LAX Update: EK Lounge for WP; EY lounge for Business & SG - from March 21

[fewings85]

Yep VA Gold and WP can access *A when flying on Air NZ metal out of LAX

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

Hmm so if you're SG/WP on NZ1, you get access to the lovely *A lounge but if you're on VA6, you get nothing even in J!

 

[serfty]

Hmm so if you're SG/WP on NZ1, you get access to the lovely *A lounge but if you're on VA6, you get nothing even in J!

Well, no lounge access ... but not quite nothing ...

They may get 10K (or perhaps 20K) velocity points.

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

That's true and wasn't there a thread asking for ideas to get extra points?

Discount Y BNE-LAX-BNE is ~$1000. It's 7200 miles one-way so in discount Y you'll get 3600 points plus a 100% WP bonus each leg, plus lounge compensation of 20,000 gives you a total haul of 34,400 points at 2.9c per point!

Okay it's a little expensive but it could be good if you have a specific redemption in mind and time on your hands

 

[DaleS]

My flight home to BNE was at 11am on Saturday so I unfortunately didn't have access to either Etihad or Emirates lounges as both were closed (WP flying J). Yesterday morning I received 10k velocity points as a 'goodwill' gesture - called to ask what they were for and they said due to the lounges being closed. Shame I didn't get a $40USD voucher but I can't really complain with 10000 points

Same experience. Here's my story. Original booking was the regular evening flight but when the changes were made I was notified by email and given an option to contact VA if not suitable. Decided to go with the new flight as it would allow arrival home Sunday evening which suited me. My wife and I flew to LAX from JFK on Friday arvo and stayed at the Marriott Residence. Had kept up with all the lounge changes via AFF and AusBT so we planned to avoid the fairly lame buffet at the hotel and head to check in early so we could relax and eat in the EK lounge. On arrival we got right through the checkin process and upon asking what I needed for lounge access I was told "no lounges are open so we don't have anything for you". Feeling disappointed and hungry I asked for our vouchers. The agent went and got the book and proceeded to write out 2 x $8 vouchers. I explained that that wasn't good enough and asked for the supervisor. Bradley came over quickly and said we would get 6 x $8 vouchers which was arranged and we were on our way. One benefit of the early flight is that there was nobody at security and we were through in about 3 minutes. Upon entering the TBIT departures area we found that only a few of the restaurants were actually open. So I checked Googled my options and found the only place for a decent coffee was Lamill down by gate 134 but they only have pastries etc as a food option. We also had to stump and extra $1 as the coffees & pastries came to $17 with tax. So we walked back to the Food Court but the options are pretty limited. Settled on the Border Grill as at least they had table service. Ordered the Huevos which was actually pretty tasty and the service was quick and friendly with a great waiter. However as the bill came to $20 we needed 3 vouchers so got him to bring us a bottle of water so we could get our "value". Also left a tip. Still had 40 min to boarding so hit the toilets and had a bit of a wander round. Eventually as most of the shops opened and I had a voucher left I spent it on some Kettle Chips which came in handy later on the flight.

While I was waiting I messaged VA and laid out my complaints which were - as a WP why wasn't I contacted and advised of the no lounge situation? I mean how hard would that be? If informed I could have easily made other breakfast plans and not arrived so early. Why didn't the check in agents have any idea of what was going on? Why weren't vouchers offered immediately? Once on board I advised Rueben my flight attendant about the situation when he welcomed me to The Business and asked me how I was. He said he would pass this on and later Joel the flight service manager came by and asked about my experience, apologised and said it would be noted in his report. When we arrived in BNE after what was a great flight I had a reply from VA apologising and asking for my booking ref. 2 days later 10K points landed in my account and the reply from VA said that ground staff and the rest of the team were to be updated on procedure and guest are to be offered "compensation in the form of points" and that I should fill out the feedback form if I wished to discuss it further. Hadn't bothered but I will now if the possibility of another 10K is on offer.

 

[Muppet501st]

Yep VA Gold and WP can access *A when flying on Air NZ metal out of LAX

and if you're VA WP and flying on Air NZ, you can still access the *A first class lounge ( not just the regular lounge )

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

Thanks for the report, Dale.

