Lounge facilities - improvements?

[Lola528]

Hello!

First post, but long time 'reader'! I have worked for several airlines throughout my career. A recurring theme is Lounge complaints, be it desk service, food, drink, lack of options. Curious to know, what would your perfect Virgin Lounge look like and what facilities would it offer/take away?

Thanks!
Lola

 

[PLANT]

Read the trip report of 21 flights in 28 days and the first lounges overseas get it right..... Simple

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I would love my VA lounges to have views to the outside, unlike the current PER VA lounge, where it seems that they are so afraid to show whats outside the windows.
You cant see out as it opaque.
Same as the Koru club at AKL, cant see out.
Same as the J lounge at AKL.
Loved the SQ SK lounge at SYD though, my first visit there.
QP ADL not bad, but QF MELd and SYDd and are very good, good time wasting while waiting for a flight to see out at whats on the apron.
To sum up, (1) views out the window, (2) cider on tap so I can mix with fruit juices! Maybe a (3) is a bit of Asian based snacks in the lounges. Had small shiao mai and meat buns in the SYDi QF J lounge last year some time.

 

[jackthomas]

I actually think a lot of the VA lounges are ideal for what I need and I love the contemporary decor and design.

Ideal lounge is large ( MEL) with a great view, something the main floor in SYD is lacking... I've never had issues with the service desks but food is definitely lacking..

 

[Buzzard]

Firstly welcome to AFF Lola528.
Hot food is my answer.
It always amazes how many $$ must be spent on alcohol and how little is spent on some decent food.

 

[toottifruitti]

Is there a VA lounge at BNE international? If so where is it?

 

[TomVexille]

Is there a VA lounge at BNE international? If so where is it?

VA don't have any international lounges.

 

[medhead]

I actually think a lot of the VA lounges are ideal for what I need and I love the contemporary decor and design.

Ideal lounge is large ( MEL) with a great view, something the main floor in SYD is lacking... I've never had issues with the service desks but food is definitely lacking..

Firstly welcome to AFF Lola528.
Hot food is my answer.
It always amazes how many $$ must be spent on alcohol and how little is spent on some decent food.

Indeed. My broad list would be: Upper floor of sydney lounge, with hot food service of the lower floor and the premium entry.

Constantly disappointed that the upper floor is close except for about 4.5 minutes a day.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Hello!

First post, but long time 'reader'! I have worked for several airlines throughout my career. A recurring theme is Lounge complaints, be it desk service, food, drink, lack of options. Curious to know, what would your perfect Virgin Lounge look like and what facilities would it offer/take away?

Thanks!
Lola

Welcome to AFF Lola!


A bit of an odd first post though. May I ask you a question? Are you just "chewing the fat" (so to speak) or are you planning something with the answers received? I don't really care, I'm just curious!

For me, a lounge should have:

1. Variety. If you want to depress your customers than continue to serve the same boring options day in and day out and if you want to depress and insult them, tell them you're making changes but then serve the same boring cough day in and day out (or even better, serve less boring cough so at least you haven't lied about making change).
2. Comfy chairs. VAs modernistic desire for example is not a scrap on the old brown lounges in SYD nor on the old comfy club chairs in BNE).
3. Hot food is important.
4. Catering for all time slots (as not all of us book peak hour flights) is just common courtesy.
5. Good WIFI conectivity.
6. Create "quiet" zones for people who do not want to listen to Mr DYKWIA berating his ever-suffering staff.
7. Set reasonable standards and have the guts to police them. Both dress standards and etiquette standards.
8. Cleanliness is a big point, especially the toilet/washroom facilities.

 

[jackthomas]

Indeed. My broad list would be: Upper floor of sydney lounge, with hot food service of the lower floor and the premium entry.

Constantly disappointed that the upper floor is close except for about 4.5 minutes a day.

I've only ever been upstairs once... The one time I've seen it open in the last 18 months... Pretty average considering I'm in that lounge usually once or so a week.

 

[pythonisman]

I've only ever been upstairs once... The one time I've seen it open in the last 18 months... Pretty average considering I'm in that lounge usually once or so a week.

The only time I've ever seen it open was when downstairs was closed for renovation. I'm not in there anywhere near once a week but I've seen downstairs packed yet still upstairs is closed several times.

 

[medhead]

It's usually open between 6:01pm and 6:06 pm on Thursday night. They don't kick people out once closed so I've often sat up there all by myself until the staff close the food area around 7pm. Once when downstairs to get the hot meal and found myself locked out with luggage still upstairs.

 

[Mogul]

Pies, mushy pea's and gravy for lunch in the Perth lounge at the moment.

 

[Justinf]

Hot food. I don't expect three-course meals with all the trimmings, but just some decent hot food (excluding soup and make-it-yourself toasted sandwiches) would be nice.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

excluding soup

Unless it's that Thai soup! I think there should be that special Thai soup as a staple, with all the rest as rotational side dishes!

 

[Justinf]

Unless it's that Thai soup! I think there should be that special Thai soup as a staple, with all the rest as rotational side dishes!

The Thai soup is actually quite delicious.

 

[terryeveritt]

Business lounge would be great. This is the real positive that Qantas has over VA. Food is almost the same in every lounge every time which is so boring. Between Q and VA lounges - Q wins every time.

 

[SuzieQ68]

For me, a lounge should have:

1. Variety. If you want to depress your customers than continue to serve the same boring options day in and day out and if you want to depress and insult them, tell them you're making changes but then serve the same boring cough day in and day out (or even better, serve less boring cough so at least you haven't lied about making change).
2. Comfy chairs. VAs modernistic desire for example is not a scrap on the old brown lounges in SYD nor on the old comfy club chairs in BNE).
3. Hot food is important.
4. Catering for all time slots (as not all of us book peak hour flights) is just common courtesy.
5. Good WIFI conectivity.
6. Create "quiet" zones for people who do not want to listen to Mr DYKWIA berating his ever-suffering staff.
7. Set reasonable standards and have the guts to police them. Both dress standards and etiquette standards.
8. Cleanliness is a big point, especially the toilet/washroom facilities.

+1 from me, especially the quiet zones. I don't really care if you're having issues with your staff/wife/kids/business partner/supplier - I have enough issues of my own and don't need to hear about yours.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Whatever happened to lola528, I wonder.

 

[lovestotravel]

Whatever happened to lola528, I wonder.

Clearly either a spammer in the making or gathering feedback for a blog/article/newspaper

With a pointless and vague first post you can't expect anything else