Article: Virgin Business Class: Domestic Tops International

[AshM]

I’m a big fan of Virgin, having shifted almost all my paid domestic travel (both business and pleasure) from Qantas, having had all sorts of nightmares dealing with Qantas throughout 2022. That’s despite me being a long-term lifetime gold Qantas FF. When flying short-haul (usually MEL-SYD), I find Virgin generally superior now too.

Having said that, I recently used points to fly MEL-PER return in business - outbound on Virgin, return on Qantas. Both on 737s.

I don’t know what it was about the seat on the VA flight but it gave me an incredibly sore lower back. I just couldn’t get comfortable. A very painful 4+ hours. The Qantas seat, in contrast, was totally comfortable and I could’ve happily sat it in all the way to Singapore or beyond.

Perhaps it was an old saggy Virgin seat vs a newer, firmer Qantas seat. No idea - but, if I had to do it again (on a 737), I’d grit my teeth and take the Qantas flight.

 

[Digicola]

Or MEL/OOL

Fair enough, but ADL is really as good as it gets. Intl departures is right infront of the lounge and with the size of the airport and amount of departing passengers it sees you’ll pretty reliable be at your gate within 10 mins.

MEL requires a lot of walking around between terminals. So did OOL. Admittedly I’m not sure how it is since the new intl wing opened, the entrance of which is right up the hall after the VA lounge. Also completely forgot OOL-DPS was launched.

 

[AIRwin]

Also completely forgot OOL-DPS was launched.

Inaugural flight on 29 March...

 

[bussyboy]

I loved VA pre covid, but no seat back entertainment across to/ from Perth is a deal breaker enough for me

 

[Bigkev]

Completely agree. Not sure why they think it acceptable to have an inferior product internationally i.e. lacking lounges than domestically.

The lack of international lounges is a sore point. And don't get me started on the Darwin domestic closure.

Post automatically merged: Feb 7, 2023

Fair enough, but ADL is really as good as it gets. Intl departures is right infront of the lounge and with the size of the airport and amount of departing passengers it sees you’ll pretty reliable be at your gate within 10 mins.

MEL requires a lot of walking around between terminals. So did OOL. Admittedly I’m not sure how it is since the new intl wing opened, the entrance of which is right up the hall after the VA lounge. Also completely forgot OOL-DPS was launched.

Canberra also has the international access right outside the Virgin lounge. It's often mistaken for the entrance to the lounge by new visitors it's that close

 

[Milefest]

Using a domestic lounge for an international flight is such a compromise. If you have to factor in time to pass security again (in some instances), immigration, travelling to gate after that etc. it kinda defeats the purpose of a lounge. Also if your flight gets delayed, it's not like you can exit out of the international transit area to go wait in a domestic lounge.

 

[Ausbt]

We can only dream of the days of the 777 and VA's 'inventive' quasi-partnerships with Delta and others. Those were good days indeed, racking up voluminous amounts of SCs and enjoying an odd array of lounges here there and everywhere. It was good while it lasted, even if we didn't know it at the time.

 

[mjward55]

I flew DPS-SYD overnight in virgin business on Dec 31. No lounge, no pillow, no blanket, worst wine I have ever tasted, row 2 seats don’t recline, no IFE. Truely the worst J experience I have ever had. If virgin are going to sell international business class, then they should provide the proper product. Terrible experience

Post automatically merged: Feb 7, 2023

I flew DPS-BNE in Virgin Business on 5Feb and agree it is very sub-standard. We were in row 2 and seats did recline but as usual our meal order was taken last and they had run out of choice of meals. Offered a vegetarian meal which I strongly object to as being the only alternative choice. And no lounge in both BNE (how hard would it be to do a deal with SQ and don't SQ members with status get access to Virgin lounges on domestic flights...go figure); and no lounge in DPS. So you are asked to get to the airport 3 hours prior to flight and then sit at the gate. Virgin really need to lift their game. Really looking forward to GA flying on this route.

 

[Ausbt]

I've actually done SYD-DPS in row 3 and for the price, I thought it was ok actually.

 

[MooTime]

saving a wad of cash flying J over the alternative.

No lounge in cairns....I'm happy to drop ~$50 for couple beers & small meal. I'm still well in front from where I'm sitting.

International lounges, if flying J don't care, if in Y well minor bummer, walk thru the boring duty free shops coupe times. should be excited enough as heading o/s.

 

[simmomelb]

Fair enough, but ADL is really as good as it gets. Intl departures is right infront of the lounge and with the size of the airport and amount of departing passengers it sees you’ll pretty reliable be at your gate within 10 mins.

MEL requires a lot of walking around between terminals. So did OOL. Admittedly I’m not sure how it is since the new intl wing opened, the entrance of which is right up the hall after the VA lounge. Also completely forgot OOL-DPS was launched.

I received an email from VA regarding a complaint I made about their lack of international lounges for their own aircraft.

Here was the response - some of you may be interested:

----

Dear Simon,

Thank you for your email regarding Virgin Australia International Lounge.

I confirm that for now, we currently do not operate any international lounges at our international departure or destination ports, and we also do not have agreements with any third-party lounges at this time. We are continuing to assess the re-opening of international lounges as travel restrictions ease, and that we do not have a definite date set for that yet.

However, as long as your origin will be Adelaide, Melbourne, or Gold Coast, the domestic lounge will be available for eligible international travellers especially since Adelaide and Gold Coast lounges are on the same terminal.

With regards to the Melbourne airport whose lounge is on a different terminal, access will still be provided to eligible international travellers although we need to emphasize the following points:

• There are no international boarding or flight change announcements made in the lounge
• It is up to guests to ensure they allow enough time to get through any screenings to make it to their gate on time.

I understand that this is not the outcome that you were hoping for, and I do apologise for any disappointment my response may cause and for the inconvenience caused by our lounge closures.

Thank you for contacting us, Simon. Your utmost understanding is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

 

[Brizz]

Whilst not fixing the issue at least they have taken the time to reply with a letter that seems to have been hand crafted vs the form letter they could have sent.

I'd be pretty happy with that as a response.

 

[simmomelb]

Whilst not fixing the issue at least they have taken the time to reply with a letter that seems to have been hand crafted vs the form letter they could have sent.

I'd be pretty happy with that as a response.

And they also responded quickly, in less than 24 hours.
It does sounds like a genuine and honest answer.
It also gives me a little hope they they will eventually provide some sort of lounge access.
Unfortunately the Sydney and Brisbane lounges will be the hardest to use, given where international departures are located.

 

[RooFlyer]

Whilst not fixing the issue at least they have taken the time to reply with a letter that seems to have been hand crafted vs the form letter they could have sent.

I'd be pretty happy with that as a response.

And they also responded quickly, in less than 24 hours

On separate issues, Virgin platinum and then Virgin Business both replied to my emails within a day. The business people within about an hour. Replies were personally written for me and addressed the issues that I queried about. Not always to my satisfaction but I couldn’t fault the service.

 

[travelislife]

The lack of international lounges is a sore point. And don't get me started on the Darwin domestic closure.

Post automatically merged: Feb 7, 2023

Canberra also has the international access right outside the Virgin lounge. It's often mistaken for the entrance to the lounge by new visitors it's that close

The Darwin closure is cough. The fully fitted out lounge is still sitting there. Surely they can come to an agreement of even some cheaper lease rates to reopen it.

 

[sambo517]

On VA712 & VA716 from PER to ADL.
On VA717 & VA721 from ADL to PER.
No J business class at all. VA operating A320's not B737's on these direct flights.