Virgin America Elevate - Is VS Clubhouse at SFO Still Available to VX Passengers?

Given that VX is now in a different terminal than VS, I'm wondering whether lounge access is still an option. If so, what is the fee? Do only VX first class passengers have access? What are the operating hours?



Thanks.....

Yes it's still available at JFK, IAD, and SFO. The VX flight has to be within 1.5 hours of the lounge operating hours. Cost is $35 and can by purchased through VX for all guests in F or anyone who is an elevate member. For operating hours check with Virgin Atlantic.

Yes it's still available at JFK, IAD, and SFO. The VX flight has to be within 1.5 hours of the lounge operating hours. Cost is $35 and can by purchased through VX for all guests in F or anyone who is an elevate member. For operating hours check with Virgin Atlantic.

It's not entirely obvious (and I learned the hard way at the VX ticket counter) that one must still have a same-day VX ticket to purchase lounge access as an Elevate member. So even though the Clubhouse is pre-security, one cannot pay to access it if flying on another airline or waiting to pick someone up. :(

It's not entirely obvious (and I learned the hard way at the VX ticket counter) that one must still have a same-day VX ticket to purchase lounge access as an Elevate member. So even though the Clubhouse is pre-security, one cannot pay to access it if flying on another airline or waiting to pick someone up. :(

So once you have a VX ticket, is the access purchased at the club, or online before showing up at the club? Do you get a separate receipt?

So once you have a VX ticket, is the access purchased at the club, or online before showing up at the club? Do you get a separate receipt?

Unless an online option has been added recently, access must be purchased at the VX ticket counter (forcing a backtrack if you're coming from BART or one of the International parking garages). The agent will stamp your BP to allow access and, IIRC, issue a receipt for the charge.

Not flown VX since November last year when VX where still in the International Terminal, I was flying down to LAX and if I remember right I got the option as an Elevate member to purchase Clubhouse access during the OLCI process, which I did. As I didn't have access to a printer I had to pick up my boarding pass at the airport, I used a self service machine and I was also given my pass for the Clubhouse. So unless things have changed you can purchase Clubhouse access online and no doubt you can print your Clubhouse pass off at the same time as you boarding pass if doing at home printing.

Unless an online option has been added recently, access must be purchased at the VX ticket counter (forcing a backtrack if you're coming from BART or one of the International parking garages). The agent will stamp your BP to allow access and, IIRC, issue a receipt for the charge.

Thanks...getting a separate receipt should allow the charge to be fully reimbursed if you are a member of the American Express Skyguide Executive Privilege Club (around $29.95 for the first year as I recall).

Unless an online option has been added recently, access must be purchased at the VX ticket counter (forcing a backtrack if you're coming from BART or one of the International parking garages). The agent will stamp your BP to allow access and, IIRC, issue a receipt for the charge.

An online option was added. It only shows the option when you're within operating hours.

With a VX same-day ticket near lounge operating hours, while checking in at T2 I was just denied the option to purchase access to the Clubhouse as an Elevate member. The check-in agent said they'd discontinued Clubhouse access in favor of encouraging people to use the T2 AAdmirals Club ($50 for a hugely inferior product and no included meal service)...The agent checked with her colleague, who agreed that Clubhouse access was no longer available.... I pointed out that SFO Clubhouse access was still prominently indicated on the VX website, to which the agent replied they'd have to remind the right people to remove it.

Should I have gone directly to the Clubhouse and paid $35 there, or has VX really discontinued Clubhouse access at SFO?

BTW, I've been on hold with VX Reservations for at least 15 minutes now. Is this carrier failing?

BTW, I've been on hold with VX Reservations for at least 15 minutes now. Is this carrier failing?

Not to be OT here with a specific response to your question but you will be better off using the Chat line on VX reservations online than to be on hold over the phone. The Chat line is just as good as speaking to someone live. You also get an immediate response. Not sure what you mean by your phone reservation wait time and VX "failing".

Yes it's still available at JFK, IAD, and SFO.

Do I understand correctly that all three of these lounges are operated by Virgin Atlantic (now American Airlines in SFO)? In other words, Virgin America does not operate any of its own lounges?

... American Express Skyguide Executive Privilege Club...

Discussion here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/848400-amex-skyguide-executive-privilege-club-merged.html

Correct, all three lounges are operated by Virgin Atlantic.

Virgin America does not have their own lounge.
Virgin America does not sell access to the AA lounge in SFO (although AA sells day passes).

