V-Flyer

Hello!

I think I've just had my earliest ever meeting (5-6 a.m. ), and it was in the EWR Clubhouse. Thank you joeyc, by the way, for verifying the opening hours.

As alcohol is not available at this time (and why would I even mention such a thing at this hour? ), I've been sampling the rather delicious, and beautifully presented, Tea Forte selection.

This one's citrus mint:



...which was, er, *so* "reviving", it might actually be better placed in the shower rooms! That said, the English breakfast tea was lovely.

Just tucking into my delicious Egg Benedict now...

NYLON

p.s. The customer services team manning the entrance to the Clubhouse actually jumped up (both of them) when I arrived, and one shouted, "Wow! Sequence number 1!"

I would have shouted "YES!" back, but it was 4.45 in the morning, and I still couldn't quite see (or hear) straight...

Enjoy your breakfast and your time at the clubhouse! Have a good trip

Was there for the VS18 a few months ago. Early start but a delicious eggs benedict, do enjoy it and the flight. It's a great one to help avoid the jet lag.

Enjoy - Been a long while since I have paid that venue a visit.

Thanks! Yes, I find the VS18 best for jet lag when flying NYC-LON, although I do prefer the JFK Clubhouse.

I re-discovered the joy of reading a good book from start to finish on a flight (Ben Macintyre's excellent "A Spy Among Friends" about Kim Philby) because of a complete and total IFE meltdown!

... and as side note: does VS really keep the EWR clubhouse going for only two flights a day?

NYLON wrote:... and as side note: does VS really keep the EWR clubhouse going for only two flights a day?

last time I arrived, Air India passengers (I think) were just leaving, so they probably get an income out of other airlines when not used by VS passengers

David

NYLON wrote:Thanks! Yes, I find the VS18 best for jet lag when flying NYC-LON, although I do prefer the JFK Clubhouse.

I dislike VS18 because the timing means such an early start I feel so awful I might just as well be jet-lagged.

Yes, I know some people have a hard time with it!

If taking the VS18, I often stay up quite late the night before (i.e. sleeping only for 3/4 hours), I then sleep a little on the flight (2 hours or so), and then I get a full good night's sleep at home in London upon arrival. I'm usually completely back to normal on the next day.

Ditto Nylon,

Up late, crap sleep in hotel, up early feeling like death, checkin, no alcohol (must be a good thing). Doze on flight, arrive in uk for supper but too full to eat. Roll into bed (for us in a LHR hotel), sleep well, wake early and drive home.

By the time I've put the coffee machine on the jet lag and holiday/trip is long forgotten!

NYLON wrote:... and as side note: does VS really keep the EWR clubhouse going for only two flights a day?

IAD, HKG, SFO, NRT, BOS and JNB only have a single flight to cater to.

Whilst the various CHs are kept open to coincide with the VS flight times, further income will be derived from allowing other airline's business class pax use.

I think a CH is an awesome way to start a journey and I have no doubt others will be drawn to this facet too. It makes good business sense in my eyes to put CHs at heavily competed destinations to bring some of that VS magic to the experience on the ground.

NYLON wrote: Thank you joeyc, by the way, for verifying the opening hours.

Any time, it is odd that the opening times aren't on the website. Then again, with changing flight times / delays / 'operational reasons' ( ) they probably wouldn't want to restrict themselves to a published open/close time frame.

Hope you had a good flight back NYLON

marshy11 wrote:Ditto Nylon,

Up late, crap sleep in hotel, up early feeling like death, checkin, no alcohol (must be a good thing). Doze on flight, arrive in uk for supper but too full to eat. Roll into bed (for us in a LHR hotel), sleep well, wake early and drive home.

By the time I've put the coffee machine on the jet lag and holiday/trip is long forgotten!

Our experience is different I suppose because we're returning from a visit to family, so instead of hotel at or near EWR, it would be last evening with family, then up at shudder-making time and a fair old drive to the airport, hoping there are no hold-ups. No way would we stay at airport hotel and miss our last night with the family.

