Prior to my A330-900neo Upper Class flight to Miami, I visited the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Heathrow. I’ve visited this lounge many times over the years, though not since the start of the pandemic, so I was curious to see how it was holding up.
Continue reading: Review: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London Heathrow (LHR)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
It’s a great lounge, the food and drink offering is always on point. Never considered the opening time as an issue ( note Air France/KLM are moving back to T4 shortly), I suppose connecting passengers from JNB would use the arrivals lounge then go back through the Upper Class Wing to the Clubhouse ( you didn’t say if you used that ?) The area with the pool table has often been roped off for VIP guests as has the TV area.
I think you should remove the integrated link to the menu, as it lets your order food to table C5 without any confirmation, that seem like it could be lots of wasted food. Maybe screenshots of it?
Oh btw you said it only cost you £10 from the hotel to T3, did you get away with Uber not charging you the £5 terminal drop off charge? It might be a hidden cost on your account.
Is the "Virgin Upper Class Wing" private drop off and streamlined security screening still available? I enjoyed that in 2018.
Yes all fully operational, there was one day it was closed due to power issues but other than that business as usual.
Oh my?! Who designs these bathrooms without any partitions at the urinals? These appear to be particularly exposed.
I used to go to that lounge once a month before the pandemic and it was my favorite. Way better than their arrival lounge which is small. I remember them allowing me to pay maybe £20 per person to allow my 2 kids to enter with me (me as Delta Diamond and wife as guest). Not sure if that is still the case.
It's great to hear that you've had a positive experience at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse before the pandemic. It's also good to know that the lounge offers options for families, allowing them to enter for a reasonable fee. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
You used the phrase, 'happy to serve you' and I concur. On many visits, I have never had an indifferent server. They all seem to be quite happy doing what they are doing.
I think you mentioned a few posts ago that the company responsible for the lounge is changing. Let's hope the high standards are maintained.
Ben, what happen to Virgin categorizing the lounge as a "first class" lounge, which would have the effect of excluding SkyTeam elites?
I love that lounge as well and the vibe. The last couple of times I was there in the last 6 months, it was at least once INSANELY crowded to the point that it took me a while to find an available seat, and I have to say that even then it wasn't particularly unpleasant! If you really want to indulge, in the afternoon there is an afternoon tea service with the delicious snacks coming in a super cute wicker picnic basket... Love it. Almost makes it worth the outrageous fuel surcharges when redeeming points hah.
It’s pretty standard in the UK not to have partitions between urinals. It was quite notable when I came to the states how all urinals have little walls between them.
'It's great but...' = 5 stars
Please come up with some sort of criteria for your ratings (if you're going to give them)!!!
I was typing a comment to say the same as Ben, but he beat me to it. The standard urinal design in the UK used to be a simple trough on which partitions are not really possible. So I guess we’ve culturally got used to the openness — and we’re probably not quite so obsessed with the idea that every man is trying to get a look at our winkies. Conversely, stalls will likely have full-height doors and no gaps around the panelling. Cultural difference.
A very trendy cafe opened in Edinburgh in which the designer had installed a trough with a continuous waterfall running down the back wall (which was a giant mirror). The effect was stunning. After a week in which the local water company was desperately trying to find where the water mains leak was they finally discovered this toilet, and ordered the continuous waterfall turned off and replaced with timed flushers. From then on, urination in that club was one of the most exposing experiences I have ever had.
As an aside, the longest continuous urinal trough in the world is (or was) in the fabulous Barbican arts centre in the City of London.
BTW, you can tell most OMAAT readers are young. I find pretty much every chair in the Virgin lounge to be either impossibly low or (in the case of bar stools) precariously high. It’s desperately uncomfortable for old farts. But maybe we’re off brand?
@ Tommy -- As I said, I'd consider this to be one of the best business class lounges in the world, so why wouldn't it get five stars? I'm curious, what hub business class lounges in the world would you consider better than this? I'd say the Al Mourjan Lounge Doha and Emirates Business Lounge Doha could arguably be considered as good or even better, but I can't think of any other lounges.
