V-Flyer

....... at MCO

And I have to say it’s grim !!

The decor looks like something from a 1980s throwback photo and as for the toilets ......... well I can’t apeak for the gents but the ladies has only 2 cubicles for this huge lounge.

I would suggest VS gets their partner airline to their game as this really is shocking!

I fear VS doesn’t wear the trousers in that relationship.

And at least DL has a lounge at MCO. No other airline does (although there is now at least a shared third party lounge, but that’s quite a recent development).

I've been to the Sky lounge at MCO a few times and neither I nor Mrs D recall any problems with the facilities.
Never queued to get in.
It's not something I paid much attention to but I have no complaints.
Dick D

I'm sure when I was there in July, there was a banner at the foot of the stairs proclaiming a refit shortly - here's hoping.

David

I agree the Delta Sky Club at MCO is pretty grim - but it's a typical US airline lounge offering for it's elite status holders (or pay customers) the vast majority of whom will be on domestic flights.

It's actually improved a little in recent years since BA & Lufthansa moved to the new Club MCO lounge for their business class pax / pax with FF status. When BA & LH used the Delta Sky Club too it was often rammed full in the afternoon and it could be hard to find somewhere to sit.

gumshoe wrote:At least DL has a lounge at MCO. No other airline does (although there is now at least a shared third party lounge, but that’s quite a recent development).

Actually, AA and UA both have lounges in MCO. The AA lounge is also quite recent and well-decorated, although the amenities and facilities are basic much like the DL lounge. It is also not located in Airside 4 where the BA/VS flights leave from, so an irrelevance as far as UK-based travel goes. But I thought it was worth pointing out the competition which is unquestionably better.

For what it's worth, I completely agree that VS can surely do better on one of their flagship routes. I don't really expect much out of BA, but MCO is a key city for Virgin with several flights a day to/from multiple UK destinations. When I have flown VS on this route, I have used Priority Pass to gain access to the 3rd party lounge which has better food. That said, I think part of the issue is a lack of lounge space in MCO Airside 4. It is quite an old terminal and the two spaces designated for lounges are now filled. Maybe (in my dreams) VS may move to the forthcoming South Terminal which promises great things, but I think that's unlikely with the emphasis on VS/DL connections.

MCO is not a flagship route for Virgin. Yes, it is a very popular route due to the number of daily flights (up to 6 a day in high-season) but a lot of this is due to a rather large mouse. There is good convention trade at times too, but other than that it's a bucket & spade route. Fly in low-season out of school holidays and it can be two flights a day to/from the UK for Virgin, both pretty empty flights too.

The big reason we'll never see a Virgin Clubhouse in MCO (as long as they share an airside terminal with Delta) is the joint-venture. Offer Delta Elites the choice of a crappy Sky Club or a Virgin Clubhouse and it's a no-brainer which everyone will choose to use. As stated earlier in this thread, DL wear the trousers in the joint-venture.

The only outside chance of a Clubhouse in MCO is if Virgin move to the new South terminal that is under construction & Delta stay in Airside 4. That way they can keep the masses of DL elites out of the Clubhouse, but the maths would be very hard to add up, especially in low season with 2 flights a day. Yes, you can rent capacity out to other carriers at times you don't need the Clubhouse, but it is still not a cheap facility to run.