Virgin Atlantic to Open New Clubhouse Lounge at LAX in 2025
Three years after Virgin Atlantic closed its first Clubhouse in Tinseltown, it’s opening another, with mood lighting and mixologist drinks
Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic passengers transiting through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will soon have a new place to unwind as the British carrier finalizes work on a Clubhouse lounge in Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).
The new space, set to open in the first quarter of 2025, will combine tributes to Virgin Atlantic’s home back in Blighty with something thoroughly un-British: Los Angeles’ million-watt sun.
Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic
That means finishes from iconic British designers sitting alongside art from local Angelinos and menus that bridge the pond. For a teaser, Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse at New York’s JFK Airport serves New York-style cheesecake alongside Eton mess, full English breakfasts beside All American buttermilk pancakes.
Signature Experiences
The focal point of the lounge is a bar and social space where in-house mixologists shake up cocktails, both standard and bespoke. That includes the airline’s signature tipple, the Virgin Redhead (gin, lemon juice, strawberry, and blackberry liqueurs, with a pop of Prosecco), which is now also available in cans during flights.
Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic
The lounge’s upper crust can then retreat with their drinks to a VIP booth in the bar, aptly dubbed The Royal Box.
Throughout the lounge, mood lighting conjures the Los Angeles sunset and, as the space darkens, helps travelers adjust their circadian rhythms to new time zones and relax before long flights.
Diverse Amenities
Not interested in simply unwinding? Different seating areas are dedicated to working, dining, and socializing. Road warriors can cocoon in private pods to Zoom into a virtual meeting or finish that report, or can lug their laptop to the bar, where drinks are served alongside ample power outlets and wireless charging pads.
Travelers who want to freshen up can take advantage of the lounge’s showers and changing rooms.
Photo: Terminal TBIT. Courtesy of Los Angeles International Airport
“We’re thrilled to bring our award-winning Clubhouse to the vibrant entertainment capital Los Angeles, where we know business and leisure travelers alike will enjoy our experience before their flight across the pond,” said Corneel Koster, Chief Customer & Operating Officer at Virgin Atlantic.
“Our latest Clubhouse will have something special for every customer, from signature dishes to British designer finishes, plus some fun surprises you’d only expect from Virgin Atlantic. And we know our amazing teams will bring the experience to life brilliantly.”
Relocation Journey
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because Virgin Atlantic previously operated a Clubhouse outpost at LAX. Opened in 2015 in Terminal 2, that lounge shuttered in April 2021 amidst the coronavirus pandemic and yielded its square footage to the adjacent Delta Sky Club, operated by Virgin Atlantic’s joint venture partner.
Without its own lounge and relocated across the airport to TBIT, Virgin Atlantic directed its premium passengers to the nearby SkyTeam lounge. That arrangement continued even after the carrier formalized its relationship with Delta and Air France-KLM by joining SkyTeam in 2023.
Photo: Courtesy of LAX
Now Virgin again has its own pad at LAX, taking over a space on the sixth floor of TBIT previously occupied by the Etihad Lounge. The Emirati airline pulled out of LAX in 2021.
Virgin Atlantic’s lounge plans were first revealed in July during a board meeting of LAX owners, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). The carrier has committed to spending $2 million to renovate the space and signed a five-year lease, paying $1.5 million annually.
New Clubhouse for the U.S. Portfolio
The LAX space will be Virgin Atlantic’s fifth Clubhouse stateside, including colonies in New York City (JFK), Boston (BOS), Washington, D.C. (IAD), and San Francisco (SFO).
Eggs Benedict for breakfast at Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, London Heathrow / Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella
The new LAX location will be Virgin’s fifth Clubhouse in the United States. They already have Clubhouses in New York City (JFK), Boston (BOS), Washington, D.C. (IAD), and San Francisco (SFO).
The Clubhouse is open to passengers traveling in Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold members traveling internationally with Virgin Atlantic or Delta, SkyTeam Elite Plus members traveling on Virgin Atlantic or Delta, and Delta One passengers on a Delta international flight. All guests, except Delta One passengers, are allowed to bring a guest for free.
