Access to Heathrow Clubhouse

Hi,

I am a Virgin gold card holder and am flying today with Singapore Airlines to Singapore, business class. I have just tried accessing the Virgin clubhouse today but was turned away, being told that although I am a gold card holder that Singapore Airlines do not allow their travellers to use the clubhouse, since mid last year.

I WAS able to access the clubhouse in the same circumstances this time last year.

Surely if I'm in T3 then I should be able to use the clubhouse, no matter what airline I fly? Singapore Airlines are a partner anyway and own 49% of Virgin Atlantic I believe!

I have been a gold card holder for 2 years and unfortunately I am rarely able to travel with Virgin given the destinations I have to fly to for business. I have used the Virgin Flying club as a way to accrue miles, but also hoping that the gold card would give me some extra benefit. It seems like unless you fly VS, it doesn't!

I'd be interested to hear if others have experienced this and what your thoughts are?

A disgruntled member!

Thanks,

Julian

[Nottingham Nick]

Really, you have answered your own question, They changed the rules last year.

There are a number of threads about this, but the bottom line is that SQ have their own lounge and that is the one to use when you are travelling SQ.

The question of whether this is right or wrong, it a moot point really. If they are the rules that is it.

I assume that when a traveller from one airline uses the lounge of another, then there is a payment to be made. So, you can understand SQ not wanting to pay VS for their passengers using the CH, when their lounge isn't very far away.

As for your other point about getting benefits from VS without actually flying with them; then I am afraid I would sooner VS give any available benefits to their own passengers.

Just my opinion - your views may vary. [:D]

Nick

[honey lamb]

From the other threads on this topic it would seem that SQ changed the rules because no-one was using their own lounge, preferring instead to go to the Clubhouse. Given that they were paying rent, staffing, catering etc, it made sense to them to insist their own lounge be used rather than having the additional costs of having to pay VS for Clubhouse access for their passengers

Sadly this is true and to be honest the SQ LHR lounge is little better than a Servisair effort in J and the F lounge is woeful. You might instead opt for the London Lounge instead being the other *A lounge at LHR you can use on a SQ J ticket.

I would agree with your comments generally though. I float between KrisFlyer and Flyingclub. I have about 200k on my flying club at the moment but think I will xfer back to Krisflyer this year once I manage to find some flights to burn them on. Reality is, VS Gold is pretty useless unless you fly VS metal whereas *A gold is good across the board.

My own routings are the kangaroo route and US and I additionally find the utter lack of seamless transfer between VS, DJ and VA (the 'Virgin' global airline) to be more than annoying. But, much like you its only because of the sectors I fly make it impossible for me to be loyal to VS and the lounge access policy at LHR is really a deal breaker.

And this is the same combo of airlines that stops you using FC miles on SQ J and F seats on the new suite aircraft. Cruddy rule, but a rule.

quote:Originally posted by centurionman
Reality is, VS Gold is pretty useless unless you fly VS metal whereas *A gold is good across the board.


Thing is, VS FC Au is really only usefull if you fly PE or Y and get lounge access on VS flights, plus the extra miles. The lack of reciprocality across different VS branded airlines is dire, the lack of benefits when flying say CO within the US just part of the also ran kind of experience.

Really, if you get VS Au, and you fly a lot and can cope with other airlines, as soon as you have it you should fly any other alliance to get premier status with them ... the benefits are so much better.

quote:Originally posted by centurionman
Sadly this is true and to be honest the SQ LHR lounge is little better than a Servisair effort in J and the F lounge is woeful.

Agreed, except sometimes I find the LHR SQ F lounge better than the CH if you have a stinking hangover. There's a quiet little lying back area in the far left corner for you to contemplate your naval while sipping on bloody marys and alka seltza.

H

[Darren Wheeler]

quote:Originally posted by Howard Long
for you to contemplate your naval...

H


Howard

Since when have you been a sea-power? [:o)]

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
quote:Originally posted by Howard Long
for you to contemplate your naval...

H


Howard

Since when have you been a sea-power? [:o)]


D'oh! Must've been the hangover, knew there was something not quite right.

H