A few weeks ago I wrote about how something strange was going on with Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses outside of the UK. We now have a better sense of what’s going on.
Continue reading: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses Now Managed By Sodexo
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I assume Sodexo will only be managing the F&B operation, meaning there will still be real Virgin Atlantic staff there to assist with airline issues. That aside, Sodexo runs many or most of the Delta Sky Clubs. And given Delta's minority stake in Virgin Atlantic, it's not surprising that Sodexo would get the contract. I imagine Sodexo is significantly cheaper if you look at the quality of food and booze offered in Sky Club lounges operated by Sodexo.
No disrespect to San Fran or Boston. But why doesn’t their second U.K. Airport Manchester, merit a club house lounge. Strange how a British airline has a few abroad yet only has its own domestic lounge at Heathrow.
I thought before Plaza Premium came in, the Clubhouses was already managed by Sodexo.
It is certain that Virgin Atlantic did its own bid process; they are not a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta which is the only way that DL could dictate everything about how VS operates. Sodexo undoubtedly won the bid on its own merits and provides whatever F&B that the contracting company wants.
I would bet that once the change happens, access based on Plaza Premium lounge network is going to get dropped off. AmEx has technically already been cut off in JFK (based on numerous DP's on FT and likely C1 VX will also get dropped because C1's contract was with Plaza Premium and if these lounges are out of the Plaza Premum network, i don't see a viable way where access can be provided to C1 or AmEx cardholders.
Focusing on JFK only here - once Delta actually opens the new new clubs (A Gates, Delta One) and adds them to the current club, it should relieve some pressure on the Amex Centurion Lounge, which should create less of a sting if Amex loses access.
Sodexo is the largest private prison operator in the world. Who better to run an airline lounge.
I stopped by the IAD lounge last night brandishing my AmEx Plat card and was turned away. The messaging was "this lounge is currently only accepting Virgin Atlantic passengers." I did not press the issue as I could access the Turkish Air lounge down the hall using PP. The Turkish Air lounge is somewhat infamously crowded already, so it may be unpleasant for additional passengers to be diverted there.
Possibly it’s because Manchester is a very leisure based market and so fewer premium passengers.
To be fair, Sodexo is also responsible for F&B at Cathay's excellent Hong Kong lounges.
Like most things, what they cater is simply a function of what the airline is willing to pay.
For the VS Boston clubhouse, there's still the Air France KLM lounge for priority pass. It will also be interesting to see what happens with both the AFKL and VS lounges when the new Terminal E full SkyClub opens (e.g. whether DL moves the LAX D1 flights to Terminal E which would facilitate making at least part of the new club a Delta One lounge).
There is no Virgin Clubhouse at Newark as you mentioned. Plaza premium erroneously refer to it as a virgin club on their website.
The only SkyTeam lounge at EWR is the Delta SkyClub which is presently closed
Oh, is the former VS Clubhouse totally closed at EWR then? Or is it still open but just as a contract lounge? I ask because I have a flight out of EWR Terminal B in a few weeks.
If I am flying into San Francisco business class on March 29 and the Virgin lounge is not reopen on time, which is the best other one to use - United Polaris? I am only silver on Virgin. We are flying out of SF on Virgin codeshare on Air New Zealand.
The United Polaris lounge is very nice and in the same terminal G from which Air New Zealand departs. They do have a good sit down dinner area where you will be served. However the kitchen closes at 9 pm and likely the dining area will have a waiting list.
Overall the Polaris lounge is quite nice and if you miss the sit down dining there is a fairly good buffet too. You need to be booked in business class on Air New Zealand to enter the lounge.
Access to Clubhouse is officially dead for AMEX cardholders. AMEX removed them from the app. Apparently access with Capital One is still on, Plaza Premium released a statement stating Capital One (no mention of AMEX) cardholders would not loose access.
@rrapynot - check your sources and facts. They do not operate any prisons and have not for quite some time (5+ years).
Looks like the Virgin Atlantic lounges have quietly disappeared from the Plaza Premium list of lounges in U.S. for Capital One cardholders.