VA to HKG from Jul 5 2017, ex MEL

[ozstamps]

Very sloppy not to have got their act together with lounges etc so close to launch.

I too tried looking for flights for a while a month or so back and got bored, as the SQ flights were all they showed.

Booked another airline somewhere else so sloppy web pages loses more business.

 

[hummel]

Very sloppy not to have got their act together with lounges etc so close to launch.

I too tried looking for flights for a while a month or so back and got bored, as the SQ flights were all they showed.

Booked another airline somewhere else so sloppy web pages loses more business.

Likewise - I do MEL-CAN and though this MEL-HKG route could work but getting their website to work properly is a bit of a joke and the lack of lounge announcement.

Easier to book MEL-SIN-CAN on SQ as a VA Gold.. crazy hey.

 

[Dannyism]

I won some tickets so it looks like I'll being going on the inaugural flight and back on the weekend. Will update thread on lounge access.

Anyone from the forum on the same flight interested in getting a coffee or beer or whatever takes your fancy?

 

[Saab34]

Considering the departures are similar to VA23 to LAX I assume Etihad?

Any word on launch day festivities?

 

[777]

I won some tickets so it looks like I'll being going on the inaugural flight and back on the weekend. Will update thread on lounge access.

Anyone from the forum on the same flight interested in getting a coffee or beer or whatever takes your fancy?

See you there!

 

[gwilli1]

EY lounge now confirmed in MEL for HK bound flights.

Hong Kong Airlines Club Bauhinia Lounge in HK for MEL bound flights

https://www.ausbt.com.au/virgin-details-melbourne-hong-kong-airport-lounge-access

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

I've had a few nasty things to say about VA these past few days so I think it's only fair that I say it's good to see a simple arrangement utilising partner lounges

 

[DavidFlynn]

I won some tickets so it looks like I'll being going on the inaugural flight and back on the weekend... Anyone from the forum on the same flight interested in getting a coffee or beer or whatever takes your fancy?

I'll see you in the Etihad lounge..?

 

[777]

I'll see you in the Etihad lounge..?

Pretty sure we'll ALL be in the Etihad lounge

 

[DavidFlynn]

FWIW and in anybody going on the inaugural is interested, there's a landslide press conference around 8am - might be in an area of terminal where the public can stand around and watch - will post details if anybody wants to do so.

 

[Dannyism]

I'll see you in the Etihad lounge..?

Sure will!

 

[liamsal]

Sadly my BNE - HKG via MEL flight only has a layover of 80 minutes so doubt I'll get any lounge time The Etihad lounge really looks spectacular!

 

[Cryptarcadian]

I'm taking the first SYD-MEL flight down that morning (arr 07:35)... so hopefully I'll get there in time for the fanfare!

Sadly while the EY lounge really does look spectacular, cost-cutting is truly in full swing. From my visit earlier this month (and this was prior to an EY flight), they had scrapped all the signature coughtails and the a la carte menu was down to a few mediocre small plates, nothing like the 3+ course meals that used to be on offer.

 

[grubbidok]

I'm taking the first SYD-MEL flight down that morning (arr 07:35)... so hopefully I'll get there in time for the fanfare!

Sadly while the EY lounge really does look spectacular, cost-cutting is truly in full swing. From my visit earlier this month (and this was prior to an EY flight), they had scrapped all the signature coughtails and the a la carte menu was down to a few mediocre small plates, nothing like the 3+ course meals that used to be on offer.

Is the a la carte option even available for VA flights in MEL? It isn't for any of the other EY lounge agreements with VA

 

[DavidFlynn]

Given that EY's two daily flights from MEL to AUH depart 3.50pm and 10.15pm, I would suspect (and this is off the cuff, without checking) that Virgin Australia has come to some arrangement with EY to have this lounge opened early just for them – as the VA flights depart 9.40am and 10.25am, which are both well before the T-3 mark at which one would expect EY to open the lounge for its own flights.

If that's indeed the case, I'd think we will see a breakfast/brunch buffet spread rather than a la carte or indeed anything over le top.

 

[DavidFlynn]

For those interested, the media schedule details that there'll be a press conference from 8am "at Counter N". This is probably going to be like others I've been at which are held in the terminal proper rather than in a special media / conference room, with roped-off seating area for media but ability for the public to stand beyond that and have a gander at the goings-on.

 

[tm.smile]

Given that EY's two daily flights from MEL to AUH depart 3.50pm and 10.15pm, I would suspect (and this is off the cuff, without checking) that Virgin Australia has come to some arrangement with EY to have this lounge opened early just for them – as the VA flights depart 9.40am and 10.25am, which are both well before the T-3 mark at which one would expect EY to open the lounge for its own flights.

If that's indeed the case, I'd think we will see a breakfast/brunch buffet spread rather than a la carte or indeed anything over le top.

Don't forget VA's third departure time of just after midnight...

 

[DavidFlynn]

Indeed! I was looking more at the breakfast options but yes, will be asking about those 'supper menus' too... this spread schedule does Virgin Australia no favours, of course the airline knows this full well and would have locked down a more normal fixed schedule had it the choice.

It does make one wonder about feasibility of an independent lounge for MEL, such as Plaza Premium, with long opening hours. Fingers are still crossed for AMEX though, we keep hearing whispers but nothing substantial nor of course confirmed.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

2 sleeps to go! DavidFlynn or others, do you know if there's any fanfare planned for the HKG end? Or for the first HKG-MEL flight?

 

[Melburnian1]

For those interested, the media schedule details that there'll be a press conference from 8am "at Counter N". This is probably going to be like others I've been at which are held in the terminal proper rather than in a special media / conference room, with roped-off seating area for media but ability for the public to stand beyond that and have a gander at the goings-on.

Counter N is a shocker, as it's close to VA (not in itself bad) and subject to many passengers passing through from the travelators that rise from the arrivals level. Not much room to move if there is a queue of passengers for check in, as it is a fairly narrow space. It was not originally a check in area and has only become so during the last few years.

Fittingly though, it's as far away from QFi as is humanly possible in the Melbourne international landside terminal.

Perhaps some brave soul can ask JB if he ever foresees VA making a profit, and secondly whether it will ever make what investors consider a sufficient return on the capital employed. Granted that second question is subjective.

The answer to (a) must be 'not in the near future' and (b) 'never.'

One wonders how much the MEL - HKG route will lose in its first year and whether it will ever do well. Less than daily and different departure times is no recipe for success. Red ink all over it?