@ Lee -- Well we knew Virgin Atlantic would carve out some exceptions with access to this lounge, and that's also exactly what happened. SkyMiles Gold Medallion members and Flying Blue Gold members don't get access, even though they're SkyTeam Elite Plus.
Agreed re: your rating; but generally speaking - for the layperson, it would be good to know /why/ in a very short, concise way. Most lounge consumers don't have choice when they rock up to a lounge; they do when booking a flight. It's quite difficult to discern 'value' from your reviews - that's what's missing: some clear value measure.
I really, really love and appreciate your blog, but sometimes a summary is all one needs.
@ Creditcrunch -- To be more accurate, the fare was around 11 GBP (it was a 6 GBP base fare, plus the 5 GBP terminal drop-off fee). I didn't use the Upper Class Wing as I arrived at the terminal before it opened.
Yes, in theory you could use the arrivals lounge first (which opens at 5:30AM), but it's still not a terribly seamless experience. Looking at the flight status for that service recently, it also pretty regularly lands 20-25 minutes early.
Admittedly that impacts relatively few passengers, though a lot of airlines make an effort to always have a lounge open when connecting passengers might be arriving. That's not the case here.
Please review drive through check-in next time, it’s the USP of the VS lounge.
In this day and age, it's no longer enough to say it's one of the best. You've been to most, so perhaps give a comparison in the main blog.
So, if you are Flying Blue or Delta Gold, does it mean you have no lounge?
I mean, even if they give them a contract lounge, seems quite shitty to prioritise other elite plus members over Flying Blue and Delta's.
You get access to the Aspire Lounge in T3, not sure which lounge will be used when AF/KLM move back to T4
I have always been made welcome and treated as a special guest., u like some lounges where it is a help yourself attitude.
They always go out of their way to make you happy.
Many times in London when I have used the "trough" urinal there was always a guy or two wanking........jus' saying.
@Ben - I noticed you took out the link for ordering, however the bar code picture still allows ordering.
I have never come across this at all. Perhaps I've been going to the wrong places?
Yet, cubicles in the USA seem to be intentionally made with massive gaps along the frame when the doors are shut for everyone to be able to look in!
Hi,
I disagree we flew last Sat 11th March to Barbados departing about 11am and was completely underwhelmed. The initial greeting was barely a smile, the lounge almost nowhere to sit and surly staff. The A La carte restaurant was poor with food arriving before drinks and barely warm.
When we mentioned this there barely any engagement, considering how all the blogs and articles rave about this I was really disappointed. My last experience at at the BA lounge LHR Term 5 was much better.
Can I add, I am exceptionally taken back by the exclusive area for VA customers in Heathrow.....But when I came to the bathroom pictures (the ladies/gents? that horrifying pic really put me off!!!)
The ad team really need to address this and replace it with another snap of because it just bring the quality and high standards of what it represents right down to zero.
Hope this helps.
We love the Virgin Heathrow club house, it is an intrinsic part of our holiday and we can't wait until our next visit in 3 weeks time
My family & I (spouse + 4 year old) recently had the chance to experience the Newark United Polaris lounge (1K flying Polaris to London) and Heathrow Virgin Clubhouse (Silver flying economy with 2 lounge vouchers).
Despite my status and flying Polaris, the staff in the lounge were borderline hostile, especially at the restaurant and shower area.
I was sure I couldn't take my family to the Clubhouse in London as a nobody with only 2 vouchers for a family of 3. What a revelation as the kind lounge attendant not only allowed us in (speaking to us very kindly) but also gave my daughter crayons and coloring book. The lounge itself was amazing with great food, amenities and service.
Additionally, the Virgin economy flight had better service than United Polaris (this is not the first time). I now know which airline I'm going to spend my money with.
Just flew Upper class the other day out of Heathrow and I can concur—I absolutely loved the food and the service. The peloton was a bit wonky when I was there, but the nap pods and the shower rooms were fantastic.
I am not sure if this will get checked or not since it is over a year, but if you are flying into LHR with Delta One, can you still access the lounge? Thanks!