Clubhouse @ Heathrow

Hello,

New to the forum - have been browsing for some time and now joined up properly. I have booked a holiday through Virgin Holidays in September from Heathrow to Kenya. I am traveling in Premium Economy and understand that through VH you can "purchase" access to the Clubhouse.
If the following questions have been answered elsewhere - apologies, however keen to get first hand experience on this.
Does anyone have experiences of booking through VH and getting entry into Clubhouse - any problems at all?
If you purchase access, can you book treatments in advance as this is one of the attractive features?
Also - any other tips/hints/suggestions around the LHR clubhouse?
Thanks[8D]

[Decker]

Hi Coakers and welcome to the forum.

Clubhouse passes are limited but they seem to work flawlessly. In theory you shouldn't be able to book a treatment as this is a "Gold or UC benefit" but regretfully posteriors and elbows come into play and VS continue to diminish the benefits of Gold by allowing people who book club house access via VH to prebook treatments. So you should be fine.

Decker - It seems logical that if you are a Gold customer that you get a different level of service - however it does make a mockery of the concept of the clubhouse being able to book it seperately!
That said - if I was to purchase through VH - how do you go about booking treatments etc?
Thanks

I gather that one treatment is now included with each paid access to the Clubhouses.
Have a look on the Virgin atlantic web site, you will find a number to pre book

Thanks all - further comments welcome!

How reasonably priced is the food/drink in the Clubhouse?

[Decker]

Free

[mitchja]

Hi Coakers and welcome to V-Flyer

You will be very pleased to learn that everything in the Clubhouse is completley free [y]

Regards

All drinks free? Seems a very good deal - mind you should of course promote drinking in moderation!
If my flight is @ 1900 - how early are you allowed into the clubhouse?
Thanks again

CLubhouse opens at 7am

[mitchja]

I'd give yourself at least a few hours in the Clubhouse, that way you get chance to explore and take it all in at a nice calm pace. Also giving you time to relax before your flight.

Oh and dont forget to take your swim wear with you so you can take a dip in the spa or use the sauna as well [y]

Regards

[buns]

Originally posted by AndyK
CLubhouse opens at 7am

Might risk not being allowed on the flight though:D[}:)]:D

Four hours is about the max I can endure[:I]

Seriously, whilst the Clubhouse is a fantastic place to be in, thre comes a time when you are keen to board your flight

buns

So there isn't a limit on the time you can be in the clubhouse??? Why did I think it not supposed to be more than 3 hours - am I simply assuming it's the same as for other 'paid for' lounges???

So, so sorry, how could I be thinking of comparing other lounges...

We had our first time in the Clubhouse last month - we were in there for about 4 hours, and I thnk that was just right - give yourself plenty of time to relax and enjoy the experience.

I am sure you will enjoy it as much as we did.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by catsilversword
So there isn't a limit on the time you can be in the clubhouse??? Why did I think it not supposed to be more than 3 hours - am I simply assuming it's the same as for other 'paid for' lounges???

So, so sorry, how could I be thinking of comparing other lounges...

I often have 5 hour layovers between flights and there has been no problem with my being in the Clubhouse

Coakers welcome to the forum.

Having done exactly what you are trying to do to thought I would pass on some (hopefully) useful tips.

As you have booked your holiday through Virgin Holidays you are able to pay for access to the Clubhouse at Heathrow for £60.

In order to book you can try the virgin holidays website and book online although I have found that it always comes back with an error message:

'Acommodation not available'

and therefore I ended up emailing VH.

It will probably take them a while to get back to you but if you give them as much info as possible it will help to speed the process up:

- Holiday Booking Reerence Number (on the invoice - that's the bit they are very quick to send)
- Date you want to book for
- How many passes you want

They should then just add it to your invoice

As others have said technically you can not book for treatments, although if you do would you let us know how you get on?

Hope that helps and have a fantastic trip and time in the Clubhouse

Penfold - thanks for the advice. I e-mailed VH and out of the blue today I got a phonecall advising that they had received my e-mail and that they had reserved a place for me and added it to my invoice. The price was £51.50 (not sure how they got to that as 10% of £60 is £54!) with my 10% discount. I tried to get them to confirm about the treatments and they were not able to do so and duly based me from phone no to phone no. Having phoned up the Flying Club, they advised me to phone the Cowshed Direct +44 208 897 5055 who advised me that I was eligible for a treatement, however could only book 8 weeks in advance (as per website..)
So 8 weeks before the 10th September I will try to book a treatment (anyone had the Shave Treatment - any feedback??) and let everyone know how I get on.
Thanks everyone for the help so far!
Chris[8D]

[Darren Wheeler]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
I have had the shave and it's quite lovely (although, old school lad that I am, I was sad that it was not done with a straight blade and strop -- it's done with a disposable throw-away razor).

GJ

Been like that since Sweeny Todd stopped being the barber [:o)]

Personally, there is NO WAY I'd ever let anyone near me with a cut-throat!! it's called that for a very good reason.

[Decker]

Fairly sure last time I had a wet shave at Harrods it was a cut throat...

[mitchja]

Both the LHR and the LGW Clubhouses are not allowed to use cut throat blades for shaves due to airport regulations.

Regards

Getting more excited now - 62 days to go until I can experience the Clubhouse @ LHR that everyone raves about!

Anyone got any etiquette tips or do's/don'ts of the clubhouse

[Bazz]

Coakers, yes we do.

First the "Do's" Make sure you allow yourself enough time to do everything, haircut, treatment, sauna, hot tub, shoe shine, wine and dine, not necessarily in that order you understand.

Now the "Don'ts" Don't arrive late! Don't forget to enjoy yourself! Don't be too embarrassed to ask for more champagne!

I wouldn't say there are many "don'ts" for the CH; perhaps just being courteous and not insisting on holding intrusive phone-calls that even those down at gate 42 can hear;)

45.