Open Lounges?

[wendlle]

Are there any lounges open right now? I am sure I read that Brisbane was, I know Canberra isn't but what about Gold Coast?
Got flights at the end of March, Canberra - Gold Coast return.

I can't wait to get back in the air again, I've had these flights cancelled twice now and just want to go already! Lounge access would be a bonus even though I know the service is limited.

 

[henrus]

This is the up to date list, the opening times on this page are also accurate:

Domestic lounge locations

Explore our array of domestic lounge locations at Virgin Australia.

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[wendlle]

Children must be aged over 4?
when has this been since?
I’ve always taken my children as babies and currently have a 2yo does this mean she can’t go in?

 

[henrus]

Children must be aged over 4?
when has this been since?
I’ve always taken my children as babies and currently have a 2yo does this mean she can’t go in?

I think you've misunderstood the page (it's always said something like that).

If you're Gold you can take in 1 adult guest (someone 18+), 3 children (between 4-17) and there is no limit on those under 4 years old.

See section 5.5 c

Terms and conditions

www.virginaustralia.com

(c) Additional Invited Guests (adults and children aged between 4 and 17 years for Domestic Flights and 2 – 12 for International Flights) exceeding the limit of a Member’s complimentary allowance will be charged an entry fee and may be purchased at the Lounge reception. Children under the age of 4 for Domestic Flights are not considered to be Invited Guests for the purpose of this clause 5.5(c) and may enter the Virgin Australia Lounge free of charge.

 

[wendlle]

Oh fantastic I just saw 4-17 and was like noooo they changed it.
Phew

 

[ozstamps]

I am suddenly thinking there are some benefits for ADL lounge not being open yet .................

there is no limit on those under 4 years old.

 

[henrus]

there is no limit on those under 4 years old.

haha, obviously it's all within reason. Somewhere in the T&C's, they state the staff on the day have the final say as to who they do/don't let in.

If someone with platinum status showed up at a lounge with 3 adult guests, 3 children, and 30 toddlers/babies under 4 then I suspect they'd probably say no even though it's within the rules. Also, I guess they'd start asking questions about the number of babies you have

 

[Scarlett]

Lounge update in an email received earlier this evening:
BIGGEST NEWS - they're keeping the CBR lounge and it will be reopening soon.

Our lounges are back! Our Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Perth lounges are now open. Our Canberra lounge will be opening soon. Plus, we can’t wait to cut the ribbon on our brand new Adelaide lounge which will be ready to welcome guests early this year.​

 

[wendlle]

Great news thanks for the update, hopefully it’s open by the end of March for my QLD trip.

 

[AIRwin]

Great news thanks for the update, hopefully it’s open by the end of March for my QLD trip.

I'm predicting another Tuesday:
BNE - Tuesday 17 November
MEL - Tuesday 15 December
SYD - Tuesday 15 December
OOL - Tuesday 12 January
PER - Tuesday 12 January
ADL - Tuesday 23 February
CBR - Tuesday 16/23/30 March???

 

[wendlle]

Hopefully one of the first two, we fly out of CBR on March 24

 

[lobo76]

Melbourne lounge at the moment is a bit of a joke. 15-20 mins to get service after you order and the only 'real' food is a terrible dry sanga, not sure why they can't operate the same as Sydney, walk up service (which actually seemed to need less staff) and slightly better sandwiches.

 

[cqtiger]

Can you still take 3 guests into virgin lounge with platinum status

 

[AIRwin]

Can you still take 3 guests into virgin lounge with platinum status

Yes - Domestic lounge access | Virgin Australia

 

[AIRwin]

I'm predicting another Tuesday:
CBR - Tuesday 16/23/30 March???

It's today!

Good news for @wendlle...

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=426422975091163&id=94622926989

 

[Anna]

Melbourne lounge at the moment is a bit of a joke

Yes, a joke is correct. I was there on Sunday afternoon and it was so filthy with uncleared tables that I nearly walked straight out again. I only decided to stay because my flight was delayed. Lots of the food items were 'sold out'. They called the flight at the normal time despite the delay and said it was 'boarding now", and I went and double checked at the desk if I had misheard and he repeated that it was boarding now and that I should go to the gate now because I still needed to get through security first. So I stupidly believed his lie and left the lounge, only to find outside that there was now a lineup to get in, so obviously they were deliberately trying to get rid of the people with delayed flights out of the lounge. Got through security really quickly and got to the gate. Not boarding, and nowhere to sit because the only seats left had signs on them saying they were unavailable due to covid. So I had to stand at the gate for 25 minutes until boarding finally started, among a whole non-covid-safe crush of other people.

Was completely unimpressed with the MEL lounge and with VA in general. It was chalk and cheese to my QF experience the previous day, which apart from the masks basically felt as good as a pre-covid experience.

 

[Anna]

slightly better sandwiches

I know right. I mean, I know it's a pandemic and I was lucky to be able to fly anywhere at all, but do all the choices of sandwich have to be on white bread? I don't think one option of multigrain or wholemeal bread is going to be the straw that breaks VA's back as far as solvency goes.

 

[wendlle]

It's today!

Good news for @wendlle...

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=426422975091163&id=94622926989

Oh wow fantastic!

 

[dk4]

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=426422975091163&id=94622926989

Love that pic - very subtle dig at Qantas!

Stylishly dressed woman, wearing expensive looking open toed high-fashion footwear. (The sort of hip statement that would get you thrown out of a Qantas lounge, haha)

 

[Mattg]

Yes, a joke is correct. I was there on Sunday afternoon and it was so filthy with uncleared tables that I nearly walked straight out again. I only decided to stay because my flight was delayed. Lots of the food items were 'sold out'. They called the flight at the normal time despite the delay and said it was 'boarding now", and I went and double checked at the desk if I had misheard and he repeated that it was boarding now and that I should go to the gate now because I still needed to get through security first. So I stupidly believed his lie and left the lounge, only to find outside that there was now a lineup to get in, so obviously they were deliberately trying to get rid of the people with delayed flights out of the lounge. Got through security really quickly and got to the gate. Not boarding, and nowhere to sit because the only seats left had signs on them saying they were unavailable due to covid. So I had to stand at the gate for 25 minutes until boarding finally started, among a whole non-covid-safe crush of other people.

Was completely unimpressed with the MEL lounge and with VA in general. It was chalk and cheese to my QF experience the previous day, which apart from the masks basically felt as good as a pre-covid experience.

That's quite similar to my BNE VA lounge experience yesterday morning (Brisbane VA Lounge (Thursday 11/3) - What to Expect?), except for the delayed flights part. (And to top it off, when I got to the gate priority boarding wasn't working - a first for me with VA.)

I'm hoping this was a one-off, and great to see the CBR lounge is open now. But as more people start travelling over the coming holiday period, I do wonder how prepared the airlines are for overcrowding. Particularly in somewhere like Melbourne where they're still using a smaller temporary lounge.