Under new management: Plaza Premium now running most Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses
Virgin Atlantic has handed over management duties of its famed Clubhouse airport lounges outside of the United Kingdom to independent operator Plaza Premium, which currently oversees 180 lounges at nearly 50 airports around the world. Given the great reputation Virgin Clubhouses have among travelers for their customer service as well as their food and beverage offerings, this could be a rather substantial change.
And it starts today, with the reopening of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK airport in New York City. That lounge, which Virgin Atlantic Upper Class customers, Flying Club Gold members and Delta's Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion members have access to, is now being operated by Plaza Premium.
The experience at the lounge has been adjusted to account for pandemic safety protocols. All guests are encouraged to remain seated and enjoy the table service offered by the Clubhouse staff.
Sign up to receive the daily TPG newsletter for more travel news!
"Whilst customers will continue to enjoy the Clubhouse experience they know and love, the award-winning Plaza Premium group will bring a wealth of experience to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse offering," Virgin Atlantic said in a statement addressing the new partnership.
Plaza Premium will also take over the management of all Virgin Clubhouses outside of the United Kingdom, such as the locations in Boston (BOS), San Francisco (SFO), Washington (IAD), and Johannesburg (JNB), once they reopen. The JFK lounge is the first U.S. Clubhouse to reopen since the pandemic. The airline's flagship lounge, the Clubhouse at Heathrow as well as others within the U.K., will continue to be directly overseen by Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin Atlantic and Plaza Premium announced they will also be teaming up to bring new lounges to other key hubs in the Virgin Atlantic travel network, but no specific timetable for new locations was given.
Anyone who has visited a Virgin Clubhouse knows they offer one of the best airport lounge experiences. The complimentary a la carte menu features five-star dining options, tapas, and afternoon tea, as well as a healthy selection of spirits, wine and sodas. Some of the breakfast offerings include eggs benedict, avocado on toast and a full English breakfast. Lunch and dinner can include everything from chicken tikka masala to a Beyond Burger for vegans.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Priority Pass program
Will Plaza Premium taking over mean a reduction in the exceptional service that has made Virgin Clubhouses a favorite among travelers? Some industry observers suspect this new arrangement may be about Virgin trying to cut costs after enduring what it called the "most devastating year" in the company's history due to the coronavirus.
One possibility is that this could provide a new revenue stream for the airline, by offering paid entry to the lounges outside of Virgin Atlantic flight schedules, for passengers on other airlines. The Clubhouse in San Francisco International has been available to Priority Pass members during off-peak hours since 2019, so it's not uncharted territory for Virgin. It should be noted that the San Francisco Clubhouse, when it was open, offered a much severely pared-back range of food and drinks for people who used Priority Pass to get in, so they should not expect the full Clubhouse experience.
The other Clubhouses are only open at certain hours of the day, based on Virgin's flights. For example, the JFK Clubhouse is open from 5 am to 8:30 am, and also from 3 pm to 5:30 pm. There are lots of openings in between there to let in paying customers looking to unwind in a lounge before they board their flight.
The challenge will be if Plaza Premium can do that and maintain the high levels of customer service that people have become accustomed to finding at Virgin Clubhouse lounges.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.