Virgin Australia Golds lose LAX lounge access

[rtyuiop]

Ok so what LAX lounge can a VA WP flying out of LAX on VA2 J class get into?

Either a J boarding pass or a WP card will get you into the Etihad lounge as I understand it.

 

[Ausbt]

The Malin + Goetz products

Definitely a plus yes. Somewhat negated by Starbucks coffee though. I found two espressso shots followed by a top-up of coffee could impersonate a long black with something of a crema, but those Delta coffee machines are a struggle. 'Breakfast' is appalling, absolutely appalling. Some weird combo of granola and jars of various cranberries, pepita and sunflower seeds along with blueberry bagels. I mean if the JFK lounge is a flagship as it gets for Delta, its acceptable but not *A standard. And Miller Lite, geeze.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Not a great deal to add here but to also show my disappointment.

USA is 90% of my flying and this is ordinary.

I have 3 x Gold in my family and I am about to be WP. I have long been a supporter of VA and spent plenty of cash with them. This type of thing is poor IMO.

VA wonder why customers become increasingly less tolerant and vote with their wallet

 

[fewings85]

Not a great deal to add here but to also show my disappointment.

USA is 90% of my flying and this is ordinary.

I have 3 x Gold in my family and I am about to be WP. I have long been a supporter of VA and spent plenty of cash with them. This type of thing is poor IMO.

VA wonder why customers become increasingly less tolerant and vote with their wallet

Although this may not be their fault, its come from star alliance with little or no warning. I just hope their statement of "we are vigorously trying find a solution and making this a priority to rectify" is true.

I'm in your boat 90% of my flying is to LAX, (next flight back to SYD from LAX is march 7 and my return leg is only economy) and I'm hoping something is in place before then!

I'm one of those who would really wish they would join star alliance. As I also frequent Colombia a lot and usually on the same trips. I Usually fly with Copa or if not them Avianca who are both star alliance. This would allow me to earn VA SC and I would probably end up hitting platinum. I can go with Delta Via ATL but usually the flight times don't line up well.

Do people think VA will sort anything out or they wont bother due to the mid-year move to T5 with Delta?

 

[Jack_OC]

Although this may not be their fault, its come from star alliance with little or no warning.

If a third party (Star Alliance) that VA engaged to provide a service was able to unilaterally stop providing that service with little or no warning, then I would say it most definitely is VA's fault.

 

[Pleb Status]

If a third party (Star Alliance) that VA engaged to provide a service was able to unilaterally stop providing that service with little or no warning, then I would say it most definitely is VA's fault.

The *A lounge operator may have stated that they would only provide VA pax access if VA accepted a one day termination period in the Contract.

As other options appear to be very limited, VA may have been 'forced' to accept this condition.

 

[Jack_OC]

The *A lounge operator may have stated that they would only provide VA pax access if VA accepted a one day termination period in the Contract.

As other options appear to be very limited, VA may have been 'forced' to accept this condition.

I think you're being a bit kind to VA. Even in the very unlikely event that *A imposed such unreasonable terms, then VA should have focussed on making alternative arrangements since Day 1 of their agreement to use this lounge, as it should have been clear all along that it was nothing more than a temporary arrangement.

 

[Pleb Status]

I think you're being a bit kind to VA. Even in the very unlikely event that *A imposed such unreasonable terms, then VA should have focussed on making alternative arrangements since Day 1 of their agreement to use this lounge, as it should have been clear all along that it was nothing more than a temporary arrangement.

This could be one of the driving reasons for VA moving in with DL at T2/T3 in April. Also, if an alternative was available with better terms and conditions, VA most likely would have gone that way in the first place.

We all accept terms and conditions in Contracts that we would never accept if we had the choice. However, if demand is high and/or there are a limited number of providers, you just have to take what is on offer.

 

[Jack_OC]

This could be one of the driving reasons for VA moving in with DL at T2/T3 in April. Also, if an alternative was available with better terms and conditions, VA most likely would have gone that way in the first place.

We all accept terms and conditions in Contracts that we would never accept if we had the choice. However, if demand is high and/or there are a limited number of providers, you just have to take what is on offer.

According to the rep quoted by AusBt this week "This is a temporary situation and we are working on a solution as a priority." If they have had no certainty whatsoever about their ability to use the *A lounge since day 1 (which was a long time ago now), then this is not "a temporary situation" and the statement about them "working on a solution as a priority" makes no sense.

Also, let's not forget that VA made arrangements for Platinums and J pax to move to the EY lounge instead of the *A lounge as of mid December. Do you honestly believe that they had not already been given notice by *A well before then? If so, fair enough, but as I said I think you're being a bit kind to VA.

 

[Pleb Status]

According to the rep quoted by AusBt this week "This is a temporary situation and we are working on a solution as a priority." If they have had no certainty whatsoever about their ability to use the *A lounge since day 1 (which was a long time ago now), then this is not "a temporary situation" and the statement about them "working on a solution as a priority" makes no sense.