So for us, the marginally preferred option is VS2 back, or, better, VS45/46 into/out of JFK - better clubhouse and, at present, 747 LHR config rather than 343.

joeyc wrote:Whilst the various CHs are kept open to coincide with the VS flight times, further income will be derived from allowing other airline's business class pax use.

I think a CH is an awesome way to start a journey and I have no doubt others will be drawn to this facet too. It makes good business sense in my eyes to put CHs at heavily competed destinations to bring some of that VS magic to the experience on the ground.

Very good point. I'm sure many Delta passengers will at least try VS metal simply because of their experiences in the JFK and LHR Clubhouses (mind you, the last time I was in the LHR CH, I overheard a Delta passenger telling his companion, "this is ridiculous, it's like a circus, not a lounge.") As DL owns 49% of VS, it might not worry them too much, of course!

whiterose wrote:So for us, the marginally preferred option is VS2 back, or, better, VS45/46 into/out of JFK - better clubhouse and, at present, 747 LHR config rather than 343.

If I don't take the VS18 (which I can get to in 20 minutes from my home in Manhattan at the time in the morning!), my next preference is the latest possible departure, so the VS10 from JFK (just so I feel more inclined to sleep as quickly as possible once on board).

Mind you, having had an excellent flight in Delta Business Elite on this route, I'm quite keen to try their 22:30 departure ex-JFK (which, comes with the JFK CH access, but also - and I have had confirmed from VS customer services - entitles pax to the use of the Revivals lounge in LHR).

NYLON wrote:and I have had confirmed from VS customer services - entitles pax to the use of the Revivals lounge in LHR).

Please tell this is not so. I am a massive fan of the Revivals Lounge, its not full to the rafters, or has never been when I have been in there, the service is good and what they office is an outstanding way to start a full day.
An influx of DL pax would I think, spoil the experience and be another massive plus to the DL pax flying in to LHR and another minus to the VS pax

LovingGold wrote:Please tell this is not so.

I'm afraid it is, but only on the DL/VS codeshares (so three flights per day: DL 401/402/403)

Precise response: "Upon checking this with our Support team, they have advised you can use the Revivals lounge subject to availability as your flight number will still have a VS prefix as it's a codeshare with Delta."

NYLON wrote: subject to availability

What does that mean?? Is that the same for VS pax as well??
Kinda like when it's full, it's full
I have never been turned away, has anybody??

LovingGold wrote:I have never been turned away, has anybody??

It's never happened to me, but I've also never seen the place particularly full.

joeyc wrote:IAD, HKG, SFO, NRT, BOS and JNB only have a single flight to cater to.

Whilst the various CHs are kept open to coincide with the VS flight times, further income will be derived from allowing other airline's business class pax use.

IAD and SFO are also used by V America.

The SFO one follows the VS flight times -closing just before the VS departure but the IAD one stays open until 22.45 - much later than the VS departure. Opening times on the V America website as well !

tontybear wrote:
IAD and SFO are also used by V America.

The SFO one follows the VS flight times -closing just before the VS departure but the IAD one stays open until 22.45 - much later than the VS departure. Opening times on the V America website as well !

Ah tonty, welcome back.

Yep, same as JFK, as I said upthread they are pay access lounges the rest of the time for other airlines.

I didn't have a clue that the IAD CH was open so late though - is this done to cater to the VX flights that depart or as part of an arrangement with another carrier I wonder.

The last VX departure is showing as 640pm (VX77 to SFO).... still a few hours before closing... hmmmm

Does anyone know, or might anyone take an educated guess (including a very rough calculation), what it costs an airline to purchase access for its business class pax to use one of the VS Clubhouses?

It might be the kind of thing buried in an SEC filing for Delta as 49% owner, even though VS and Virgin Group are held privately (like finding out that American Express are paying Delta around $700 million per year for access to SkyMiles).