VS's Future at MAN

[mitchja]

The spa is mentioned in the business traveller article

https://onemileatatime.com/virgin-atlantic-clubhouse-manchester/

While details about the new lounge are limited as of now, we do know that the Clubhouse will include a la carte dining, a full service bar, quiet working spaces, and a spa.

Only from what I read.

Where is that confirmed about the CH and Spa?

Don’t know if confirmed or not, just what I read

https://corporate.virginatlantic.com/gb ... ester.html

100% official!

I think VS have kept this quiet because of the sensitivity of TC!

A Clubhouse with a spa! I'm so happy!

Also the V-room will get a refurb.

Which is probably of more importance to most VS customers

So they have finally confirmed the worst kept secret - the MAN Clubhouse. Roll on April 2020.

Anyone got any timescale on the V-Room refurb?
We're booked in there on 20th April.
(At least it won't be a problem if it's not open - got some reward seat upgrades to UC so, if it's open, will be able to use the new clubhouse.)

Hi uktigger

I would not expect the Vroom refurb to commence until the Clubhouse is open.

If I’m right, it means that the Vroom will inevitably not be refurbished by April 2020. I think you’ll either have a choice between the new clubhouse, or the old vroom (depending on how the timing shakes out).

[mitchja]

As Dobbo mentioned, I doubt any of the current areas in T2 will start getting and renovation work until the new section(s) all open from April 2020.

The current V-:Room may well expand in size as well if all the surrounding lounges are no longer needed (new lounges open in the new section) as it's not the biggest lounge as well.

The current V:Room is still way way better than VS's poor shoddy Escape Lounge+ effort though. Give me the current V:Room any day of the week over that. As least the V:Room lounge has it's own bathrooms!

Great 'news' on the MAN Clubhouse! I wonder what sort of occupancy rates VS are expecting or will they need to accept 'walk-ins'? Any thoughts guys?

Hmm J sells pretty well out of Manchester, I believe the ATL when it was a 330 was always a good load in the front. I’ve done JFK when it was a 333 and that was full in J bar 2 seats.

I think the growth plans for MAN will more than justify it. It’s also a fact of build it and they will come...I wouldn’t do Manchester because of the lack of a CH, now I’m much more likely to!

[mitchja]

MAN also has as many daily VS departures most days as LGW does now, so if VS can manage to fill their Clubhouse at LGW there's no reason why they cannot do the same at MAN and that's before you factor in DL pax from next year (at both airports).

The Escape+ lounge was also bursting at the seems when I was in there last month (granted both the 127 + 73 where delayed though).

Hopefully a win-win situation for VS then. Looking forward to trying the new facility.

I do wonder though if the JFK service being a 747 could use additional J capacity?

Indeed. Plus VS by all counts have a good location for their Clubhouse in level 45 (the mezzanine over the main departures area) in T2X.

Other airlines - notably Emirates - are apparently unhappy. Their current lounge in T1 is in a prime location with airfield views. The T2 plans have been scaled down to save money. One of the new piers (can't remember if it's 2 or 3) was going to have an extra level on top for airline lounges - this has been dropped. The lounges will now apparently be at ground level with panoramic views of landing gear & ground service equipment. Not quite sure how they'll work that as departures level at MAN is on-top of arrivals & passengers cannot mix. Can only assume a lift that only goes between departures & ground level.

There is no doubt the clubhouse at MAN enjoys a plumb location. I’m not sure of the size compared to LHR/LGW for example but that might be a strong tell as to the scale of what VS have planned.

I think some of the services could make use of more J capacity, but VS has had a bit of a fleet crunch the past 2/3 years with the Trent problems so hopefully when the A339s start entering the fleet the fleet will better suit the markets served.

Great 'news' on the MAN Clubhouse! I wonder what sort of occupancy rates VS are expecting or will they need to accept 'walk-ins'? Any thoughts guys?

I would have thought Flybe passengers of a certain status/booking class to be able to access the Clubhouse if/when their flights move over from T3 later on during the TP process. That will help keep it occupied for the rest of the day once all the long-haul flights have departed.

Great 'news' on the MAN Clubhouse! I wonder what sort of occupancy rates VS are expecting or will they need to accept 'walk-ins'? Any thoughts guys?

I would have thought Flybe passengers of a certain status/booking class to be able to access the Clubhouse if/when their flights move over from T3 later on during the TP process. That will help keep it occupied for the rest of the day once all the long-haul flights have departed.

I anticipate the TATL departures/arrivals are likely to be banked throughout the morning and early afternoon. I also anticipate there will be some later afternoon and evening departures (not necessarily TATL) in due course.

[mitchja]

VS's last departure of the day from MAN is currently the VS121 leaving at 15:10 (I presume DL will take the same slots next year).

MAN departures are already more evenly spread during the day compared to LGW:

VS075 MCO 09:55
VS109 ATL 11:05
VS073 MCO 11:10
VS181 LAX 13:00
VS085 LAS 13:20
VS127 JFK 13:50
VS077 BGI 14:10
VS121 BOS 15:10

I think that all departures (some are not all daily though).

Which begs the question - will the Clubhouse be open all day to accommodate the ex-Flybe flights, or will it just open for the VS long hauls - say 0645-1445?

The latter would only require one shift, whereas the former would need more staff with the obvious cost implications.

For what it's worth - next year's DL service to BOS will be earlier in the day- 11:30am. That should shave down the afternoon hours a little bit.

[mitchja]

Just booked a flight to BOS for next August and I compared VS Upper Class from LHR to DL Delta One from MAN....VS were ~£130 cheaper than DL which was a no-brainer for me as even with a return first class LNER rail fare to London, it's still cheaper for me to fly from LHR!

Just booked a flight to BOS for next August and I compared VS Upper Class from LHR to DL Delta One from MAN....VS were ~£130 cheaper than DL which was a no-brainer for me as even with a return first class LNER rail fare to London, it's still cheaper for me to fly from LHR!

Out of interest, how much does the Tube from King's Cross cost along with the Heathrow Express, or do you just take the Piccadilly line all the way through to LHR?

From my side of the county, it would mean going into Euston which is more of a faff getting to Paddington at least than some of the other London termini.