Using domestic lounge before international flight

[cqtiger]

I have a unique situation of arriving in Brisbane on a domestic flight and having to wait 6 hours for a singapore flight from the international terminal. As the singapore airlines lounge doesn't open until 3 hours prior to the flight can I wait in the virgin lounge.I hear there is the ability to go there on arrival for an hour and I am a gold me.

 

[opusman]

I think you have to be Platinum for on-arrivals access.

 

[RisingPhoenix]

You will be fine providing you're not arriving in a major peak period. Gold Status allows you entry on arrival (pending capacity). I've never been turned away in BNE on arrival as Gold. Assuming of course your flight to BNE is on VA metal.

 

[AIRwin]

If you like, take the free shuttle bus to the DFO at Skygate to have a wander:
Terminal Transfers - Brisbane Airport

 

[cqtiger]

yes coming in on VA metal. DFO was a thought but when you are about to go on shopping spree in hong kong best to avois

 

[Milefest]

You'll have access to the VA Dom lounge post-flight with gold. As mentioned above, I've also never been denied access even when it's packed.

 

[jase05]

I have heard from others that the 60 minutes rule has been invoked for arrival access but personally I’ve never seen it

 

[ozstamps]

yes coming in on VA metal. DFO was a thought but when you are about to go on shopping spree in hong kong best to avois

I've been on holiday to HK 3 times in recent months.

Trust me there is NO cheap shopping anywhere there that I saw.

Airport Duty Free is an especial joke. In every category I saw.

 

[ric_melb]

Interesting to see ozstamps post. I had the exact same thought regarding shopping being expensive in HK.

 

[cqtiger]

We are off to China after that so hopefully some bargains

 

[ja1]

yes coming in on VA metal. DFO was a thought but when you are about to go on shopping spree in hong kong best to avois

It'd be worth it to make the trip to the DFO if only to get a feel for domestic pricing so you can then pickup the true bargains in HK (as opposed to the ones you could have just bought locally..).

Plus if the weather's nice, it's not a bad place to wander through!

 

[Milefest]

For me, shopping internationally isn't about the price, it's about the variety of clothing... Australia is a fashion black hole when it comes to luxury, designer and boutique brands.

 

[CPMaverick]

I would think flying a partner (SQ) as a VA Gold would make you eligible for VA domestic lounge access on the day of travel anyway, irrespective of arrival rules.

I certainly have used the lounge in MEL without issue when flying EY (or when partners, NZ) on the day of travel. Since it is outside security and an easy walk from T2, sometimes I go in there for a coffee before I go through customs/immi in the Intl terminal. I've never had an issue, although I am Plat.

 

[clam16]

I wonder if I could use a silver VA domestic pass on international SQ/VA metal before the flight...

 

[kamchatsky]

I've been on holiday to HK 3 times in recent months.

Trust me there is NO cheap shopping anywhere there that I saw.

Airport Duty Free is an especial joke. In every category I saw.

I would say, depending on where you go at HK, and when as well.

You have far more chance to get discounted goods at the suburbia (say Shatin) than where the tourists hang around (say TST).

 

[Ausbt]

I used BNE Dom lounge (arrived from SYD) ahead of a recent LAX flight, which of course only offered access to the Plaza(un)Premium lounge at BNE Int. I moved over to Int a good few hours before flight time but really, I would have preferred to stay in the Domestic. That PP lounge is very average and particularly annoying when thinking you could be in the SQ lounge next door except for the fact SQ don't want you in there due to crowding. Well, I guess the new House will fix all that ...eventually.