Virgin Atlantic pampers you even when you get off the plane: review revivals lounge London Heathrow

Virgin Atlantic is a unique company in the world, as its owner Sir Richard Branson is unique. The British carrier has only twin-aisle aircraft and operates only on intercontinental routes from London to the United States, the Caribbean, and a few other destinations.

In London Heathrow terminal 3 is the home of VS, here is the iconic Club House, or the VIP lounge where Upper Class passengers can wait for their flight in a unique environment.

All of the carrier's London flights depart and arrive from this terminal.

The company goes out of its way to pamper its passengers, there is even a Private elevator leading directly to security checkpoints skipping all kinds of queues and avoiding all gatherings.

It is not only departing passengers who are provided with a lounge, but also arriving passengers who have the opportunity to access the arrival lounges that VS has renamed "revivals lounge. 

What are arrival lounges

This service is not offered by many companies; those who do offer it have aimed to have a space where arriving passengers can shower, change, have something to eat while waiting for another passenger, or simply make up before boarding a cab and reaching their final destination.

In London's airport, this type of lounge is widespread given the competition on routes from the UK to the U.S. and the high number of passengers traveling for business between New York and London.

Where the lounge is located

The revival lounge of Virgin Atlantic is located in the arrivals area of Terminal 3: after exiting the sterile area, you must turn left and reach the elevators to the Terminal 3 parking lot; the hall is located upstairs.

Access

Upper Class passengers, i.e., Virgin's business class, and Gold status holders in the Flying Club, VS's loyalty program, are eligible for access to this lounge. In addition, thanks to the partnership with Delta, passengers arriving from a Delta intercontinental flight with a business class ticket or Medallion status are also allowed entry. It is not possible to bring guests who do not fit these conditions.

The lounge

It is obviously not comparable to the lounges the carrier has around the world, for example the one at JFK in New York, the reason being that you don't come here to wait, even hours, for the next flight. It is a service lounge, designed to accommodate the passenger shortly before you leave the airport.

This means that it is definitely small; very few passengers decide to use this lounge on a percentage basis. In my case, I was arriving on a Virgin flight and a couple of hours later departing on a British flight, so I took advantage of some time to pop into the lounge to shower before continuing my journey.

In fact, the lounge consists of a bar counter, a series of small tables and a few sofas.

As mentioned, it is not very large. One of the most used and therefore one of the most well-maintained facilities is the showers. In fact, many passengers take advantage of this lounge to arrive fresh and fragrant to the day's appointments without having to go through the hotel.

The cabin is very large and comfortable, with everything you need both as services and products. There is also a free ironing service: just ask the staff and you can have your shirt, suit or jacket ironed for free.

The food offerings are also reduced compared to its big sisters, but again this is logical because if you want you can go eat elsewhere without necessarily having to stay at the airport.

In conclusion

Not an essential service, but it is definitely an added value in terms of marketing that a company can use to attract premium passengers in a very competitive environment like London Heathrow Airport. If you arrive in London and you are not flying business with Emirates, where you can shower on the plane, then is perfect for a pit stop before showing up to your first appointment refreshed and rested and with your shirt perfectly pressed.

This is just one of many reviews you can read on our site, covid and restrictions permitting. Every Wednesday we publish a review of a lounge airport, while every Friday you can read the review of one of our flights or a hotel where we stayed.

The verdict

Not all airlines offer this service, and those that do have carefully chosen at which airports to have a lounge for those arriving. Virgin Atlantic offers it only in London and only for a small number of passengers.

7.5

Rated Location

7.5

F&B

6.5

Services

7.5

Pro

• Very large shower
• Ironing service

Against

• Maybe a little bit too small
• No particular view