One of the major perks of flying in Business Class is the use of the airline’s premium lounges. It makes a nice change from wandering around the shops, queuing up for a meal in the food court and hunting for plug sockets around the airport terminal. In the Business Lounge you can enjoy a serene and far more relaxing experience, with services like free Wi-Fi, complimentary food and drink and computer workstations with printing facilities.
When flying with Virgin Atlantic, you really get the VIP treatment. When you arrive at Virgin Atlantic’s special Upper Class wing at Heathrow Terminal 3, you get to breeze from your chauffeur driven car to the Clubhouse lounge in under 10 minutes. If you choose the Drive-Thru service, a member of staff will greet you at the car, handle your baggage and present you with your boarding passes so you can beat the queues and pass straight through the Private Security Channel.
Open from 7am to 10:30pm, the Virgin Atlantic lounge at London Heathrow is just a short walk from the gate meaning you can make the most of your time there before boarding your flight. You can get on with some work or enjoy a drink at the bar without having to worry about missing your flight, as the concierge will come and get you when it’s time to go.
Relaxation Areas
There are three main areas in the Clubhouse- The Den, The Lodge and Viewing Deck and The Loft.
The Lodge has a bit of an apres-ski vibe, while the Viewing Deck provides fantastic views of the runway and the sunset, with comfortable seats ideal for a nap before you board the plane. If you like playing video games or watching movies, The Den is probably the place you’ll want to hang out in. You can have a game of pool, try out the latest video games on retro video consoles, or catch a film on the state-of-the-art multiscreen. The most decadent relaxation area is The Loft, which can be accessed by a white marble staircase that leads through the ‘clouds’ of the ceiling. Here you can watch planes taking off through full-width sloping windows beneath a dramatic skylight- perfect if you’re an aviation geek.
The Bar
At the centre of the Clubhouse is the bar area, which boasts a 14 metre long cocktail bar. Pull up a seat and have the bartender make you a complimentary classic drink or a sophisticated cocktail to get you in that holiday mood.
Business Facilities
If you’re travelling on business the chances are you might need to send an email or do some work before the flight. You’ll find laptop charging points dotted around the Clubhouse and there’s free Wi-Fi throughout the entire lounge. Don’t worry if you don’t have your own computer with you- there are laptops with Internet provided too.
Food
To cater for hungry travellers, the Virgin Clubhouse has an extensive menu. For breakfast you can order classics like a Full English or Eggs Benedict and if you’re in a rush you can pick up something from the ‘grab and go’ section or the Deli Bar. If it’s a light meal you’re after you can order one of the tapas dishes, or you can go for a full blown meal with starter, main course and dessert. There’s also traditional afternoon tea available from 3pm to 5.30pm, which includes a selection of traditional finger sandwiches, warm sultana scone with clotted cream and strawberry preserve, lemon and poppy seed cake and a pot of tea from Taylors of Harrogate.
The Spa
Best of all you can enjoy a bit of primping and preening in the Clubhouse spa, where you can either take advantage of a complementary treatment or upgrade to one of the more specialised treatments. Products used include BareMinerals, Bumble & Bumble, Dr. Hauschka, Shellac and Truefitt & Hill.
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