Virgin LAX Lounge

[westcoastman]

I was in the LAX lounge this weekend and everyone with a VA ticket in business to Australia was admitted into the club fyi for those traveling with family members under 12.

 

[serfty]

I was in the LAX lounge this weekend and everyone with a VA ticket in business to Australia was admitted into the club fyi for those traveling with family members under 12.

Welcome to AFF.

Good about the family members.

I wonder how access has progressed for those VA WP/SG travelling VX on a solely USA domestic itinerary.

 

[westcoastman]

The staff said they have been getting lots of suggestions since they opened and that they are a brand new club and think some positive changes may be coming in January. I am hoping for access when flying paid F on VX. I was happy to see VA pax able to bring their children in and not forced down into Burger King.

 

[pshepvic]

Welcome to AFF.

Good about the family members.

I wonder how access has progressed for those VA WP/SG travelling VX on a solely USA domestic itinerary.

Velocity have confirmed to me in writing that SG/WP do get access without coming in on the VA flight. Whether the staff at LAX understand this yet is still unknown.

 

[serfty]

Velocity have confirmed to me in writing that SG/WP do get access without coming in on the VA flight. Whether the staff at LAX understand this yet is still unknown.

...
No offer of compensation or credit despite the fact I had to buy food and drinks in the terminal, so will be following that up further.
...

Did you succeed in getting compensated for this?

 

[pshepvic]

Did you succeed in getting compensated for this?

Not yet - the first email offered nothing so I replied and they called and left a voice message. I was in Mexico at the time with very limited access to phone networks so haven't called back. I'm currently in the US but will probably wait until I get home in a couple of weeks to call - or may try emailing again. Will update once I have a resolution.

 

[justcallmeryan]

Well I was in the LA lounge on New Years eve, basically by myself as I was one of the only losers flying back to OZ on 31 December!

The full bar service is quite the improvement from when I was there in October, but IMO the lounge still lacks the shine required for being one of VA's main international ports. It's very clean and well staffed; wifi works well and the coughtails were great! In particular I had the virgintini or something like that (actually I had 4) and enjoyed my time there. However there are a few things that are really missing for it to be comparable to the Abu Dhabi or Sydney lounges:

Decent food.
Showers.
Showers.
Showers.

But none the less a step in the right direction. I also had a great experience with the ground crew in LAX this time around, so I think all in all things are getting much better.

 

[MandM]

Well I was in the LA lounge on New Years eve, basically by myself as I was one of the only losers flying back to OZ on 31 December!

The full bar service is quite the improvement from when I was there in October, but IMO the lounge still lacks the shine required for being one of VA's main international ports. It's very clean and well staffed; wifi works well and the coughtails were great! In particular I had the virgintini or something like that (actually I had 4) and enjoyed my time there. However there are a few things that are really missing for it to be comparable to the Abu Dhabi or Sydney lounges:

Decent food.
Showers.
Showers.
Showers.

But none the less a step in the right direction. I also had a great experience with the ground crew in LAX this time around, so I think all in all things are getting much better.

I was there on New Year's Day and it was almost too full before the SYD flight left, and still quite a full lounge for those waiting for the MEL flight (and later VX flights, I guess).
I totally agree with your summary justcallmeryan but I will give a little more credit for the improvement in the food. While it is still sub standard compared to VAs domestic lounge, or the NZ lounge in SYD, it is MUCH better than both the old Alaska lounge and the temp Virgin lounge at LAX.

 

[pshepvic]

Did you succeed in getting compensated for this?

Received a 5000 point "goodwill" credit. That will do I guess, but I was the only one offered it even though two of us were traveling, so I will be following up to ensure we both get it.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Visited the Virgin Lounge in LAX last week.
I found it small, in fact not enough seating at 10.00 pm waiting for a flight to Brisbane.
Appears to be a Virgin America lounge with small signage for VA.
The dark colours particularly on the floor are already showing signs of wear.
The food and drink offerings are good, compared to most US lounges.
There appeared to be only one staff member serving drinks and cleaning up resulting in lots of dirty dishes and etc on tables.
The "rest rooms" are a disaster. Painted black with black bench tops toilet pans and so on are difficult to keep clean and sparkling. Looked bad !
Perhaps the renovations on the old lounge are an improvement but I think Virgin have a long way to go with this lounge

