My new favorite lounge at New York (JFK) is the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. The lounge may not be what it was prior to the pandemic, but it remains a top notch lounge with superb staff, food, and drinks.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York JFK Review
Access + Hours + Location
This lounge is located in JFK Terminal 4. After clearing security, head downstairs and walk down the A-Concourse toward gates A4 and A5. There, you’ll find stairs or an elevator going upstairs. The lounge is next to lounges from Emirates and Air India.
Currently, the Clubhouse is open from 5:00am to 10:30am and 2:00pm to 10:30pm daily. The website indicates an 8:30am closing time, but the lounge is open later because it is used by EL-AL for its 11:00am departure to Tel Aviv.
It then closes and re-opens promptly at 2:00pm.
Access is reserved for:
- Passengers travelling in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
- Flying Club Gold members traveling with Virgin Atlantic
- Passengers traveling in Delta One (longhaul business class)
- Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion card holders*
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion card holders*
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion card holders*
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite Gold members and PPS card holders*
- Flying Blue Platinum card holders*
- Flying Blue Gold card holders*
- Virgin Australia Velocity Club Gold card holders*
- Virgin Australia Velocity Club Platinum card holders*
- Virgin Australia Velocity The Club card holders*
- American Express Platinum or Centurion credit card holders
- Capital One Venture X credit card holders
*when traveling on a Virgin Atlantic flight
The lounge is now managed by Plaza Premium, hence the access for AMEX and Capital One cardholders. Simply present your card and scan your boarding pass.
Seating
This is large and stylish lounge with a swanky seating area in the center of the lounge with a mix of chairs and end tables…plus a pool table.
Behind the bar is a dining area and then dozens of tables and chairs which line the windows.
On the other side is more seating, including chairs with small round tables and couches.
I spent a lot of time in this lounge and the most crowded it got was about 3:30pm, as passenger arrived for the evening services on Delta and Virgin Atlantic.
Food + Drink
The Virgin Clubhouse at JFK lounge offers an extensive a la carte menu for breakfast and for lunch/dinner. Paper menus are available and you can order via a lounge staff member, or you can use a QR code menu and order from your phone. In either case, I found the meal service to be prompt and the food worth eating.
Here’s the breakfast menu:
I ordered eggs Benedict and a bowl of fruit for breakfast, with a flat white.
The lounge offers a nice selection of coffee drinks made by a barista.
During my stay, I enjoyed several flat whites…
I had a long day of work and returned in the afternoon to see if the lounge experience was any different in the afternoon. It wasn’t. Here’s the lunch menu and drink menu:
I skipped the alcohol and stuck to coffee and water, but did enjoy a multi-course lunch, including a beet salad, pea and mint soup, and Mediterranean cod. All food was superb (I was skeptical when the cod arrived breaded, but it was a nice piece of fish).
I finished lunch with a cheese plate.
Note, there is no buffet in this lounge at JFK and even drinks are not self-serve, with the exception of small self-serve coffee and tea station near the lounge entrance.
Restrooms + Showers
Restrooms and showers are available in the rear of the lounge. Just look for the hallway with mood lighting which changes every few seconds to a new color.
Shower suites include body wash from Ren and shampoo plus conditioner from Aveda. Ask a shower attendant for a towel. While the showers were empty in the morning, there was a waiting list later in the day.
Spa
This lounge once offered a full-service spa with services ranging from massages to manicures to haircuts. Those days are probably over. That part of the lounge was closed off during the pandemic and I was told by one staff member that it is very likely to ever re-open. Currently, the area is just blocked off.
Service
I found the service in this lounge outstanding in the morning…and less so in the afternoon. In the morning, Devina took care of me. What a pleasure she was to interact with. Kind, witty, and attentive, we had a nice conversation and I greatly appreciated her excellent service. Every time she noticed my coffee was getting low, she would make me another one!
In the afternoon, the lounge staff member who delivered food (I ordered off the app) really just put the food down without a word…no smile, no checking back to see how the food was or if she could bring anything else (as Devina had done).
Luggage Storage
If you’re staying for awhile, you can leave your luggage in a baggage storage area just past the lounge entrance.
CONCLUSION
In terms of clubhouse lounges, the Virgin lounge in London Heathrow is still my favorite. But the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK remains a top notch airport lounge and I’m happy to report that the Plaza Premium management may have cut back some amenities, but it is still one of the few lounges worth showing up early for. I look forward to returning.
Food looks good but a lot of the furniture looks uncomfortable as hell..
Reminds me of a W.
The furniture, whatever you think it looks like, is all very comfortable. There are a variety of ways and places to sit, chairs, couches, private areas where you can nap. Anyone reading this—do not believe the comment that the furniture “looked” uncomfortable!
