Loss of Virgin Lounge Access
Dec 17, 2006 | 6:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: Amex Cent; SPG Plat; Marriott Gold; et al
Posts: 7
Loss of Virgin Lounge Access
Apologies if I missed a previous thread on this....
Just called Centurion to check if you could still get into Virgin Train lounges and was told "No, they have dropped that now same as Virgin Atlantic". The guy claims that "as of a couple months ago", Virgin no longer allow Centrurion card holders to use their lounges regardless of class of travel.
News to me having made good use of this in June.
Further erosion of the perks and point in having a card?
Just called Centurion to check if you could still get into Virgin Train lounges and was told "No, they have dropped that now same as Virgin Atlantic". The guy claims that "as of a couple months ago", Virgin no longer allow Centrurion card holders to use their lounges regardless of class of travel.
News to me having made good use of this in June.
Further erosion of the perks and point in having a card?
Dec 22, 2006 | 7:34 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Centurion, VS Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 567
Just received:
Dear razflyer
Thank you for your email.
I would like to inform you that the use of our Clubhouse lounges are limited to Upper Class passengers, Flying Club Gold members and American Express Centurion (Black) card holders. In light of this it is possible for you to use our Clubhouse at Heathrow.
I hope this information has been helpful. Thank you for contacting Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Kind Regards
Virgin Contact Centre Customer Service Team
Dear razflyer
Thank you for your email.
I would like to inform you that the use of our Clubhouse lounges are limited to Upper Class passengers, Flying Club Gold members and American Express Centurion (Black) card holders. In light of this it is possible for you to use our Clubhouse at Heathrow.
I hope this information has been helpful. Thank you for contacting Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Kind Regards
Virgin Contact Centre Customer Service Team
Jan 11, 2007 | 3:49 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Various
Posts: 2,155
I just checked with AmEx and they say it was dropped as of Autumn last year and there would have been a note on my statement.
I don't recall seeing one, maybe they hid it in their usual 4pt size font. Obviously they are going to be sending me a lounge access card for when I fly EasyJet instead as a natural replacement.
Thankfully I have VS Gold status otherwise I would really be screaming at them, another serious dilution of the product. Only way to redeem themselvews really is to replace it with BA lounge access, but we know the odds of that happening are on par with seeing Lord Lucan riding Shergar in Terraces at T4.
Thanks,
Richard
I don't recall seeing one, maybe they hid it in their usual 4pt size font. Obviously they are going to be sending me a lounge access card for when I fly EasyJet instead as a natural replacement.
Thankfully I have VS Gold status otherwise I would really be screaming at them, another serious dilution of the product. Only way to redeem themselvews really is to replace it with BA lounge access, but we know the odds of that happening are on par with seeing Lord Lucan riding Shergar in Terraces at T4.
Thanks,
Richard
Jan 12, 2007 | 5:11 am
#7
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Various
Posts: 2,155
Oh this gets even more typical AmEx Centurion UK now.
Just had a call from Customer Relations at Centurion, they are not sure if the benefit has gone, they are checking with the head of Centurion Travel to see if it has gone or not. Promised a call back by the end of the day.
Absolutely amazing, left hand meet right hand. Or maybe the front-line staff really do know more than management.
Thanks,
Richard
Just had a call from Customer Relations at Centurion, they are not sure if the benefit has gone, they are checking with the head of Centurion Travel to see if it has gone or not. Promised a call back by the end of the day.
Absolutely amazing, left hand meet right hand. Or maybe the front-line staff really do know more than management.
Thanks,
Richard
Jan 12, 2007 | 11:57 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York City
Programs: BA Gold Guest List; HH Diamond; Hyatt Diamond; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,833
The real reason that they're not making UK Centurion invitations: they're too embarassed to admit that they don't know what the benefits package is 
Jan 12, 2007 | 10:43 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Programs: Hilton Gold, Priority Club Platinum (until December), FB Explorer, BA Blue, M&M Pleb
Posts: 8,581
I had a similar situation with the plat card last year. The BMI lounge access was no longer listed as a benefit (not sure if that has changed) but nevertheless appears to be alive and well.....
Jan 13, 2007 | 9:27 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 179
At least they updated the website at last!
In all honesty this is the one benefit i really made the most of, its
also a reason for me to always chose to fly Virgin. If its gone then all
thats left is MO which thankfully is confirmed for another year.
Centurion really is turning into a bit of a joke, long wait on the
phone, poorly informed staff, ridiculously poor website and inability
to book online which would at least make up for some of the phone and
staff issues.
A major overall is needed ASAP which apparently is coming this Spring.
Its almost like they have been slowly taking away the benefits to allow
introduction of a new level with superior benefits (equvilient to
Centurion 5 years ago!)
In all honesty this is the one benefit i really made the most of, its
also a reason for me to always chose to fly Virgin. If its gone then all
thats left is MO which thankfully is confirmed for another year.
Centurion really is turning into a bit of a joke, long wait on the
phone, poorly informed staff, ridiculously poor website and inability
to book online which would at least make up for some of the phone and
staff issues.
A major overall is needed ASAP which apparently is coming this Spring.
Its almost like they have been slowly taking away the benefits to allow
introduction of a new level with superior benefits (equvilient to
Centurion 5 years ago!)
Jan 22, 2007 | 11:16 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Centurion, VS Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 567
According to a senior member of Amex that I spoke to, "we are in discussions with Virgin at an international level in relation to the removal of this benefit, but at this stage Cardmembers still have access, and if they have any problems should contact Centurion Service."
Feb 6, 2007 | 3:58 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Various
Posts: 2,155
I have just had 'word' from a source that Virgin Clubhouse access will be removed from 12th March.
Another benefit gone, now only really MO benefit left to separate Plat and Centurion.
Thanks,
Richard
Another benefit gone, now only really MO benefit left to separate Plat and Centurion.
Thanks,
Richard
Feb 6, 2007 | 7:12 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MSP
Programs: VS Gold, Delta Platinum, Amex Centurion, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 118
At least they updated the website at last!
A major overall is needed ASAP which apparently is coming this Spring.
Its almost like they have been slowly taking away the benefits to allow
introduction of a new level with superior benefits (equvilient to
Centurion 5 years ago!)
A major overall is needed ASAP which apparently is coming this Spring.
Its almost like they have been slowly taking away the benefits to allow
introduction of a new level with superior benefits (equvilient to
Centurion 5 years ago!)
Platinum is beckoning with half the fee for pretty much the same delivery - Amex - please wake up.
Feb 8, 2007 | 7:20 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 179
Is this the tipping point, going to write a letter I think, does anyone have email address for Mr Lambert?
Key points are:
Inexperienced call staff & wait times on calls
Lack of confidence with call staff (Calls not returned, misinformation etc)
Inability to book online
Poor communication
State of the art website that is never updated
Diminishing benefits
Poor value versus other products
Damaged brand
Key points are:
Inexperienced call staff & wait times on calls
Lack of confidence with call staff (Calls not returned, misinformation etc)
Inability to book online
Poor communication
State of the art website that is never updated
Diminishing benefits
Poor value versus other products
Damaged brand
Feb 8, 2007 | 2:23 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Centurion, VS Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 567