You can now access these 5 Virgin Clubhouses with your Amex Platinum
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express have access to one of the most robust lounge networks in the world, thanks to the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
Your card acts as a golden ticket for entry to Amex Centurion lounges, Priority Pass Select lounges, Escape lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying on a same-day Delta ticket) and more. Enrollment is required for select benefits. Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
But if you've been finding waitlists and long lines at the Centurion lounges or are left unimpressed with the other lounge options, you're not alone.
Fortunately, there are even better lounges for you to enjoy — if you know where to look.
Now, Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders can access select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse locations, most of which are in the U.S.:
- Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB).
- New York (JFK).
- Newark (EWR).
- San Francisco (SFO).
- Washington D.C. (IAD).
There's also a Clubhouse in Boston (BOS) — though it's temporarily closed.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses are arguably one of the finest lounges within the U.S., as you can find a complimentary, à la carte menu to order tapas and a great assortment of alcoholic (and nonalcoholic) beverages.
Here are the current hours and locations for each Virgin Clubhouse:
| Lounge | Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|
Johannesburg (JNB). | 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., every day. | International Terminal A (Mezzanine Level). |
New York (JFK). | 5:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., every day | Terminal 4 (above boarding gates A4 and A5). |
Newark (EWR). | 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., every day | Terminal B (after security, near gate B51). |
San Francisco (SFO). | 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., every day. | International Terminal A (after security). |
Washington D.C. (IAD). | 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., every day. | Concourse A (between Concourses A and B, in front of Gate A32). |
To enter, you'll need to present your Amex card, confirmed boarding pass for same-day travel and a government-issued ID to enter the Clubhouse, and you can bring one guest, plus children under 2 can enter free of charge — until the guest policy changes in early 2023.
Bottom line
Virgin Atlantic handed over management of its Clubhouses outside of the United Kingdom to independent lounge operator Plaza Premium in 2021. Since Platinum cardholders already have access Plaza Premium lounges, it doesn't come as too big of a surprise that they can now enter these locations — but is still an exciting new option worth exploring on your next trip.
Official application link: Amex Platinum with a 80,000-point welcome offer after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership.
Official application link: Amex Business Platinum with a 120,000-point welcome offer after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.