The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX lounge is now accessible via Priority Pass, but with a trend-setting catch: a cash supplement is required.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX Joins Priority Pass, But With A Twist

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX has joined the Priority Pass lounge network, which is great news considering an airport as large as Los Angeles International Airport does not have any Priority Pass lounges or restaurants (years ago, we had the old Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Terminal 3, but that closed during the pandemic and never reopened).

Like other Virgin lounges in Priority Pass, access is available during more limited hours that coincide with slower periods in the lounge. At LAX, Priority Pass passengers will have access between 8:00 am and 5:00p then again between 8:00p and 11:00p daily.

But unlike other Priority Pass lounges, guests will be charged “an additional top-up fee of US$35 per person payable directly to the lounge at time of entry.” And unlike other Virgin lounges in the Priority Pass network, a la carte food and drinks, including alcohol, will be included.

You can read my review of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX here.

Is This A Fair Tradeoff?

I have to admit, as much as I dislike the precedent this sets, I think this is a nice compromise. The lounge is small and if Priority Pass members could visit for free, I’d expect it would always be crowded.

The menu looks very decent:

If we start seeing a “surcharge” of some kind applied to more Priority Pass lounges, then consumers get hosed…and the value of Priority Pass diminishes (further).

But Virgin Clubhouses–and this lounge in particular–have a thoughtfully curated food and beverage menu, as you can read above. $35 may not be worthwhile for a cappuccino and a quiet place to work in the morning, but for a three-course dinner and drinks in the afternoon or evening, this is a steal.

The downside, of course, to charging people an entry fee is that some folks will try to “get their money’s worth” by eating and drinking more than they might have otherwise (and yes, I’d be tempted to do the same thing, so guilty as charged).

But, I think the $35 cover charge will provide a sufficient disincentive for many tightwads.

Most of all, I’m just thankful that LAX has a Priority Pass lounge option once again!

CONCLUSION

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX has joined the Priority Pass Lounge network, but with a catch. In addition to a valid Priority Pass card, you’ll need to pay $35 per person to enter this lounge.

While in some sense that is a disappointing development, in the case of this particular lounge, I think it makes a lot of sense.

In general, I think it makes sense not to have…well…a discrimination amongst guests in a single lounge.

> Read More: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX Review