V-Flyer

Anyone looking forward to trying this lounge out?

Always worth a look.

The one thing that does worry though about JFK is why VS have moved Upper Class check-in from the new Delta One premium check-in area?

When I flew home from JFK in May, VS Upper Class check-in was just a bog standard check-in desk across from where the rest of VS check-in is located. It felt very much like an afterthought 'where can we stick Upper Class check-in now' VS Upper Class always used to be shared with Delta One in the Delta premium check-in area at the far end of T4?

Definitely excited to try out the Delta One Lounge at JFK! The sleek design, private shower suites, and top-notch dining options make it sound amazing.

Just incase anyone is interested I got to spend some hours in the Delta One lounge on Friday, it pretty amazing. I would say its better then the Clubhouse at Heathrow.

Did you have to queue up to get in? When I was at JFK T4 in April, I noticed queues of pax waiting to get in both DL lounges.

There's nothing premium about having to queue up to get in an airline lounge

I believe there's also a Delta One lounge coming to BOS as well (even though they have not long opened their SkyClub lounge in terminal E - the lounge VS now use). Noticed signs in the BOS SkyClub lounge when I was last there saying Delta One lounge 'coming soon'

No queue at all and it was pretty busy, when i booked the massage chair got a text saying 40 minute wait but was in within 5 minutes.

The bar was also far better stocked than the skyclubs.

mitchja wrote:Always worth a look.

The one thing that does worry though about JFK is why VS have moved Upper Class check-in from the new Delta One premium check-in area?

When I flew home from JFK in May, VS Upper Class check-in was just a bog standard check-in desk across from where the rest of VS check-in is located. It felt very much like an afterthought 'where can we stick Upper Class check-in now' VS Upper Class always used to be shared with Delta One in the Delta premium check-in area at the far end of T4?

Hi James

I thought they had only just moved the Upper Class check-in into the Delta One premium area?! I've not flown from JFK for a couple of years (but will be in Nov). So is it a case now of checking-in at the regular Virgin area in T4 and then finding way to the business class security line? (my friend said Delta One had a really fast dedicated lane last time she went through - so was looking forward to that).

Andy

VS Upper Class check-in did always used to be with Delta One premium checkin at the far end of T4, however, when I flew from JFK April on heading to the same Delta One premium area I was told VS now use their own check-in desks for Upper Class which were opposite the main VS check-in area.

I know DL were renovating their premium checkin area but it was open in April when I was there so not sure if VS Upper Class check-in is or has now moved back there now?

VS exec office wouldn’t tell me anything after I raised it with them.

mitchja wrote:VS Upper Class check-in did always used to be with Delta One premium checkin at the far end of T4, however, when I flew from JFK April on heading to the same Delta One premium area I was told VS now use their own check-in desks for Upper Class which were opposite the main VS check-in area.

I know DL were renovating their premium checkin area but it was open in April when I was there so not sure if VS Upper Class check-in is or has now moved back there now?

VS exec office wouldn’t tell me anything after I raised it with them.

It was opposite the rest of the check-in desks for me in June too. I had traipsed all the way down to the Delta end first, because it had been there the time before. Pretty non-descript in the new version, apart from being slow and like they didn't care. Couple ahead of me who seemed to take forever with just one agent who walked off to do something. Another guy eventually showed up to open another counter, but it kind of felt like it would have been quicker to use the Premium side.

Thanks both, you have saved me a walk!

I've not flown Upper Class from JFK before. Is there a fast-track security lane in T4 which I could use flying Upper? I read something about Sky Priority, but the Virgin Atlantic website is a bit short on details!

Andy

andy_racing2024 wrote:Thanks both, you have saved me a walk!

I've not flown Upper Class from JFK before. Is there a fast-track security lane in T4 which I could use flying Upper? I read something about Sky Priority, but the Virgin Atlantic website is a bit short on details!

Andy

There is but I don't find it much faster, if you have TSA precheck then that is faster.

We are flying out of JFK in October for the first time in Upper.

