Purchasing Lounge membership

[Warks]

After being Gold for the last eight years my flying has dropped off and I'm not going to re-qualify for next year by the end of September. However I will probably be flying more next membership year so I would prefer to maintain lounge access. Apparently I can purchase it as a Silver for a discounted price. But my current SC total is only 170 so I might not even qualify for Silver. Or do you just drop to Silver from Gold no matter what?

Also when is the time to purchase Lounge membership? I think you get a month of Gold benefits after expiry don't you? Or am I imagining that? Appreciate the advice.

 

[Warks]

I must say that the halving of SCs for the cheapo fares has made requalifying very difficult for me as a self-funded flyer (self-employed not a grey wanderer). That was the intention I guess.

 

[Daver6]

You'll drop from gold to silver and I believe you're correct about having that extra month.

 

[odysseus]

Your gold FF card will tell you the expiry date of your gold status, including the 1 month's grace period.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

It does take more than the time they say the card will come!
My "the Lounge" card took 4 weeks even though it did say 2/3.
So I did not get the chance to show the physical card when I visited the Koru, and had to plea my way in, with "the Lounge" shown on my smartphone app to the Koru lady in AKL.
Yes, I know that the relationship of which I speak, does break off on the 28 Oct, and who knows where we will be able to enjoy time after this, if we get the Strata in AKL.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, as soon as you ping onto VFF PS, pay the $300 ASAP, the card will come, but can take a while.

 

[Warks]

Thanks for the replies. Will do.

 

[MarkD]

I guess you need to decide if its worth the $300 or not. To me, if I didn't fly enough to have platinum or gold, I wouldn't bother with lounge, as there is no international lounge access anyway. The main benefits of status to me are J checkin, priority security and boarding. Quite often I skip the lounge altogether. Lounge is useful if you have a domestic connection after international long haul though. Nothing like a nice hot shower after 14 odd hours in a fart tube.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Warks, the others have brought up a good point, will you be travelling a lot internationally, after, or more so domestic.
Of course, who knows, VA might have to go with PP (Priority Pass) after 28 Oct.
I am keeping my paws crossed on this, yeah, I know, dream on!

 

[ozstamps]

If you do not fly often aren't 1 time use passes buyable?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, they are still available, Aud$65 for VA domestic lounges, is still purchasable as pay per visit at the front counter of the VAd lounges.

 

[ozstamps]

And I recall seeing deals offered now and again for $50 or so as I recall?

 

[Jack_OC]

I guess you need to decide if its worth the $300 or not. To me, if I didn't fly enough to have platinum or gold, I wouldn't bother with lounge, as there is no international lounge access anyway. The main benefits of status to me are J checkin, priority security and boarding. Quite often I skip the lounge altogether. Lounge is useful if you have a domestic connection after international long haul though. Nothing like a nice hot shower after 14 odd hours in a fart tube.

I partly agree with your sentiments, but bear in mind that with the introduction of fares that only earn 5 SCs each way, it’s now possible to do 4 return trips with VA every month without qualifying for Gold (or 3+ return trips with VA every month without retaining Gold). In other words, some people who fly a lot with VA won’t qualify for free lounge access these days.

FWIW, I consider Economy X and lounge access to be the two best perks of Velocity status. I would miss them both, and I really don’t fly with VA that much - I have Platinum mostly as a result of international J travel, and helped by Family Pooling, but some people aren’t in a position to get extra SCs via either of those routes.

 

[Mattg]

IMHO if you fly enough on VA domestic to earn Silver (especially on Getaway fares from SYD-MEL etc. which earns only 5 status credits) then paying $300 for lounge membership is worth it. But only then is it worthwhile.

 

[Warks]

Yes if one-off passes are $50-65 then the $300 doesn't look much. I would do a minimum of 20 flights per year anyway so that pays for it. I nearly always travel with hand luggage only so no benefit in 'priority' baggage - not that there ever was much anyway given its random nature. The priority queue for some flights is almost as long as the pleb queue these days. Seat selection has lost a lot of its value with Economy X taking the rows to 6. I find going through security straight into the Lounge in SYD and BNE a nice benefit. Pity about the MEL club being the wrong side of security although we still get our own line.

So overall it's just for the Lounge which is worth it if you use it enough. A one-off visit would never be worth paying for in my opinion. I recall when it first launched it was $30 which wasn't so bad.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Perhaps a stupid question, but if you pay the $300 for lounge access can you take in a guest?

 

[Jack_OC]

Perhaps a stupid question, but if you pay the $300 for lounge access can you take in a guest?

You can indeed. In fact you can bring one guest plus two kids aged between 3 and 12, and in theory a limitless number of kids aged 2 or under!

This is another good point - if you travel a bit with your family it can make more sense. Especially if your kids are like mine - they'll happily eat plain cheese toasties and/or pancakes in the Virgin Lounge, but generally turn their nose up at almost anything that can be purchased in a café or restaurant!

EDIT: note that the $300 fee is for people with Silver status only. The standard cost for people without any status is a one-off joining fee of $330 plus $420 a year - i.e. $750 in year 1 and $420 per year thereafter. IMHO, anyone who doesn't fly enough to attain Silver status would want their head examined if they were considering paying that sort of money.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

You can indeed. In fact you can bring one guest plus two kids aged between 3 and 12, and in theory a limitless number of kids aged 2 or under!

This is another good point - if you travel a bit with your family it can make more sense. Especially if your kids are like mine - they'll happily eat plain cheese toasties and/or pancakes in the Virgin Lounge, but generally turn their nose up at almost anything that can be purchased in a café or restaurant!

EDIT: note that the $300 fee is for people with Silver status only. The standard cost for people without any status is a one-off joining fee of $330 plus $420 a year - i.e. $750 in year 1 and $420 per year thereafter. IMHO, anyone who doesn't fly enough to attain Silver status would want their head examined if they were considering paying that sort of money.

Thanks, my partner and I fly about once every two months and i fly more frequently for work (but mostly on QF). If i can hit silver it will make much more sense as you have suggested.

 

[serfty]

I recall when it first launched it was $30 which wasn't so bad.

No, it was just $5 or $10 .... needed to be flying VA.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

IMHO, anyone who doesn't fly enough to attain Silver status would want their head examined if they were considering paying that sort of money.

I joined the Lounge, just to make my regular NZ trips with the plan, to use the Koru on a regular basis, but then of course, the relationship broke up, so my $300 now might be a once only, ... I might let it lapse after my year is up.
Might also go back to QFi.

 

[MarkD]

return

I guess if forced to use the real cheapies it could prove worthwhile
Personally, i never buy the rock bottom fare as its poor value SC wise. I do understand some people dont have the luxury of being able to choose though