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A new luxe lounge just opened up in LAX
If you’re traveling through LAX soon, Virgin Atlantic just opened its Clubhouse lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. And in true LA fashion, it brings the A-list vibes with a red carpet entry, a cinema with velvet seats, and a VIP-only Royal Box—a space for VIPs with mood lighting and a secret menu. See Alan Cummings share a glimpse of the Clubhouse!
Fancy a lounge? Here are some perks:
- Workstations with records and memorabilia paying tribute to Virgin Records’ legacy.
- The Zen Den features a Forme Studio smart fitness mirror with guided meditations and stretches to prep for your flight.
- Weights, yoga mats, and blocks are available to help travelers loosen up and unwind before your flight
- Post-workout (or pre-flight) showers that come stocked with herbal products from Flamingo Estate, a lifestyle company based in LA. A personal favorite of mine. I love all their products!
What’s the food and drink selection like?
I know you’re just here for the food and drinks. As am I! The lounge has a signature drink, the Twisted Angel, a gin and Aperol mix. There are also non-alcoholic Trip drinks with magnesium and botanicals to help you relax pre-flight. The food menu has London classics like fish and chips and chicken tikka masala and LA favorites like California rolls, tofu pho, tuna poke bowls, and fig salad.
Who can access the lounge?
You can access the Clubhouse at LAX if you’re traveling in Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic or Delta One on an international Delta flight or if you have Flying Club Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, or other eligible loyalty statuses. This covers guests traveling with you on the same itinerary, ticket, and day or those transiting or connecting internationally.
Flying first-class with Virgin might seem daunting, but it’s actually not as hard as you think. Check out the next section for some articles on how to fly to first class on Virgin.
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- Best for: Beginner Travelers
- Annual Fee: $95
- APR: 20.49% - 27.49% Variable
- Reward Rate: 1X - 5X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 Bonus Points
Offer Details:
60,000 Bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the ultimate all-around travel credit card—it fits perfectly into almost any points-earner’s wallet. Points novices can enjoy a significant intro bonus and easy to grasp spending categories with an approachable annual fee. The more experienced can utilize its high value earning potential as a secondary card and also gain access to Chase’s strong travel booking portal.
Reward details
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
2x on all other travel purchases.
1x on all other purchases.
Pros & Cons
PROS
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Travel℠.
The $50 dollar hotel credit for stays purchased on the Chase Travel Portal already cuts the already approachable $95 annual fee significantly.
A 10% annual points bonus is tacked on every year, adding a little more value.
A free year-long Doordash DashPass membership is also thrown in, which gives you free delivery and some extra discounts. It’s a solid perk if you order food delivery at least semi-frequently (Activate by 12/31/2027).
Along with all of the above, cardholders also have access to a string of travel protections like rental coverage, cancellation insurance, and purchase protection.
CONS
Maximizing the value of Chase points can still be complicated for complete novices.
Competing cards like the Capital One Venture have a better earning rate for non-bonused spend.
It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So, if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Terms Apply
- Best for: Luxury Perks
- Annual Fee: $695
- Pay Over Time APR
- Reward Rate: 5X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Offer Details:
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
Why we like it
The Amex Platinum was once the sole dominating force in the luxury credit card space. While it now faces some stiff competition, it still offers unbeatable perks like unprecedented airport lounge access, elite status at Hilton and Marriott, and some outstanding statement credits making the mammoth $695 worth it for some.
Reward details
5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Pros & Cons
Pros
-
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
-
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
-
Incredible lounge access
Statement credits worth over $1,000 annually.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
Cons
-
The $695 annual fee is brutally high. Too high for many that can’t, or don’t want to take full advantage of its benefits.
-
Points-earning rates are low unless spending directly on flights or with the Amex Portal.
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Some of the benefits, like travel credits, are more limited and are harder to use than competing cards’ offerings.
- Best for: Overall Travel
- Annual Fee: $395
- Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
- Reward Rate: 2X - 10X
- Recommended Credit: 720-850
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 Bonus Miles
Offer Details:
75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The Capital One Venture X is a direct competitor to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and for many seeking a simpler earning scheme with premium perks, it could be the better option. But the Venture X truly shines with one benefit in particular: four free authorized users. Not only can they all use the card and earn miles, they all receive a Priority Pass membership which allows themselves and two guests access to airport lounges. In a highly improbable situation, that means you could technically bring 15 people into a lounge with you.
Reward details
10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase
Pros & Cons
Pros
Its solid intro bonus of 75,000 miles is worth well over $1,000 when transferred to partner airlines and hotels, or a flat rate $750 when redeemed on the Capital One Travel Portal.
Cardholders get a bonus of 10,000 miles each year after their first account anniversary, which is nothing to shrug off, especially when a little bit short of that business class flight. It’s worth almost $200 depending on how you use it.
The $300 annual credit for purchases made on the Capital One Travel Portal, combined with the yearly free miles, more than annul the $395 annual fee.
Four authorized users can be added for free.
Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
A generous offering of travel insurance, protections and reimbursements round out an excellent array of benefits.
Cons
The $300 credit is a bit less flexible than the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s comparable benefit.
Miles earning is the same as the Sapphire Reserve on portal-based purchases, but less on general travel spending.
Capital One transfer partners are solid, but still don’t include any US-based airlines or hotels.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