Also, let's not forget that VA made arrangements for Platinums and J pax to move to the EY lounge instead of the *A lounge as of mid December. Do you honestly believe that they had not already been given notice by *A well before then? If so, fair enough, but as I said I think you're being a bit kind to VA.

Just because a Contract has a one day termination clause, it does not mean it will be used imminently (or at all) and is uncertain. As per your quote above, it appears that VA have genuinely been caught off guard by this *A announcement and are "working on a solution as a priority". The compensation they are paying is probably costing VA more than what they were paying for lounge access.

The change for J/WP pax appears to be tied into all of the other lounge changes that happened last year in Australia. I would say that as VA are looking to cut costs, VA retendered all of their partner lounge contracts late last year and awarded them to the lowest bidders. That is why they are now spread over various providers etc.

 

[Jack_OC]

Just because a Contract has a one day termination clause, it does not mean it will be used imminently (or at all) and is uncertain. As per your quote above, it appears that VA have genuinely been caught off guard by this *A announcement and are "working on a solution as a priority". The compensation they are paying is probably costing VA more than what they were paying for lounge access.

The change for J/WP pax appears to be tied into all of the other lounge changes that happened last year in Australia. I would say that as VA are looking to cut costs, VA retendered all of their partner lounge contracts late last year and awarded them to the lowest bidders. That is why they are now spread over various providers etc.

We're kind of going round in circles. If VA had a one day termination clause and they were still caught off guard when it was enforced, then that is undoubtedly incompetence on VA's part. No service provider would require such a clause unless they were unsure of their ability/willingness to deliver the service beyond tomorrow! So if *A really did insist on such a clause, it should have been clear to VA from the start that this was only a temporary arrangement, and they should have been looking for an alternative long before now, rather than being caught off guard when the inevitable happened.

In any case, I think a far more likely explanation is that VA got notice ages ago - i.e. well before they made new arrangements for Platinums/J pax - it made no sense when they initially announced EY for Platinum/J but still *A (a superior lounge) for Golds in Y/Y+. It suddenly did make sense when they announced that the reality was that Golds have no lounge access at all anymore. I suspect they hoped they could find an alternative for Golds before the deadline, so they decided to keep schtum til the last minute.

 

[fewings85]

well I just hope that statement regarding a "temporary situation and we are working on a solution as a priority" really is genuine. Mainly due to the fact I have a flight in early march and its not just going to be this compensation until they move into the new T5 with DL. Unless by temporary they mean ÿes temporary til we move in with Delta at T5 in a few months time" :\ I hope not.

Some valid points above and really gets me thinking about it all. As I said really just hope they work something out. Still wishing they join Star alliance.

 

[inkylegs]

No longer get access to star alliance Lounge in LA was redirected to Etihad lounge very nice but quite small. I'm now platinum not sure if gold were allowed in

 

[N860CR]

No longer get access to star alliance Lounge in LA was redirected to Etihad lounge very nice but quite small. I'm now platinum not sure if gold were allowed in

They're not... as this thread is discussing

 

[CPMaverick]

I think they'll put a lot of effort into the new lounge for the terminal Reno, hoping they have (as someone previously said) a separate area for international vs domestic.

Judging by the other DL Skyclubs in the system, the new club should be a lot better than the current T5 club.... but nothing as good as the *A lounge.

I don't know of any DL clubs that separate int'l and domestic passengers, even at their mega hub in ATL.

 

[serfty]

...

I don't know of any DL clubs that separate int'l and domestic passengers, even at their mega hub in ATL.

Although the newish ATL F SkyClub is pretty nice, presumably since it is in the terminal mainly used for international.

 

[CPMaverick]

Although the newish ATL F SkyClub is pretty nice, presumably since it is in the terminal mainly used for international.

It's a mixture of high revenue passengers in the international terminal and the fact that it is the newest terminal. I expect LAX to be similar, if there is enough space for it.

But like I said, better than T5 but it won't be on the same level as the *A TBIT.

 

[newmarket]

The new SkyClub at SFO is very nice.

 

[grubbidok]

Although the newish ATL F SkyClub is pretty nice, presumably since it is in the terminal mainly used for international.

Wandering between terminals is pretty easy at ATL - I often cruise over to the new lounge to sit outside on the deck on longer layovers. Never an issue getting in as long as there is ample time.

 

[fewings85]

I think next time im travelling to Colombia I will take DL on go through ATL, really want to see this lounge now.

Its funny how the CEO of Delta came out talking the new product at LAX up even saying it will surpass the current *A lounge at TBIT. Big words spoken! Not holding my breath but still keen to see it when it is finished.

Meanwhile I'm still sitting here hoping VA have found a solution until that move before my flight out on March 7th!