Virgin Australia lounge in Cairns

[chooms]

I think about 14 departures each day from Cairns. I know airlines that offer lounges for less.

Might be a few departures, but it is all leisure traffic (albeit I was actually visiting on business). It is a route heavily reliant on people from Syd/Mel heading on holiday (small business/Govt market from BNE). And it's those not heading overseas (revenge travel) and travelling on a budget (I think JQ actually has more flights to/from CNS than VA, including other cities such as OOL, ADL, PER, AYQ and DRW... see the trend here). They would have done the sums and looked at the market and probably saw more value in offering cheaper fares than QF with no lounge.

My VA flights to and from were J0Y0 both ways whilst I noticed QF flights weren't anywhere near empty on EF when I check the days of departure, so VA must be pricing well.

 

[serfty]

I'm going to Cairns next week, returning after the weekend. I have already requalified WP this year with QF, but not yet with VA.

Lounge availability dictated my travel options, so VA up and QF back.

I need to work the morning before flying home so a lounge before departure is beneficial.

If there had been a VA lounge at CNS, I would have given VA the revenue for my return journey.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

I think about 14 departures each day from Cairns. I know airlines that offer lounges for less.

Whilst there may be airlines that offer lounges for less, that's not VA.

From memory, CNS is 12-14 domestic departures per day, whereas OOL is around 20 and the capital cities are busier than that again.

 

[GrahamBRI]

The international lounge actually has been picked up by a paid operator (Escape Lounges), They have done a minor renovation and signed a contract with SQ which means at this point the lounge is SQ exclusive (although soon to be opened to other paid passes).

Interesting info that Escape Lounges has taken over Cairns International. I have not seen them specifically mentioned in any media releases (only that SQ will be the airline that the lounge would be serving). What other insight to you have here (specifically with respect to who they might partner with for paid access)?

 

[Saab34]

While a lounge would be good, what this airport needs is automated bag drop.