The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK Terminal 4 is a lounge that arrives with a certain amount of pre-existing reputation. Virgin’s branding tends to suggest personality and a bit of edge, so it is easy to assume the space will feel distinctive before you even walk in. My visit was in the morning, using Priority Pass, and the experience turned out to be far more subdued and conventional than expected.
Access was limited from the start. Priority Pass entry is only allowed during specific windows, and those windows are tied closely to Virgin Atlantic’s own flight operations. Even though I arrived in the morning, I was not permitted to enter until the Virgin Atlantic flight had begun boarding. Once access opened, however, entry itself was straightforward and quick.
The lounge was extremely quiet at that hour. There were very few people inside, and the overall atmosphere felt muted and still. For travelers who value peace and minimal distraction, this would be a positive. There was no sense of crowding or urgency, and it was easy to settle in without feeling rushed. At the same time, the quiet made the space feel slightly flat, lacking any energy or sense of occasion.
The layout includes several different seating areas, which is one of the lounge’s more practical strengths. There are sofas, armchairs, and smaller seating clusters spread across the space, making it easy to choose a spot that feels comfortable. Some areas feel more private, while others are more open, though none are particularly dramatic or inventive.
One of the more noticeable aspects of the experience was the food and beverage system. Ordering is done via a QR code, which immediately sets a different tone from traditional lounge service. While QR ordering has become common in many settings, it still feels slightly out of place in an airport lounge, where the expectation is often that food and drinks are simply included. That feeling was reinforced by the fact that some items required payment. This was surprising and, frankly, a bit irritating. Paying extra for food and drinks inside a lounge undermines the sense of value that lounge access is meant to provide.
The system itself works smoothly, but it makes the experience feel more transactional than relaxing. Instead of casually helping yourself or placing a simple order, you are scanning a menu, weighing costs, and deciding what is worth paying for. In a nearly empty lounge, this stood out even more. It did not ruin the visit, but it did detract from the overall comfort and ease.
The most visually interesting part of the lounge turned out to be the walkway leading to the bathrooms. The lighting here is colorful and dynamic, giving the corridor an almost disco-like feel. It is unexpected and briefly entertaining, especially compared to the otherwise restrained design of the lounge. Unfortunately, that sense of novelty does not carry through once you reach the bathrooms themselves.
The bathrooms are perfectly ordinary. They are clean, functional, and well maintained, but they are not particularly stylish or memorable. After the playful lighting in the walkway, the actual restroom space feels fairly standard, similar to what you might find in many modern airport lounges. There is nothing wrong with them, but nothing especially noteworthy either.
As the visit went on, it became clear that the lounge is starting to show its age. This is not a matter of poor upkeep, but rather of design choices that feel slightly dated. Compared to newer lounges that emphasize lighter spaces, updated materials, and more flexible service models, the Clubhouse feels like it belongs to an earlier phase of lounge design. It relies more on its established name than on offering something that feels current or forward-looking.
That said, the lounge does function well on a basic level. It is comfortable, quiet, and removed from the noise of the terminal. There is plenty of seating, and during the morning hours there is no sense of competition for space. For travelers who simply want a calm place to sit before a flight, it serves its purpose adequately.
For Priority Pass users, however, the value proposition is mixed. The restricted entry times limit flexibility, and the need to pay for certain food and drinks diminishes the appeal. While access is technically available, it does not feel especially generous, and the experience lacks the inclusiveness that many travelers expect from lounge access. It already feels slightly dated, and the paid food model further reduces its appeal. It is not a bad place to spend some time, but it is probably nothing too fantastic, and it does not quite live up to the expectations its name creates.