With a VX same-day ticket near lounge operating hours, while checking in at T2 I was just denied the option to purchase access to the Clubhouse as an Elevate member. The check-in agent said they'd discontinued Clubhouse access in favor of encouraging people to use the T2 AAdmirals Club ($50 for a hugely inferior product and no included meal service)...The agent checked with her colleague, who agreed that Clubhouse access was no longer available.... I pointed out that SFO Clubhouse access was still prominently indicated on the VX website, to which the agent replied they'd have to remind the right people to remove it.

Should I have gone directly to the Clubhouse and paid $35 there, or has VX really discontinued Clubhouse access at SFO?

BTW, I've been on hold with VX Reservations for at least 15 minutes now. Is this carrier failing?

Followup to this recent experience.....I talked at length with the SFO check-in staff the next day. While suggesting it's strange that someone would choose to go out of their way to visit the VS Clubhouse during the very limited operating hours, the supervisor admitted that VX pax can still get into the VS Clubhouse there. He said he would send an e-mail to the staff. Will be interesting to see whether anyone is discouraged from buying up to the Clubhouse in future. It's a shame that some VX employees are costing the company money by refusing the add-on purchase of lounge access, despite prominent advertising for same on the company's website.

Not to be OT here with a specific response to your question but you will be better off using the Chat line on VX reservations online than to be on hold over the phone. The Chat line is just as good as speaking to someone live. You also get an immediate response. Not sure what you mean by your phone reservation wait time and VX "failing".

To clarify, VX does not have its own 'reservations'. It is an outsourced outfit in Seattle that traditionally handled cruise lines reservations.

To clarify, VX does not have its own 'reservations'. It is an outsourced outfit in Seattle that traditionally handled cruise lines reservations.

That's news to me. I always thought they were in-house at corporate HQ in Burlingame, CA. I could have sworn there were CSR positions posted for that office, but I guess I'm mistaken.

To clarify, VX does not have its own 'reservations'. It is an outsourced outfit in Seattle that traditionally handled cruise lines reservations.

That's news to me. I always thought they were in-house at corporate HQ in Burlingame, CA. I could have sworn there were CSR positions posted for that office, but I guess I'm mistaken.

Very interesting! I guess it's better than contracting with an ICC (India Call Center).

That's news to me. I always thought they were in-house at corporate HQ in Burlingame, CA. I could have sworn there were CSR positions posted for that office, but I guess I'm mistaken.

They do have positions at HQ as well. Their Guest Relations department, for example.

Okay, we're straying OT, but turns out it's Xerox (http://www.realbusiness.com/#/customer-care/case-studies-cc). I just saw Wired Magazine has a full-page ad for Xerox this month showing a call center rep at a desk inside a VX cabin. It says, "We focus on managing Virgin America's call centers. So they don't have to." Learn something new every day.

Okay, we're straying OT, but turns out it's Xerox (http://www.realbusiness.com/#/customer-care/case-studies-cc). I just saw Wired Magazine has a full-page ad for Xerox this month showing a call center rep at a desk inside a VX cabin. It says, "We focus on managing Virgin America's call centers. So they don't have to. Learn something new every day.

The Virgin/Xerox ad has been running like gangbusters on my tv for a while now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwdS7vL8tF4

OTOH, Virgin was on the local news, kind of touting all their jobs in California, so they must be doing hiring for Burlingame as well.

So the VX supervisor at SFO admitted that VX customers still qualify for the Clubhouse there. But VX continues its record of poor information by posting outdated hours of Clubhouse service on their website, where a big display page continues to hype the Clubhouse. According to VX, the Clubhouse is open from 1600 to 1915 on Mondays and Tuesdays. In reality, the VS flight departs at 1630 and the lounge is open from 1230 to 1630, according to the VS phone agent.

Anyone know the status of clubhouse access for Main Cabin select pax?

VX Website still says yes but hrs shown are incorrect (don t match w/ VS flight times).

Anyone accessed the clubhouse recently while a pax on VX???

bump. any word if access is still permitted?

So I decided not to arrive early and chance that the VX wouldn't still be offering Clubhouse access on a recent VX flt. Turned out to be a mistake.

Upon arriving at SFO T2 I asked at check-in and the agent said the yes they still offered access to the Clubhouse for $35 & also access to the T2 AAdmirals club via a day-pass for $50.

Will try to arrive early on my next VX flt.