General VA Lounge Discussion (2021 onwards)

[ole nimeton]

You could just drink a pint of sparkling water instead.

I’m sure Virgin would love it if we all stuck to sparkling. It would be cheaper for them. Hey why not buy some bottles of cordial and we could add water from the tap.

 

[Mr H]

Hey why not buy some bottles of cordial and we could add water from the tap.

That would probably lead to sensory overload for people who are used to drinking Asahi.

 

[stm1sydney]

even attempting blending them

A bit like Bernard and Manny then.

 

[simmomelb]

It is cheap and nasty. The so called shiraz tastes like lolly water...

The Hardys 1 litre bottle in VA sells for $8 a bottle in Dan Murphys.
As a Shiraz drinker, it's difficult one to sip on (insanely sweet).
There are far better cheap wines VA could have selected than that.
Even an Annie's Lane can be had for $10 a bottle and quite good drop for the price.
I don't expect expensive wines in their lounge, but something slightly better wouldn't make them look so incredibly tight.

 

[henrus]

Well speaking of the House. Apparently EY’s designated lounge has changed to the NZ one in SYD. No problem getting in as VA WP but feels weird coming here flying QR AND EY.

Seems odd as Etihad still use the Aspire lounge in Melbourne.

 

[TMP]

Seems odd as Etihad still use the Aspire lounge in Melbourne.

Speaking of this (partner-ish) lounge. I'm seeing conflicting reports. Is The House by Aspire in Melb back to serving a la carte? Or is still only buffet?

 

[Mattg]

The Hardys 1 litre bottle in VA sells for $8 a bottle in Dan Murphys.
As a Shiraz drinker, it's difficult one to sip on (insanely sweet).
There are far better cheap wines VA could have selected than that.
Even an Annie's Lane can be had for $10 a bottle and quite good drop for the price.
I don't expect expensive wines in their lounge, but something slightly better wouldn't make them look so incredibly tight.

It's undrinkable...

That said, perhaps I should thank VA for helping me to reduce my wine consumption

 

[Digicola]

Seems odd as Etihad still use the Aspire lounge in Melbourne.

I was surprised too. But the lady at the House said it was a recent change (2-3 weeks). Half of checkin staff were still redirecting people to the House, I saw most of those faces hanging out in the NZ lounge later so its not a case of J getting one lounge and WP another.

To think they’re leaving the lounge they once owned.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Agreed, last Sunday week I tried each of the Reds and ended up having cider.

I gave up on Lounge cider when they brought back Somersby and nothing else post-administration. The red was passable, however I guess I'll have to give it a try on Christmas Eve (next trip)...

 

[marty_gc]

A couple of weeks ago at MEL there as no cider, only a couple of different beers and a non-alcoholic beer. Selection and variety can be very poor these days.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

A couple of weeks ago at MEL there as no cider, only a couple of different beers and a non-alcoholic beer. Selection and variety can be very poor these days.

No Somersby isn't really much of a loss. Hopefully running down that stock to get something else (better) in...

 

[Saab34]

A couple of weeks ago at MEL there as no cider, only a couple of different beers and a non-alcoholic beer. Selection and variety can be very poor these days.

I overheard from the staff the other month, once they exhaust the allocation that’s it.

Pretty clear post Borghetti there has been F & B budget cuts in the air and on the ground

 

[MooTime]

I overheard from the staff the other month, once they exhaust the allocation that’s it.

Pretty clear post Borghetti there has been F & B budget cuts in the air and on the ground

Nothing like Chinese whispers.

Budget cuts yes, but spending $110M on plane seat upgrades, I know what and where I'd prefer the money to go... Certainly not on some cider in lounge.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

FYI a reasonable amount of Somersby in the fridge at BNE today.

 

[marty_gc]

Budget cuts yes, but spending $110M on plane seat upgrades, I know what and where I'd prefer the money to go... Certainly not on some cider in lounge.

And maybe some customer service training. Stood at the head of the Priority Queue for 25 mins the other day. Had at least a dozen staff walk past and ignore us and the person who was struggling with an issue. When finally served was told my selected seats (booked 3 months earlier) had been given to other people so a family could sit together (I was actually travelling with wife and two kids). Was then told I was lucky to still be on the plane as it was 100% capacity. Yep, that is the quality of Priority service these days.

 

[MooTime]

And maybe some customer service training. Stood at the head of the Priority Queue for 25 mins the other day. Had at least a dozen staff walk past and ignore us and the person who was struggling with an issue. When finally served was told my selected seats (booked 3 months earlier) had been given to other people so a family could sit together (I was actually travelling with wife and two kids). Was then told I was lucky to still be on the plane as it was 100% capacity. Yep, that is the quality of Priority service these days.

I think all or at least most Airlines could do with some customer service training.

 

[Saab34]

While Borgehtti couldn’t run a balance sheet, his customer service, F & B, and passion for the hard product, was top notch.

While the level of spend had to be cut regardless, don’t forget is many things in a few of those above which don’t cost much money or anything at all!

 

[twinaisle]

While Borgehtti couldn’t run a balance sheet, his customer service, F & B, and passion for the hard product, was top notch.

While the level of spend had to be cut regardless, don’t forget is many things in a few of those above which don’t cost much money or anything at all!

The airline is being run by the finance department. They leave no stone unturned.

 

[Saab34]

The airline is being run by the finance department. They leave no stone unturned.

Smells like Private Equity to me. Right on point.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Nothing like Chinese whispers.

Budget cuts yes, but spending $110M on plane seat upgrades, I know what and where I'd prefer the money to go... Certainly not on some cider in lounge.

Well… I’ve been in the test planes with the ‘new’ seats a few times. Leg rest useless unless you are about 4 foot. And at least one of them already broken with the seat back not properly locking. So I’d give the refurbished seats about 2 years