RAF Club FAQs

Am I eligible for membership? 
Club Membership is open to all persons who hold, or have held, a Commission in the Royal Air Force, Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service, The Reserves, RAF Auxiliary Air Force, RAF Air Cadets and in Commonwealth and friendly Air Forces. We do however have an Affiliate membership for people who have a continued interest and personal involvement in some aspects of the RAF and family membership for first degree relations. 

Under Club Rules each candidate for Affiliate election must have a proposer and seconder both of whom are members of the Club of 2 years standing. Although you may not know anybody currently who can act as your proposer/seconder, we are very happy to assist by looking into our records and checking if to see if any of the people that you knew previously are members. 

For further information please contact Membership on 020 7399 1002 or membership@rafclub.org.uk.

Can I pay my subscription for Club membership by credit card through your website?
Yes, if you log into the Members’ only area, you will see a link to the secure form which will allow you to pay your subscriptions The transaction will be processed by the Club once your details have been received.

How do I cancel my membership?
All resignations must be in writing (letter or email) and arrive at the Club no later than 15th December so that the January subscription payment will not be processed. Serving Members are reminded that they may resign and re-join whilst serving, with no financial penalty such as a re-joining fee.

Frozen subscriptions
A Full Member who has reached government retirement and has a minimum of 25 years continuous membership or such other length of time as may be decided by the Board of Trustees, may apply in writing, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, to receive a reduction of 25% of the former serving subscription.

Can my spouse become a member of the Club?
Spouses of members may become Associate Members and make full use of Club facilities with or without the Full Member being present. This membership will however cease if the Full Member ceases to be a Member, or in the case of divorce or judicial separation.

Can my son/daughter join the Club?
The Board of Trustees is empowered to elect as family members sons/daughters over 18 years of age who should be proposed by a parent or legal guardian and a seconder, who must not be a relative. Both should be full members of the Club of at least 2 years standing.

Would it be feasible for me to pay my membership subscription by credit or debit card?
Yes, you can pay your membership fee by credit or debit card, you can do this on our website, just visit the secure Members’ area.

Do you allow non-members to use the facilities as a one-off concession when they are thinking of joining?
We allow visits and tours of the Club for Former Serving Officers who have not yet joined but who would like to view our facilities. 
For further information please contact Membership on 020 7399 1002 or membership@rafclub.org.uk. 

I am a retired RAF Officer and I would like to join the Club, but I have lost contact with my old colleagues so I cannot find sponsors for my application…
Retired Officers do not require a proposer and seconder, they simply need to complete a Former Serving Officer Application Form and this will be put forward to the Trustees for election.  For further information please contact Membership on 020 7399 1002 or membership@rafclub.org.uk. 

I would like to apply for my spouse to enjoy Associate membership of the Club. How do I go about this?
This is very easy to do, please contact a member of our Membership team on 02073991002 or membership@rafclub.org.uk and they will assist you. 

I am a U.S. Army Doctor stationed in Europe and wish to join your Club. Am I eligible?
Unfortunately in order to become a member of the RAF Club you must be a serving or former serving Officer of the RAF or Allied Commonwealth Air Forces.

Could you tell me how many guests I am permitted to sign in on my membership for overnight accommodation and for general use?
Each member is permitted to sign in up to 2 guests when accompanied by the Member in 1 guest room without written authorisation from the Club Secretary for bedroom accommodation. However there is no limit on the number of guests a member may bring to the Club with them for general use. Guests must sign in using the Visitors Book and wait for any accompanying member in Reception.

Can my spouse continue his or her membership if widowed?
In accordance with the Club rules, the spouse of a Full Member may continue to be a member applying for full membership in his or her own right, provided there is no break in membership. No subscription fee is payable for the first year of full membership.

Can I update my personal details using the website?
Yes, but only if you have registered and then logged on. Please then visit the secure Members’ area of the website to update details, including address, email, telephone and marketing preferences.

I am travelling abroad and would like to know if one of your reciprocal clubs is at the location I will be visiting?
With your RAF Club membership card and a Letter of Introduction you can request use of these Clubs and their facilities. Reservations can be made directly with the reciprocal club once a Letter of Introduction has been arranged.

For a full list of our reciprocal clubs and to request a Letter of Introduction, visit the Reciprocal Clubs section of the website. 

Visiting the RAF Club from a Reciprocal
Please note a valid Letter of Introduction covering the exact dates of your stay are required. Letters covering a longer period than 14 days will not be accepted. This must be presented to the Front Desk team on arrival and your visit to the Club logged. Club Rules and Dress Code must be adhered to at all times.

