I visited airport lounges from Delta One and Virgin Atlantic. Both had nice perks, but one impressed me way more.
I visited both the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and Delta One Lounge at LAX.
I loved that both seemed to give nods to old Hollywood glam with their decor and amenities.
Overall, I preferred Virgin Atlantic's more intimate vibe over Delta One's larger lounge.
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and Delta One Lounge are two of the newest arrivals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
I've always been a fan of airport lounges, so I was excited to check them out.
Both of these lounges are open to Delta One passengers flying internationally and Virgin Atlantic upper-class customers, so I wondered which would be a better option for my next trip.
Here's how the two compare, and which is my favorite.
I recently visited the new Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX.
The lounge opened in late March and is in Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). It replaced the old Etihad Airways Lounge, which closed a few years ago.
It felt quite small at about 4,400 square feet, with no exterior windows. I learned that it can apparently only accommodate about 70 to 80 people, which kind of gave it an air of exclusivity.
First, I entered the lounge's Ruby Room.
A special feature of the Ruby Room is the Royal Box.
This tiny nook is typically reserved for VIPs or guests celebrating a special occasion.
The Royal Box has its own special menu, which includes chocolate-covered strawberries and the Drama Queen — a Champagne cocktail with mixed berries and gin. True to its theatrical name, it's served with a bubble of smoke on top.
I appreciated the options at the self-serve brasserie.
I found so many vegetarian options at the lounge's grab-and-go bar.
It was nice to be able to choose light, fresh-sounding bites like fruit salad, citrus kale salad, raw vegetables and hummus, and Mediterranean quinoa salad.
The dining room looked like a comfortable spot to enjoy a meal.
The pleasant colors of the dining room almost had a calming effect on me.
The menu features a variety of cuisine.
The lounge menu has both small and large plates, as well as desserts.
Many of the dishes are inspired by California cuisine, and each of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses has its own unique menu.
Some items that stood out to me include the chicken tikka masala and California fig salad.
I tried the smash burger, which is a signature dish in the lounge.
While there, I sampled the lounge's signature smash burger.
Made with venison, each burger is stamped with Virgin Atlantic's logo. It was quite tasty, and definitely felt on par with what I could get from a gastropub or bistro.
The bar itself is also stunning.
Virgin Atlantic's bar feels sleek and chic. I liked the transitional lighting, which mimics the light changing throughout the day.
There's an alley to the left of the bar called The Wing, which has studio pods.
The Wing has three studio pods that are acoustically sealed, kind of like modern-day phone booths. They seem like a convenient spot to take a phone call or get work done without distraction.
Taking inspiration from Virgin Atlantic Airways founder Sir Richard Branson 's roots in the music industry, the pods are named after his iconic recording studios. Each one is adorned with music memorabilia, including Prince's "Purple Rain" album and a plaque with information about Sunset Sound Studios.
One of my favorite features at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is the Zen Den.
Upon walking in, I was greeted by a FORME Studio smart fitness mirror, which features a touchscreen display that streams on-demand fitness classes or live one-on-one training.
I tried a selection of guided yoga and meditation sessions during my visit.
The vanity inside the Zen Den felt like a nice touch.
The Zen Den vanity has a sink, mirror, and extra lighting, making it a convenient spot for a quick refresh before returning to the main lounge.
After checking out the amenities, I headed back to the bar for a farewell cocktail.
Truth be told, I didn't want to leave the Virgin Atlantic lounge.
I was enamored with its decor and the space's general emphasis on wellness. It felt like an homage to LA's past and present.
A few months ago, I attended the opening of Delta One's Lounge at LAX.
After checking in, I proceeded through a private TSA screening area.
In my opinion, this easy access to a private TSA screening is one of the biggest perks of Delta One's lounge.
Although you can also use the screening area if you want to visit the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse as a Delta One passenger, you'd have to take a long walk (or shuttle) to get from Terminal 3 to Terminal B.
Once through TSA, I took an elevator up to the Delta One Lounge.
The lounge is about 10,000 square feet, much larger than the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. I appreciated the colorful mural near its entrance.
Walking in, I was immediately drawn to the wellness room.
The room had a soothing atmosphere, with eight private relaxation pods equipped with zero-gravity chairs and full-body massage chairs.
It wasn't long before I hopped into one of the full-body massage chairs and fell into a trance as soothing ocean sounds filled my ears.
Generally, lounge guests can reserve a 15-minute massage in advance.
The living room seemed like a welcoming spot.
The dining area felt spacious, with plenty of room for travelers to spread out.
The dining area has plenty of booth and chair seating, and Delta One offers attendant service for all food and drink in the lounge.
Unlike at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, I wasn't able to order via QR code from my table.
I felt drawn to the fully-stocked Icon Bar.
I loved the bar's leather and walnut accents, which, paired with quartz and onyx, gave it a sleek, sophisticated look.
The lounge even has a sushi bar.
The sushi bar felt like a nice touch, with options like California rolls, spicy tuna rolls, and hand rolls with salmon ceviche.
I thought the menu had a great mix of classics and more creative fare.
Delta One's offerings include light fare and larger entrées, from tacos to salmon, and a variety of bento boxes.
I loved that the clever cocktails were inspired by many of Delta's destinations, from the Raspberry Tulip for Amsterdam to the Sleepy British Bee for London.
I decided to try a Boston-inspired drink and the street-corn pizza.
I paired the street-corn pizza with How D'ya Like Them Apples?, an apple-flavored whiskey and ginger beer drink inspired by Boston.
My meal was delicious — I had never tried street corn on pizza before, and I'm still craving it.
Unlike the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, this lounge has a skydeck.
I decided to enjoy my meal on the Delta One Skydeck, which overlooks planes on the runway.
It was nice to be able to get fresh air and sit outside while at an airport, which is quite rare.
I'd happily return to both lounges, but I preferred Virgin Atlantic's.
If I had to choose to spend time in one lounge over the other, I'd go with the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.
Although I loved the Delta One Lounge's amenities, such as the skydeck and sushi bar, I found I preferred the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse for a couple of reasons.
First, it really impressed me with its stylish vibe, which felt like stepping into a swanky lounge or speakeasy. I appreciated its size, which felt more intimate and less overwhelming than a larger lounge.
The wellness amenities, like the Zen Den and grab-and-go bar stocked with healthy-sounding snacks, also appealed to me. And if given the opportunity, I'd go back to that Royal Box in a second.
That said, I enjoyed my experience in both lounges (especially my food and beverages) and would happily wait for a flight in either.
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Years of economic dysfunction have left the country's once-thriving middle class in a state of desperation. The World Bank says poverty nearly tripled in Lebanon over the past decade, affecting close to half its population of nearly 6 million. To make matters worse, inflation is soaring, with the Lebanese pound losing 90% of its value, and many families lost their savings when banks collapsed. Tourism is seen by Lebanon's leaders as the best way to kickstart the reconciliation needed with Gulf countries -- and only then can they move on to exports and other economic growth opportunities. 'It's the thing that makes most sense, because that's all Lebanon can sell now,' said Sami Zoughaib, research manager at The Policy Initiative, a Beirut-based think tank. With summer still weeks away, flights to Lebanon are already packed with expats and locals from countries that overturned their travel bans, and hotels say bookings have been brisk. 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Lebanon aims to lure back wealthy Gulf tourists to jumpstart its war-torn economy
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