During a layover at John F. Kennedy International Airport on our way from Chicago to Dublin, I had several airport lounges from which to choose between having both a Priority Pass Select membership and SkyTeam Elite Plus status — so we chose to try out the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in New York.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in New York. Airport Lounge Review.
Plenty of areas with different types of seating were available throughout the lounge, which was rather empty at the time of our arrival.
We chose to sit in the large dark gray enclosures for privacy, while still enjoying views of the airplanes outside the expansive windows.
What I did not realize is that the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse was not a typical lounge with a buffet-style offering of food and beverages. Rather, menus were handed to us by a member of the staff.
A vast assortment of drinks could also be ordered. Orders can also be placed electronically through portable mobile devices as well.
Duck lettuce wraps were ordered as a starter. Included in this dish were sliced carrots, spring onions, coriander, hoisin sauce, and a slice of lime. The duck was not whole, but minced; and it was not gamey. The vegetables were fresh and had a nice crunch to them. Overall, I enjoyed the duck lettuce wraps.
The cream of corn soup was nicely sweet. Tortilla crisps and coriander rounded out the flavor profile of this small plate.
Other than the stalk of celery being a little dry, the cheese selection with crackers, grapes, celery, a slice of raisin nut bread, and fruit chutney was good.
The Beyond Burger was ordered without cheese — but it was otherwise accompanied by red onion, tomato relish, lettuce, pickle, mustard mayonnaise, and chips. Virgin Atlantic is a British airline; so the French fries are called chips. This was a solid selection.
The pan fried seabass was incredible. It was beautifully prepared and flavorful. The crushed peas, kale, and caper lemon butter truly elevated the fish even further. If you are in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and see the pan fried seabass on the menu, you must order it and try it.
I was too curious about the Eton Mess to pass it up. It contained strawberries, meringue, and mint. This dessert was a great way to end the meal. It was refreshing and not too sweet.
The Clubhouse signature cookie is not just any old cookie. Served warm, it contained pistachio, dark chocolate, and sea salt. The cookie melted in my mouth.
My traveling companion had an Espresso Martini.
Instead of ordering from your seat, you can hop up to the bar and order one of the signature cocktails of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse — compliments of the house.
Included in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is an entertainment zone, which has an iconic red ball sofa alongside a pool table and other games.
If you are in a playful mood, the entertainment zone is a fun place to lie back, connect with new friends, and watch the world go by — and in the background to the right…
…you can see London calling, hoping that it does not Clash with your experience. If it does, hey you, get off of my cloud.
Toilets and showers are accessed through this funky curved hallway.
One lone station offered cold water and bags of Fritos corn chips and potato chips. A limited selection of publications were available for reading. A monitor showed a limited schedule of departures of flights.
Another station also had cold water available — as well as what appeared to be bottles of champagne. I did not check to see if the miniature refrigerator in which the bottles were stored was locked.
Final Boarding Call
My experience at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in New York was much better than I expected — so much so that I could not wait to visit it again on my way back…
…but when I arrived in the afternoon, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse would bizarrely only be open for another 30 minutes despite its published hours stating otherwise; and the limited selection of food that was being offered was simply what one would refer to as “bar food” — such as chicken wings and French fries. Disappointed that only six items were offered, I walked out and went to a different airport lounge.
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in New York is located in Terminal 4 of John F. Kennedy International Airport in the A Concourse and above boarding gates A4 and A5.
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in New York is open seven days per week from 5:00 to 8:00 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon to 11:30 in the evening.
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