Staying at the RAF Club
Members of reciprocal clubs which have accommodation facilities at their home club are permitted to book bedrooms at the RAF Club, provided a Letter of Introduction has been received prior to the booking.  Club Rules and Dress Code must be adhered to at all times.

The Club has 110 air conditioned, non-smoking bedrooms, including single rooms, double rooms, twins rooms, 2 mini suites with a lounge and 2 family rooms.

Check in time is 1500hrs and check out time is 1100hrs. Luggage may be stored with the Concierge who will then transfer it to your room as soon as it is ready. Rooms are booked on a first come, first serve basis.

To book a room please email reservations@rafclub.org.uk or call 020 7 399 1019.

Facilities
Reciprocal Club members staying or visiting the Club are welcome to make use of the Club's Dining, Lounge, Library, Fitness Centre and Business Suite facilities. Please visit the 'Facilities' area of the website for further details and opening hours of specific outlets.

Functions & Private Dining
With a range of meeting and conference rooms to choose from, the Royal Air Force Club is the perfect venue for both members and non-members to hold corporate and private. We happily accommodate all types of functions from meetings and conferences to lunches, dinners and cocktail receptions.

Each function is treated with the care and attention it deserves, with guests guaranteed a memorable experience when they spend time with us here at the Club.

For further information please contact the Conference & Banqueting Team on 020 7399 1004/5 or email meetingsevents@rafclub.org.uk

Children
Well behaved children of any age are welcome in the Club at any time. We have high chairs, travel cots, bottle warming facilities and family friendly bedrooms. We provide children’s packs upon check in so if you are bringing your children to stay at the Club, please ensure you tell us their names and ages.

Dress Code & Club Rules

Cowdray Lounge & Dining Room
Informal dress applies from 0630hrs to 1800hrs weekdays, Friday evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays

Formal Dress applies from 1800hrs Monday to Thursday

All other Areas
Informal Dress

Private Functions & Events
Members and non-members of the Club attending a private event with no specified dress code, may wear Informal Dress when using the Club’s conference and banqueting facilities.

Dress Code Definitions:

Formal Dress:
Suit or jacket with collared shirt, tie (optional until 1800hrs), smart trousers and appropriate footwear. Trainers are not permitted.

Summer Formal Dress Code:
From 1st May to 30th August, jackets may be removed.

Informal Dress:
Polo shirts and smart trousers including untorn jeans and trainers are permitted.
Sandals, rubberized flip-flops, shorts, T-shirts, sports attire or overtly branded attire are not permitted.

Ladies Dress Code
Please use the above as a guide, avoiding extremes and overly revealing forms of dress.  Smart sandals and T-shirt style tops are permitted.

Children
16yrs and older – the above adult rules apply
Under 16 – Parents/Guardians are responsible for ensuring that their children are dressed appropriately.

No animals or pets, other than guide dogs are permitted in the Club

Portable electronic devices and mobile telephones
Portable Electronic Devices (PED) including mobile telephones must be read in all areas of the Club premises in silent mode.

Mobile telephones may be used by members and visitors for the purpose of speaking and listening when in the following areas:  Business Centre, private function rooms and main corridors on the ground and first floors.

Laptops may be used by members and visitors in the library, business centre, private function rooms and in the main corridors on the ground and first floors.  Laptops may also be used in the Churchill Bar and the Running Horse Tavern outside of normal operating hours.

Can I make a booking for the Dining room via the website?
Yes, members can make a reservation via the website. Once members have logged in they should visit the Dining section of the site and this will take them to the booking link. A successful booking will be acknowledged by the Dining Room via email.

Do we have to make a reservation?
Booking is not essential although it is highly recommended. Bookings can be made via our website, email dining@rafclub.org.uk or by telephoning the Dining Room on 020 7399 1020.
Bookings are taken for lunch and dinner only, breakfast is served on a first come, first served basis.

Can we see the menu?
The a la carte and Club menus are available to view online. The Club menu changes every 3 to 4 weeks and is updated on the website as soon as it is available.

I would like to post my lunch charges to my room bill. Is this possible?
Yes, please provide your room number to the staff on duty and they will post your charges accordingly.

Can I provisionally book a bedroom at the RAF Club? 
Unfortunately we are unable to offer provisional bookings; all bookings made are on a confirmed basis.

