Anytime Lounge Access Finishing? [Yes, from 15Aug12]

[wob.geek]

Just received an update email, with the following:



"Lounge entry policy update
Effective 15 August 2012, Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members will require same-day travel with Virgin Australia or one of its airline partners in order to access the Virgin Australia lounge before or after their flight. This will allow us to dedicate our lounges entirely to our travelling guests, ensuring they have the best experience possible prior to or after their flight. All other lounge entitlements and access policies still apply. To view the full Virgin Australia lounge Terms and Conditions, click here."

Is that "official notification"?

 

[QF WP]

If it's an email from Virgin (or more specifically VFF), then I'd take it as being official.

 

[anat0l]

The only lingering thread (no pun intended) is actually in another thread toeing around this point, which is whether Gold and Platinum members who do not have an eligible same-day boarding pass (or one at all) can access the lounge if they enter with a guest who is travelling with an eligible boarding pass (or at minimum, flying with VA).

I think member KCMil was on the case...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

will be using ATA for last time this weekend in Sydney to pick up a hire car for the weekend... sigh... 3rd and last time ever!

Won't that like kinda be a day or 2 late?

 

[mella2007]

Spoke to a lovely Virgin team member today who said that many QF people have been abusing the system, hence VA's decision to stop ATA. She agrees not fair for the customers that have shown loyalty to Virgin. Also said that she would let me through next week when I'm flying with a regional airline who VA don't fly to, as I have never used ATA

 

[greenfish]

Spoke to a lovely Virgin team member today who said that many QF people have been abusing the system, hence VA's decision to stop ATA. She agrees not fair for the customers that have shown loyalty to Virgin. Also said that she would let me through next week when I'm flying with a regional airline who VA don't fly to, as I have never used ATA

Many QF people abusing the system? That'd be the people that Virgin offered a status match to? Many of whom will be losing lounge access now anyway? Further, if they're not flying DJ they're probably on QF and would have access to the QF lounge.

Sounds like spin to me...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Spoke to a lovely Virgin team member today who said that many QF people have been abusing the system, hence VA's decision to stop ATA. She agrees not fair for the customers that have shown loyalty to Virgin. Also said that she would let me through next week when I'm flying with a regional airline who VA don't fly to, as I have never used ATA

It's really nice to hear the angels still have some discretionary power, but the QF abuse seems to mirror what I and others were thinking as well. I've heard the alternate arguement and totally agree that it cannot be abuse if it's at the invite of VA on their imposed terms. Overuse of the offer perhaps, but because they never put bounds to it, it surely can't be abuse!

 

[amaroo]

Spoke to a lovely Virgin team member today who said that many QF people have been abusing the system, hence VA's decision to stop ATA. She agrees not fair for the customers that have shown loyalty to Virgin. Also said that she would let me through next week when I'm flying with a regional airline who VA don't fly to, as I have never used ATA

Don't you have to be a member of VFF to gain access:?:

Like greenfish said....if the culprits were status matched QFF & haven't been flying VA - they will be dropping like flies come Sept:!:

Sounds a little like "don't blame us - it's Qantas fault"

Still a shorts & long socks style of organisation - by the sounds of it

 

[Foreigner]

"Lounge entry policy update
Effective 15 August 2012, Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members will require same-day travel with Virgin Australia or one of its airline partners in order to access the Virgin Australia lounge before or after their flight. This will allow us to dedicate our lounges entirely to our travelling guests, ensuring they have the best experience possible prior to or after their flight. All other lounge entitlements and access policies still apply. To view the full Virgin Australia lounge Terms and Conditions, click here."

This is brilliant from DJ. I don't know if QF would allow QC/Gold/Platinum members to enter at the end of their journey.

 

[medhead]

That excuse gets down to the same cough QF spun. When you look at it only SYD T2 and ADL are really viable major ports to "abuse" ATA. No, I haven't forgotten BNE, I did say viable. The walk in BNE is too long for my liking. An alternative to hurting the loyal flyers is to be strict in those terminals, like QF is, and to frequently have capacity constraints.

 

[mannej]

This is brilliant from DJ. I don't know if QF would allow QC/Gold/Platinum members to enter at the end of their journey.

They allow WP's to enter after their journey.

 

[ajw373]

This is brilliant from DJ. I don't know if QF would allow QC/Gold/Platinum members to enter at the end of their journey.