 

[pshepvic]

Visited the Virgin Lounge in LAX last week.
I found it small, in fact not enough seating at 10.00 pm waiting for a flight to Brisbane.
Appears to be a Virgin America lounge with small signage for VA.
The dark colours particularly on the floor are already showing signs of wear.
The food and drink offerings are good, compared to most US lounges.
There appeared to be only one staff member serving drinks and cleaning up resulting in lots of dirty dishes and etc on tables.
The "rest rooms" are a disaster. Painted black with black bench tops toilet pans and so on are difficult to keep clean and sparkling. Looked bad !
Perhaps the renovations on the old lounge are an improvement but I think Virgin have a long way to go with this lounge

Not sure what you mean by "it appears to be a Virgin America lounge"?

It DEFINITELY is a Virgin America lounge, Virgin Aus does not have any lounges outside Australia.

This lounge was not set up just for Virgin Australia. It was created by Virgin America, for Virgin America guests, and Virgin Australia have negotiated to get Virgin Australia status and business passengers access. Just like they did with DL lounges.

 

[mandmshow]

Was here last week for the first time since it was fully up and running with the liquor licence.

Unlike other airport lounges in the US I observed the bar staff discouraging tipping - that had to be a first !!!

The desk staff and the bar staff here are absolutely outstanding.

 

[Bolthead]

Was here last week for the first time since it was fully up and running with the liquor licence.

Unlike other airport lounges in the US I observed the bar staff discouraging tipping - that had to be a first !!!

The desk staff and the bar staff here are absolutely outstanding.

The yanks crack me with their tipping system... When will it stop...

 

[james4321]

The yanks crack me with their tipping system... When will it stop...

It won't. That's the way it works in USA (and other countries). Get used to it.

 

[lovestotravel]

Was here last week for the first time since it was fully up and running with the liquor licence.

Unlike other airport lounges in the US I observed the bar staff discouraging tipping - that had to be a first !!!

The desk staff and the bar staff here are absolutely outstanding.

Agree on this and I was there last month, giving them a tip at the bar was quite hard and I really had to insist that I tip. I assume they have been instructed not to worry about tips... If that's the case they should really have a sign saying "Tips not required"

Apart from that the staff were excellent and the food offerings are great, small sandwiches/wraps etc!

 

[drewbles]

The yanks crack me with their tipping system... When will it stop...

It won't. That's the way it works in USA (and other countries). Get used to it.

It won't stop for two reasons. A) It allows owners to not worry about wages above the minimum wage, and rely on servers to earn their income via tips (of course the reason on paper is provide good service, get good tips, and customers will flock there; the reality is that most servers simply try and kiss up to you in the most artificial manner under the guise of providing 'service') and B) it's so ingrained in the USA culture, that even if minimum wages did suddenly raise and servers were paid substantially better, people would still tip as they know no better. I know people in hospitality in Australia who love American tourists, as they always tip, and these days that's up to 20%!

 

[Airbumps]

I'm at the LAX Lounge at the moment and what a disappointment.

I appreciate they're trying to go the hip young and groovy feel but its hardly a business class lounge. The place is tiny and with at least two 777 departures in the next couple of hours its going to be standing room only. No showers. No work/business area. A food selection worse than your average soup kitchen.

What it does have is a great view of the tarmac. Thats about all.

Bathrooms are dark and gloomy and the place was a pig sty, probably because of so many people and only 1 busser working. Virgin need to decide if they want a business class lounge or a nightclub. You can't have both.

 

[hobo]

I'm flying to LAX and will be gold by the time I return (the SYD>LAX flight tips me over to gold). I won't have a gold card on me, what are my chances of getting in when returning to Sydney? Will they just check the system?

 

[MandM]

I'm flying to LAX and will be gold by the time I return (the SYD>LAX flight tips me over to gold). I won't have a gold card on me, what are my chances of getting in when returning to Sydney? Will they just check the system?

Last few times I was there they had the passenger list for Oz bound flights, with status indicated. Status should also be on your boarding pass, so you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[serfty]

Last few times I was there they had the passenger list for Oz bound flights, with status indicated. Status should also be on your boarding pass, so you shouldn't have any problems.

Tried this Saturday Night, the PLATINUM on my BP along with a quick check of the list was sufficient - my card remained in my wallet.