LOUNGES

I am new to V-FLYER (can you tell?!) and also new to VS - first flight was only last summer [2005]. I will be departing out of EWR in a couple of weeks, can someone advise me about the lounge? Is there one?, is it VS?, or codeshare?.
Is there somewhere on this site that advises on this subject?

slainte,
oliversudden

[Scrooge]

yes VS has a clubhouse there,it is one of their own rather than a shared one,cant give you any details about it,but im sure someone will be along in a few mins that can...

Welcome to the site btw..you can also see the lounges here

Hi Oliver & welcome to V-Flyer

EWR has a VS Clubhouse. Probably the best way to get opinions about it is by doing a search from the Trip Reports - Virgin Atlantic section....

Here are 3 threads you might find useful:
Decker's TR from Sep '05
Mike-Smashing's TR from Jun '05
HelenF's TR from Jan '05

Also, there are pictures here and on the VS website here

Cheers

Michael

thanks jetwet [edit...and mcuth!], I should've seen that in the virgin website.

Thought for all: next trip is LHR-LAX with EWR-LHR return, in prem economy both ways. I turn "flying club gold" with my outbound flight to LAX, do you think my profile will have been updated in time to gain me access to the EWR lounge as a "gold member" on the way back (4 days after landing in LAX)?
My natural cynicism says "HA HA HA, forget it pal!", but maybe someone has some good news out there about how quickly VS work...?

oliversudden

Hi Oliver, I think there is a very good chance it will have been updated. Ofcourse you will have to get them to check your account as you will only have your silver card with you. I assume that you are not flying UC?

Paul

Sadly, this time not, although prem ec (don't know the codes that well) on VS is at least as good as buisness class on many other operators...

[ChuckC]

Welcome Oliver,
Glad to have you aboard VFlyer. The EWR clubhouse while small is staffed with pleasant people and the food/drink are perfectly acceptable. Plus it's not a long walk to the boarding gate.

Chuck-

Just a quick further comment to the FC card update issue - I mentioned this to the VS agent when I made the reservations, and he set up his system to send himself a reminder (the day after the LHR-LAX flight) and will ensure that the system reflects the current status. What a guy!

Hi Oliver, and welcome to the site. I had the same thing (moving up to gold) when I was away in PVG. I can confirm that the TPs to move you up happen pretty quickly after flying - within a day or two at most. I simply rang up the FC a couple of days after I flew out and got them to send through a confirmation letter that I was now gold. They actually emailed it to me and I showed the staff at PVG airport my PDA when returning. But they could equally fax something through. Anyway it worked a treat. Got me access to the PVG lounge. The only problem is that the PVG lounge is an armpit of a place[:(!].

Just one thing to watch out for. If you upgraded to PE using miles (or if you decide to blow some miles on an u/g to UC) then your miles and TPs will not automatically go to your account. In this case you may well have problems getting the confirmation email while you are away, although if you ring FC you may well be able to sort it out.

On the plus side, the staff at EWR are more helpful than some and may be able to check your new status on line. This was not really an option for me at PVG because of the language gap (you try saying that you have earned enough tier points to gain elite status in Madarin!) and because the local agency staff are not familiar with FC.

Originally posted by sailor99
Hi Oliver, and welcome to the site. I had the same thing (moving up to gold) when I was away in PVG. I can confirm that the TPs to move you up happen pretty quickly after flying - within a day or two at most. I simply rang up the FC a couple of days after I flew out and got them to send through a confirmation letter that I was now gold. They actually emailed it to me and I showed the staff at PVG airport my PDA when returning. But they could equally fax something through. Anyway it worked a treat. Got me access to the PVG lounge. The only problem is that the PVG lounge is an armpit of a place[:(!].

I've had no problem with this either. When coming back from US a while ago on a flight which would turn me gold, I explained this to the receptionist at the JFK clubhouse and she happily allowed mt to use the lounge. I took my next flight before my gold card came through and Flying Club sent me a confirmation email which I could present to checkin and clubhouse staff. In my experience, they're very helpful about this kind of thing.

Chris

I have found the EWR CH fine. AS people have said it's not a long way from the gate or check-in. However, unfortunately there's no way you can see the planes.
In one half, there are some chairs and tables and in the other there is a buffet type thing and a TV.
The staff are very helpful and friendly!:D

Chewers,
VS045

This is a little off topic, but does anyone have any pictures of the BA lounge at EWR. I've been trying to find some but they don't seem to exist.