I know, I know. I’m obsessed with the Virgin Clubhouse. Or at least I was. Sure, last time they wouldn’t even let me in, but the staff was all new today and I tried again, successfully, to enter.
However, so much has changed and you need to know what’s up. You may, like me, decide that 8am-12pm is better spent in the Centurion Lounge or Delta SkyClub.
Here’s a list of changes:
- The lounge is now managed by Virgin Atlantic itself, with food operated by Sodexo.
- From 5-8am only, you have access via Plaza Premium (like your Venture X card or Amex Platinum). Apparently there is a full breakfast menu then. However, I’m told this arrangement will be ending (I don’t have a date). So be mentally prepared that one day, you’ll no longer have access via Plaza Premium. SkyTeam Elite Plus members + a guest traveling on an international flight operated by a SkyTeam carrier also have access during this time.
- From 8am-1:30pm only, you may access the lounge with Priority Pass or, for a limited time, via a variety of Delta options (see image below). There are no flights at this time that qualify.
- The lounge is closed from 1:30pm – 2:00pm
- From 2:00pm on, none of the above options work anymore. no Plaza Premium, no Priority Pass, and no Delta options. You will only have entry via a flight that qualifies or via SkyTeam Elite Plus status + a guest traveling on an international flight operated by a SkyTeam carrier.
- The menu is greatly reduced for post-8am breakfast as compared to the past and as compared to what you get from 5am-8am, if you qualify, which seems to be similar to the before times. There’s not a single bit of meat nor potatoes on the Priority Pass menu.
So, what is basically happening is that the Clubhouse will no longer be a thing for credit card holders, except for 8am-1:30pm when you will have access via Priority Pass, but with a greatly reduced menu.
I was actually still quite hungry after my meal and left early to go up to the Centurion Lounge to complete breakfast before a 6 hour flight west.
The Centurion Lounge had a much better spread. BTW, I’ve never waited on line to enter the JFK Centurion Lounge.
If you find anything has changed when you enter, please let me know so I can update this post.
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