We recently saw the opening of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Los Angeles (LAX), which is the sixth lounge in the carrier’s network, and the fourth in the United States. Initially, the lounge wasn’t part of Priority Pass. That has changed, though with a major catch.
Virgin Atlantic lounge LAX open to Priority Pass with top-off fee
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX has joined the Priority Pass lounge network. Currently, access through Priority Pass is available between 8AM and 5PM, and between 8PM and 11PM. Access to the lounge is permitted up to three hours before scheduled departure.
This is the only Priority Pass lounge at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal, so I imagine this will be popular with travelers. There’s a catch, though — in addition to needing a Priority Pass™ membership to access the lounge, you also have to pay a $35 per person top-off fee, payable directly to the lounge at the time of entry.
Interestingly, this is the first Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in the United States to charge a top-off fee for access through Priority Pass. However, there’s a positive aspect to this. Thanks to this top-off fee, those visiting the lounge through Priority Pass get access to all the typical lounge amenities, including a la carte dining, cocktails, and access to the cinema lounge, private work pods, and the wellness-focused Zen Den.
What do we make of this top-off fee policy?
All the other Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses in the United States belong to Priority Pass, though:
- Hours are extremely limited, and don’t at all overlap with when Virgin Atlantic flights depart
- The lounges are basically just a quiet place to sit, with a very limited selection of complimentary food and drinks (take a look at my recent review of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Dulles)
In other words, Virgin Atlantic approaches these lounges differently depending on whether you’re accessing through Priority Pass, or through an airline ticket. In terms of maximizing revenue, that’s not an unreasonable approach to take, especially since Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses can be pretty great, in terms of the food and drinks. I wonder if this policy is intended to be specific to LAX, or if Virgin Atlantic and Priority Pass are testing the waters, and thinking of expanding this.
I’m sure people will have varying takes on this. Would you rather have access to a lounge through Priority Pass with no fee and a really lackluster selection of food and drinks, or would you rather pay $35, and get a proper meal, cocktails, etc.?
I imagine that perspectives on this will vary considerably. For me, I think it really depends on circumstances. In the morning, I just value a quiet place to sit and have a cup of coffee. Meanwhile in the evening, I’d gladly pay $35 for a proper meal and cocktail, since that’s less than you’ll pay for anything decent in the terminal.
However, since we’re talking about LAX and there aren’t many Priority Pass options, really the question just comes down to whether or not you’re willing to pay $35 for lounge access.
Bottom line
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX has joined Priority Pass over select hours. However, unlike other Clubhouses in the United States, this lounge requires a top-off fee of $35. The good news is that guests will then get access to all the lounge’s amenities, including a la carte dining and cocktails.
What do you make of this unique Priority Pass addition?
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