Can I check in early?
As our check out time is 1100hrs, we are unable to guarantee rooms before 1500hrs, however we will endeavour to accommodate you in a room as soon as possible. The only way to guarantee a room to be ready for an early check in is to book the evening prior to the date you wish to arrive. Luggage may be stored with the Concierge whom will then transfer it to your room as soon as it is ready.
I have tried to book a bedroom a long way in advance and am unable to as the Club is fully booked. Why is this?
Rooms are booked on a first come, first serve basis. At certain times throughout the year there is extremely high demand for bedrooms. We do all we can to prevent Members being turned away and we do run a waitlist system for cancellations. You should be offered the opportunity to go on this list if there is a realistic possibility of a room becoming available.

Is there a special rate for people attending functions at the club?
Unfortunately we are unable to provide room discounts for those attending functions. Please also note that anyone who is not a Member will need to be sponsored by the organiser of the function in order to stay at the Club and this is only permitted if the rooms are not at high demand from Club Members for the day in question

Could my partner and a couple of friends stay at the Club if I am not planning to stay?
We are able to authorise this in special circumstances as long as we have sufficient rooms available. All we ask is that you send an email to reservations@rafclub.org.uk with the names of those you wish to stay, the dates required and the type of room they would like. We will then check availability, get authorisation from the Club Manager and make the booking. The rooms would be charged at our guest rate. We are also happy to help at short notice should a member of your family get stuck in London or be in need of help.

Can I request a specific Room Number?
Unfortunately we cannot guarantee a specific room number, however we do have a facility on our system to make note of your requested room number and the front desk team will take this into consideration whilst allocating the bedrooms the night before you are due to arrive.

Can I bring my children to the Club?
Well behaved children of any age are welcome in the Club at any time. We have high chairs, travel cots, bottle warming facilities and family friendly bedrooms. We provide children’s packs upon check in so if you are bringing your children to stay at the Club, please ensure you tell us their names and ages.

Could you tell me how many guests I am permitted to sign in on my membership for overnight accommodation and for general use?

Each member is permitted to book 1 additional bedroom for their guests, however a guest rate will apply to their room. If availability allows, members may request additional guest rooms, seeking written authorization from the Club Manager. For general use, there is no limit on the number of guests a member may bring to the Club, however guests must be accompanied by a member at all times, sign in on arrival, using the Visitors Book and wait for any accompanying member in Reception.

What happens with lost property found in the Club?
The Club is unable to accept liability for the property of any member or guest which may be lost on the premises. The Club will endeavour to return lost property to members whenever possible, with P&P charged for any items returned by post. If you find any lost property whilst on the premises please hand it to a member of staff at the Front Desk, where the item will be logged. Lost property will be kept for the reminder of the month in which the property was logged, plus a further 2 months. Food and drink items will be kept for one day only. Items that remain unclaimed after the required period of time has passed, may be returned to the person who found the item or else will be disposed of. 

All lost property enquiries should be made via email: housekeeping@rafclub.org.uk 

In the interests of security, members and their guests are reminded not to leave parcels or baggage unattended at any time in the public areas of the Club.

Is the Club responsible for member's or guests' personal items? 

The Club is unable to accept responsibility for member's and guests' personal belongings and valuables unless they are placed in the safe at Reception. Lockers may also be rented on an annual basis by members wishing to secure their belongings on a more permanent basis. Laptop size safe are also available to rent from the Hall Porter. If you find any lost property whilst on the premises please hand it in at the Front Desk, where this will be logged. 

I would like to order something from your Club Shop but I do not want to carry it home with me. Is it possible to have it delivered to my home address?
We are happy to ship your chosen items from the Club to your chosen address. Normal P&P fees apply. 

Am I able to order items from the club shop online?
Yes, absolutely. Please refer to the Club Gift Shop section on the website where you can order items directly.

Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions (together with our Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy (the Terms) govern your use of the RAF Club website www.rafclub.org.uk, and your relationship with the Company.

By ordering goods from our website you agree to contract with us on these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not register for or use www.rafclub.org.uk.

Please read these Terms carefully before ordering any goods from our site. We may amend these Terms from time to time, and the changes will take effect from the time we publish the amended Terms – any amended Terms will not apply to any orders that we have already accepted.

 You may only purchase goods from our website if you are at least 18 years old.

Availability, prices and import duties

Availability. All goods are offered for sale subject to availability, and are as described (some may differ slightly from their picture). We regret that occasionally it may not be possible to complete an order if stock runs out or if it is withdrawn for any reason. If there is a problem we will let you know as soon as we can and will refund in full any money that you have already paid to us for the goods in question.

