The Lounge - how fast do they process applications?

[benhadi]

Hi everyone,

Going over to NZ in April early for a holiday on VA, and was thinking of joining The Lounge as will be travelling with Mrs and a young bub. Access to lounge would be nice. I've got access to a corporate rate with my organisation. How it works is I fax a form to VA, and then they put up a link on my Velocity page to proceed with the membership.

Due to leave to NZ on Good Friday (6 April).

However, their membership year is from Jan-Dec, and depending on when you join, it will be pro-rated. And from what I can see, it is pro-rated on a monthly basis. So if i were to, say, join on the 30th of march, i'll be paying for an entire month of March compared to if I were to join on the 1st April.

So...wondering if anybody can share their experience as to the speed of processing. If they are real quick I may decide to join only on the 1st April to avoid unnecessarily paying an extra month for nothing. I know 5 days is cutting it a bit thin (4 working days actually), but if they've got a 24 hour turnaround time then i'll probably be OK.

Also, am I able to access the lounges after I enrol but before the card arrives? Will be accessing mainly NZ lounges (out of BNE Int. and WLG Int)

What do you all think?

Many thanks.

 

[samh004]

Also, am I able to access the lounges after I enrol but before the card arrives? Will be accessing mainly NZ lounges (out of BNE Int. and WLG Int).

With Qantas (and I know it could be vastly different) the status (or Qantas Club) is printed on the ticket, but I’m not sure whether ’The Lounge’ would print on the Air NZ tickets too. A printout of your account might help, but I do understand a card is always helpful. Sorry I can’t be of more help, though I think 5 days is cutting it fine for the card. You’d probably need 2 weeks or so.

 

[markis10]

Cannot help but think day entry might be better value if you are not going to be using a lounge before then, regardless I would join ASAP to make sure you get the bennfits and not the frustrations.

 

[MarkD]

Can a lounge member use nz lounges??? Thought it was only gold/ platinum for all but dj lounges

 

[markis10]

Can a lounge member use nz lounges??? Thought it was only gold/ platinum for all but dj lounges

So long as they are on a DJ flight, yes:

Virgin Australia lounge members travelling to New Zealand on Virgin Australia operated flights.

 

[777]

Cannot help but think day entry might be better value if you are not going to be using a lounge before then, regardless I would join ASAP to make sure you get the bennfits and not the frustrations.

Haven;t they closed day entry down? And i didn't think it applied to partners anyway?

 

[markis10]

Haven;t they closed day entry down? And i didn't think it applied to partners anyway?

I was talking about Koru Day Entry.

 

[benhadi]

Thanks everyone for your responses. My understanding is NZ doesn't offer day passes, at least not that I can find.

VA website does state that all I need to show to gain access to The Lounge (operated by VA) is a membership card or to quote the number and a photo ID, but doesn't really say anything about NZ lounges. I suspect I wouldn't have the VA Lounge status printed on my ticket, but couldn't be sure.

Might give VA a call to find out what their turnaround time is. But 4 working days.......

 

[markis10]

Thanks everyone for your responses. My understanding is NZ doesn't offer day passes, at least not that I can find. .

Koru Day passes are $55 and subject to space etc

 

[JRT]

VA lounge membership for individuals is active as soon as paid. Setting up a new corporate rate would take a little longer - I'd give them a call.

 

[StevePER]

Once you have been added to the corporate scheme, the lounge renewal can be done instantly online. I renewed on the morning of November 1 when flying that afternoon (because our membership is also prorated by calendar month). No problems getting access, but that was flying DJ.

I didn't even know there was a membership card for the lounge. Should I have received one?

 

[benhadi]

some updates on this following my call to them.

membership does not come with a membership card. It is basically "linked: to your velocity FF account.TO gain access in their own lounge all you need is to either show your velocity card or quote velocity number.

To use AirNZ lounge they suggest showing your velocity FF card AND a printout of the welcome letter from The Lounge to satisfy their dragon of your entitlements. A bit primitive, i know, but this is what they said!

Processing of membership is immediate. As soon as you pay, you're ready to go. Welcome letter sent out within 24 hours.

Looks like I can wait till it rolls over to April before I take it up.

 

[markis10]

Thanks for getting back with an update, the info will no doubt be handy for those in similar positions in the future!

 

[Rotation]

membership does not come with a membership card. It is basically "linked: to your velocity FF account.TO gain access in their own lounge all you need is to either show your velocity card or quote velocity number.

To use AirNZ lounge they suggest showing your velocity FF card AND a printout of the welcome letter from The Lounge to satisfy their dragon of your entitlements. A bit primitive, i know, but this is what they said!

Processing of membership is immediate. As soon as you pay, you're ready to go. Welcome letter sent out within 24 hours.

Looks like I can wait till it rolls over to April before I take it up.

I called up at the start of January and spoke to a lovely lady at length about the Lounge. She said a lot of the similar - online application is instantly linked to your Velocity account, and you could even walk straight up and pay at the desk and be admitted, or do it on your smartphone outside the door and walk straight in.

With the NZ lounges, because I was in the same situation, she said they upload their data to NZ servers once a day - so she said that you would want to get your membership a few days prior to ensure that it's uploaded, but yes, take your welcome email with you.

She also said that Lounge cards in the process of being created and are expected by year's end, to help with exactly this situation. I was intending on buying my own membership, however I may be getting a new role with work that will require travel, so I might be able to swindle a corporate discount!

 

[benhadi]

While we're on the topic of corporate discounts, wondering if AFF has/is planning to have a corporate discount arrangement with VA in the same way as it has with QF?

 

[markis10]

While we're on the topic of corporate discounts, wondering if AFF has/is planning to have a corporate discount arrangement with VA in the same way as it has with QF?

It has been addressed with VA and its not possible at this stage, so still a WIP.