Access to VA Lounge when not flying VA ?

[dominicburton]

Is this possible?

Looking at https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/PlatinumMembership/index.htm there is a clause in the international lounge section (see attached screenshot) which says you must be travelling with VA or partner airline, but it doesn't say that for Domestic (the section above it in the "At the Airport" benefits).

Does this mean that you can use the lounge Domestically even if not travelling VA ?

Dom

 

[knightman7]

I was always under the impression that I had to be flying VA to access the VA domestic lounges. Happy to be corrected though!

 

[serfty]

In the early days, Gold had any time access, but this was discontinued maybe 30 months ago.

You are supposed to be flying these days - although the access is same day of travel. So you can access domestic lounges on arrival as well as before departure.

 

[Jama]

Anytime access was a fantastic benefit for the odd occasion you couldn't fly VA or picking someone up. It was very much abused and cut as a benefit as stated by Serfty.

 

[LACE]

As Serfty said if you are flying VA that day you can usually get in but if no VA flights then no chance. I tried at SYD recently as VA didn't fly to my destination but wouldn't let me in as a WP. I didn't expect them to but thought it would be worth trying.

 

[dflyerau]

Have people tried just scanning your card on the reader and walking in?

 

[knightman7]

There's normally someone standing at the card scanner isn't there?

 

[dflyerau]

Not in my experience, I've always just scanned my card and whoever I'm with just walks in with me.

 

[TomVexille]

Not in my experience, I've always just scanned my card and whoever I'm with just walks in with me.

Also my experience, although I haven't tried when not flying.

 

[knightman7]

I've always noticed in MEL there's someone standing at the card reader. Can't really say for SYD as I've only been in there through the kerbside entry.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It was very much abused and cut as a benefit as stated by Serfty.

Perhaps more correctly, very much used! Hard to abuse it, as ATA was a benefit.

As for the card reader, I've never noticed anyone actively policing it, but I have seen the desk staff eyeing me up when I've used it. I'm not sure what happens if you are disallowed......screeching sirens or a sprung net that's cleverly concealed in the floor but I assume if you don't have a valid booking, something would alert the staff of an attempted break-in. The one I have wondered about, is a gold member gaining access correctly, but with 3 guests in tow. How on earth would the machine know how many guests and theoretically, the desk staff wouldn't know if the guesting member was gold or platinum or a non-status lounge member. Perhaps each time the machine is used, the number of allowed guests pops up on their screen so they can quickly eye up the number accessing..........but I honestly have no idea.

 

[TomVexille]

Perhaps more correctly, very much used! Hard to abuse it, as ATA was a benefit.

As for the card reader, I've never noticed anyone actively policing it, but I have seen the desk staff eyeing me up when I've used it. I'm not sure what happens if you are disallowed......screeching sirens or a sprung net that's cleverly concealed in the floor but I assume if you don't have a valid booking, something would alert the staff of an attempted break-in. The one I have wondered about, is a gold member gaining access correctly, but with 3 guests in tow. How on earth would the machine know how many guests and theoretically, the desk staff wouldn't know if the guesting member was gold or platinum or a non-status lounge member. Perhaps each time the machine is used, the number of allowed guests pops up on their screen so they can quickly eye up the number accessing..........but I honestly have no idea.

I was tempted the other week when I was working at the airport to try for lunch...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

VA the Lounge Mistresses want to see BP for you to get in.
You could try and sneak in, success % probably 0!
Edit: ah, am on VA PS so have to approach staff to properly get access.
Am not in the $300 a year thingo yet.

 

[moa999]

In SYD now that the T2 QP is closed I suspect they are checking a bit more

 

[blackcat20]

I've always noticed in MEL there's someone standing at the card reader. Can't really say for SYD as I've only been in there through the kerbside entry.

No one checked us at MEL when using arrivals access.... I think it was OOL where we were checked for boarding passes even though we'd used the card reader.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

No one checked us at MEL when using arrivals access.... I think it was OOL where we were checked for boarding passes even though we'd used the card reader.

Yes OOL is a bit different as you have to walk past the (usually quiet) desk to access the lounge form the card reader.

 

[dk4]

The one I have wondered about, is a gold member gaining access correctly, but with 3 guests in tow. How on earth would the machine know how many guests and theoretically, the desk staff wouldn't know if the guesting member was gold or platinum or a non-status lounge member.

I thought the machine always asks you how many guests you have in tow? (I recall this, because for a while I was always typing one, because Virgin calls passengers "guests" and I was the one "guest" accessing the lounge. But after realising, at some point, that it gave me an option for up to 3 "guests" (WP limit) I was not actually a Virgin "guest" until I stepped onboard the aircraft )

But the question does seem to be - whether there is a display on the desk that alerts the agents to what the machine just processed, so they can do a quick visual check as well?

 

[JohnK]

Bring back Anytime access. Miss it big time....

 

[Deleted member 29185]

But the question does seem to be - whether there is a display on the desk that alerts the agents to what the machine just processed, so they can do a quick visual check as well?

Yes, that's what I was alluding to. A gold member could type in 1 guest (as per their allowance) but bring in 3. I can't see how the machine by itself would know how many you actually have. The lounge staff possibly don't know whether the member is gold or plat (which allows 3 guests) unless a number or something similar flashes up for them to see.

 

[Happy Dude]

No one checked us at MEL when using arrivals access.... I think it was OOL where we were checked for boarding passes even though we'd used the card reader.

Hi Blackcat20,

Presuming you're referring to a recent flight (ie post-demise of ATA), you just walked in after your flight?