Really wanted to check this lounge out a few weeks ago when I was on a rare connection through JFK & I really enjoy the IAD clubhouse. Sadly, it was during their mid-morning closure so no dice. The menu looks close or the same as IAD & amenities as well. Furniture may look uncomfortable but isn’t, at least in IAD.
Thanks Matthew
That’s funny — I’m not crazy about the IAD clubhouse — it is usually extremely crowded before the VS flights, the food isn’t great, and to my knowledge there are no showers. Much prefer UA polaris or the BA lounge next door when going transatlantic from IAD
Used to love it before pandemic but nowadays it’s too crowded (my flights have always been in the evening to LHR.)
There’s no way this lounge maintains this level of quality in the long run if Amex Plan gets you in.
Did not realize that about Amex Plat. Is that access limited to certain hours?
Singapore Airlines passengers flying in Suites class to FRA or beyond also granted access to the Clubhouse
Or even those flying J. Visited this lounge before our JFK-FRA flight in July – nice to be able to grab a shower and decent bite.
This lounge was being used by Etihad, while their lounge was closed. Is that still the case?
I did not see any signs indicating this, but it would make sense.
Just confirmed with their help desk. Still using this lounge for the time being. I’m not sure I want it to change back prior to my flight next month?
It’s a real solid lounge. I prefer it to even AMEX lounge.
Interesting, was there last week in the evening, and it was very crowded and dirty/sticky. Tables weren’t cleared, and there were many flies. I chose to leave and sit near the gate. As I was flying Virgin, I was disappointed they outsourced the lounge and opened it up to tons of folks. I found the food great.
You make a good point – Virgin flyers see the biggest downgrade not only in the closure of the spa, but in the crowding.
I have a flight on Delta One from JFK to Bogota. Do you know if it classifies to access the lounge?
Yes, if marketed as Delta One.
Hi, very nice review, but I have a doubt.
This lounge is accessible with domestic flights?
I have a Delta JFK-DEN usually departing from T4 gates B something.
If you could asnwer me I will be very pleased.
Thanks.
You can use the lounge if you have an AMEX Plat card or a Capital One Venture X card.
Thanks for the reply.
Sure, this lounge appears at the DragonPass and LoungeKey.
And I have 4 access per year at DragonPass and unlimited access by LoungeKey.
Some airports have lounges accessible only at the Intenacional Departures.
I´m not familiar with the JFK T4, and my flight is a Delta JFK-DEN so it is a domestic departure.
Can I access this lounge?
Regards.
You can. Enjoy it!
Hi Matthew – Thank you for this informative review. For AmEx Platinum cardholders, do you know what the specific access policy is for the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK? Are Amex members only allowed in during certain hours, or is there a restriction like only being allowed into the lounge ~3 hours before a departing flight?
Only AMEX Plat or Centurion cardholders and my understanding is that there is no time limit / requirement.
Hi Matthew,
Is Premium Plaza now operating this lounge? And if so, does PP membership (via DragonPass) grant one access to the JFK Clubhouse? PP website says yes, Virgin Atlantic site says no.
I’ll be arriving at JFK on SQ 26 (Singapore Airlines) via Frankfurt. It appears that the lounge is closed from 11am-2pm, except for Wednesdays (according to PP website). The VA site says it is closed every dayfrom 11am to 2pm.
There is a lot conflicting information online.
How can I get definitive answers to these questions?
Thanks ::)
No Priority Pass, just AMEX Plat or Cap One Venture via their direct relationship with Plaza Premium.
Lounge closes every day between 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
I wonder how this reconciles with the opening hours information from the Plaza Premium site:
Operating Hours:
Monday: 0500 – 1100 hrs | 1400-0100 hrs
Tuesday: 0500 – 1100 hrs | 1400-0100 hrs
Wednesday: 0500 – 0100 hrs
Thursday: 0500 – 1100 hrs | 1400-0100 hrs
Friday: 0500 – 0930 hrs | 1400 – 0100 hrs
Saturday: 0500 – 1100 hrs | 1400 – 0100 hrs
Sunday: 0500 – 1100 hrs | 1400-0100 hrs
Went to the Virgin Lounge and JFK! Amazing and amazing service from the staff. Our server Devina was amazing! She was so attentive and funny. What a welcome to NY!
I am traveling soon from jfk, there are conflicting articles regarding cost for premium food at the lounge. Amex Plat memberd have to pay for food at the lounge?
No. All food is included.
I was refused access when presenting capital one venture x card and was told they are not accepting credit card visitors.
The lounge seemed unbusy. regardless I was refused access.
What day were you denied? There was a brief period 31 Jan – 02 Feb 2023 in which credit card holders were denied.
Air Europa lists Virgin lounge as one of the two accessible lounges for business class travelers at JFK. Can anyone confirm?
Can Amex business platinum or Capital 1 venture X card holders bring a guest in?
