Just a few weeks in the past I wrote about how one thing unusual was occurring with Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses exterior of the UK. We now have a greater sense of what’s occurring.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses change administration
In August 2021, Plaza Premium began managing Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses exterior of the US. The logic was presumably that Plaza Premium makes a speciality of managing lounges, so not solely may the corporate most likely employees and handle these lounges extra effectively, but it surely may additionally assist with monetizing these lounges amongst these not flying on Virgin Atlantic.
That may now be altering. It has been revealed that a number of Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses will now be managed by Sodexo. The corporate already manages the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London (LHR), and is taking up day-to-day operations on the lounges in Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington (IAD).
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Newark (EWR) will proceed to be run by Plaza Premium, since at this level that’s solely a contract lounge, as Virgin Atlantic doesn’t fly to Newark.
Apparently the timing of this coincides with Virgin Atlantic becoming a member of SkyTeam, as that’s taking place as of March 2, 2023. It will enable extra vacationers to entry Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, in keeping with SkyTeam’s lounge entry insurance policies.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses closing briefly
In mild of this transition, choose Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses can be closing briefly. It’s because with administration corporations altering, there are additionally adjustments to staffing, service, and so forth. As famous by Head for Factors, the next three Clubhouses can be closing briefly:
- The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Boston can be closed March 1-April 14, 2023, and clients can be directed to the Delta Sky Membership Specific
- The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse San Francisco can be closed March 1-25, 2023, and clients can be directed to the China Airways Lounge
- The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Washington can be closed March 1-3, 2023, and clients can be directed to the Turkish Airways Lounge
- The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Johannesburg can be closed March 1-13, 2023, and clients can be directed to the SLOW Lounge
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York has already transitioned administration groups, so there gained’t be any closure there.
What does this imply for Amex and Capital One lounge entry?
Up till now, Plaza Premium has had a partnership with American Specific and Capital One, that means that these with The Platinum Card® from American Specific (evaluate) and Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card (evaluate) may entry Plaza Premium Lounges. Up till now, that has included Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses exterior of the UK.
Just a few weeks again I wrote about the odd replace that Plaza Premium posted about Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, suggesting they could depart the Plaza Premium community as of the tip of February. I used to be assured by a consultant from Plaza Premium that this wasn’t the case.
I’ve adopted up as soon as once more with this newest replace, to ensure that continues to be the case (if it isn’t, I’ll be sure you present an replace). In fact it’s doable that Plaza Premium nonetheless has an settlement to monetize these lounges for its cardmembers, even when the corporate now not manages the lounges.
Anyway, this replace actually offers a bit extra perspective on why there was some bizarre stuff occurring with entry to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses.
Backside line
Administration of most Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses is being transitioned from Plaza Premium to Sodexo. This is similar firm that manages the lounge in London, and it comes at a time when Virgin Atlantic is becoming a member of SkyTeam.
Not solely has Plaza Premium managed the operations of Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, however the firm has additionally monetized these lounges, together with providing entry to these with premium American Specific and Capital One playing cards. Whereas I’ve been assured that nothing is altering, I’ve adopted up simply to double test.
What do you make of Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses transitioning from Plaza Premium to Sodexo?
