V-Flyer

We are flying Virgin Upper class from Manchester, I understand we can use the Escape lounge. Does anyone know where it is and can we gain access for free?

Yes it is free for each UC passenger plus a guest.

Entrance is number 12 on this map: http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manm ... Departures

As gumshoe has said above, the Escape Lounge is free for UC passengers - you'll be given a lounge invite card at check-in. (Unsure if you actually need it, as the lounge has a list of that days UC pax - I've seen them cross my name off on arrival).

The stairs to the lounge level are between gates 209 & 208, almost opposite the little WH Smiths.

There are 2 sides to the lounge & I get the impression they try to keep one side for "pay" guests and the other for ones travelling in business class with the airlines that use the Escape Lounge - certainly in the morning. The last time I was in there what the dragon on the entrance called the "business side" was full, so we had to sit in the other side and there were more then a few people in there lining the drinks up and getting their moneys worth.

That said, the Escape Lounge is OK. It's not a Clubhouse, but it has upped it's game on the food front in the past few years. It certainly beats sitting downstairs by the gate area with hyper-kids running round everywhere.

Is the desk dragon still there lol

Thank you Kraken, very informative and just what I wanted to know.

They do have Escape too, the old Air France lounge available if there are lots of business customers. I noticed they were opening it up as I left the Styal lounge at about 6:30 last Wednesday.

Sat in Escape lounge now at Manchester airport and very disappointed, not what I would have expected from a upper class lounge. Dirty, tired, small room, badly needs a refurb, spoke to the guy on the desk who said its 13 years old. Pathetic display and choice of food and drink, I've seen far better on courses. !

Typical shared lounge I'm afraid - though the T3 Escape lounge isn't bad as shared lounges go.

If you think that's bad try the Servisair lounge that VS use for Little Red flights at LHR.

I'm afraid we've been spoilt by VS's own Clubhouses. There are few, if any, lounges that top those.

that serviceair lounge in LHR T1 is a disgrace, the main seating area in Gate 8 is better than that 'lounge'. I'm sure VA must be seething that they couldn't get their hands on the old BMI domestic lounge which after the refurb was a pretty nice lounge

Just out of interest, is there a preferable place to wait if not using the lounge. I might give my invite a miss if there is somewhere else even if its part of the main departures.

Booked UC again from Manchester to Orlando and I was wondering is there any difference in price if you book from Heathrow to Orlando? The Escape lounge at Manchester compared to the Upper class at Heathrow are worlds apart. As far as I can compare the journey from Manchester to Orlando is slightly more expensive than from Heathrow and less flying miles than from Heathrow. I'm puzzled, can anyone enlighten me please.

You can't do Heathrow to Orlando on Virgin - only London airport they fly to Orlando from is Gatwick.

And as to the most frequented airport Virgin fly to with no Clubhouse - it's Orlando. A Clubhouse will never happen here as it's bucket & spade travel and if Virgin did open a Clubhouse, it would have to be huge. Give Delta Elites the choice of the Sky Club or a Clubhouse - we all know which they would choose.