Confirmation whether VA Premium Economy pax BNE-DUD has VA Lounge Access at BNE

[Thai-Kiwi]

Hi all, despite reading the VA website, and trawling through here, I'm still not sure if a VA PE fare (purchased and operated by VA) allows access to the VA Lounge at BNE. There is no J on this sector.

One part of the VA website says a clear yes to this query:

Lounge Access

Guests travelling in Premium Economy on Virgin Australia Trans Tasman flights and applicable connecting flights are invited to use Air New Zealand Koru or the Virgin Australia lounge.

Note: Lounge access is not permitted in conjunction with flights to the Pacific Islands, Bali, coughet or Port Moresby.

Premium Economy | Virgin Australia



However, another part of the website says PE can only access the Air NZ KC, which sound very odd:

Virgin Australia guests travelling in Premium Economy to and from New Zealand can access Air New Zealand lounges.

For a list of available lounges, please click on the tab marked Virgin Australia below.

https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/international-lounge-access/


My sons are returning from Australia to DUD and the final sector ended up being in PE. Lounge access at BNE would be a useful benefit.

Grateful if anybody can shed light on this.

Cheers, TK

 

[esseeeayeenn]

There is no VA lounge in the international terminal in BNE, only in the domestic terminal. So if they are flying direct BNE-DUD the ANZ Koru lounge would be the only option.
The reference to the Virgin Australia Lounge would apply to connecting flights from domestic terminals.
As far as I know, there are no actual VA operated lounges in any international terminal.

 

[Thai-Kiwi]

There is no VA lounge in the international terminal in BNE, only in the domestic terminal. So if they are flying direct BNE-DUD the ANZ Koru lounge would be the only option.
The reference to the Virgin Australia Lounge would apply to connecting flights from domestic terminals.
As far as I know, there are no actual VA operated lounges in any international terminal.

And so I guess you are saying that they could not spend time at the Domestic VA lounge at BNE then since they are on an international flight?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

At Brisbane aiport the domestic and international terminals are in different buildings, and are not within easy walking distance. Connections are by bus or taxi or skytrain. So no, it would not be practicable for them to spend any time in the domestic VA lounge, regardless of Virgin's access policies.

 

[TomVexille]

Koru Club is correct

 

[Thai-Kiwi]

They have 4 hours to kill between arriving from TSV and departing to DUD.

I have asked separately what the the Air NZ Koru Club hours are, I think it is clear they have access there. However, the Air NZ website states simply the KC opens 2 hours prior to departure; NZ136 departs at 12:25 and NZ804 departs at 18:00. Is the KC open between these flights I wonder?

 

[bullerdude]

The NZ Koru Clib at BNE is not exactly a fantastic lounge or one that I generally like to sit in :-/

I'll use it to get some food and drinks of course, and sometime a showers as they are ok, but walking the terminal is a much nicer way to pass the time - the Koru club has a view of the car park and that all :-/

As you purchase a VA coded fare you will have access.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

This is the first time you have mentioned the TSV connection.
In my previous reply I explicitly stated:"So if they are flying direct BNE-DUD the ANZ Koru lounge would be the only option.".
Virgin allow lounge access for an hour after a flight, subject to capacity and under some conditions.
That would depend on the class your sons are booked in from TSV to BNE and their velocity status.
If they are booked in J or PE on TSV-BNE they would probably have access to the VA domestic lounge in BNE after the flight, subject to capacity.
If they are booked in Y then probably not, unless they have gold status or better.

 

[serfty]

They can always ask at the domestic lounge but is it really worth it?

The flight to DUD will commence boarding up to 40 minutes before scheduled departure, it can take 30 to 40 minutes to transit between terminals with maybe another 30 minutes for emigration/security, leaving somewhat over two hours lounge time in any case.

I would check the VA website for BNE transfer information as there should be a complimentary option provided.

 

[Thai-Kiwi]

Thanks all for your input. Sounds best to tell them to just to transfer to the International Terminal and spend their time airside. If the KC is open, all well and good. If not, no drama.

Cheers, TK

 

[Clivem]

Koru Lounge BNE INT - far from top shelf but serves its purpose. Even with school holidays and the VA 7 777 load about to be called to board it was far from packed this week - Enjoy your trip.

 

[Thai-Kiwi]

Cheers, Uni students sons visiting relatives in a warmer place that Dunedin! Illness required a 2 day re-schedule and only PE was available home.... Next test will be the insurance claim.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The dom to int connection is best done by bus. It's an orange T-bus right outside the terminal and they leave about every 20 minutes and it takes approx. 10 min between terminals. Cost is $5 (free if flying QF). As for the downtime, it is free for them to visit the Skygate shopping village, but I haven't been there and no idea whether it's worth the effort (but it may be a way to get out of the bus fare if their luggage is small and cartable ).

As others have said, the BNE Koru lounge is not the greatest place to visit. I much prefer just lounging out in the terminal, but it is OK for a bite to eat and a drink or two. I'm unsure if the PE booking BNE-DUD would get them access into the VA dom lounge but it's worth a try as the VA dom lounge is far superior to the NZ Koru lounge and this is written on their lounge page, which seems to suggest they will have access if PE gives them lounge access at all (I thought it was J only, which admittedly is pretty hard to achieve when flying to NZ)......

Note: Access to the Virgin Australia lounge is for eligible members and guests travelling on onward domestic Virgin Australia flights or Trans Tasman Air New Zealand flights.

 

[Thai-Kiwi]

Thanks all. They went direct to KC and stayed there. It was fine for their purposes.

 

[grubbidok]

Good news is the Koru Club in DUD for your flight back is much, much nicer than the one in BNE