Clubhouse access if not flying Virgin

Hi, im a gold card holder and someone recently told me that a friend of theirs (also gold card) is able to use the clubhouse at Heathrow/Gatwick even when they are flying on other airlines. Does anyone know if this is correct? I would have assumed that you would need to show your gold card AND boarding pass to gain access to the Clubhouse?

Not correct.

CH is only for eligible passengers flying on VS or DL.

One of the LHR lounge angels did tell me a while back that there was an unpublished rule that you could use the clubhouse even if not flying VS, if you were a Gold card holder. A couple of weeks later (October 15) I was flying AA out of T3 and i gained access just fine! She did say that the rules were going to change but didn't say when. I'm presuming they came into effect some while ago.

I'm flying next week so will ask and report back

Thanks Evanspa1. I'm flying out of Gatwick on another airline at end of Feb and am keen to check out the new clubhouse!

I has no idea about the AU and AA benefit. I wonder what DL would say if they knew about it!

I wouldn't rely on it at LGW though. For one it's a much smaller lounge and two it closes at 13.30!

BA got into trouble with it's 'come in no matter what airline as long as your BAEC Gold' policy though. It soon found out that a large number of it's elites also flew on Easyjet so stopped the benefit!

[Nottingham Nick]

In all the years reading and moderating various VS fora, I have never heard of this 'unwritten rule'.
I could imagine it for those with status above gold, but am surprised that golds get it.
I would also suggest that if it isn't gone already, shortly after anyone asks to get in, saying they read about the perk on the internet, it will definitely disappear

Nick

I've known of one person to gain entry when flying with Emirates but assumed it was more because of his minor celebrity status rather than holding a gold card. I'm unsure what status celebs get but I'm sure it's a rung above gold regardless.

[Darren Wheeler]

+1 for never having heard of this. As the saying goes...

"Photos, or it didn't happen"

As I said I did access it October 2015 it was rules were changing soon. I was just as surprised to hear that rule at the time!

I am part of the Wings programme and they wouldn't let me in! They changed the rules about a year ago. Before that you sometimes got lucky.
Not now!



Cheers

Gerry

This absolutely has happened.

In April of 2016, and again in May of 2016, I was admitted to to CH in the afternoon by presenting my VS Gold Card and a VUELING boarding pass to BCN. I specifically booked Vuelling just so I could depart from T3 and get CH access.

One time the agent had to run back and ask someone -- there's definitely capacity controls in place.

But whoever says that this was a categorical no is wrong. I could easily forsee the rules changing in the future, though.

With all due respect why should they give you access when you haven't spent money with them? That's like going to a hotel and wanting to use the all inclusive when you haven't booked a room there.

Richie, surely they want to do it to continue brand loyalty?! I only ever fly Virgin when going long haul for work, which is how i have achieved gold status. Next month im flying short haul on Easyjet but want to use the CH is possible, which is were this whole thread has stemmed from!

Given the large amount of money i spend on Virgin each year, a few free drinks and a bite to eat every now and then sounds like a very good way of retaining me

Nah, not convinced that this is good thing. Surely the benefit for the AU Card holder is the ability to fly PE / Economy and still have access to the CH. It's a bit like me booking into a Premier Inn and then turning up at the nearest Hilton expecting to use the Executive Lounge with my Diamond status.

Richie, surely they want to do it to continue brand loyalty?! I only ever fly Virgin when going long haul for work, which is how i have achieved gold status. Next month im flying short haul on Easyjet but want to use the CH is possible, which is were this whole thread has stemmed from!

Given the large amount of money i spend on Virgin each year, a few free drinks and a bite to eat every now and then sounds like a very good way of retaining me

Easyjet's not competition for VS though. You could just as well be flying long haul with BA, American, Norwegian, Cathay Pacific or Emirates, all of whom very much are competition. Surely in that case it's not in VS's interest to let you use the Clubhouse?

It strikes me as more sensible to have a blanket ban rather than a policy that lets some people in and others not depending on who they're flying with, which would just be a recipe for confusion and embarrassment.

I have been into the LGW CH when not flying VS and the EK lounge at JFK when not flying EK. I am Gold with both.

There was probably some discretion given to lounge managers taking capacity issues into consideration. Neither of the lounges were very busy at the time I was in there, and that act of kindness from both of the lounge staffs definitely helped to shore up my customer loyalty. I'd say don't bank on it, but it never hurts to ask nicely.

I am part of the Wings programme and they wouldn't let me in! They changed the rules about a year ago. Before that you sometimes got lucky.
Not now!

Wings programme is the new name for the UNIQs isn't it? I saw it referenced in some correspondence I had with FlyingCo a little while ago and forgot to ask them.

+1 for never having heard of this. As the saying goes...

"Photos, or it didn't happen"

Feel like trusting my word on this Darren? Ha. I forgot to take a photo of me in the LGW CH with the Monarch boarding pass, my Au card, a newspaper clearly showing the date and a mojito in hand

Due to last minute change of plans, im now flying UC with Virgin on Wednesday so will ask the girls at the Clubhouse to see if i can get access when i fly with Easyjet in a few weeks time

Any update?

Any update?

It's implied that you have to be travelling with VS on the day you are trying to get into a CH. Makes sense.

However, anecdotal evidence suggests there is some discretion with the CH managers as to whether or not to allow entry to Au if not flying with VS.

My advice would be to ask very nicely, expect nothing and hope for everything

I was referring to previous poster who was going to ask

I flew AY to HEL last month and VS let me and a guest in then no quibbles

I regularly use the Heathrow CH when not flying VS. Just show your Gold Card and boarding pass. No questions asked and no problems with gaining entry. Last time I was there was just before Christmas.

I pass through LHR CH quite often at the moment, never had a problem - they're normally very good there.

Would be interested to try LGW, may try and get an EZY flight on my next trip to give it a shot instead of BA. Although will be very annoyed if they say no!

Hmm. I'd be a bit embarrassed proffering my AA boarding pass next week... mind you, VS don't fly to ORD so...