VS Clubhouses, Exclusivity???

Mitchja

I may be wrong, but if you are gold you can take a guest, if you are upper then you only qualify yourself I believe.

Before I was gold I was traveling with my PA and she was in PE and me in Upper and I was told only I qualified?

But I can tell you, if you are polite, do a few flights, ask nicley and make clear you are not taking the Mick, then you may find people are happy tol help;)

[Bazz]

Birkin and I are flying to LAX on Sep 4th in UC so can take two guests in. Will be there about 08:00 so extend an invitation to any V-Flyer flying VS that day to join us in the LHR Clubhouse. Please send me a PM.

Having just read the entire 4 pages of this topic I confess I've almost lost the will to live. That'll teach me for not signing on to the forum a year earlier:)

I'm with EuroHill when he commented that getting into the Clubhouse is great marketing - I confess that I travelled for several years in economy before I even got to try PE, but that was the beginning of the slippery slope. Once I'd sampled the Clubhouse and an Upper Class seat it was VERY difficult going back to economy. Hence in the interests of Virgin, I'm all for them letting a sensible number of people into the ClubHouse. In fact if I were them, I'd tell the check-in desk to give out some complimentary invitations at times when it wasn't too busy. Otherwise market forces can apply - if they're oversubscribed at £27, they can just keep increasing it.

The only time I ever travelled Business Trans-Atlantic with BA was because they phoned my company and told the travel organiser that they were inviting me take a complimentary upgrade for the journey out. I loved it of course (forgive me Virgin, I know these are sinful thoughts but my flesh was weak in those days) and chatted for hours to some very nice guy who works in F1 racing. Coming home a few days later in economy was sheer hell.

One other point about getting into the Clubhouse when not on an Upper ticket... even after the check-in desk staff have flatly refused any chance of a seat upgrade, the Clubhouse staff are often far more helpful and will spend ages sorting out a free or mileage upgrade for you. With my reduced flights over the past year, I can see that if I lose my Gold card I may have to pay that rediculous fee for a Centurion card;)

Rob.

I am sorry Rob, please do not get me wrong, but I do not have a big company paying for my flights, I have saved up all year to pay for the tree upper class setas, from my own finances, and I noe=w find that by paying via a holiday company I have people who have poaid only £27 to get the same I have paid £1700 per person, I feel short changed.

[Pete]

Alan, the Clubhouse isn't all you're getting for your £1700. The big chunk of your cash is going on the flight.

The Clubhouse is strictly capacity controlled, so they won't be doing anything that diminishes your Upper Class experience.

Virgin have in the past sold Clubhouse entrance on the day, but then withdrawn it. They used to let Amex Platinum members in, but then withdrew that. The VH Clubhouse entrance offer has also been an on-and-off-again sort of thing. They are acutely aware of the premium nature of the Clubhouse, and are careful not let it get uncomfortable for all the guests, regardless of how they received their invitation.

I recommend you relax, enjoy your whole flight with Virgin, and remember - your £1700 allows you to turn left when you get on the plane, that's what you're paying for.

Pix

Hear, hear! Some of us work hard to save up for PE seats, let alone UC seats and to be flatly told "No" to entrance to the Clubhouse, even when willing to pay, is not on, when Virgin's holiday wing are allowing anyone entrance for £27? Just don't see the justice? Suppose the solution is to pay for the flights through Virgin Holidays with a couple of nigh's accommodation and buy upgrades, then its easy access to the Clubhouse???? Ummmm, very exclusive....not!

[Pete]

Annemarg,

Ok, understand what you're saying, but even the number of VH spaces are strictly limited. The fact that Virgin have experimented in the passed with various ways of allowing paid entrance suggests that this may not be a permanent arrangement, or even the only arrangement.

Virgin, may of course, be reading these posts right now and think to themselves - Hmmm, this paid entrance thing seems to be a bit of an issue. Let's stop doing it entirely.

Pix

HI Pixuk,

Sorry to rant last night!! Just feel a bit miffed! Really I think it should be exclusive for UC and their guests... then no-one could complain. As you say Virgin might read this and take note - so lets have one rule for everyone please - it's all too vague at the moment.
Thanx

Pix,
I will be happier when LGW UCS is available, because the daft situation is on the current LGW-MCO route (which I assume is where the majority of VH users book)the only difference for UC pax is the meal quality against PE pax in Zone "B" and £27 Clubhouse access.
Whilst I like VH, I don't think £400 each way for slightly better airline food and one sleep suit is good value.
Sure, when the UCS are fitted, it will be better, but of course, still much worse than LHR UC pax (but much better than MAN UC Pax)
AT least with the dreaded BA, they treat all their UC pax the same! (Insert comments here )

As annemarg says, the problem is really that there are no hard and fast "rules"... different people have had penty of different experiences in terms of paid access, VH access, complimentary access from VS customer services and so on. And of course, this lack of clarity tends to lead to people without UC/Au/Cent/BD*G having a higher expectation of access.

