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Virgin America Loft LAX
The layout of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is almost a worst-case example among U.S. airports: Terminals 1 through 3, plus Tom Bradley, are not connected airside, which makes lounge access especially inconvenient. If you happen to be departing from Terminal 3 (for better or worse), your only lounge option may be Virgin America’s The LOFT lounge. Today, let’s take a look inside.
Airlines Departing from T3
LAX Terminal 3 is used primarily by low-cost carriers. These include Virgin America (VX), JetBlue (B6), Frontier (F9), Virgin Australia (VA), Spirit (NK), Allegiant Air (G4), and Boutique Air (4B).
Location of The LOFT
The LOFT is located in the center of the post-security departure area in T3. After clearing security, just walk straight ahead and you should see it.
After going upstairs, in one corner you’ll see wallpaper with The LOFT logo on it, next to a locked door. I rang the bell, and a staff member let me in.
As soon as I walked in, it felt like entering some kind of magical house. The lighting in The LOFT is extremely dim, with just a few purple light tubes illuminating the entire lounge. It’s definitely an LAX leader in energy saving, very much in line with the style of a low-cost airline. (Even though Virgin America was acquired by Alaska Airlines, it was still a low-cost carrier.)
Who Can Access Virgin America Loft LAX?
The following travelers can access The LOFT for free:
- Virgin America Elevate Gold elite members;
- First Class passengers flying on Virgin America long-haul flights;
- Passengers with a Priority Pass (including Priority Pass Select) or Lounge Club membership, who may bring either immediate family members or up to two friends.
The guest policy here for PPS cards overrides the guest allowance on the PPS card itself. Even if your PPS has unlimited guests—such as the PPS that comes with the Sapphire Reserve credit card—the lounge may still refuse additional guests beyond its own limit.
You can also purchase a day pass for $30, or for just $15 if you are a Virgin America Elevate Silver member.
The Space Inside The LOFT
This lounge is not especially large. After entering, you’ll see some light snacks laid out along the wall.
In short, it’s not enough to count as a real meal. If you want something more substantial, you can order food on the tablet nearby, including hot items such as sandwiches and pizza, though of course those are not free.
Getting drinks at The LOFT is fairly convenient. Various juices are available in the refrigerator for self-service, and there are also the usual soft drinks and a coffee machine, so there’s no need to bother the bartender.
The other side of the bar is all seating, and all of it is by the windows. There aren’t that many seats, so it can feel very crowded when the lounge is busy.
The windows look directly out onto several Virgin America gates.
Looking more closely, I also noticed workers outside moving around on scaffolding. Climbing up and down that late at night couldn’t have been easy.
After a few drinks, it was time to board. Once I left the lounge, it took my eyes a few seconds to readjust to normal lighting.
What do you think of Virgin America Loft LAX?