Do we have a choice in which lounge we can use if we are not Gold?

If we do have a choice is it easy to get to the departure gate from the Delta one lounge ?

Many thanks for your advice.

Generally, but not always, VS leave from the A gates and the clubhouse is directly on top of them, the DL lounge is on the B Gates, which can feel like a trek and a half!

Mind you when your VS fight leaves from the B gates, that then feels like a trek from the CH!!

I've actually no idea if there is a priority security lane at T4 as I always use the TSA-Pre lane which is usually reasonably quick?

The new Delta One lounge is roughly half way inbetween the VS Clubhouse in the A gates area and the DL B gates SkyClub as it's not far from where you enter T4 after coming down the steps / escalator from security / check-in.

There's also a new(ish) DL SkyClub in the A gates area near gate A8 now which I've not tried yet as well as well as the old SkyClub lounge in the B gates area near gate B31.

The A gates area is (or at least was) getting renovated when I flew home in April so there was lots of hordings in place around several of the departure gates all with VS advertising on them so clearly VS are making the A gate area their permanent home in T4. I've not had a B gate departure with VS for many years now and even then historically it was generally just the MAN flight that arrived / departed from the B gates.

I really wouldn't bother the the B gates SkyClub as you will have to queue to get in that plus it's a trek to get to it. The only thing going for that lounge is the outdoor Skydeck area. I'd guess you will need to queue to get in the A gates SkyClub as well as queuing to get in lounges is now a thing with Delta

This page shows you the locations (zoom into T4 and then select level 4 to view the lounge locations and level 3 for the departure gates)

mitchja wrote:I really wouldn't bother the the B gates SkyClub as you will have to queue to get in that plus it's a trek to get to it. The only thing going for that lounge is the outdoor Skydeck area.

The skyclub at the A gate also has a outdoor skydeck.

murphyg wrote:

mitchja wrote:VS Upper Class check-in did always used to be with Delta One premium checkin at the far end of T4, however, when I flew from JFK April on heading to the same Delta One premium area I was told VS now use their own check-in desks for Upper Class which were opposite the main VS check-in area.

I know DL were renovating their premium checkin area but it was open in April when I was there so not sure if VS Upper Class check-in is or has now moved back there now?

VS exec office wouldn’t tell me anything after I raised it with them.

It was opposite the rest of the check-in desks for me in June too. I had traipsed all the way down to the Delta end first, because it had been there the time before. Pretty non-descript in the new version, apart from being slow and like they didn't care. Couple ahead of me who seemed to take forever with just one agent who walked off to do something. Another guy eventually showed up to open another counter, but it kind of felt like it would have been quicker to use the Premium side.

Approx 40:35 in, looks like check in desks have been moved to a new area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fWEFBaYcY0

Very interesting! thanks for sharing it. Will take a look in November.

Is this heading towards the demoting or closing of Virgin's own JFK lounge?

If the new Delta One lounge is a great product, and UC (only) VS flyers are allowed in, then why keep Virgin's JFK lounge with all that expense? The sad thing is Au flyers who are on e.g. a PE ticket that trip, are not allowed into Delta One lounge, so they'll be demoted to... the (poor) regular Delta lounge or a degraded Virgin one.

Feel like my hard earned Au-for-life status just got significantly worse.

I don’t believe there is any plans to close the JFK Clubhouse, it’s the flagship money making route and the Clubhouse brand is so renowned, I just don’t see it happening. The fact there is investment going into Clubhouses in LAX also makes me believe there is no plans to remove it from JFK.

VS could have quite easily gone in to the new T2/3 complex at LAX and shared the new DL One Lounge there.

Thanks - hopefully you're right!
Be great if the Clubhouse brand stays intact at JFK (and a tad less crowded!)

I love it there, as my home airport and a regular flyer - I'd gotten on first name terms with the team there, before the pandemic. But when we returned everyone was gone/ all changed, sadly.

(Might I ask what swag you are carrying in your avatar image? My son would be jealous!)