes on.