It sounds like quite a mess on the ground and it'd be good to hear about any additional compensation.

IMO that's not good enough for a J experience out of a major international airport.

 

[bwhouse]

Interestingly I just noticed that the VA site is now saying SG members have access to the Emirates lounge as well, however, passengers in J are still pointed to the EY lounge. I wonder if this is correct or just a mistake on the lounge access site.

 

[MH_fan]

What a mess! I'm booking my next USA flights with NZ so there won't be any issues. Also nice to know that VA WPs can access the Star Alliance F lounge.

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

Interestingly I just noticed that the VA site is now saying SG members have access to the Emirates lounge as well, however, passengers in J are still pointed to the EY lounge. I wonder if this is correct or just a mistake on the lounge access site.

And looks like there's now a mention of the opening times for both the EK and EY lounges.

 

[bullerdude]

Interestingly I just noticed that the VA site is now saying SG members have access to the Emirates lounge as well, however, passengers in J are still pointed to the EY lounge. I wonder if this is correct or just a mistake on the lounge access site.

View attachment 96950

I hope not as the EK lounge is probably the better option.

One observation is the wording difference between the Platinum and Gold dropdown options on the VA lounge page:

Platinum

Los Angeles, USA

Emirates Lounge (Open from 1830 daily)

Velocity Platinum membership (when travelling in any cabin)

Gold

Los Angeles, USA

Emirates Lounge (Open from 1830 daily)

Velocity Gold membership

Note the difference in Red text, not sure why that comment is needed or if it means that the Gold access isn't for all cabins...

 

[CJEMNMAC]

I hope not as the EK lounge is probably the better option.

One observation is the wording difference between the Platinum and Gold dropdown options on the VA lounge page:

Platinum

Los Angeles, USA

Emirates Lounge (Open from 1830 daily)

Velocity Platinum membership (when travelling in any cabin)

Gold

Los Angeles, USA

Emirates Lounge (Open from 1830 daily)

Velocity Gold membership

Note the difference in Red text, not sure why that comment is needed or if it means that the Gold access isn't for all cabins...

There is this on the VA site as well

shambles...





Here is the full link https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/...ational-lounge-access/lounge-reference-guide/

 

[Virgin Bart]

There is this on the VA site as well

shambles...



View attachment 96960

Here is the full link https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/...ational-lounge-access/lounge-reference-guide/

The really striking information for me on that link is how amazingly one-sided (home port only) the lounge access is. Of the 18 routes shown only 5 have access on the way home!

 

[Virgin Bart]

The really striking information for me on that link is how amazingly one-sided (home port only) the lounge access is. Of the 18 routes shown only 5 have access on the way home!

Mind you (me?) one of the 18 routes includes the astonishingly laughable domestic offering for an international flight. Not cool.

 

[bwhouse]

The really striking information for me on that link is how amazingly one-sided (home port only) the lounge access is. Of the 18 routes shown only 5 have access on the way home!

So it looks like as of 2 days ago they updated again and Velocity Gold do in fact get access to the Emirates lounge in LAX. I am not complaining, by all accounts, it is a better lounge. I will be able to confirm this in early August if the rules don't change again.

 

[DaleS]

And still no lounge access for any pax of any description when traveling on the Saturday morning departure VA6

 

[liamsal]

And still no lounge access for any pax of any description when traveling on the Saturday morning departure VA6

spacebar
Unfortunately not. But make sure if you do travel on the Sat morning service you ask for your food vouchers + 10k points at check in. Alternatively if you don't want the vouchers, email velocity when you get back home and you'll get 20k points.

 

[cssaus]

Flying LAX-SYD in business class as a Platinum VFF, should I be visiting the Etihad First & Business Class Lounge or the Emirates Lounge?

 

[serfty]

Flying LAX-SYD in business class as a Platinum VFF, should I be visiting the Etihad First & Business Class Lounge or the Emirates Lounge?

Visit both/either?

 

[bwhouse]

Visit both/either?

That was my plan

From what I have read EK is probably a nicer lounge.