I'm in the VA Lounge thread

[Major]

I'm in the HBA lounge for a couple of hours

 

[Mattg]

Just visited the SYD VA lounge for the first time. Based on some of the comments on AFF my expectations were pretty low.

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. It was fairly comfortable and not overcrowded. In terms of food, there were a couple of salads, toasted sandwiches, soups and a hot ravioli option. Good selection of premium beers.
Staff not overly friendly but not bad either.

 

[tomo69]

BNE til 1605

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Hey Tom, l sent you a PM

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Just visited the SYD VA lounge for the first time. Based on some of the comments on AFF my expectations were pretty low.

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. It was fairly comfortable and not overcrowded. In terms of food, there were a couple of salads, toasted sandwiches, soups and a hot ravioli option. Good selection of premium beers.
Staff not overly friendly but not bad either.

It's all about expectations

 

[ap_spd]

I'm in the HBA lounge for a couple of hours

Major that's a first, when did it open

 

[Major]

Major that's a first, when did it open

It hasn't. You may notice the sarcasm smiley

 

[tomo69]

MKY till 1700

 

[JohnK]

OOL lounge from ~7:00pm-8:00pm.

 

[Milefest]

BNE lounge until 08:30

 

[Caversham04]

Not strictly a VA Lounge, but prior to catching VA1 to LAX on Thursday 14th July, I will be in the Air NZ Lounge (Sydney, International Terminal) for a couple of hours

 

[andrewlorien]

If anybody is in the VA lounge at Adelaide in the next hour (14/7/2016, dep 11am)...
There's a woman with long dreadlocks wearing a black homberg (that's a hat) with feathers in the hatband. She's very distinctive.
Walk past her and say "happy birthday"

 

[Major]

In the OOL lounge for about 1 hour

 

[serfty]

MEL domestic for next 30 minutes

 

[Muppet501st]

BNE lounge for next hour or so. A lot longer then planned, since they cancelled my flight. Can guest in 3

 

[bigd]

In the ADL lounge for the next couple of hours. Can guest 1.

 

[Wozza]

Questions, questions from a complete novice flyer ... :

I have been an AFF member for just over a year. I was hooked in by the Wine Lovers thread. That larrikin and friend of mine, Penegal, persuaded me there was more to life on AFF than the Wine Lover threads, particularly as I fly a fair bit and have literally no knowledge of the tricks and perks of regularly flying.

So after spotting the Amex 100,000 Velocity card on the Referrals thread, I find myself on a flight tonight and am thinking of using the VA lounge and one of the two lounge passes I have:

VA981 - SYD to Bris-Vagas 19:00 pm 15 August 2016 (the flight having been pushed back by 30 mins).

I spoke to my good mate and fellow Wine Lover, Steady, and he suggested I put my questions here, as he doesn't use Virgin.

1. Is it worth me using one of my Virgin Lounge passes on a Domestic Flight? [I do have time to spare to make the most of it today, but I don't know if there is one Virgin Lounge at SYD in the International Terminal or two. And, if there are two, if the Domestic Lounge at Virgin is worth using one of my precious passes on. I do fly internationally, but that is almost always with the family (and probably a complete waste, given our young boys are little mischief-makers)]

2. Will anybody else be on that flight tonight? Or in the Virgin Lounge (say 5 pm onwards) that wants to meet up? [I'll also post in the Lounge Meet Ups thread on this, as Steady has suggested.

Many thanks,


Wozza

 

[JohnK]

I don't think Virgin have any international lounges. It would be Air New Zealand lounge or Etihad lounge and not sure you'd be able to use a Virgin guest pass there.

The domestic lounges are nothing special and the value would depend on how much you can drink and what value you place on it. For food there will be salad items and you can make your own sandwich and there may be one hot option such as pies, pizza, pasta etc.

 

[Milefest]

Lounge passes are only available for domestic use up to two hours before departure. The best time to use one of these passes is either to use it on a flight you expect to be at the airport early for or to save them if you expect to make Gold (as these passes can be used to add to your guest allowance).

 

[Wozza]

Thanks JohnK and Milefest.

Wise words. I went in as someone next to me was contemplating paying $750 for annual membership. I arrived 2.5hrs early. Sampled 3 different wines, had a meal, snack and cuppa. And generally freshened up. And re-charged the devices. It was pretty packed. And possibly not as fancy as I had built up in my head. Glad it was free (well, it will be by the time I make the most of the credits and perks on the Amex card). But, that said, it was a billion miles better than sitting in the main terminal!

I've just been told I am likely to be bumped up to Gold in next week as my application for the Accelerate Program has been approved. Again, another benefit I wouldn't have picked up if I hadn't delved out of the Wine Lovers thread! I'll save the other free pass for another guest in, as you helpfully suggest.