Virgin LAX Lounge

[Fruitcake]

I was there three and a bit weeks ago, booze a plenty! But food consisted of two minute noodles and fruit. Hmmm

I was there a bit less than three weeks ago (3 August) and we were issued with passes for the bar downstairs, because the lounge bar was closed. Some sushi appeared at some point in addition to the noodles and fruit.

Overall the temp lounge is extremely dreary but realistically almost anything is better than the public terminal spaces at LAX.

 

[Leumas]

The only thing good about that lounge is the view onto the tarmac...

I went through at a similar time as LiamR and Fruitcake as my experience mirrors Fruitcake's. Food consists of pastries, chips, sandwiches and instant noodles, and later sushi. Only non-alcoholic drinks, but they gave me a free pass to all you can drink at the bar downstairs.

No showers either, which was something I really wanted after a long day and before a long flight.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Seems not much has changed since I flew VA LAX-MEL last Sept - booked again this year ex LAX Sept 23.

I made the point last year to FS on flt that I can pay $70 for a flt MEL-LST and get a shower and half way decent food in Lounge in MEL

OR

I can pay $7K to fly MEL-LAX/LAX-MEL and no shower or no food dep LAX - riddle me thast one Batman.

 

[QLD'r]

I was there last Friday night LA time. The place is even worse then it was when Alaska was there. I spent 3 hours at the delta lounge and decided I'd take a look at the VA LAX lounge... Won't make that same mistake next time!

 

[lovestotravel]

If VA are serious they need a new lounge NOW or at least an explanation of what they are doing to get a new lounge.....

It sounds petty but my next flight will on on Air NZ instead of Virgin simply due to the lounge at LAX.....

Price wise about the same and the NZ product is great

 

[Fruitcake]

If VA are serious they need a new lounge NOW or at least an explanation of what they are doing to get a new lounge.....

It sounds petty but my next flight will on on Air NZ instead of Virgin simply due to the lounge at LAX.....

Price wise about the same and the NZ product is great

As long as you're in Y+ or J I agree (although based only on reputation, I've never experienced NZ long haul J or Y+ personally). But no sane person knowingly subjects themselves to 10-abreast Y on a 77W so I'd draw the line there with regards to VA vs NZ whilst acknowledging the superiority of the NZ lounge in LAX.

 

[Bolthead]

As long as you're in Y+ or J I agree (although based only on reputation, I've never experienced NZ long haul J or Y+ personally). But no sane person knowingly subjects themselves to 10-abreast Y on a 77W so I'd draw the line there with regards to VA vs NZ whilst acknowledging the superiority of the NZ lounge in LAX.

A little OT, IMO I think the Y+ product from ANZ is excellent and as good as VA. However I would still choose VA for long haul over ANZ only because you have to go via Auckland with ANZ.

 

[lovestotravel]

Yes I was talking about J

I have no issue with a quick stop-over in NZ, it breaks the trip up a little and allows for another lounge visit

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Heading to LAX on Sept 13 - any more updates from recent Lounge attendees?

I have a friend going over with me on VA on pts also but he could not secure return redemption so he booked J saver on SQ.

He has never flown VA J before - will be interesting to hear his thoughts on both sectors on his return.

 

[k3nnis]

Has anyone done a trip report yet on NZ with the new Y+ space seats?

 

[serfty]

Has anyone done a trip report yet on NZ with the new Y+ space seats?

A few on FT in the AirNZ forum - I've managed to avoid them TRANSPAC - I have sat a couple of times T-T and they were OK of a 3½ hours flight - not sure about sleeping in them.

 

[k3nnis]

You don't like them serfty??

 

[serfty]

You don't like them serfty??

Can't say as I have never tried to sleep with them on long haul. I have always managed to upgrade to Business.

The ones on the 744 are great - but older style.

 

[k3nnis]

Oh ok. I quite like VS Y+ but not sure how that compares to NZ Y+...

 

[MandM]

Heading to LAX on Sept 13 - any more updates from recent Lounge attendees?

I was there on Monday night. Unfortunately it has gone even further downhill than when I was there in April. No alcohol there, no offer of a drink card for downstairs (although I did not ask).
On a (hopefully) positive note, there were signs around the lounge apologizing for the mess and that they were building a better lounge. I'm guessing they were referring to the holes in the carpet and plaster patch ups on the walls. The place looked totally miserable.

 

[777]

I'm there in about 2 weeks. I'm fairly tolerant but no booze or even vouchers could be the end of a beautiful friendship.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I'm there in about 2 weeks. I'm fairly tolerant but no booze or even vouchers could be the end of a beautiful friendship.

Yes somewhat disappointing - where is that VA rep hiding right now - weren't VA trying to convince the world they are no longer a LCC but rather now are a fully fledged A grade top liner?

BTW 777 what dates? I am dep LAX 23rd.

 

[777]

Yes somewhat disappointing - where is that VA rep hiding right now - weren't VA trying to convince the world they are no longer a LCC but rather now are a fully fledged A grade top liner?

BTW 777 what dates? I am dep LAX 23rd.

19th. I do think the LA arrangement are transitional not cost cutting but agree a better effort could be made.

 

[lovestotravel]

Would be helpful if Virgin actually detailed their plans for the LAX lounge.

The website has said "Temporary lounge facility, operated by ATM[SUP]~[/SUP]" for many months!

I have said it before but due to the poor lounge at LAX I would actually choose Air NZ over VA at the moment, given both are priced the same, for most of the time.

Fix your LAX lounge Virgin if you want to be serious about premium customers to/from the USA! You have done an outstanding job in Australia and keep going from strength to strength, but given LAX is your only real long-haul destination you fly, I would have assumed more effort/explanation would be put into it

 

[Andrew MacDonald]

Here's a clue:

Has anyone been through there recently BTW? I am passing through late next month and would be pleased to see the booze flowing!

I went through in the last week, T3 really is vile (in stark comparison to the VX terminal in SFO for example) the lounge was serving alcohol - though from what I hear it's quite an unpredictable service i.e. things change at random..

I have to say the immigration experience in T5 was awful - I get a much better experience with express cards etc in Tom Bradley and then T3 was like something from my experiences in regional airports in developing nations.

I will be returning to QANTAS or Air NZ, MEL-AKL-SFO unless there is a significant change on the end to end VA product - the in air experience is OK but end to end it falls very short.