V-Flyer

I'm in UC on the VS76 in May. Will we be in the right terminal to make use of the Delta Sky Club? We've had good times in the BOS and JFK Clubhouses pre-flight but never flown UC from MCO before. I realise that the Delta offering in no way resembles a Clubhouse, but it must be better than sitting in the cauldron that is the MCO terminal.

Yup. Its just to your left near Starbucks when you get off the train - there is a refurb planned sometime..

David

We've never found the departure lounge at MCO to be anything but pretty cold and have been through there dozens and dozens of time over the years. We've found it especially cold at the gates! We've frozen down there even in the hottest weather as the aircon is fierce. Having said that, it's bound to be nicer waiting in a lounge.

Go to the Delta Sky Club at MCO with low expectations and you won't be too disappointed. It's nothing special & the decor is long overdue a repaint / re-fit - it's a bit like a time-warp. Since the Club at MCO opened, the Sky Club is more bearable at busy times as BA & Lufthansa both send their J/F passengers to the Club at MCO - the result being you can normally find a seat in the Sky Club.

The Sky Club is preferable to the main terminal level / gate areas as it is quieter. With regard to air-con, I have ended up sitting directly under an air-con vent in the Sky Club and it got rather cool, pretty fast. I was escaping from Hurricane Irma at the time so I was not too bothered!

Physically it is not unpleasant and has a variety of seating some of which are very comfortable.
The food is just snacks but with soup and salad you can make up a meal of sorts.
If you want a proper meal then go down to the Outback and return to the lounge.
Drinks: You have to pay for any sparkling wine and can only pay by credit card, but beer and spirits are free. Tips are expected to the point they leave a few dollar bills on the counter to remind you.
Have a great trip.
Dick D

Just a reminder you can forgo your lounge entry for a $15 Airport credit per person. We do this and spend our collective $30 at Outback.

mikethe3rd wrote:Just a reminder you can forgo your lounge entry for a $15 Airport credit per person. We do this and spend our collective $30 at Outback.

Mmmmm, interesting. Can this option be taken at Disney Springs check-in? Though, having said that, can't say I was particularly impressed by either the quality or choice of the offerings in the airport Outback last time we were in there. It doesn't compare well with Outback restaurants outside the confines of the airport. Perhaps lunching at Longhorn or Red Lobster before heading to MCO is the way forward.

Treelo wrote:

mikethe3rd wrote:Just a reminder you can forgo your lounge entry for a $15 Airport credit per person. We do this and spend our collective $30 at Outback.

Mmmmm, interesting. Can this option be taken at Disney Springs check-in? Though, having said that, can't say I was particularly impressed by either the quality or choice of the offerings in the airport Outback last time we were in there. It doesn't compare well with Outback restaurants outside the confines of the airport. Perhaps lunching at Longhorn or Red Lobster before heading to MCO is the way forward.

Yes, you can get this option at Disney Springs check-in - but you will have to prompt them as by default they will just give you the lounge invite card. Even if you make negative comments about the lounge when asked if you've been there before, you still get the invite card unless you push for the airport voucher alternative.

The only thing to add to the useful responses already posted (BTW we have a ritual of visiting the Outback before moving on to the Delta Lounge) is that the place can be quite full on Thursday and Friday evening when large conventions come to a close.

Despite this, the place does offer a respite from the very busy terminal

buns

Sky Club is a big disappointment after experiencing other Virgin clubhouses. However as mentioned it’s probably the quietest place airside. For passengers that do UC for a special occasion, this club house lets the experience down!

Lucky Suzy wrote:Sky Club is a big disappointment after experiencing other Virgin clubhouses. However as mentioned it’s probably the quietest place airside. For passengers that do UC for a special occasion, this club house lets the experience down!

But that is just it - Virgin don't claim the Delta Sky Club is a Clubhouse, it's a "shared lounge".

Virgin are seriously short-changing their Upper Class / FC Gold passengers on the MCO route (it's the busiest destination airport they serve without a Clubhouse). People at Crawley Towers just see Orlando and tag it as a bucket & spade route that does not matter - despite Orlando being a very big convention venue.

The big problem is that as long as Virgin share the same airside terminal with Delta at Orlando, we'll never get a Clubhouse. Space issues aside (there is not much spare space in Airside 4) if Virgin put a Clubhouse in the Delta Sky Club will be empty - give any passenger / Elite FF member (and there are LOTS in Delta's FF scheme) the choice between a Sky Club or a Clubhouse, I know which option everyone will choose.

Kraken wrote:Virgin are seriously short-changing their Upper Class / FC Gold passengers on the MCO route (it's the busiest destination airport they serve without a Clubhouse).

Maybe, but outside the holiday peaks - relatively speaking - it’s not busy at all. Two or three flights a day, each with only 14 UC seats. Add a few Golds and you’re looking at no more than 50 Clubhouse users a day on a route with little high value business travel and little competition in J.

Granted, on a busy summer weekend it’s much busier but you need year-round business travel to justify a Clubhouse. MIA and ATL would be more deserving cases but they’ll never get one thanks to DL’s involvement.

I don't think it's as bad as some are claiming. It's not a clubhouse - but I've never found a shared or other airline lounge that is except perhaps Cathay in HK. (Not used the ME carriers in premium cabins). Comfortable enough seats away from the larger rather spartan terminal - only local/designated beer was free- you need to pay for other brands, spirits etc.

tugpilot wrote:I don't think it's as bad as some are claiming. It's not a clubhouse - but I've never found a shared or other airline lounge that is except perhaps Cathay in HK. (Not used the ME carriers in premium cabins). Comfortable enough seats away from the larger rather spartan terminal - only local/designated beer was free- you need to pay for other brands, spirits etc.

I am pretty sure spirits were free when we came through last year.
Mrs D wanted a Gin and tonic which I got at no charge, but they did not have any slimline tonic and she didn't like it so asked for Prosecco which I went back for. $8 plus tax.

Dick D

Another vote for eating at Outback but then I'd throw a spanner in the mix and head to the Club at MCO at gate 91 and use Priority Pass to get in.

From my last review of MCO:

A brief monorail trip later (don’t take the wrong one!) brings you to the 60-99 block of gates where I can heartily recommend the Outback restaurant if you want to dine pre-flight and just sleep on board. It is, however, the only steak restaurant I can think of that uses plastic cutlery so factor that in to what you order!

We headed to the The Club at MCO by gate 91 which is just next to central lobby and very easy to get to. The lounge accepts Priority Pass and is clean, modern and very spacious (at least for the passenger load at the time VS16 flies). The food offerings were 2 types of soup, several plates of sandwiches that looked really good and boxes of ‘just add water’ instant pasta and noodle type things along with the usual crisps and bar snacks. You could easily fill up here if you weren’t too picky.

A full service bar provides a very drinkable Sauvignon Blanc and, if you tip the usual $1, the barman will seek you out and ensure you are topped up from the comfort of your seat. All in all a very pleasant place to sit and wait. The only downside is a lack of windows but I’m being very picky, this is among the top tier of US lounges. If Virgin are still using the Delta lounge for Upper then I’d be tempted to say this was quite a bit better.