Clubhouse entry rules

I’ve been flying Virgin upper-class for over 10 years and have always entered the Clubhouse early sometimes five or six hours before my flight and nobody has ever said a word to me. I read a post on social media recently that somebody was turned away because they were there more than three hours before departure.

Is this a new role or is this now being enforced where it wasn’t previously? As a Goldmember, am I likely to be turned away if I arrive more than three hours before my flight?

It is normally 3 hours in advance of the flight.
I’ve gone a few times 4+ hours in advance, if I still need to do some work before the holiday.

They maybe getting stricter, especially if the lounge is busier than usual.. but you should be fine

[Nottingham Nick]

In all of the (40+) years I have been flying with VS I have NEVER heard of any type of 'three hour' or other time limit at the LHR Clubhouse.

Back in the day, when the Clubhouse was much better than it is today , (don't get me started!) there were those of us who used to be there in the mornings for an evening flight

This is either something very new - in which case it would be nice to have a direct source beyond 'I read a post on social media' or it is fake news.

Nick

As per your request

https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/eu/e ... house.html

Clearly mentions 3 hours before :(

[Nottingham Nick]

....Clearly mentions 3 hours before :(

Thank you - every day is a school day.

I hadn't seen that before. I can't feign surprise at this type of 'innovation', but it is still a disappointment to see the slide of a once innovative airline that used to treat its premium / frequent passengers so well.

IMHO The slide has gone down past mediocrity to being just another airline putting bosses bonuses above establishing / maintaining a loyal customer base.

Nick

Has that rule maybe been there all the time and just isnt enforced. I know I’ve been there many times over 3 hours

David

Has that rule maybe been there all the time and just isnt enforced. I know I’ve been there many times over 3 hours

David

Quite possibly. I know going back a good 10-15yrs when Virgin still did the HKG route (very late departure from LHR) there were some people who would check their bags in at LHR in the morning - as then you could check in at any time for a same-day LHR departure. They would then go into Central London for the day & return to LHR for the Clubhouse. Shower, change & have a decent Clubhouse meal before the late departure - they were probably in there more than 3hrs with ease - although at that time of the day it would be fairly quiet. It's the morning / early afternoon rush when all the TATL flights are going that it will be really busy.

On my first personal HKG trip I think I entered the lounge at 12 noon for a 9pm departure.

I worked from the lounge (I live a realitive huge distance from LHR, and although my office was at time a 60 min drive from there, on that day the office wasn't open due to a refurb).

3 hours is something that would have impacted me on about 2/3rds of my trips. Mad thing is it impacted my (*business*) bookings when I check my history more than my personal ones (I'd usually stay overnight to allow checkin at 8am for a 11am flight for a personal trip to US, as the time in bed helps with the jet lag).

Hate to say it, if this is widely enforced, it will push bookings to another airline as they don't seem to care on BA when you use the lounge. It's not enforced at least there.

It looks like a new thing, as that specific phrase "from 3 hours before departure" isn't there in an archived copy of the same page from July this year:

https://web.archive.org/web/20240727210 ... house.html

[mitchja]

I suspect this new 3 hr rule is following Delta's decision to also implement an identical 3Hr time limit for all their lounge entry; although Delta's 3hr lounge rule does have an exception for connecting pax.

From DL's website

3-hour access policy: Customers will be able to access Delta Sky Clubs anytime within 3 hours of their scheduled departure time (and connecting customers can continue to access Clubs in the connecting airport at any time prior to departure).

I think of all the times I went from a club to the hotel just to grab my luggage and head to Clubhouse at 6am for a noon flight.

The partnership with Delta has been very negative, all said.

I honestly think it’s just so that the lounge doesn’t get overly overly busy.

Last two times I’ve been, it’s been packed and waited a good half hour for drinks etc..

4 hours before would have been great.

I’m sure if it’s quiet on the day, they will let people in early

Just got in at 9.05am with a flight that does not leave until 1.05pm, and there were others coming in with flights later so seems it's not too strictly enforced

Just got in at 9.05am with a flight that does not leave until 1.05pm, and there were others coming in with flights later so seems it's not too strictly enforced

I wouldn't expect it that busy on a Saturday morning so rules may be relaxed; during the week when a glut of USA (esp JFK) flights are due to take off I have seen lines waiting to get into the CH then, quiet rightly, they restrict access somewhat