I feel somewhat foolish for deliberately scheduling in a long layover in Newark to visit the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse…only to find that it is closed. While the closure officially appears temporary, my hunch says the closure is permanent.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Newark Closed
Earlier today I trudged out of Terminal A, onto a Bus through Terminal B, and through security, only to find two signs outside the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Newark.
*sigh*
As of July 21, 2023, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is “officially closed” until further notice.
We’ve seen several Virgin Clubhouses close for refurbishment this year, but Newark Airport is unique: Virgin does not fly to Newark (currently).
What makes me think this lounge is unlikely to reopen was the second message:
To our fantastic guests: we are extremely grateful to have severed you during our time and had hoped to spend more time doing so. We eagerly await to open once again and offer our incredible and above-and-beyond service!
That sounds to me like a message from employees who have been laid off, not just furloughed while a refurbishment takes place (and the lounge did not even need refurbishment).
So don’t bother making the extra effort to go to Terminal B anytime soon at Newark just to visit this lounge.
The American Express – Capital One – Plaza Premium – Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Relationship Is Not Clear
While AMEX and CapOne have said that there is still a relationship in place between Plaza Premium-operated Virgin Clubhouses and their premium cards (Centurion, Platinum, Venture X), the actual experience of many travelers says otherwise.
I know of many people who have been turned away at Virgin lounges trying to use these cards and it does not appear this will change anytime soon. It represents horrible customer service, however, that we really don’t ahve clarity over this issue and it seems in some cases the lounges make up the rules as they go…or perhaps not?
I am in the process of trying to clarify the precise relationship between AMEX, Capital One, and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, but since Virgin joined SkyTeam more and more have been turned away.
CONCLUSION
Sad news for Newark travelers, as the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is now closed… perhaps permanently. Newark is a wasteland for credit card and Priority Pass lounges.
I hold both Capital One and AMEX, and have been declined with AMEX but then allowed in with Capital One at the same moment. Have seen anecdotal reports of the same on FlyerTalk, which makes me think there’s some priority there.
EWR and ORD both have a dearth of credit card lounge options, which is a shame for United flyers. At SFO there isn’t much on Priority Pass or Capital One, which is probably why so many people have Amex Plat.
ORD is a mixed bag to begin with when it comes to lounge options….
I believe AMEX is going to open a large new Centurion lounge in the new Terminal A this year. J
In regards to the Lounge closings in Newark.
Yesterday (Saturday) while walking around in Military Park,
I did notice a sign regarding
“”Newark Garden Club ” interesting I am trying to locate it ??
No it was more like a monument??
After Bethenny Frankel’s recent review before her flight they probably closed out of embarrassment.
https://viewfromthewing.com/bethenny-frankel-reviews-the-virgin-clubhouse-newark-garbouj/
@Matthew, your typo was totally appropriate! “…we are extremely grateful to have severed you…”
VS indeed severed their guests! XD
Btw, another typo in the Amex/Capital One section 2nd paragraph: “hvae”
Seriously, though, what’s going on with their lounges? There’s gotta be some accountability somewhere. :-\
I noticed it right away! Haha
I was surprised to discover that Skyteam only offers one international destination from EWR. With NYC being such a huge market, I would have thought that it would be useful for airlines to serve both airports- indeed TP and SK do just that, so it’s interesting to note that AM and KLM only fly to JFK. In that sort of context it doesn’t really make sense for the alliance or any of its members to operate any lounges other than what DL has in place for its domestic pax.
Af has a seasonal cdg!
That’s the one international route – as Matthew says. Virgin don’t fly there anymore!
Delta used to before COVID have a daily Newark flight to Amsterdam.
LH, LX, AI and Emirates also serve both EWR and JFK. Though its notable that most of the international carriers that serve both are Star Alliance and can leverage off of UA’s domestic connections.
Correct, the point for the Star carriers is that they also fly to JFK despite the lack of connections- I had only mentioned TAP and SAS as they aren’t very big and presumably have to rely on feed from both sides of the Atlantic.
I am not sure why anyone thinks Virgin should operate a Virgin Clubhouse in EWR if they are not flying there currently?
Newark is a wasteland, period!
OMG., Those poor premium customers.
Where we they go?
God forbid they sit in the boarding area.
LOL
For me, being in DC, it’s an airport I rarely ever use. So I won’t speak from much experience. But given all the latest press on operations there, and the struggles, I wonder if it is best served as a point to point and less as a hub. It seems to be losing service, barely able to keep up with UA operations, and offering little else than being an alternative to NYC.
Ironically, I believe that EWR was the launch airport for Virgin’s flights from the U.S. While I understand SkyTeam focus on JFK, it’s still amazing that the airport that launched Virgin in the U.S. has ben cast away.
The Virgin Newark lounge had some pretty unspectacular reviews but that doesn’t excuse locking the doors with no notice. Maybe some good will come from this by having a quality lounge open in that spot.
“Newark is a wasteland for credit card and Priority Pass lounges.”
As is Chicago O’Hare and Tokyo Haneda.
EWE is a very sad airport. Nothing to like there.
Sorry, meant EWR
Well, VS isn’t flying into EWR so why would they maintain a club there?
Will probably be turned into a co-branded credit card lounge space. VS is anyway outsourcing the handling of its clubs outside of LHR but regardless, the issue is no VS metal in EWR. Seems obvious as to why the club would be closed then no?
You dodged a bullet, that lounge had gone seriously downhill. Service and food were atrocious.
Flying J on Air France in a few weeks out of EWR. Anybody know what lounge/lounges i can use?
There’s a Delta lounge.
perfect timing for my AF J departure tonight. and of course EWR doesn’t allow you to transfer between post-security concourses at terminal B, so if I want to wait in the sky club, I’ll have to clear security again. totally ridiculous. if i were paying cash for this ticket i’d be beyond pissed.