Virgin Sydney Premium Entry Permanently Closing

[kerfuffle]

Just got this e-mail from Velocity:

From December, we're rolling out new peak-time priority screening with extended hours and new tech (no need to remove your laptop from your bag) at more domestic airports for our highest value guests.

Here's what's happening:

Priority screening gets better
​

Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Gold Coast - new extended hours priority screening kicks off 15 December 2025, this means that you get priority screening for more hours in the day, saving you time

Brisbane Lounge Premium Entry - temporarily closed after 19 December 2025 and expected to reopen in late 2026 while we upgrade equipment

Sydney Lounge Premium Entry - permanently closed after 19 December 2025

These changes apply to you as a Gold member, plus our Business Class guests.

Your new priority screening

Sydney & Melbourne (Monday to Friday)
​

New hours: 5:00–10:00am, 2:00–7:00pm

Start date: 15 December 2025

Brisbane (every day)
Priority screening available in the new central security zone on mezzanine level while our Lounge Premium Entry is under construction1
​

New hours: All day2

Start date: 15 December 2025

Brisbane Lounge Premium Entry is expected to reopen late 2026.

Perth (every day)
​

Hours: All day2

Start date: 15 December 2025

Adelaide & Gold Coast (every day)
​

Hours: All day2

Start date: Available now

 

[mke_flyer]

Just received this email from VA:

We're writing to let you know about some changes coming to your premium entry and priority security screening experience – all part of exciting airport upgrades happening across our network.

From December, we're rolling out new peak-time priority screening with extended hours and new tech (no need to remove your laptop from your bag) at more domestic airports for our highest value guests.

Here's what's happening:

Priority screening gets better

Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Gold Coast - new extended hours priority screening kicks off 15 December 2025, this means that you get priority screening for more hours in the day, saving you time

Brisbane Lounge Premium Entry - temporarily closed after 19 December 2025 and expected to reopen in late 2026 while we upgrade equipment

Sydney Lounge Premium Entry - permanently closed after 19 December 2025

These changes apply to you as a Platinum member, plus our Business Class guests.

Your new priority screening

Sydney & Melbourne (Monday to Friday)

New hours: 5:00–10:00am, 2:00–7:00pm

Start date: 15 December 2025

Brisbane (every day)
Priority screening available in the new central security zone on mezzanine level while our Lounge Premium Entry is under construction1

New hours: All day2

Start date: 15 December 2025

Brisbane Lounge Premium Entry is expected to reopen late 2026.

Perth (every day)

Hours: All day2

Start date: 15 December 2025

Adelaide & Gold Coast (every day)

Hours: All day2

Start date: Available now

The loss of SYD premium entry is sad but felt like it was coming with all the other upgrades. Overall good though, reflects peak times much better. Let’s see enforcement of the priority lines goes…

(Edited to fix formatting)

 

[ozstamps]

Priority screening gets better

•	Sydney Lounge Premium Entry - permanently closed after 19 December 2025

Only from Virgin!

The ONE huge advantage they had was the kerb side entry to the Lounge, that they were too cheap to man more than an hour or so each day in recent years, despite paying an absolute fortune to lease the space there.

For a busy business traveller to get out of cab and be in having a coffee from the cab within a minute or two was a huge plus if they ever recognised that, instead of forcing them to line up for 15+ mins at times in the normal security line zoo.

Race to the bottom continues.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Wow, that was such a good perk.

 

[PERLHR]

Well the Perth premium security at T1 has been blocked of and closed for many a long time so not sure what they mean by "longer and extended time" Not holding my breath but we shall see if it opens on given date. I hope so.

 

[33kft]

I had to chuckle at the "gets better" section - a bit more of a mixed bag than is made out?

 

[Warks]

Closing the Sydney premium entry forever from 19 December is all I got from that. Priority screening lanes is all we get and they probably aren't policed and will be no faster going by experience.

 

[PERLHR]

Priority screening gets better

•	Sydney Lounge Premium Entry - permanently closed after 19 December 2025

Only from Virgin!

The ONE huge advantage they had was the kerb side entry to the Lounge, that they were too cheap to man more than an hour or so each day in recent years, despite paying an absolute fortune to lease the space there.

