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Virgin Atlantic and Delta return to London Heathrow's Terminal 3 on July 15, Clubhouse reopens

July 05, 2021
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3 min read
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Virgin Atlantic and Delta return to London Heathrow's Terminal 3 on July 15, Clubhouse reopens
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As travel resumes, London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) will reach another significant milestone this month. In particular, major tenants Virgin Atlantic and Delta will return to their home in Terminal 3 on July 15.

The joint venture partners had been operating from Terminal 2 during the pandemic. The usually busy Heathrow airport consolidated operations from four active terminals down to just two amid plunging demand.

The news is even better for Upper Class and Gold members of Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program (as well as eligible Delta passengers) since the well-regarded Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse will reopen at the same time.

The airline plans to provide as much of the famous Clubhouse experience as possible. But, in line with current U.K. government guidelines, masks will be required on entry and when guests are moving around inside the Clubhouse. And guests should remain seated as much as possible. So bar seating, the rooftop and pool table will be unavailable until further notice.

Clubhouse guests can order complimentary a la carte menu items including tapas, meats and cheeses as well as afternoon tea online via QR codes placed throughout the lounge. Rival British Airways' move from buffets to at seat-ordering in their Terminal 5 lounge has been well received by passengers.

Related: How to get Virgin Atlantic elite status without stepping on a plane

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“We’re delighted to finally be back on our home turf, and I know our teams can’t wait to warmly welcome our customers to Terminal 3, as they return to the skies in style, as they fly safe and well with Virgin Atlantic" Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operating Officer, commented.

While the core routes operated by the two airlines between the United Kingdom and the United States remain off-limits to British tourists for non-essential reasons, Virgin Atlantic does operate flights to some green-list destinations, including to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada and Israel.

Related: US misses UK green list again

Terminal 3 received flights arriving from red-list destinations to avoid mixing these higher-risk passengers with those coming from green and amber list countries. But, red-list passengers now arrive into Heathrow's Terminal 4.

This means that for arriving aircraft, Heathrow will once again use all four terminals. And this is a significant milestone in the return of travel.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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 $6,000 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.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.