Virgin America expands lounge access policy

As pointed out at One Mile at a Time, Virgin America has opened up the ability for members of their frequent flyer program to pay $40 for a one-time pass to the Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouse (at participating locations). 

Prior to this change, you had to be flying in First Class on Virgin America to be able to pay the $40 for the one-time pass.  Because membership in their frequent flyer program is free, now anyone who joins can gain access.

I'd like to see Virgin America offer free Clubhouse access to First Class flyers while provided the pay for access passes for everyone else.  But I don't expect that to happen any time soon.  Why give it free when people will pay?  That's the question most US airlines are asking themselves these days.  Even Virgin America.

Comments

[LAB]

So here's the deal. Virgin America has "rights" to the Virgin Atlantic lounge. So, when the Virgin Atlantic lounge is open, Virgin America's first classs passangers can buy access to the lounge. The problem is that Virgin Atlantic flights go out at different times than Virgin American flights. So, as you can guess, the lounge is hardly ever open when a Virign America flight is going out. So, its not open for the red-eyes out of SFO and its not open in JFK when the red-eye lands. This lounge option is more an advertisement than an actual possibility. (As a side note, when I called Virgin to complain, I encountered the rudest customer service. The most senior person there actually suggested I call Virgin Atlantic to complain, because it was not Virgin America's fault). I suggest that folks just fly the good 'ole American-based airlines.