For the second year running, Virgin Atlantic has won the Best Business Class Lounge Award in the SkyTrax World Airline Awards 2008, for its flagship Clubhouse at Heathrow Airport.  The World Airline Awards are based on the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax and are recognised around the world.  The awards are renowned for being the only truly global independent passenger survey of airline standards.  Virgin Atlantic beat off BA’s new T5 lounge, Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong Business Class lounge and Qatar Airways’ Business Class lounge to win the prestigious award.

Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic said, “We’re thrilled that our Heathrow Clubhouse has been chosen as the world’s best haven for business travellers for the second year running.  This confirms that our Clubhouse is a real winner with our Upper Class passengers and with our new private security corridor they can now get through to it in record time!  Thank you to everyone who voted for us.”

The airline’s Clubhouse at Heathrow provides the ultimate pre-flight experience for every passenger with an array of exciting and unique areas.  Passengers can enjoy a stylish haircut in the salon from Bumble and bumble; relax in the spa pool or sauna; choose from a range of Cowshed treatments; enjoy a game of pool in the Den; a blockbuster film in the Cinema; enjoy a delicious cocktail at the 14 metre long bar; and choose from the extensive Brasserie  menu for a richer dining experience before their flight.

The £11m flagship lounge, which is over 2,500 square metres in total, was created by the Virgin Atlantic design team and the London based architectural practice Softroom, who created the interior’ design to feel like a private members’ club. 

Virgin Atlantic has recently unveiled a brand new Clubhouse for its Upper Class passengers in Boston.   The new £1m Clubhouse at Logan International Airport was created by Boston based architectural practice Bergmeyer Architects, in collaboration with the Virgin Atlantic in-house design team and W1 Studio.  The Boston Clubhouse is divided into four zones; the Library and Business centre, the Lounge, the Brasserie and the Deli.   Accommodating up to 75 passengers, it allows Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class passengers to relax in quiet comfort, surf the Internet, lounge in private banquettes or dine in bistro style.

Virgin Atlantic has industry leading Clubhouses in the following destinations worldwide: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Newark, JFK New York, Washington, San Francisco, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Johannesburg.