Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Lounge Heathrow. Best Airline Lounge Ever

by Gary Bembridge · October 13, 2012

Virgin Atlantic Lounge at London Heathrow

Virgin Atlantic’s vision is to create an airline that people love to fly, and they add to that that they want to have some fun doing it. The business class lounge at London Heathrow is a perfect example of just how they are bringing this vision to life.

The airline was created by Richard Branson, and now part owned by Singapore Airlines. It is based out of the UK, and keeps adding more and more routes every year.

I have to say in all of my many travels, I can honestly say that I have never been in an airport lounge quite like it. It is really quite something!

This one leaves you literally breathless. The lounge opened originally back in 2006, although is often fine tuned and updated. It is open to people flying Upper Class or who have a Frequent Flyer Gold card.

Upper Class is what they call their premium cabin as they do not have a First Class but offer a kind of hybrid First/ Business. I say hybrid, as they price it the same as business class fares of their competition but throw so much more in.

The sort of extras that they throw in for the fare includes: a limo that collects you and takes you to the airport (which in the UK checks you in and had a drive through check-in so you never have to queue), a dedicated security channel so you do not have to line up with all other travellers, the amazing Clubhouse at Heathrow, seats on the plane that are lie flat and are the largest in the business, and a sit down bar.

But the feature of this posting is the lounge at Heathrow.

Posted below are a pile of photos of the place to show how stunning it is. It takes your breath away when you walk in for three reasons: (1) as it is so huge, (2) it looks incredible, like a 1970s inspired fantasy of an airport and (3) the glittering array of free services and features.

The services and features include (and remember you pay nothing extra for any of them):

Cowshed spa with massages, wet shave etc
Bumble and Bumble hair salon
Shoe shine service
Brassiere restaurant
Deli
Menu and drinks service at all seating areas (I had delicious organic scrambled eggs and Scottish salmon)
Cocktail bar
Pool table
Monster multi screen cinema
Internet café and library, although there are laptops with free internet access dotted all over the place for you to use
Play area with games
Business Center
Outside viewing area, to watch the planes taking off

There is probably more but that was all I discovered. The photos probably say more than my ramblings! To see all the photos visit the Virgin Clubhouse gallery on my website: click here

In March 2012, Virgin have launched at JFK a lounge of the same sort of dramatic style and size. Read more on their blog: click here

Or watch this 3 minute video someone has done of the whole lounge:

Read my review of Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Seats and cabin: click here