Beachside Airport Departure Lounge: New Waterfront Terminal Plans

Spending hours at an airport waiting for your departing flight is usually the last thing you want to do on the final day of your vacation. Virgin Holidays has introduced a way to make that time enjoyable by letting travelers spend those last pre-flight hours on a beach.

Since May, passengers flying with Virgin Atlantic from Barbados can take part in a new pre-flight experience called Departure Beach. After checking in and leaving carry-on luggage in a secure location, travelers gain access to a private stretch of Brownes Beach in Carlisle Bay.

Admission to Departure Beach costs $25 and covers hotel pick-up, luggage drop-off, complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and a buffet lunch served on the sand. For those seeking relief from the sun, an adjacent air-conditioned departure lounge offers comfortable seating and a children’s play area.

When it’s time to head to the airport, a transfer service brings guests back to the terminal so they can pass through security and board their flight, still carrying their swimwear and holiday memories.