LAX loft...worth the $40?
Dec 9, 2013, 6:39 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: VX Silver, UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 93
Whoa they downgraded the food?! That sucks. It was much better than what you find on other domestic clubs and they featured a lot of snacks that were available on actual VX flights such as the asian noodle salad, some of the sandwiches, parfaits, etc.
If the food options were still there, you could definitely get you're money's worth with the food and drinks (the cocktails are actually quite good) for 3 hours.
For posterity I'll post food pics from my trip during end of Nov.
Cheese plate, and cesar salad:
Bagel with lox, and berry salad:
Mango and cucumber wrap, and tomato and asparagus quiche:
If the food options were still there, you could definitely get you're money's worth with the food and drinks (the cocktails are actually quite good) for 3 hours.
For posterity I'll post food pics from my trip during end of Nov.
Cheese plate, and cesar salad:
Bagel with lox, and berry salad:
Mango and cucumber wrap, and tomato and asparagus quiche:
Last edited by goodndntwin; Dec 9, 2013 at 6:41 pm Reason: wrong captions
Dec 20, 2013, 7:25 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,638
I decided to check out the loft on a trip into LAX last night. One nice thing about VX is that they let me in, even though I had just landed (something delta never let me do). At 8pm on a Thursday night, it was very quiet - maybe 5-8 people.
The food really is just light snacks: bread (with lb and j), yoghurt, cookies, biscotti, fruit, and nuts. The bar reasonable for a club, with 4 beers on tap, 2 or 3 wines, and various liquors (I noticed sapphire gin but didn't pay attention to the others). The bartender was very attentive and seemed to enjoy the requests for specialty drinks. He was also good at restocking the snacks. Oh, they also stock soy milk, which would have been nice if my dairy-allergic spouse were with me.
Wifi is provided and speeds seemed reasonable. For plane spotters, they have binoculars.
Overall, a typical airport club. It's a nice benefit if you are gold, or if you are looking for a few drinks.
The food really is just light snacks: bread (with lb and j), yoghurt, cookies, biscotti, fruit, and nuts. The bar reasonable for a club, with 4 beers on tap, 2 or 3 wines, and various liquors (I noticed sapphire gin but didn't pay attention to the others). The bartender was very attentive and seemed to enjoy the requests for specialty drinks. He was also good at restocking the snacks. Oh, they also stock soy milk, which would have been nice if my dairy-allergic spouse were with me.
Wifi is provided and speeds seemed reasonable. For plane spotters, they have binoculars.
Overall, a typical airport club. It's a nice benefit if you are gold, or if you are looking for a few drinks.
Dec 20, 2013, 11:13 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP 100K, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 4,534
Here's an unflattering review -- the food selection looks quite paltry. It's certainly a far cry from the VS Clubhouses, which have very tasty cooked-to-order meals included.
Dec 21, 2013, 2:16 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Los Angeles, New York, Lisbon-Portugal
Programs: BA Gold, UA Premier 1K, Amex Plat, GlobalEntry
Posts: 844
As someone who uses both...
As someone who uses both Virgin America's Loft at LAX and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow often, there really is no comparison, but as your normal airport lounge goes LAX Loft its nicer than most. The food sucks but its quiet and convenient. I'd say that yes its worth the $40 as the cluster of gates that VX uses is usually very busy and simply finding an outlet to charge your phone is a miracle.
The only lounge that bests the Virgin Clubhouse at LHR, that I've been to, is the Singapore Airlines "The Private Room" at SIN. Totally different vibe but extremely nice.
Steve
The only lounge that bests the Virgin Clubhouse at LHR, that I've been to, is the Singapore Airlines "The Private Room" at SIN. Totally different vibe but extremely nice.
Steve
Here's an unflattering review -- the food selection looks quite paltry. It's certainly a far cry from the VS Clubhouses, which have very tasty cooked-to-order meals included.
Last edited by backdoc; Dec 21, 2013 at 5:10 am
Dec 26, 2013, 4:29 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Here's an unflattering review -- the food selection looks quite paltry. It's certainly a far cry from the VS Clubhouses, which have very tasty cooked-to-order meals included.
Lady at checkin today said they almost have the deal finished and expected it to start early Jan 2014 for Amex Plat/Cent
Dec 27, 2013, 10:49 am
#26
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 460
The lady at checkin is quite incorrect. It will not be an Amex card.
Dec 30, 2013, 10:57 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP 100K, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 4,534
Jan 9, 2014, 11:46 am
#28
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: Virgin America Elevate Gold
Posts: 220
I just received a Gold email from VX reminding me of the benefits. It looks like another benefit we get is that Loft access is only $20 instead of $40. That makes me much more likely to use it. This also happens to be another suggestion I sent to them to enhance their rewards that they appear to have thought was a good idea as well (rollover status points being the other). Not sure if this is temporary/perm (language seems to indicate its perm) or also applies to Silver members. Any Silver members around to review their welcome emails?
Last edited by SoCalZman; Jan 9, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Jan 9, 2014, 12:06 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, A3 Gold, VX Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 26
I just received a Gold email from VX reminding me of the benefits. It looks like another benefit we get is that Loft access is only $20 instead of $40. That makes me much more likely to use it. This also happens to be another suggestion I sent to them to enhance their rewards that they appear to have thought was a good idea as well (rollover status points being the other). Not sure if this is temporary/perm (language seems to indicate its perm) or also applies to Silver members. Any Silver members around to review their welcome emails?
Jan 9, 2014, 12:48 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,630
The Loft is now Priority Pass-affiliated. Near Ghost-town at 930a yesterday. Not worth $40 based upon the breakfast spread. If I was there later and had a couple of adult beverages, the value proposition might have changed. Very nice staff.