The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK was once a truly fantastic lounge. Now it’s still a nice space, with big windows and plenty of light. It’s comfortable, though maybe with too much furniture? But it feels dated to me and could use a refresh.

Perhaps the best thing about the lounge is that it’s available to Priority Pass cardholders in the mornings. Located in terminal 4 above gate A5, the lounge is listed on Priority Pass’s website as being available from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You can only enter within 3 hours of your scheduled departure time.

• Virgin has an 8:10 a.m. daytime flight departure to London, so I wouldn’t expect to get in before 7:30 a.m.

• The lounge closes at 1:30 p.m., I believe, and then re-opens where the focus is on evening transatlantic passengers.

The thing about this lounge during Priority Pass hours is that you’re really just getting a place to sit. Similar to the setup at the Virgin Clubhouse at Washington Dulles, almost anything else you might want is paid. A shower is $15!

When you enter the lounge, there’s luggage storage on the right.

Then you have one big space broken up by an overwhelming amount of furniture and floor to ceiling fixtures. There are a number of different seating areas, though the space feels a bit over-designed. This is nothing like the Clubhouse in London, which I was saw described as “an architect’s dream of Platner, Eames, Corbusier and Austin Powers. Floating ceilings with indirect lighting, a sixty foot long bar with backlit onyx top.”

I approached the bar. It was staffed. But the bartender told me she would not help me. I had to order by QR code at my seat.

So I had a look around the different spaces, and settled on a comfortable chair in the windowline, before pulling up the QR code for ordering.

Here’s what I found available for food and beverage during my morning visit.

Free items:

• Americano
  
• Cold milk, Lemonade, Apple Juice
  
• Soda (Coke, Diet Coke, Tonic, Coke Zero, Ginger Ale)
  
• Croissant with preserves
  
• Yogurt
  
• Muffins
  
• Cereal

Paid drinks:

• Coffees: Espresso $4, Latte $5, Flat White $5, Machiato $5, Cappuccino $5
  
• Beer: New Belgium Fat Tire: $8, Lucky Saint Low Alcohol $4, Brooklyn Lager $8,
  
• Spirits: Gin $10, Vodka $10, Rum $10, Whiskey $10, Brandy $10, Tequila $10, Bailey’s $10, Amaretto $10
  
• Wine: Prosecco $11, Gerard Bertrand Creant De Limoux Brut Rose $11, Nicholas Feuillatte Champagne $13, 2021 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc $11, 2022 Acrobat Pinot Gris $11, 2021 Santa Cristina Pinot Grigio $11, 2019 Skyside Chardonnay $11, 2020 Terrazas de Los Andes Reserva Chardonnay $11, Christian Bros Port $11, 2019 Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir $11, 2014 Red Diamond Merlot $11, 2018 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon $11, 2021 Chateau Ste Michelle Rose $11
  
• Cocktails: Virgin Redhead $13, Classic Martini $13, Bloody Mary $13, Cosmopolitan $13, Bellini $13, Mimosa $11, Gin Fizz $13, Espresso Martini $13, The Bramble $13, Daiquiri $13, Mojito $13, Negroni $13
  
• Non-alcoholic cocktails: Livener Spritz $5, Nightcp on the Rocks $5

Paid breakfast:

• Smashed avocado toast with porached egg $9
  
• Buttermilk pancakes $5
  
• Grilled Beyond sausage roll $12
  
• Bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on brioche $8

I felt like I’d had enough and preferred to have a look at some of the other lounge options in the terminal instead. This space was fine for sitting and working, but I didn’t even want to order a coffee let alone a paid breakfast. I had a quick look at the restrooms, which actually offered a bit of a break from the design of the rest of the space once you got past the curved hallway leading to them.

JFK terminal 4 is the Delta terminal and home to many international airlines as well. It houses the Capital One, Chase, and American Express lounges, as well as two Delta Sky Clubs and the Delta One lounge plus a couplf of other Priority Pass options. With so many lounges, they still get crowded, but there are usually places to go!

In my view the best lounges in the terminal are the Delta One lounge and the Capital One lounge. But if you’re just using Priority Pass, this one is right next to the Air India lounge. Maybe you want to pop in there if they’re taking Priority Pass cards (say, around 11:30 a.m. after their flights have boarded) and eat and then walk directly across to relax in the Virgin lounge.

The LAX Virgin Clubhouse is accessible with Priority Pass but comes with a $35 co-pay. On the one hand, do you really need $35 worth of food and cocktails? Maybe. So a la carte could be the better model. On the other hand, being asked to pay for a cappucino or sausage roll (and enter your card details into your phone to do it) isn’t a great experience. Which version do you like better?