Virgin Clubhouse - JFK
Virgin Clubhouse - JFK

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.

Centurion Lounge JFK Breakfast
Centurion Lounge JFK Breakfast

If you find anything has changed when you enter, please let me know so I can update this post.

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I got "in the game" in 2003 and since then I've collected literally millions and millions of frequent flyer miles and hotel points. I've flown around the world in first class seats that would cost $29,000 using frequent flyer miles and a few bucks in tax. And I've stayed in some of the finest hotels - all for free! A few years ago I realized many of my friends actually thought I was paying for these!! So I started sharing my tips. It's long been a passion, but when I hosted a session on Miles and Points at the South by Southwest festival, my love of the game intensified and this blog was born.

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