Prices. The prices displayed on our website include VAT and are in UK Pounds Sterling.

Import duties. Overseas customers are responsible for the payment of any applicable customs duties or taxes in their own country, and failure to pay customs duties or taxes is likely to result in your package being destroyed.

Ordering and our contract with you

By clicking the 'PURCHASE' button on the Confirm & Purchase Screen, you agree to these Terms. Please carefully check your order details are correct before clicking the ‘PURCHASE’ button. Our acceptance of your order will take place when we email you to accept it, at which point a contract will come into existence between you and us.

 You are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of your order and we shall supply you, subject to availability, with the quantity and specification of goods set out in your order. While your card may be debited before the contract is formed, if the order is ultimately rejected, a full refund will be made immediately.

Should, after you have placed your order or register with us, you notice that any details are incorrect, please contact us without delay in order to amend any inaccurate details. We will deliver to the address you have provided so it is important that you ensure these details are correct.

Alcohol

We cannot sell alcoholic products to anyone under 18. For this reason, we may refuse an order or refuse to make a delivery at our discretion. Orders may not be transferred from you as the customer to any other person. By placing an order (by phone or via www.rafclub.org.uk) you confirm that you and the person the order is to be delivered to, and that you are aged 18 years or over.

 We may ask you to provide proof of age before your order can be completed and delivered.

It is an offence (under the Licensing Act 2003) to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol if you are under the age of 18. All alcohol orders are delivered via a courier service. Delivery requires a signatory upon receipt that must be signed for by an adult aged 18 years or over.

Payment
Payment may be made by any of the methods indicated on our website. Payment must be received in full before the goods or tickets are dispatched.

Delivery
Delivery shall be made to the delivery address supplied by you at the time of ordering. P&P prices are calculated on checkout depending on weight and location.

The costs of delivery will be as displayed to you on our website. Delivery will usually be within 3-5 working days of ordering. Occasionally delivery may be affected by an event outside our control.

Items may be delivered in separate packages and at different times should part of an order be dispatched directly from our supplier.

The Club uses Royal Mail for low value items and TNT for tracked delivery for higher value/fragile items.
Prices for UK delivery start from £2.70 for p&p for Royal Mail & £8.50 p&p for TNT.
Prices for European delivery start from £3.40 for p&p for Royal Mail & £20.00 p&p for TNT.
Prices for Worldwide delivery start from £3.70 for p&p for Royal Mail & £25.00 p&p for TNT.

When you own and become responsible for the goods
You will own the goods only once we have received payment in full, but we will remain responsible for it until we have delivered it to the specified delivery address, or it has been collected by you or on your behalf.

Right to cancel
If you change your mind, you may cancel the contract between us at any time within 14 days of receiving the goods.

If you do cancel your order before it is dispatched, you will receive a full refund of the price paid for the order within 14 days of you telling us you want to cancel.

If you cancel your order once you have received it, please return the goods to us as soon as possible, in the same condition in which you received them and not later than 14 days of you telling us you want to cancel. You will be responsible for the cost of returning the goods, and you will receive a refund of the purchase price within 14 days of receiving the goods back.

See also our Returns policy below.

Returns
When you return goods to us:

•because you have cancelled the contract between us within the 14 day cooling-off period described above, we will process the refund due to you as soon as possible and, in any case, within 14 days of the day you have given notice of your cancellation. In this case, we will refund the price of the goods in full, including the cost of sending the item to you. However, you will be responsible for the cost of returning the item to us.

•because the goods are defective, we will examine the returned goods in order to assess your entitlement to a refund. If we agree that the goods are defective, you will either be refunded in full (including a refund of the delivery charges for sending the item to you and the cost incurred by you in returning the item to us) within 14 days of receipt of the returned goods, or we will replace the goods free of charge (in which case we will refund your reasonable costs in returning the goods to us). If you do not notify us of a defect in any goods within a reasonable period of time, we shall have no liability for any defects and you will not be entitled to a refund or replacement.

•for any other reason, we will refund the value of the goods supplied or exchange the goods in question, provided that they are returned to us in their original, undamaged packaging within 14 days of delivery. If we find that the goods have not been returned to us in fully resaleable condition, we reserve the right to refuse a refund on the item, or deduct up to 20% of the original selling price from the refund amount. If goods qualify for a full refund, we will also refund the standard delivery charge. We will repay any such refunds within 14 days from receipt of the returned goods without any further charge to you except the direct cost of returning the goods.

