Virgin Australia considers dedicated ‘mining and resources’ lounge

[ajd]

Virgin Australia considers dedicated "mining and resources" lounge - Australian Business Traveller

Virgin Australia could open the country's first airport lounge dedicated to workers in the mining and resources sector later this year.


It's one of several options for the airline's Brisbane domestic terminal following the expansion of Virgin's Brisbane lounge and the subsequent closure of the short-term 'cafe lounge' located between gate 41 and the airport's satellite pier, which served as an overflow space for the main lounge during peak travel periods.


"We’ve got to decide what we want to do with that cafe lounge" he shares. "It could be a mining and resources opportunity for us – potentially, if those guests want a separate area."


“If fly-in, fly-out travellers kind of want a different experience than (the standard lounge), maybe we can do something with (the café lounge), because we’ve now got an opportunity to do that, but really that would be if there’s demand from their point-of-view,” Hassell adds.

 

[Ausbt]

So, rather than a tie-up with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, what are we talking Acca-Dacca now? Will there be a dedicated Jim Beam bar? MMA on the monitors? How far can VA take this modern-day segregation? How about a new in-flight magazine: "Voyeur". Oh, hang on a minute

 

[kalboy]

YUMmmmmmm. Jim Beam Bar.

 

[Denali]

So, rather than a tie-up with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, what are we talking Acca-Dacca now? Will there be a dedicated Jim Beam bar? MMA on the monitors? How far can VA take this modern-day segregation? How about a new in-flight magazine: "Voyeur". Oh, hang on a minute

I would have thought Bundy would have been more appropriate, considering its a Brissy lounge.

If the food is more substantial than some of the current lounge offerings, I know where I would find my husband. He looks good in fluro.

 

[Hvr]

Seems a pity that Zoo magazine will cease publication in mid October. Could've been the perfect bogon mag.

Which wrongly assumes that FIFO workers aren't representative of the rest of the community.

 

[yohy?!]

So, rather than a tie-up with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, what are we talking Acca-Dacca now? Will there be a dedicated Jim Beam bar? MMA on the monitors? How far can VA take this modern-day segregation? How about a new in-flight magazine: "Voyeur". Oh, hang on a minute

Use of the title "Voyeur" is being pretty steadily phased out by the looks - the whole FIFO lounge concept itself seems more publicity/clickbait driven than anything. Surely the horse has bolted with the investment boom over.

 

[777]

I was imagining "Diggers and Dealers" style hospitality.

Skimpies still a 'touchy subject' at Kalgoorlie's annual Diggers and Dealers conference - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[juddles]

YUMmmmmmm. Jim Beam Bar.

And they could construct the whole lounge in concrete - even the tables and chairs - for easy hosing at the end of the sessions. And to cater to the whole mining community, they could have a fancy side area for geologists, with offerings like Chai and other herbal teas. With a good noise partition to keep the technical conversations and big words from interfering with the Jimmy Barnes in the main worker's area?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I was imagining "Diggers and Dealers" style hospitality.

Skimpies still a 'touchy subject' at Kalgoorlie's annual Diggers and Dealers conference - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

My vote goes for the "diggerettes" and I'd bet my bottom dollar most of the "suits" would be chaffing at the bit to get in there with the fluoros! :mrgreen:

Honestly though, surely this all just a wind-up. The resource sector is contracting and fluoros in BNE are in the very small minority.

 

[kalboy]

I think any new FIFO Lounge should incorporate an "Airside smoking area" The Kalgoorlie Qantas club still has one, does any one know of any others ?

 

[opusman]

xx_X on tap and pole dancers.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

xx_X on tap and pole dancers.

This getting better by the minute. Maybe I should cancel all my JQ bookings and return to the pole dancers.........er, I mean to VA.

 

[Mattg]

Is it just me, or would the "regular" travellers not benefit more from this than the FIFO workers?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Is it just me, or would the "regular" travellers not benefit more from this than the FIFO workers?

Why? What makes a "regular" traveller? Is it the once a year family holiday traveller? A businessman traveller? Why are FIFO classed as "irregular" travellers?

 

[RooFlyer]

And they could construct the whole lounge in concrete - even the tables and chairs - for easy hosing at the end of the sessions. And to cater to the whole mining community, they could have a fancy side area for geologists, with offerings like Chai and other herbal teas. With a good noise partition to keep the technical conversations and big words from interfering with the Jimmy Barnes in the main worker's area?

Sniff. Chai? This is what I'd be looking for in a Geologist's Lounge:

 

[Mattg]

Why? What makes a "regular" traveller? Is it the once a year family holiday traveller? A businessman traveller? Why are FIFO classed as "irregular" travellers?

I used inverted commas for a reason. What I meant is that sending miners/FIFO workers into a separate lounge would reduce crowding for those who do not work in the mining/resources industry and remain in the regular lounge.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

The emphasis really should be on offering a different lounge product. I am sure many travellers would enjoy a pub or bar like atmosphere. I've seen them create it for themselves on a weekly basis in PER! People would vote with their feet and end up where they felt most comfortable. Regardless of stereotypes. However I can't help but wonder if a pub or bar like atmosphere would change people's behaviour and cause them to drink more, with all the attendant problems.

 

[kamchatsky]

I thought the whole mining and resources sectors are crashing to a halt?

Maybe VA should make a Platinum Lounge. Only accessed by Platinum members of VA (or equivalent). The food/drinks should be higher quality than the standard lounge.

 

[Ausbt]

Maybe VA should make a Platinum Lounge. Only accessed by Platinum members of VA (or equivalent). The food/drinks should be higher quality than the standard lounge.

As a VA WP, I wholeheartedly agree. Let's keep the stripper pole though, huh?

 

[RooFlyer]

Of course at HBA, any Virgin lounge would be welcome. Tourism is going nuts.