For a busy business traveller to get out of cab and be in having a coffee from the cab within a minute or two was a huge plus if they ever recognised that, instead of forcing them to line up for 15+ mins at times in the normal security line zoo.

Race to the bottom continues.

But, but, but. They have listened to customer feedback .... Could.be worse they seem to be saying the Perth premium security will have longer opening hours. It's been closed without opening for as long as I can remember.

 

[kerfuffle]

Closing the Sydney premium entry forever from 19 December is all I got from that. Priority screening lanes is all we get and they probably aren't policed and will be no faster going by experience.

Not to mention it's not all day unlike all other cities (excluding Melbourne), despite SYD-MEL being the busiest route in Australia ...

 

[ozstamps]

I recall the doors to Perth lounge being locked waaaaayy before my flight left last year.

Another cool Virgin 'enhancement' for Plats and Elites.

I guess next year they'll have half as many elites as now, so they barely need to bother with any frills.

The next brain fart will possibly be a $10 MacDonald's voucher and close all lounges. Big money saver there.

Race To The Bottom is going ahead full stream.

I guess domestic pax have SOME lounge access - unlike ANYONE taking any kind of International flight even in Paid Biz on Virgin metal where one gets ZIPPO lounge access. www.Cheapskates.com

 

[Bolthead]

I have just gone through the security lane in Sydney and I have to say despite the airport being super busy the security screening was the quickest I have ever experienced even when it was quite. The new machines are up and running and there is no need to remove your laptops etc. ( however I still was asked to remove my belt. The Virgin lounge was right there at the exit to the security exit. Saying all this I noticed the old lanes were still being used however that was for staff and passengers that required assistance.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I just love how it starts with "Priority screening gets better", before saying "temporarily closed after 19" for Brisbane and "permanently closed after 19 December" for Sydney.

Better for Bain Capital, maybe. Who needs loyal passengers, anyway?

 

[ozstamps]

Better for Bain Capital, maybe. Who needs loyal passengers, anyway?

Well there will be 100,000s less of them in 2026, so far less pesky Elites to bother about for any once automatic benefits.

My $10 McDonald's Voucher, if all those costly and annoying lounges finally close as a further great Elite 'ENHANCEMENT', will be a sad reminder of happier times.

 

[kpc]

I loved premium entry at Syd T 2...since Covid, it only opened for 2-3 hours early in the am from M-F. I no longer have status with Va, but in July I flew J so could use it....absolutely loved it but personally the permanent closure won't affect me as i have given up on holding status with Va and am Forever Red

 

[simmomelb]

Hopefully Sydney gets a little renovation to use that priority entry space for a lounge extension.
With priority entry open more hours, it'll be fast to scoot though to the lounge given its right after security anyway. Thank goodness Sydney finally has the new scanners up and running, which is much faster than the old machines and having to pull laptops out
I genuinely see this as a step in the right direction. As long as the priority security lane is policed.
It also means other airports including Sydney get better priority screening hours.
I've found the priority entry in Melbourne great during the busy morning rush and policed at the times I've been through - now that will be available much more under the extended hours.

 

[ols]

Well the Perth premium security at T1 has been blocked of and closed for many a long time so not sure what they mean by "longer and extended time" Not holding my breath but we shall see if it opens on given date. I hope so.

We haven't had to remove laptops at Perth for some time.

 

[clifford]

As long as the priority security lane is policed.

Reminds me of a funny situation last week At MEL.

It was around 7 am and I was heading to the priority lane at T3 (T4). I wasn't really organised, with the BP on my phone, which I was struggling with, so when the "policer" looked at me, she saw my BA Gold tag on my bag and said "that's fine, you're Gold, so go through".

I had to laugh.

 

[PERLHR]

We haven't had to remove laptops at Perth for some time.

True. But the premium entry lane would be nice especially at certain times. Far to much flaffing around going on.

 

[ols]

True. But the premium entry lane would be nice especially at certain times.

For sure.
I've never seen it open.

 

[PERLHR]

For sure.
I've never seen it open.

That's the point ..VA are stating "they are extending its time open"...without actually anyone telling them it's there ...but never been opened!