V-Flyer

We'll be heading home on Wednesday and given that VS are no longer using the Koru Club for the VS24 and are using the AF or Maple Club lounges ( both grim) what other options do I have at LAX ? Now VX are offering PP entry is this a possibility ( I know it's in T3 as opposed to T2) ?
Will my Amex Plat gain me access anywhere else in addition to the PP offerings ( which are the same as VS use for the 24) ?
Finally has anyone flying on the 24 managed to get into the Koru club of late simply by asking ( or is it a blanket no ) ?
Thanks.
DL

Hmmm I fear your options are limited DL. LAX, sadly, is a disaster zone as far as decent lounges are concerned (and, to be honest, in most other respects too).

Unless anyone knows a secret trick, I can't see any way of getting into the VX Loft as it's airside in T3 and there's no airside connection with T2.

The only other lounge in T2, AFAIK, is Hawaiian Airlines which isn't listed as being available to either PP or Amex Plat holders.

For Amex Plat, the available lounges are the usual AA, DL & UA ones which are all airside in different terminals.

The only remaining option is the ReLAX Lounge in the TBIT which is landside - but the reviews suggest it's no better than any of the T2 options.

I flew on VS24 last Friday 3 January and they were using the Koru Club then, so you may be lucky.

This just in this morning.

Stop Press 776 - Changes to lounge access at LAX

As you may know, LAX airport is undergoing a multi-billion dollar development program. As a result, from 29 March we’re delighted to be able to invite all Upper Class customers and Flying Club Gold members travelling from LAX to LHR on VS24 to enjoy the Virgin America Loft lounge.
The Loft is located through security at Terminal 3, a short walk down the corridor (max 10mins) from our check in at Terminal 2.
When it’s time to depart the Loft, customers will be taken by bus (around 5mins) back to T2 to board their flight. Please note that customers need to arrive for check in at least 90 minutes before their flight to be invited to visit the Loft.
Upper Class customers and Flying Club Gold members travelling on VS08 will continue to be invited to use the Air New Zealand lounge, a short walk from security at T2.

Don't forget the ANZ T2 Lounge is closing shortly when they relocate to TBIT (July I think).

I thought VS24 - the late flight - was where the conflict with NZ was, necessitating the use of the AF lounge, while VS8 pax could still use the Koru lounge?

No matter - either way it's about time! Why they couldn't have come to some agreement with VX to use the Loft months ago, goodness only knows.

I guess it's still unclear what'll happen when NZ move to TBIT later in the year - given this news I wonder whether both VS flights will start using the Loft.

Yes you are correct, Gumshoe, it is VS008 who get the Koru Club and VS024 The Air France Lounge.

It would be cheaper for VS if they can ship both flights to the Loft than taking over the ANZ space and opening a CH which is what most of us have hoped for.

The ultimate sensible move - which means it'll probably never happen - would be for VS, VX and VA to all be based in the same terminal and share a lounge - ideally a brand new Clubhouse!

Don't know if that's possible at T3 though - can it handle 747s, and does it have CBP facilities?

Glad to see an option to the ghastly AF lounge ... but I still hope for a clubhouse in place of the Koru Club. The space and the views are great.

DL we'll be out there in three weeks time ... so I'll report back on the Loft (has anyone been in it?).

slinky09 wrote:Glad to see an option to the ghastly AF lounge ... but I still hope for a clubhouse in place of the Koru Club. The space and the views are great.

DL we'll be out there in three weeks time ... so I'll report back on the Loft (has anyone been in it?).

slinks that was back in January ) ( on our way home from the fabulous Viceroy) .
Despite being on the VS24 they gave us access to the Koru Club when asked as they'd noted my Au number .
DL

slinky09 wrote:Glad to see an option to the ghastly AF lounge ... but I still hope for a clubhouse in place of the Koru Club. The space and the views are great.

DL we'll be out there in three weeks time ... so I'll report back on the Loft (has anyone been in it?).

Am due to be there in a week's time so will report back if useful.