Actually it's not just them. A couple of times I've been at the front desk and families/groups with one person as FC Au has tried to bully their way in. A clearer statement from VS of what the rules are, and where there is flexibility, would probably be helpful and lead to fewer disappointments.

Personally I've only ever been in a Clubhouse once when it was too busy, and that was at LGW when an Orlando flight had been delayed from the day before and VS let what looked like the whole flight in. Not pleasant but a mercifully rare occurrence.

BC

quote:Originally posted by BlackCat
Personally I've only ever been in a Clubhouse once when it was too busy, and that was at LGW when an Orlando flight had been delayed from the day before and VS let what looked like the whole flight in. Not pleasant but a mercifully rare occurrence.

BC

Not like the BM lounges then?

Just looked in next years 2005 VSH brochures they are offering LHR&LGW clubhouse access for £30 all facilites but pay for VS touch how that will work I do not know.

[RichardMannion]

My my, been away for a while and this thread is still on!

Whatever next, a dicussion why only J passengers get Noise Cancelling headphones even though every seat is equipped to take them?

To clear something up - if you are on an Upper Class ticket, be it revenue or reward - you and one guest can enter. If you are operationally upgraded to Upper at check-in - no Clubhouse access.

To answer jaguarpig's question - they will ask to look at your ticket and they will see you are not a Gold, or travelling in J.

Thanks,
Richard

quote:they will ask to look at your ticket and they will see you are not a Gold, or travelling in J

I meant the money aspect who takes the readies no tills in the salon.

[Nottingham Nick]

quote:[i]

I meant the money aspect who takes the readies no tills in the salon.

Not a big job to get them fitted, or they may do what they did to me at MIA when I paid for an exit row seat - they dusted off one of the old credit card imprint machines and used that!

Nick

hmm doubt that works with Chip&Pin!!

Just to give you the latest on paid access to the Gatwick Clubhouse. If you ring Customer Services, they will tell you that they do not any paid access.

I sent my son of today PE on VS29 and I asked about paying for the Clubhouse at the check in desk, no problem go and see ticket sales. Which I did and they told my son to go to the Clubhouse and pay there - £25. Saying that it depends on numbers in the lounge at the time. So I guess at weekends it could be difficult.

I had a phone call from my son saying he was enjoying his second breakfast in the Clubhouse - being a growing lad he will have dimmished their supplies today!

So it would appear you can still pay for access at Gatwick depending on demand.

quote:I had a phone call from my son saying he was enjoying his second breakfast in the Clubhouse

Getting his monies worth:D:D

I have no problem who I sit with in the lounge as long as they have paid for an UC flight or earned loyatly via the Gold card. If anyone can buy their way into the lounge it erodes the exlusive "feel" of travelling UC or having a Gold card. I may as well use VH pay for premium economy and pay for lounge access as this is a key perk for me when travelling with my family(can kids get in via VH because I would want to make a bed on the floor.....)

[Decker]

That's a slight reductio ad absurdum - there's no suggestion that anyone can pay in - just that VS may occasionally take advantage of a lighter than average clubhouse load to help defray expenses and "Puppy Dog Close" new customers...

We'll be going into the Clubhouse at LHR soon - having been offered the opportunity to upgrade from PE to UC (had to pay!) The dress code I see is "smart", after reading all the postings - thought I'd better check that my husband doesn't have to wear a shirt and tie??? All sounds very "posh"... would hate to be turned away because we weren't dressed "correctly"!!!!

PS Wouldn't turn up in jeans and trainers anyway...

quote:Originally posted by annemarg
We'll be going into the Clubhouse at LHR soon - having been offered the opportunity to upgrade from PE to UC (had to pay!) The dress code I see is "smart", after reading all the postings - thought I'd better check that my husband doesn't have to wear a shirt and tie??? All sounds very "posh"... would hate to be turned away because we weren't dressed "correctly"!!!!

PS Wouldn't turn up in jeans and trainers anyway...

WHAAAAAT!!???
When did they remove the Top Hat and tails or Dinner jacket requirement?
Standards today......:D:D:D

Well you know, he could always go as James Bond!!!;)

[Decker]

If you've paid for a UC ticket then the lounge access is unconditional. Dress in a manner you're comfortable to fly in.... dress standards seem to mean very little these days.

quote:Originally posted by annemarg

PS Wouldn't turn up in jeans and trainers anyway...

As Decker says, if you have paid for UC, you wont get turned away no matter what you wear really...

... My husband (despite much harrassing from me) normally flies in Jeans, t-shirt and trainers (I try, I really try....!!!). His theory is that he has paid for UC, then he can dress how he likes.

However, this Summer I have finally got him into wearing light coloured slacks (despite me telling him countless times that they would be, he has actually discovered that they are more comfortable than jeans!!!). So maybe, just maybe, he might manage "business casual" in the lounge this year...

Boo
(who favours slacks and a casual top for airport, PJs/sleepsuit for the actualy flight...)