Review: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York JFK Airport

Lucky what us your sense on tipping in a setting like this? Being located in the US should you tip similar to a comparable meal at a restaurant?

Agreed, the lounge is insanely good.

Was on the AM Virgin flight a couple of weeks before this, and ordered the Eggs Benedict. Which I also later tried at the Galleries First in LHR. Definitely *much* better at the VS lounge, something was off about the ones at Heathrow.

Unfortunately didn't spend much time in the VS JFK lounge due to the ridiculous security (I forgot about the secret downstairs security) times but even so had an awesome experience too

@ Josh G. -- I don't think there's any obligation to, but personally I do. For example, I tipped the person serving us most of the time $20.

So, Lucky, best lounge in the US? Or at least, best business class lounge?

"I appreciated the fact that Karen also showed us the menu for our flight from New York to London, so we could decide what or how much we wanted to eat. The menu for the flight didn’t look especially appetizing (or extensive), so we figured we’d have a “real” dinner in the restaurant."

Considering how 1) they've cut back on options and total amount of food on their transatlantic meals from the East coast (dinner and breakfast) and 2) they encourage their Upper Class passengers to eat in the lounge anyway, this is good advice for anyone flying out of the East coast on VS.

@ wwk5d -- To be honest I can't think of any lounge in the US I'd consider to be better, be it first or business class.

Sounds like a blast! Great report!

Wow, someone drinks a lot! Clubhouse looks awesome, except for the loo - looks more like a lav at a school or museum!

I love your reviews. Thank so much for posting them! I've been reading your blog for years! Thanks for all the time and travel tips.
Your tip on hand carry cracks me up, and funny I use that sometimes.
But in Asia they usually do it at the security, and they take you bag completely and weighs them, which was annoying.

can't wait to continue reading your reviews!

Only one toilet picture?

Glad to see you enjoy it as much as I do. I prefer the late night flight, and will often head to JFK when the Clubhouse opens in the afternoon and while away a day enjoying the atmosphere (and the bubbles) and the views.

One note: Delta passengers also have access to this lounge now in certain circumstances. (Though I'm not sure which — I'll ask @Delta on Twitter.) I redeemed VA points for a DL J flight to LHR in the spring and the Clubhouse comes up as one of the lounges I'm entitled to use.

Ah, Ben, you crack me up!! It sounds like you had an awesome time made the most of starting the trip off with a bang. And yes, you really should never get a massage after drinking. I am a bit surprised they let you. Did your friend take a nap too, I take it? Otherwise, I am assuming your friend would have woke you up to board? If you find yourself in that situation in the future, set your phone alarm. I have used that to save me many times!

You know that AT&T commercial with the kids in the classroom and that guy asks that little girl, "Are you competing for the cutest kid and what place she's in?" And she replies, "kindergarten." That's adorable and so are you in this report. I love that you can make fun of yourself.

Looks nice, but the food options/actual food pics are just ok IMO. Then again UC is more business class than first. I think the food in the IAD BA First Class Lounge was phenomenal and far better than the options above. Just my two cents.

Loving that you're having a lot of fun (and a few drinks) - it makes for very entertaining reading.

"Then again UC is more business class than first."

At the risk of sounding snarky...um, duh?

Am I the only one who thinks your maneuver with the carry-on is rather gauche?

Oh god. What happened in the massage chair? You didn't throw up, did you?

@ Katie -- Nope, he was awake. Unlike me he has the ability to maintain a buzz vs. going "over the top." He was about to wake me up as well, but apparently wanted to let me sleep as long as possible.

@ Elizabeth -- Nope, didn't throw up... in the massage chair. :p

Hi Lucky, thanks for great and funny review. How would you rank this lounge compared to the Star Alliance lounge at LAX? If you haven't visited it yet, do you have any plans to do so? Keep up the great work!

@ Karl -- Sadly haven't yet been to the Star Alliance lounge at LAX, though have plans to check it out in next couple of months. Curious to compare!

Ben, question related to JFK airport. I am arriving in T8, and connecting to another flight in T8, can I use the lounge in T4 given I have to clear security when moving from one terminal to another? Thanks.

@ Christopher -- No, T4 and T8 aren't connected airside, so you'd have no way of entering T4.

Totally agree that staff at JFK club house really shines! They are generally considerate, polite and willing to go extra miles for you. And this is the only lounge the staff will remember my name every　time when I come back. My only complaint was at JFK Upper Class check-in, exactly the same location of the third picture you took. The staff told me "no picture" when I tried to snap photo. It was Nov 2013. Do you know why?

love the trick with the shoe under the scale! we used it at KTM when flying with our springer spaniel dog (about 11kg/25 pounds) - she wound up weighing 4 kilos! the lovely Nepalis thought it was the greatest joke in the world and shouted to the whole airport that this dog only weighed 4 kg!

I would have never thought a lounge that nice could exist in North America. Astonishingly good for a business class lounge and holds it own as a first class lounge.

Love your tricks. Love the drunk guy you tube video. Can any AMEX or Priority Pass Holder use the Virgin Lounge? (I'm obviously a newbie)....

@ Catherine -- Thanks! Unfortunately neither of those cards will get you access. Sorry.

Looking at flying over from Heathrow in June and then back from JFK about a month later. Early morning flight from Heathrow but on the way back we've got quite a bit of time in JFK. We are flying Virgin and I am a member of their rewards club but sadly as students my partner and I are only flying economy. Do you know if we can buy day passes for the lounge? I know I've bought day passes in Sydney with V Australia, but not sure about Virgin Atlantic.

@ Sam -- Day of I believe they might sell day passes on a space available basis. Alternatively, if you want to be sure you get access, you can pay for the Guest List, though it's quite expensive:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/the-virgin-experience/guest-list.html

Enjoy your trip!

"After getting my hairs did..."

Girl, you wrong fo dat.

I was in this lounge last week. Not as impressed as you are. I found out the salon services are booked up much of the time. I had a long layover so thought my wife could use a service. However as a Singapore Air customer I heard no access to these services. Only Virgin Upper Class access. Ok fine. I had a 3.5 hour layover. The showers were busy non stop. No sign in sheet whatsoever. I never found access even though I checked them at least 10 times or more. I did not want to stand around that area. That system is not great. This place was really crowded. After a few flights left it did thin out a bit, but still no shower for me. The menu was pretty vast and I thought the food was ok. For me the Amex Centurion clubs is hands down the best us based airline clubs. Although the food choices in Las Vegas seem to be pretty weird IMHO.

Perhaps a silly question, but was there a charge for the food and beverage? I was very disappointed to find that the Virgin Clubhouse at LAX charges for everything except a couple of complimentary beer/wine selections and pub mix.

@ Jorge -- There's no charge. Are you sure you're not referring to the Virgin America Loft rather than the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse? All food and drinks in Clubhouses should be free.

@Lucky

Generally, I like reading your interesting and informative articles. But I am surprised and disappointed by the behaviour - attempting to defraud airline companies of excess baggage revenue - that you describe in this article. I don't suppose that Virgin Atlantic would summon the NYPD, but if they were to do so, I suppose you could be charged, tried and sentenced for attempted fraud? Have you tried this trick in a country such as the UAE, where the authorities take a less benign view of unlawful behaviour?

Hey asshole! The weight of your luggage is important flight information for safety reasons. Grow the fuck up, pack lighter or pay for you weight.