Review: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), A Gates

by Adam Stuart | May 3, 2025 | 0 Comments

…Cool vibe, music and décor enhance this small space – but Priority Pass travelers..be prepared to pay for some items

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at the A gates of SFO’s International Terminal has a lot going for it: great design and ambiance, amazing background music, decent buffet, and some elevated offerings. However, the elevated offerings come at a cost for those entering the clubhouse with Priority Pass, who only have access for limited hours. 

The summary

The lounge is on Floor 5 of the A gates in the International Terminal. From noon to 4:00 PM, Priority Pass members are not admitted due to the timing of Virgin’s flights to London and the overall small space of the lounge. This is the only lounge on this floor – one floor above many other lounges. Signs at the beginning of the A gate concourse direct travelers to the lounges. On the 5th floor, it’s impossible to miss the Virgin branded entry.

After reception, you will immediately notice the Virgin Atlantic (VA) vibe. The VA clubhouses look like no other lounges and resemble a cross between a sleek hotel bar, nightclub, and traditional airline/airport lounge. This lounge is an example of how a designer can effectively maximize a small space – the designers of the China Airlines lounge below (and others) should take note. One entire wall is taken up with floor to ceiling windows. To the left, there is bench seating with tables and a series of small tables with blue chairs. Two of the walls here are wood paneled – which add some warmth to the place.

To the right after entry, is the bar, buffet, and additional seating. The bar is backed by a blue wall as is the adjoining buffet with several light items, sandwiches and pastries: nothing that substantial. This area also has additional seating, including some cool red chairs that overlook the tarmac.

You can order more substantial food items and drinks via a QR code that is affixed to every table and by every seat. A server will bring you what you order. I took a screenshot of the food and hot beverage menu but did not get one of the full cocktail menu. There is a charge for most of the items ordered. For example, a chicken burger is $14 and a cappuccino is $5. I will leave it up to you whether it is worth it – but the prices seem to be less than what you would find at the restaurants in the terminal. You can also reserve a shower the same way – via a scanned QR code for $15. I availed myself of none of the charged items – as I came here primarily to write a review.

Speaking of writing, I found that finding an outlet for my computer to be a surprising challenge. However, the internet was very fast and did not (if I recall) require a password. One more note – I LOVED the music. I have never said that about a lounge before. As a child of the 70s and 80s, I heard Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, the Police, and Bruce. That was awesome! Note that the lounge is most convenient (shortest walk) for travelers departing from the A gates, but the walk is not that long from Terminal 1 (B and C gates).

The wrap:

…The details. Date – April 26, 2025. Rating: Very fine. Access: Priority pass

..What I like: The décor and music

..What I don’t like: The charges for the best items, limited hours and outlets.

