REVIEWS


VIRGIN ATLANTIC CLUBHOUSE Los Angeles International Airport, US


LOCATION: Virgin Atlantic opened its sixth and latest Clubhouse lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles airport in March. It overlooks a retail concourse but has no view of the runways.


FIRST IMPRESSIONS: -m>lliÀ Ìh>n Ìhi >iÀlini½Ã y>}Ãhi« Clubhouse at Heathrow but strikingly stylish and welcoming. Its design – described as “a homage to the City of Angels” – fuses nods to the golden age of Hollywood with cutting-edge modern touches. The carrier’s red palette is prominent in the furnishings and complemented by specially commissioned artwork evoking Californian themes. There is also clever lighting above the bar that changes brightness >n` VoloÕÀ Ìo ÀiyiVÌ Ìhi Ìimi ov `>Þ >n` Üi>ÌhiÀ oÕÌÃi`i] designed to keep passengers’ circadian rhythms aligned.


THE FACTS: The Clubhouse has seating for 75 passengers across a handful of zones. The Hollywood-inspired Ruby ,oom Lo>ÃÌÃ > Vinim> ÃVÀiin vi>ÌÕÀin} ÜiÀiliÃÃ hi>`ÃiÌÃ] while the intimate four-seat Royal Box is a plush hidey-hole for VIPs (and mere mortals). There is more seating in the Ãliik L>À >Ài>] Ìo}iÌhiÀ ÜiÌh >n >LÕn`>nVi ov «oÜiÀ ÃoVkiÌÃ under the counter to enable guests to charge their devices while sampling a signature Drama Queen cocktail. Those looking to work in peace can head for one of three ultra-quiet «o`Ã] ÜhiÀi > `iÃk >n` 1- Vh>À}in} «oinÌ >Ü>iÌ] Ìo}iÌhiÀ with recording-studio memorabilia from founder Sir Richard


Branson’s personal collection. The washrooms and showers >Ài noÌ>LlÞ Vli>n >n` LÀi}hÌ] >n` vi>ÌÕÀi «Ào`ÕVÌà LÞ California-based Flamingo Estate. The Clubhouse’s avowed focus on wellness extends to its healthy culinary offering. /hi minÕ inVlÕ`ià > ÌÕn> «oki LoÜl] >livoÀni> w} Ã>l>` >n`] mÞ v>ÛoÕÀiÌi] wÃh Ì>Voà q >ll ov ÜhiVh V>n Li oÀ`iÀi` from your seat via attentive waiter service or a QR code.


IDEAL FOR: High-end passengers. The Clubhouse is free LÕÌ] LÀo>`lÞ Ã«i>kin}] >VViÃÃiLli onlÞ Ìo 6iÀ}in ƂÌl>nÌiV½Ã 1««iÀ l>Ãà «>ÃÃin}iÀà >n` lÞin} lÕL ol` /iiÀ mimLiÀÃ] as well as Delta One customers and SkyTeam Elite Plus members. Some eligible passengers can be accompanied LÞ oni }ÕiÃÌ yÞin} in > ÃÌ>n`>À` V>Lin°


WOW: The Zen Den (pictured, left) is a small room where «>ÃÃin}iÀà V>n mi`iÌ>Ìi] ÜoÀk oÕÌ] Vh>n}i VloÌhià >n` vÀiÃhin Õ«° Ì vi>ÌÕÀià > miÀÀoÀ-ÃVÀiin ÜiÌh ÃhoÀÌ Àil>Ý>Ìion Ûi`ioÃ] Vom«liÌi ÜiÌh > Þo}> m>Ì] `ÕmL-Lillà >n` moo` li}hÌin}] >à well as a dressing table with basin. The Zen Den is available on > wÀÃÌ Vomi] wÀÃÌ ÃiÀÛi` L>Ãið ÃÕëiVÌ iÌ Üill «ÀoÛi «o«Õl>À°


BOOK IT: Virgin Atlantic flies three times a day in summer between Heathrow and Los Angeles. Upper Class return fares start at £2,648.


VIRGINATLANTIC.COM Mike Walsh


92


ASPIRE JUNE 2025


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


CREDITS: Virgin Atlantic


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