Any goods to be returned must be returned, along with their original invoice, to the address specified on the invoice for the goods. Returned goods should be sent by recorded delivery.

Our liability to you

We do not exclude or limit our liability to you where it would be unlawful to do so. This includes liability:

•defective products under the Consumer Protection Act 1987;

•for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or

•breach of your statutory rights under sections 9-11, 13 and 14 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (i.e. products must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and match the description provided).

+ We are responsible to you for foreseeable loss or damage you suffer that is caused by our breach of these Terms or our negligence

Loss or damage is foreseeable if it is obvious it will happen or if, at the time the contract was made, both we and you knew it might happen. We are not responsible loss or damage that is not foreseeable.

We are not responsible for failures or delays outside of our control.

If our supply of goods or services is affected by an event outside our control then we will contact you as soon as possible to let you know and will take steps to minimise the effect. Provided we do this we will not be liable for delays caused by the event, but if there is a risk of substantial delay you may contact us to end the contract and receive a refund for any goods you have paid for but not received.

 Events outside our control may include the following:

•strikes, lock-outs or other industrial action;

•civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack, war (whether declared or not) or threat or preparation for war;

•fire, explosion, storm, flood, earthquake, subsidence, epidemic or other natural disaster;

•impossibility of the use of railways, shipping, aircraft, motor transport or other means of public or private transport;

•impossibility of the use of public or private telecommunications networks;

•the acts, decrees, legislation, regulations or restrictions of any government.

How we will contact you

We will need to contact you to fulfil your orders. We are also required by law to send you certain information in writing. When using our site, you accept that communication with us will be mainly sent by email or by posting notices on our website. When contacting you we will use the contact

Who we are and how to contact us

www.rafclub.org.uk is operated by the Royal Air Force Club, which is a company registered in England & Wales.

The Royal Air Force Club
Registered Office: 128 Piccadilly, London, W1J 7PY
Company Registration Number 5321353                                           
Registered Charity 1108295
VAT No: 927 5287 92

We can be contacted by post at the above address, by telephone (Mon - Fri: 9am – 5.30pm) or by email (shop@rafclub.org.uk)

 All complaints should be sent to this address.

These terms and conditions do not in any way affect your statutory rights

Summary of your key legal rights

This is a summary of your key legal rights. These are subject to certain exceptions. For detailed information please visit the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk or call 03454 04 05 06.

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says goods must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality. During the expected lifespan of your product your legal rights entitle you to the following:

•up to 30 days: if your goods are faulty, then you can get an immediate refund.

•up to 6 months: if your goods can't be repaired or replaced, then you're entitled to a full refund, in most cases.

•up to 6 years: if your goods do not last a reasonable length of time you may be entitled to some money back.

After I check out, I am spending the day in London and do not wish to carry my bag around with me. Is there anywhere I can store it at the Club?
Our Concierge team will be happy to store your luggage for you for the day. Your bag will be tagged and you will be given a ticket so you can pick it up later. If you wish to store a piece of luggage for longer, we also have a long-term storage area with 

I regularly use the Club and it would be handy to store some items so that I have access to them every time I come. Do you have anywhere I can store my personal belongings?
Members are able to hire a locker for their personal use. The prices start from £50.00 for an annual hire. We have small, medium and large lockers available for hire. Please contact concierge@rafclub.org.uk for more information and availability. You are more than welcome to request to see the lockers before purchase and once purchased you will be issued with your own personal key. Please note locker hire is in high demand and we will try our best to accommodate your requirements, however if your chosen size is not available we also have a waiting list.

General Club content and information is available from www.rafclub.org.uk

Gaining Access to the Members' Area
To visit this secure area, you will first need to ensure the Club has your email address on file, which will then enable you to create a password and then logon to the website. Bookings can then be made online along with access to member only content.

My Bookings
For details of your personal bookings and reservations you will need to visit the secure Members’ area.

Can I update my personal details using the website?
Yes, but only if you have registered and then logged on.
Please then visit the secure Members’ area of the website to update details, including address, email, telephone and marketing preferences.

Members are able to make a comment or suggestion using the Suggestions Book in reception or via the website form here.

Members are able to make a complaint via the feedback form below or for more serious issues by emailing the CEO & Secretary secretary@rafclub.org.uk or Club Manager kathryn@rafclub.org.uk directly.