V-Room

[philinmerthyr]

Is the Virgin V-room worth spending £50 on?

 

[gbrchill]

Is the Virgin V-room worth spending £50 on?

We (well I really) have decided that the £15 per head is well spent to get access to the fast track security line and then to have somewhere nice to sit with a view over the apron. I hate being confined in the air side shopping mall that has shops filled with stuff that I just don't want. I far prefer the US airports, where you can sit in a large seating area watching the airport at work.

I used to fly for business just enough to get gold status with my airline of choice. Some illness last year meant that I fell well short of getting the required miles to hold the status. So, my travel without airline lounge access has become a real chore. It's a hard life some times .

Chris

 

[richard_andmel]

I'd say when you factor the security line, free drinks, and a decent place to sit it seems like a steal...

 

[Snowy-girls]

I'd say when you factor the security line, free drinks, and a decent place to sit it seems like a steal...

and free food,pastries,bacon+sausage sandwiches,muffins,fruit,cereal.Free internet access,PSP's to play on .I think it's worth the money.We have it booked for next year and can't wait to try it out .Especially as the 4 of us have gotten it free-even better .x.

 

[ScottishDisMam]

Hiya everyone,
we leave next saturday, and have booked the V room . Sorry to be thick, but what do you mean about fasttrack security?

Lisa x

 

[Elise79]

This is from Virgin's website:

Fast Track at Gatwick

Fast Track is a priority service offered to lounge passengers by the British Airport Authority when clearing airport security. The dedicated security channel is open daily from 07.00-14.00 but is subject to availability on the day. Virgin Holidays is pleased to offer all their guests using the V ROOM access to the Fast Track channel in the South terminal. Look for the signs at security and hand over your Fast Track voucher, which is included in your ticket wallet.

We have it booked for next year as we decided it might be nicer than waiting in the main lounge with a toddler. Plus we looked at it as we would only be paying about £4 more than normal as we would buy breakfast anyway!

 

[OneEyeJohnson]

We booked it partly because it works about the same as we would normally spend on breakfast and drinks and the reviews are great

 

[Zeebs]

Does anyone know if there are any lounges available to non Virgin Holiday customers, we are flying with Virgin but not through the holidays.

Kirsten

 

[disneybarbie]

i would think its worth the £50... how much would you spend usually in the terminal for... food,drinks,magazines,internet access,entertainment...

then theres the amazing view of the runway!!

i used it in july and really enjoyed it.

we also went to register for the Iris scanning, which sped up passport control when we returned to the UK

Barbie x

ps - Zeebs - i only know of the V Room and BA lounge, there is another lounge located near the V Room but i can't remember who owned it

 

[Dimplenose]

I thought it was £60 per head when I decided not to add it to our booking for next July. Have the prices changed since May when we booked our holiday?

 

[Soopafly]

Does anyone know if there are any lounges available to non Virgin Holiday customers, we are flying with Virgin but not through the holidays.

Kirsten

I think this is the one at Gatwick for anyone using Virgin Atlantic http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/extras/airport_lounges/info/lounges_clubhouse/gatwick.aspx

I want to use the V Room

 

[Twilight Terror]

I would say so! We are definitely booking it for next year. Fast track through security is just the best! The queues were hideous through regular security, and we just went straight past all of them and were the only people in line for the x-ray/metal detector scanner! Made our life much less stressful because of mum's wheelchair she has to stop and have the entire thing swabbed for explosives!

The V-Room itself looked pretty full when we arrived, but immediately there was someone at our side pointing us to an empty table. It may have looked full, but there was actually still space. There were a lot of floor staff, managers and the like, and one really nice thing to see was the managers not afraid to get stuck in with what some people would deem "medial" tasks and "below them" like clearing away empty plates. The service was brilliant.

As for value for money, I would say so. How much would a couple of cups of tea/coffee at like Starbucks or Costa cost you? Probably enough to take you to 1/3 of the amount you pay. Then on top of that there are all kinds of pastries, fruit, yoghurt, hot drinks, cold drinks, cooked breakfast. We didn't bother with breakfast at the hotel, we just went straight to the V-room. I hate to imagine how much breakfast at the airport would have cost! Plus, there were plenty of things that you could easily take away with you to keep you fed on the plane - my two croissants kept me filled up until lunch was served on the plane! lol

My opinion - definitely go for it!!!

 

[Claire L]

I think this is the one at Gatwick for anyone using Virgin Atlantic http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/extras/airport_lounges/info/lounges_clubhouse/gatwick.aspx

No, as far as I know only those flying Upper Class, FC gold card holders, VH customers or FVC members can book the Clubhouse.

There are other lounges such as servisair that anyone can use.

Claire

 

[Claire L]

I thought it was £60 per head when I decided not to add it to our booking for next July. Have the prices changed since May when we booked our holiday?

£60 per head is for the Heathrow Virgin Clubhouse with Virgin Holidays.

Claire

 

[stewdaviesuk]

With regard to other lounges, we were interested in that. No Virgin Lounge at Manchester for instance, but it seems that unless all of your party is booked first class then they are fussy over letting children in.

I considered buying a Priority Pass to use the lounges, but they have a statement about limited access for children, in some cases thay have to be over 12yo and as our boy is only 4, it was a non starter for us. Though in the USA its fine for kids to use the lounges, the Delta Crown at Orlando even has a kids area.

 

[Soopafly]

No, as far as I know only those flying Upper Class, FC gold card holders, VH customers or FVC members can book the Clubhouse.

There are other lounges such as servisair that anyone can use.

Claire

We booked our Premium Economy flight through Virgin Atlantic, does that mean we can use the V-Room for £15 per person? We would really like to do this but i'm just a little confused because it doesn't mention non Virgin Holiday customers.

 

[Twilight Terror]

We booked our Premium Economy flight through Virgin Atlantic, does that mean we can use the V-Room for £15 per person? We would really like to do this but i'm just a little confused because it doesn't mention non Virgin Holiday customers.

The V-Room is designed for Virgin Holidays customers only, not Virgin Atlantic customers, although I know a few VA people on this board have managed to wangle it!

 

[Soopafly]

The V-Room is designed for Virgin Holidays customers only, not Virgin Atlantic customers, although I know a few VA people on this board have managed to wangle it!

Hmm I see. Is there any pay for lounge we can actually use? Would be very handy to relax and have breakfast before the flight, I can't stand airline food

 

[islandmum]

If you're not eligible for the Clubhouse or V-Room you can pay to use Serviceair lounges in Gatwick and LHR.

We had to use the serviceair lounge once when we were'nt travelling Virgin or BA and actually its quite alright, nice and quiet, internet connection, snacks and drinks, lots of papers etc...

type in serviceair lounge into Google and it'll take you to the site where you can book to go in them.

 

[disneybarbie]

we have booked carpark with BCP Gatwick and they emailed yesterday to ask if I also wanted to book a BCP airport lounge.

They seem to be more expensive than V Room but do include food and drinks (including alcohol but not champagne!)

http://www.parkbcp.co.uk/airport-lounges.html

Barbie x

(with less than one week to go!!!)