This blog is being written on board a Virgin Atlantic A340-600 (a plane greatly mistreated by critics – it is very quiet, but probably not as popular as the 747). I am en route to Los Angeles (miles going to Continental OnePass account).

Whenever anyone asks me for the number one tip for the frequent traveler, they always expect me to come up with some extraordinary bit of advice – something like cover yourself with cucumber and cream cheese and jet lag will be a thing of the past (it won’t).

So my usual answer is always a disappointment to them: “Get to the airport early!” Most of the misery we have to put up with when traveling is because we are now trying to rush ourselves through new security procedures and the like.

But today I was reminded that when flying Virgin there is a very good reason to get to the airport early simply to have longer to enjoy their business lounge, which they call the Clubhouse.

The Heathrow Clubhouse is simply without parallel. There is no other way to say it. In the past I have only breezed through, rather briskly wondering what all the fuss was about. Today I had a two-hour layover, so got to really spend some time there.

There was a proper breakfast, cooked to order, not from some miserable buffet, which had been sitting there for too long. Plenty of comfortable seating (although probably one too many gimmicky chairs, but I can live with that…) and of course the Cowshed massages, haircuts and spa facilities. I only had time for the massage (and if you are using their lounge make your booking as soon as you arrive). There is space, space and more space. And smokers enjoy the best view of all, since that part of the lounge is against the windows overlooking the planes!

All too often business lounges are an excuse to lump premium passengers in slightly more comfortable surroundings with free booze and some extra food. Where the lounge also serves Alliance partners, they rapidly become overcrowded and not terribly exclusive.

I think what most impressed me in the Virgin Atlantic lounge was the simple idea that we were to enjoy our time spent there not just kill time before the flight. This is a huge conceptual difference with other airlines.

While I am talking of lounges – some airlines, notably Singapore Airlines, at Singapore now restrict the Kris lounge to premium passengers alone, sending Star Alliance Gold members packing to another lounge which frankly isn’t as good.

I have mixed feelings about that. One of the biggest benefits of Star Gold is lounge access. And that usually means business class lounges. If you are going to start raising the barrier then it defeats the purpose.

Finally, thankfully, some things never change. Lufthansa’s lounges, which have to be among the most crowded and uncomfortable anywhere in the world at least still have the most bizarre selection of food on offer, especially the candies. What on earth makes Lufthansa think that business travelers suddenly want to plough through liquorice allsorts, boiled sweets, chewy toffees and gum drops while they wait for their flight. Rarely is cheese, fruit or something nourishing offered in the main Frankfurt lounge. Is this something cultural I am missing? Actually – hand on heart – I am so used to the weird selections I’d probably miss the candies if they were gone.

What’s your favorite or most disliked lounge and why?