Also on BoardingArea
Miles For Family
Surprise Upgrade at Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay
This is a continuation of my Japan/China trip report. See also Back from China and Japan Trip! 5 Takeaways, Worth it: JAL Premium Economy Award Seats, Better Than Expected: AA Premium Economy Shanghai PVG to DFW, Hits and Misses from our day at Tokyo DisneySea, Take this Line and Shove...
Eye of the Flyer
Do Chase Sapphire Reserve® Members Get Priority Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges?
Some folks online recently debated who gets waitlist priority when Chase Sapphire Lounges are full. A few people said Chase Sapphire Reserve® card holders get to jump up the line. Others said it’s completely first-come, first-served, no matter which card gets you in the lounge. Well, we have an answer...
One Mile at a Time
Buy JetBlue TrueBlue Points With Up To 125% Bonus (1.43 Cents Each)
JetBlue TrueBlue has rolled out its newest promotion on purchased points. The program has gotten much more aggressive with these sales in recent times. This has the potential to be a good deal, so let’s cover the details.
Live and Let’s Fly
Spain’s Minister Of Transport Calls Urges “Patriots” To Support Vueling Over “Israeli Brats”
In a shockingly ignorant tweet, Óscar Puente Santiago, the Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility in Spain, called on Spanish “patriots” to stand with Vueling against the “Israeli brats” at the center of a controversy over anti-Semitism on a flight to Paris. Spain’s Witless Minister Of Transport Urges Support For...
Wild About Travel
12 Secrets to Staying Human on Long Flights
I talked yesterday about my 203 “long-haul” flights over eight hours. That works out to around 20 weeks inside a metal tube flying around the world. I have learnt a lot in that time. Here are my top tips. Any other long haul survival tips? Related Posts The post 12 Secrets...
One Mile at a Time
Today Only: Up To 4x Bonus Airlines Miles On Apple Purchases
Online shopping portals can be a great way to pick up additional miles and points for purchases youd make anyway. Just for following a specific link, you can earn bonus points in addition to the ones youd earn for credit card spending. Whenever I make an online purchase, I always...
One Mile at a Time
Air New Zealand Plans Two-Tier Flagship Koru Lounge Auckland, With Elite Area
It’s an exciting time for Air New Zealand. The carrier has recently introduced a new business class, which is being retrofitted on existing Boeing 787s. On top of that, the airline is upping its lounge game, though it’ll require some patience.
One Mile at a Time
Chase Ink Business Card Rewards: Points Or Cash?
Chase is known for its portfolio of business credit cards, which are among the best business cards out there.
2PAXfly
AIR NEW ZEALAND: New Auckland lounges to double in size for 2026/27 opening
Air New Zealand’s long‑rumoured makeover of its international lounge in Auckland is now official. The airline has confirmed plans to almost double the size of its Koru Lounge at Auckland International Airport and split the space into two distinct areas — one for top‑tier fliers and another for regular elite and...
View from the Wing
Insider: Marriott Reportedly Now Lets Hotels Go 21 Years Without Renovations—And Benefits With Extra Fees From Run-Down Hotels
The General Manager of “an extended stay Marriott property” that they don’t want to name went looking online for guest advice on making their property more attractive. In the process of soliciting guest input, they reveal some fascinating takes. Continue reading Insider: Marriott Reportedly Now Lets Hotels Go 21 Years...
Nerd Ka Travel
Strata Elite Lands: Citi’s New Travel Card Takes Off with American Airlines Transfers
Citi has introduced the Citi Strata Elite credit card, a refreshed version of the Citi Prestige card, aimed at travelers and lifestyle spenders looking to earn elevated rewards on everyday purchases. The new Strata Elite builds on the core strengths […]
ATX Jetsetter
Thank You 1,000 Times
Thanks to the support of all of the readers, ATX Jetsetter crossed the 1,000 post threshold over the weekend. The post Thank You 1,000 Times appeared first on ATX Jetsetter.
Frequent Miler
Best uses for Citi ThankYou Points (2025)
Citibank offers several cards that earn ThankYou Rewards points. By using the right combination of cards, it’s possible to earn 2 to 5 points per dollar on all spend. Once you’ve collected lots of points, though, you’re going to want to get great value from them. That’s where this post...
Points With a Crew
TSA just started a new rule for kids using PreCheck
If you've got a kid using the PreCheck lane, make sure that you're aware of this new rule recently implemented by the TSA. As of this June, kids will need ...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
7 Ways to Save Money on Purchasing a Camera.
Most people use their mobile telephones and tablets to photograph what they see, which is generally a viable option — but if you want to use an actual camera to take better photographs during your travels, consider these 7 ways to save money on purchasing a camera. Despite the advances in...
You Are Travel
It’s About Time: Citi Adds American Airlines as Transfer Partner, on the Heels of the Strata Elite Release
Tl;dr – Point transfers from Citi ThankYou Rewards to American Airlines AAdvantage Miles are now live.  Big news… The post It’s About Time: Citi Adds American Airlines as Transfer Partner, on the Heels of the Strata Elite Release appeared first on You Are Travel.
Miles For Family
Citi Adds AA as a 1:1 Transfer Partner
This is big news: Citi just added American Airlines as a 1:1 transfer partner! While this move has been rumored for a while,  I didn’t actually believe it until it just happened. AA miles are incredibly valuable to my family since we live near an AA airport hub. I’ve found...
The Alviator
The Best Intra-Europe Economy Flight I’ve Ever Flown
Europe has a very low standard of shorthaul flying, so it was refreshing to be on Air France's A220, which I really enjoyed. The post The Best Intra-Europe Economy Flight I’ve Ever Flown appeared first on The Alviator.
The Bulkhead Seat
Delta Pilot Arrested by Federal Agents After Touchdown in San Francisco
Delta Air Lines flight DL 2809 arrived at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) last… The post Delta Pilot Arrested by Federal Agents After Touchdown in San Francisco appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Your Mileage May Vary
10+ Common Medications That Are Banned in Other Countries
Every country, of course, has its own rules that need to be followed. Case in point, you’ll be fined if you try to bring these foods from other countries into…
ATX Jetsetter
You Can Now Fly Direct Between Moscow and North Korea
Nordwind Airlines has launched direct flights between Moscow and the capital of North Korea, marking their first direct link in decades. The post You Can Now Fly Direct Between Moscow and North Korea appeared first on ATX Jetsetter.
View from the Wing
After 13 Years of Waiting, Hyatt Globalist Suite Upgrade Got Me To The Chatwal—Then They Gave Me A 320 Square Foot Terrace
The hotel became part of Marriott when Starwood was acquired, and then moved over to Hyatt in early 2023. That was a boon to elite members, because the breakfast benefit was upgraded to Hyatt standard and suites became confirmable at the time of booking. Late checkout is proactively...
Economy Class & Beyond
Airplane Art – United Airlines Boeing 787-8 on final approach to Chicago O’Hare International
It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane Art.  This week, we have a United Airlines Boeing 787-8 on final approach to Chicago O’Hare International as it completes its descent in the evening sun. United Airlines operates a fleet of 12 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in its widebody...
Your Mileage May Vary
The Lounges of Orlando International Airport (MCO) – UPDATED for 2025
Orlando International Airport, known as MCO in airline speak, was a destination for over 57 million airline passengers in 2024. For many of those passengers, Orlando is their destination. The…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

Our Bloggers