I am travelling business class (“Premier One”) on Aeromexico from London to Mexico via JFK, on a single ticket, with the London to JFK leg operated by Virgin Atlantic and landing at 23:20 on a Sunday evening. What are the odds I’d be allowed in the following morning? I’d rather go to the Virgin Clubhouse than the Delta Sky Club! I don’t have any VS or AM status or Amex credit card etc.
Virgin Clubhouse should be open to you since Virgin now a SkyTeam member.
Thank you, Matthew. But is it as simple as that? The following make me unsure:
– I’m arriving on VS, but not continuing on VS, and the rules at https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/upper-class-cabin-and-seats/clubhouse-airport-lounge/san-francisco-clubhouse.html just say “travelling in”
– The Skyteam lounge finder similarly only mentions VS, not AM, under “Lounge access for international First or Business Class ticket holders or SkyTeam Elite Plus Frequent Flyers traveling on an international flight operated by the following airlines:”
– I’m arriving before midnight one day and travelling onwards the following day, albeit on the same ticket. The SkyTeam lounge access rules at https://www.skyteam.com/en/lounges say “All First and Business Class passengers traveling on, or connecting to/from, a same-day international flight operated by a SkyTeam member airline have access to a lounge.” and also say “Lounge access may vary by airline; check the lounge finder.” so I could see them using that to exclude the VS lounge, and requiring the DL lounge (where AM does appear)
– I’ve read somewhere that operation of the lounge has recently changed from Plaza Premium to Sodexho, which may further confuse matters!
I tried emailing virgin.jfk@plaza-network.com … but they just pointed me at the page where I found this address, https://www.plazapremiumlounge.com/en-uk/find/americas/united-states-of-america/new-york/john-f-kennedy-international-airport/virgin-atlantic-clubhouse-by-plaza-premium-group . Interestingly, they did not say “ask Sodexho, hrmpf!”.
Corner cases are always interesting!
Please do report back but I believe you will have access unless I am mistaken that VS Lounges are somehow not SkyTeam lounges.
So … I got in! I was in I think from about 06:00 to 08:45, then from about 09:30 to about 13:15, then from about 14:30 to about 15:30.
However, it was all rather haphazard.
In the LHR Clubhouse, I asked at the help desk, and they initially said they thought I’d have access (based in part on the fact that AM Clase Premier passengers have access to the LHR Clubhouse), but would check with the US/JFK administrator … who apparently subsequently came back with the answer that I would not in fact have access for some reason.
In JFK, I phoned just in case, and asked whether I would have access based on having arrived on VS in Upper Class and continuing on with AM in Clase Premier. I was told yes, so I went over, and sure enough I was let in (I was even kindly let back in after the departure of the morning VS flight, when I think it transformed into some kind of Priority Pass / El Al lounge). As an aside, there was a noticeboard on the side, which wasn’t in use but said that certain DL members were allowed in (to alleviate congestion in the Delta Sky Club), but nothing about AM flyers.
I then decided to try my luck and get back in after reopening following the closure at 13:30. The person at the entrance was different, and I feared she’d tell me I couldn’t come in (and I didn’t want to say I’d been let in earlier in case the previous person had bent the rules for me and would get into trouble for doing so). However, when I explained the situation again — but only after I’d presented my VS boarding pass — she did let me in.
From all this I conclude that no-one really knows for sure what the exact rules are (including whether arriving on VS in UC counts or even is required if continuing on non-VS, and whether it has to be on the same ticket and/or on the same actual calendar day), so it’s best to try but be prepared to graciously accept defeat!
I should add that the JFK Delta Sky Club is not a patch on the JFK Clubhouse and would definitely recommend going to the latter if you have the choice. The ambiance, the space and the food (at least in the non-PP/LY periods) and drink are all just much better in the JFK Clubhouse, and the staff are much friendlier (though I suspect a lot of the DL staff grumpiness is because the lounge is just too small for the number of people)!
I am noticing conflicting information on hours.
I will be flying out of JFK on a Thursday 1pm and am hoping to spend some time here before my departure, but I’ve seen varying information that states the lounge is open depending on your way of access (i.e. Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, etc).
On the Priority Pass website, it says the lounge is open from 0800-1330 daily, but on Plaza Premium’s website, it says the lounge is open 0500 – 0800; 1400-2230 daily.
If I arrive at 11am, will it be open?
It was closed at 11am when I was there (Until 2pm).
I’m sitting in the lounge right now. What a huge disappointment. The furniture is worn out, the carpet in the round lower booth area seems to be the source of an unpleasant smell. The scatter cushions are stained and there is an extremely limited menu without any champagne, asked for a glass and was refused because it is too early! Overall, I’d describe it as a dump. The staff are extremely pleasant but that isn’t enough to tempt me back.
I’m surprised about the Champagne.