Platinum can. The wording of their access policy for platinum is "To access Qantas Domestic lounges, Platinum Members must be travelling on any flight the same day that shows Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket." It then goes on to explain interntaional access and says the members next onwards flight must basically conform to the above.

Gold and Qantas club cannot, the wording for them is "Access is only available prior to travel on the same day on eligible flights that are both marketed and operated by a Qantas, Jetstar or oneworld® alliance airline. Marketed means that there must be a Qantas, Jetstar, oneworld® alliance airline flight number on your ticket. "

 

[Foreigner]

DJ is kinder. I'll take my business there, wherever possible unless fare is prohibitive. I'm impressed with staff attitude. Hope they would bring on a lounge in CNS but I will understand it if it's not a priority for them.

 

[JohnK]

Many QF people abusing the system? That'd be the people that Virgin offered a status match to? Many of whom will be losing lounge access now anyway? Further, if they're not flying DJ they're probably on QF and would have access to the QF lounge.

Sounds like spin to me...

Sounds similar to what Qantas said.

"Due to overcrowding in the lounges we are terminating Anytime access."

And then next day they were offering discounted memberships to the Qantas lounges....

 

[waynemat]

I finally used Anytime access the other day when a friend was travelling. he got to the lounge and they kindly changed is non changeable flight to an earlier flight.
he was impressed but It wont worry me to loose that little perk.

 

[KCMil]

I travelled through MEL and SYD today and checked twice regarding a Gold/Plat member using lounge when they were perhaps seeing a friend or other guest off on a Virgin flight. In both cases they smiled and said, there is no clear policy written around this. So they all have so far said that they are permitting it as a member of that party is travelling all be it not the card holder. Fingers crossed that the little muddiness in the detail doesn't get clarified.
I'm still happy to call them all lounge angels. Though I witnessed today the most disgusting display from a "gent" (term loosely used,) as he abused a lounge angel in SYD premium entry for denying him entry. He clearly stated at a bellowing volume that all in the entire lounge must have heard. " I've been coming in here for months without an issue when I'm on a Jetstar or other flight and suddenly now you say it is not permitted." He then made several comments about this sort of mucking around is the reason he doesn't bother with Virgin. So I guess there may be some truth about abuse of access by some!
I felt for the lounge staff and she stated that most had taken the change well and this man was the first to really "loose it" at them.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Though I witnessed today the most disgusting display from a "gent" (term loosely used,) as he abused a lounge angel in SYD premium entry for denying him entry. He clearly stated at a bellowing volume that all in the entire lounge must have heard. " I've been coming in here for months without an issue when I'm on a Jetstar or other flight and suddenly now you say it is not permitted." He then made several comments about this sort of mucking around is the reason he doesn't bother with Virgin. So I guess there may be some truth about abuse of access by some!
I felt for the lounge staff and she stated that most had taken the change well and this man was the first to really "loose it" at them.

Perhaps if the paper pushers at head office had sent out an e-mail regarding this change the poor lounge staff wouldn't have to deal with this cough from this poorly-mannered individual (that's the nicest way I could determine to describe him)

 

[lovestotravel]

No email or notification here still

Okay so same day travel and you are allowed access ? So one flight on Virgin and any other flight that day and you have ATA ...

Will try to access the MEL lounge on Friday night with just my plat card and see what happens. I am flying VA but want to see what happens

I still find this funny, cutting a benefit, but allowed people to re qualify as Gold/Plat by taking 1-4 flights.....

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Perhaps if the paper pushers at head office had sent out an e-mail regarding this change the poor lounge staff wouldn't have to deal with this cough from this poorly-mannered individual (that's the nicest way I could determine to describe him)

indeed I expect this scene will be repeated many times in the coming days due to Virgin's absolutely appalling lack of communication. I have not received any email notifying me of the change either and it sure makes Qantas look a lot more professional with their extended period of notice when they made a similar change to the program.

It's a shame that Virgin can't get it together as they have done so much right but in other areas they are way off.

 

[mavrick9]

Just got a email from velocity:

"

Lounge entry policy update Effective 15 August 2012, Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members will require same-day travel with Virgin Australia or one of its airline partners in order to access the Virgin Australia lounge before or after their flight. This will allow us to dedicate our lounges entirely to our travelling guests, ensuring they have the best experience possible prior to or after their flight. All other lounge entitlements and access policies still apply. "