VAustralia Lounge LAX TBIT terminal 3 ups and downs....

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Re: LAX T3 Lounge Access

Yep, at T3 airside, there's very little indeed - apart from the Alaska (now Virgin temporary) lounge, I think there was a Burger King, a Starbucks and maybe a bakery. No bar from what I recall. A couple of newsagents and a small duty free shop too I think. There was also nowhere near enough seating for the number of people waiting for flights out. When we headed back down into the Terminal nearer the departure time, all seats were taken, there were people sitting on the floor, standing around the walls etc.

It's easy to get around LAX, it's built in a giant U-shape, so you just come out of one terminal and just keep walking until you reach the terminal you want. There is a shuttle bus that runs regularly, but after 13.5 hours on the plane to LAX and then the prospect of 15 hours on the way back out again, we were more than happy on both occasions to have a good walk to stretch our legs!

Tip: When coming in on an international flight, you can pick up a luggage trolley for free, but not so if arriving into LAX on a domestic flight - trolleys are $5 a pop then! However most people don't bother to return them when taking them outside to catch a taxi, bus etc as I don't think you get any money returned, so when we were waiting for our luggage to come out from the Tucson flight, I popped outside and grabbed a trolley that someone had left by the kerb. You have to be quick though, before the trolley collection guys snaffle them and return them to the trolley dispenser!
 
Re: LAX T3 Lounge Access

If you are flying Delta out of San Francisco, then also show them your VA PNR details when you check-in at SFO, and ask if they can check your bags through to SYD (which IME they should be happy to do, even though your connecting flights are on different tickets).

Interesting thought. Flying VX SFO-LAX though, so not sure if they'll do it, but worth asking.
And thanks for the tips on the fairly sparse airside facilities. I might stack it so I have as little time as possible in there by the sounds of it!
 
Re: LAX T3 Lounge Access

So reading this thread, the short version is that at the moment the VA lounge @ LAX is rubbish, limited food, no toilets, no shower and dodgy WiFi

Further to this, no news/dates/rough ideas of when the new lounge will open or where ?
 
Re: LAX T3 Lounge Access

has toilets, also booze... everything else is correct in my opinion
 
Re: LAX T3 Lounge Access

So reading this thread, the short version is that at the moment the VA lounge @ LAX is rubbish, limited food, no toilets, no shower and dodgy WiFi

Further to this, no news/dates/rough ideas of when the new lounge will open or where ?
The food, or lack there of, was terrible. There was certainly toilets, but no shower (there never was when it was the Alaska lounge either). Wifi worked perfectly when I was there. But it was a billion times better than being downstairs in the zoo!
 
Re: LAX T3 Lounge Access

Not being overly familiar with LAX, what's the (completely speculative) opinion of members here on what might follow the current 'temporary' lounge arrangement? Are there any other lounges in the terminal where a contract arrangement could theoretically be made? Is there a possibility VA will be forced to construct their own, Australian-standard Lounge, which could be shared with VX in the manner that VX use VS Clubhouses? Although given the VA schedule I doubt VX pax would get much use. Perhaps VX will build their first lounge? But as an airline that's happy to exist without a status program of any kind that seems unlikely.

Or are there plans to move departures to T5 so the Delta Sky Club can be used?

Either way I'm hardly excited to be transiting LAX in three months time with the current arrangements. We'll be connecting from a VX flight out of ORD and will be rather keen to find some shower facilities. Is it possible to enter T5 airside, where the Sky Club is, using a VA boarding pass?
 
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Re: LAX T3 Lounge Access

So reading this thread, the short version is that at the moment the VA lounge @ LAX is rubbish, limited food, no toilets, no shower and dodgy WiFi

Further to this, no news/dates/rough ideas of when the new lounge will open or where ?

The VA lounge does have toilets, the reLAX lounge in TBIT doesn't.
 
I'm sitting in the Virgin Australia lounge at LAX T3 TBIT.
After many years VA has a dedicated lounge (having taken over the Alaska lounge) .

So finally the over crowding seems to have been addressed. The "buffet " is still pretty dismal. BUT here's the kicker...

A private firm has been contracted to run the VA lounge and guess what.... They don't have a liquor license... Seriously ... No alcohol ..... Welcome to the VA "Dry Lounge" (seems like an oxymoron... the staff tell he it could be another 2 months before they get one.

So here's the deal... When you check in, the staff at the desk should give you a complimentary drink card for the Gladstones bar down stairs... You have to drink it in the bar as you can't bring it up stairs....

So, if your passing through before July , bring a discrete hip flask.... ;)
 
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There's no news like old news ;(
Totally missed this previous discussion... Thanks for the link ....
 
I'm sure a friendly mod will merge the threads soon enough. Good to have an update though. My own trip through LAX is three months away, I'm hoping they've got access to a lounge with showers sorted by then. But I certainly won't be holding my breath.
 
Re: LAX T3 Lounge Access

It's easy to get around LAX, it's built in a giant U-shape, so you just come out of one terminal and just keep walking until you reach the terminal you want. There is a shuttle bus that runs regularly, but after 13.5 hours on the plane to LAX and then the prospect of 15 hours on the way back out again, we were more than happy on both occasions to have a good walk to stretch our legs!

I had about 5 hours to kill after my NYC-SFO-LAX flight before my flight onto MEL. I love wandering through random airports so spent a very enjoyable few hours walking through every single one of the 9 terminals looking at the unusual airlines and destinations people were checking in for!
 
Re: LAX T3 Lounge Access

If you've got a 6hr+ layover, it might be worth just booking a hotel for the transit? Would probably be cheaper than paying for two lounge passes, though there is no alcohol or food, but a nice shower and comfy bed? A ton of hotels right at LAX with shuttles every few minutes? Plus you'd get points... haha
 
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