[ad_1]
As the airlines built more and more lounges, the exclusive space seemed to move from rooms like utilitarian conference centers to sophisticated venues where somehow they wanted to spend more time at the airport.
With that in mind, the new Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse certainly isn’t the biggest lounge at Los Angeles International Airport, but that’s all that’s going to disrupt the classy hotel bar above the Sunset Strip. It’s full of locally inspired touches too. Lightning above the bar mimics the colors of the LA sunsets, wall artwork pays homage to local landmarks, and soap and lotion comes from the Flamingo Estate in Northeast LA.
Before we go any further, you’ll want to know if Virgin’s new LAX lounge access is on your budget. Short version: Enjoy Virgin Atlantic Travellers (Plus Guest) with upper class tickets (the cheapest fare I’ve ever found is over $3,000) and Delta in flight on the Delta International Flight. There are also several loyalty programs (including Virgin Atlantic, Delta and Air New Zealand) but break them down at the bottom of this story.
Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout time: Michael Giuliano in timeout
The clubhouse, located on the sixth floor on the B side of the Tom Bradley International terminal, officially opened on March 28th and offers seating for around 70 guests. Many lounges have been plagued by door lines in recent years, but Virgin Atlantic doesn’t expect such a problem as the airline’s only non-stop flights are three accommodations to London’s Heathrow Airport.
Once inside, the bar has more outlets and wireless charging spots than you probably know what to do, but it has a focus of 4,400 square feet of space and the most dense cluster of tables, chairs and countertops.
Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout time: Michael Giuliano in timeout
On the right is the Ruby Room, a Hollywood screening room-like setting with a solo chair centered around a big screen TV (which can be heard via wireless headphones), and a luxurious banquet seating.
Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout time: Michael Giuliano in timeout
The lounge on the left is narrowed to the wing, featuring three privacy pods, three Virgin Records Studios: The Manor, Olympic Studios and Sunset Sound. Putting it all together, it’s certainly a somewhat compact lounge, so the separation of each of these areas is a bit more thematic than physical.
Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout
To the other end, you can roll out the yoga mat and relax in the Zen den. It features a narrow wellness and mindfulness room (featuring an intro video of founder Richard Branson himself) with a handful of weights and foam studio smart mirrors. The entire lounge has other wellness touches throughout the lounge, including trip drinks that promote sleep in lights that transition throughout the day.
Photo: Courtesy Perry Graham/Virgin Atlantic
For perhaps the most interesting perks, the Clubhouse offers a California-like assortment of sweets for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a full bar and a small self-service buffet. My morning preview featured a tray pass, appetizer-sized lunch and dinner bite, but typical day travelers are treated to table service from every seating.
Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout time: Michael Giuliano in timeout
I sampled the mahi mahi tacos and tugged with a sweet-tasting o donut with hoisin mushroom bao and honey caramel drizzled. However, the obvious standout was the fish and chips (which were said to be Branson’s favorite). It wasn’t moist, crunchy and oily, but I went back a few hours before I had my stomach for the fried food. On the drink side, I tried the refreshing non-alcoholic mojito and the redhead, somewhat our proper mix of Prosecco, berry liqueur and gin.
This is not the first foray into Virgin’s LAX Lounge. Career opened a colorful, medieval-inspired clubhouse in 2015. This was closed in 2021. It is also not the first lounge to occupy this particular space within the airport. But while its earlier space had a brighter business centre feel, Virgin brought an intimate lobby bar vibe to this iteration.
Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout Photo: Michael Giuliano in timeout time: Michael Giuliano in timeout
Back to Access Issues: The clubhouse opens at 11:30am and is open 3 hours before your scheduled departure. But it’s only if you have upper class tickets to the Virgin Atlantic, as long as they’re traveling with the Virgin Atlantic or the Delta, you can bring guests with you. You can also enter if you are flying the Delta on an international flight in the Delta, but in that case you will have access to the Delta One Lounge, which has access to its own class.
In terms of loyalty status, it is open to Flying Club Gold members as well as guests traveling internationally with Virgin Atlantic or Delta. SkyTeam Elite Plus Member Gronging Grooking Guests travelling on international flights run by SkyTeam carriers in addition to the Atlantic or Delta. Virgin Australia Velocity Club Gold, Platinum and The Club Card Holders are driving Virgin Atlantic. Air New Zealand’s gold or elite members are traveling to the Virgin Atlantic.
And finally, to connect your flight, you will need to travel with Upper Class or Delta 1, or Gold Members of the Flying Club, Platinum, Diamond or Gold Medallion Members or SkyTeam Elite Plus.
[ad_2]Source link