Flew back U/C on the VS24 from LAX last week. It was either the first or second day they were using the Loft in T3.
I pushed for the AirNZ lounge (I've used it numerous times and have been more than happy with it) but was told AirNZ wouldn't allow it. VA did offer the alternative of a voucher for the food outlets in T2. I was by myself and didn't relish the idea of sitting in a café for over 2 hrs!
The Loft was awful and not even comfortable. Food was a few slivers of cheese the size of Ritz crackers; sliced bread next to a toaster and some fruit. The bar had one choice of wine and you have to line up at the bar if you want a coffee. However, the staff were friendly and apologised for the lack of facilities. A bus takes you back to T2 about an hour before the flight to give you the opportunity to buy duty-free as there is only a tiny shop in T3.
As it's still "early days", I'm hoping all these shortcomings will be improved before I fly through there in a few months time.
I'll keep a look out for reports!

Not great news. What are the options at LAX now; is it just the Loft or nothing???

Does it only affect VS24? Is VS8 still going to NZ lounge ?

That is not inspiring is it. Like many I am more than happy in the Koru Club and the NZ wines and the little buffet. I'll add after our trip to Palm Springs and see if anything has improved in the Loft.

Agreed -- I was intending to visit the Loft last week but after reading this, and a few other comments online, I didn't even bother:
http://boardingarea.com/onemileatatime/ ... -loft-lax/

You can get free access to VX lounge with Priority Pass. Not sure it is worth $40 but the alternative to sitting downstairs is not very inviting.

Flew out of LAX couple of weeks ago and was given an invite to NZ lounge without asking so it is still available but not sure what the criteria is.

JCBR wrote:You can get free access to VX lounge with Priority Pass. Not sure it is worth $40 but the alternative to sitting downstairs is not very inviting.

Flew out of LAX couple of weeks ago and was given an invite to NZ lounge without asking so it is still available but not sure what the criteria is.

On the VS7 or 24?

at240 wrote:Agreed -- I was intending to visit the Loft last week but after reading this, and a few other comments online, I didn't even bother:
http://boardingarea.com/onemileatatime/ ... -loft-lax/

God that review and pics really are dismal :0 ; hard to believe that Virgin happily put their name to that lounge. You have to laugh at the VA web site when it says "Enjoy a spread of light snacks all day before you hit the jetway." Shockingly bad to pay for an UC seat, and then get this as a lounge...VAA should be ashamed of themselves - disgraceful. v( v( v(

We can but live in hope that VS will take over the Koru Lounge when it closes. Which can't be that far off now - NZ are due to move to TBIT in "mid-2014".

Presumably they would need partner airlines to provide passengers and thus revenue for the large parts of the day when there would be few or no VS passengers? I'm not sure how many fly from T2.

at240 wrote:Presumably they would need partner airlines to provide passengers and thus revenue for the large parts of the day when there would be few or no VS passengers? I'm not sure how many fly from T2.

It wouldn't necessarily have to be all of the space the Koru Club takes up, but with two A346s a day that's up to 90 Upper Class passengers and a smattering of Golds in other cabins. Other places have half this amount yet get a clubhouse, and other clubhouses do offer facilities to other airlines like Air India at EWR and Eva Air at HKG.

As the only destination other than JFK / EWR and MCO that has more than one flight a day, it surely must be high on the priority list for VS.

One can hope.

at240 wrote:Presumably they would need partner airlines to provide passengers and thus revenue for the large parts of the day when there would be few or no VS passengers? I'm not sure how many fly from T2.

Could VA (and even eventually VX) move to T2? Then they could share a universal Virgin Clubhouse ...

slinky09 wrote:Other places have half this amount yet get a clubhouse, and other clubhouses do offer facilities to other airlines like Air India at EWR and Eva Air at HKG.

I completely agree -- I was thinking about EWR in fact when I wrote that. I was just trying to think through the rationale from the bean-counters' perspective, given that there won't be any VX passengers (they get the Loft :0 ).

gumshoe wrote:Could VA (and even eventually VX) move to T2? Then they could share a universal Virgin Clubhouse ...

VA just moved to TBIT, so very unlikely I think.

Virgin Atlantic are in talks to open a clubhouse in LAX. it's on their twitter feed.