Virgin Australia Golds lose LAX lounge access

[Jurahn]

Hmmm, starting to wonder whether I'll even be able to get INTO the EY lounge on my return trip from the US in April. This is part of a recent post (Jan 17) from a very annoyed WP on the Velocity FB page:

And then when making my return to Sydney my colleagues who are Gold members were given 10,000 points as Virgin had lost its lounge access rights. As a Platinum member I was permitted to use the Etihad lounge...or at least I would have if it hadn't been completely full and told it would clear out once the Sydney flight departed (which I was on)! I'd rather take the 10,000 points thanks!!

My flight from SEA doesn't arrive at LAX until around 1940, so I'm guessing the lounge is going to be pretty full by that point ... wonder how/if VA is going to compensate pax who are turned away from the EY lounge because there's no room, as I can see it being more than just a one-off occurrence.

 

[andrewpf]

Just out of curiosity re: T2 /T3 move ... I thought there was also a highly regarded Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in the terminal. Wonder if VA will get access to it beyond passengers travelling on VS.

 

[serfty]

The LAX clubhouse is smallish. It used to be jammed when VA flew out of there.

Note with the move VX are moving to T6 - probably using the Alaska lounge before they merge with them.

 

[CPMaverick]

In the EY lounge now, just before the Sydney flight boards. It is nearly completely packed. They told me it would be 30 minutes until boarding so I could come back then (I'm on the Brisbane flight), but I walked in without any objection and did find a seat at the bar.

Definitely no room for Golds here and honestly there shouldn't be any Economy passengers here if this is the result (although I am flying Y it isn't fair to those who pay for business).

It's a giant fall from the Star Alliance lounge.

 

[Quickstatus]

In the EY lounge now, just before the Sydney flight boards. It is nearly completely packed. They told me it would be 30 minutes until boarding so I could come back then (I'm on the Brisbane flight), but I walked in without any objection and did find a seat at the bar.

Definitely no room for Golds here and honestly there shouldn't be any Economy passengers here if this is the result (although I am flying Y it isn't fair to those who pay for business).

It's a giant fall from the Star Alliance lounge.

People sitting on the floors? Shower queues?

 

[CPMaverick]

Didn't see anyone on floors but several families queuing at the entrance waiting for seats near each other. Other people holding seats waiting for Syd pax to leave. Queue in the men's toilet. Not sure about the showers, I don't see any.

 

[Quickstatus]

The whole point if a lounge is somewhere quiet to sit and to have a drink or three. Maybe a shower before flight. Sounds like a zoo

Apart from showers it would be better patronising one of the several food outlets/bars at TBIT.

http://www.lawa.org/uploadedfiles/lax/pdf/tbit.pdf

 

[CPMaverick]

I'd certainly take the 40 dollar voucher in most cases. Although they do have a nice liquor selection here and bar service is pretty good.

 

[Quickstatus]

It looks nice when quiet but Id rather go somewhere a bit quieter if possible

First Look: Etihad's New LAX Lounge - One Mile at a Time

What are some nice restaurants at TBIT

 

[Jurahn]

The whole point if a lounge is somewhere quiet to sit and to have a drink or three. Maybe a shower before flight. Sounds like a zoo

Exactly, somewhere for a bit of a quiet time and maybe freshen up before the long haul back to Australia, especially if you've come in on a connecting flight that day as well. As a female travelling on my own (as I will be on this upcoming trip to the US), I feel more secure and a bit more "at ease" being in a decent lounge. I don't enjoy flying (it's a necessary evil LOL) and tend to be a nervous traveller, so time in the lounge allows me to relax and get in the right mindset for the trip ahead as well, especially with long international flights - I don't drink alcohol so the bar's neither here nor there for me, but being able to have something to eat and find a quiet corner to potter about on the iPad, read a book etc is important to me, and lounge access is one of the reasons we've worked hard to keep status (all self-funded travel).

Reports such as CPMaverick's do not sound good at all .

 

[Quickstatus]

With the airside tunnels between tbit, t4 t5 and t6 there will be scope to wander between the terminals and check out some restaurants and not be restricted to tbit

 

[CPMaverick]

There is an airside tunnel from TBIT?

After SYD pax left the lounge was not bad. I would still say it was 'near capacity' though.

I found out the showers were being discreetly wait listed by the staff, who were excellent. But it seemed to be 3 or 4 people deep and there is only one shower for men and one for women.

It's a nice little lounge when not overstuffed.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yep after security there is a tunnel connecting airside (after security) TBIT-T4-T5-T6

See the map link upthread and look for "connector to T4"

 

[liamsal]

I wonder what lounge access I will have - it looks like the Etihad lounge opens @ 1:30pm but my flight from LAX-BNE departs at 11:30am (yes, AM). Flying VA J as Gold.

 

[serfty]

I wonder what lounge access I will have - it looks like the Etihad lounge opens @ 1:30pm but my flight from LAX-BNE departs at 11:30am (yes, AM). Flying VA J as Gold.

I suspect the EY lounge will be open for those Sunday BNE flights at least until the move from TBIT in a few months ...

 

[fewings85]

Agree with Jurahn. I loved the *A lounge it was really nice. I was abit surprised they removed VA, I cant say I had been there a heap, I had been there twice, once before flying J on Singapore Airlines and the second time being when I was flying PE on VA after reaching my Gold status. Both times I had come in from Colombia earlier in the day and the ability to freshen up with a shower and enjoy a relaxing seat with a drink on the balcony watching a movie on the laptop was great. Both times the lounge was relatively quiet, there was plenty of room so I don't know why they needed to remove VA PAX. I man yes maybe I just got lucky on both times and it usually is busy but I really am going to miss access to that lounge.

In March ill be coming in from Vancouver and will have a 5 hour lay over so I'm sure I will miss that shower opportunity.

I will see what happen as I think my next trip will be after the move in with DL so I will give them a go just to see what the new DL Sky Club is like. Otherwise I will seriously consider using Air NZ for my LAX trips so I can get the *A access. I can still earn my Points and SC's however I believe I will just lose the 75% points bonus for being gold? Being based in Perth flying out with Air NZ I believe just departing Perth I wont have lounge access correct? As I think Air NZ use Qantas lounge in Perth and I doubt as a VA Gold I would get access to that, I can live with that however, will have access to Kora on the lay over in AKL and the *A. I did enjoy flying Air NZ the one time I did use them back in 2011 so happy to try flying them once again.

 

[grubbidok]

I suspect the EY lounge will be open for those Sunday BNE flights at least until the move from TBIT in a few months ...

Surely if being with VA has taught us anything over the last few months it's that we shouldn't rely on assumptions of what "should" be

 

[serfty]

Surely if being with VA has taught us anything over the last few months it's that we shouldn't rely on assumptions of what "should" be

Well, considering the EY lounge is staying open late for the VA SYD/MEL/(Midweek)BNE flights, then it quite reasonable to expect that lounge would open early for the VA Sunday BNE flights.

But, yes, I take your point.

 

[AviationNZ]

Being based in Perth flying out with Air NZ I believe just departing Perth I wont have lounge access correct? As I think Air NZ use Qantas lounge in Perth and I doubt as a VA Gold I would get access to that, I can live with that however, will have access to Kora on the lay over in AKL and the *A. I did enjoy flying Air NZ the one time I did use them back in 2011 so happy to try flying them once again.

Supposedly Air NZ is getting a lounge in Perth this year. Rumour are it'll be ready in the second half of the year.

 

[fewings85]

any links to that info? that would be grand if that's the case, would have lounge access all the way including *A in LA. I will still try giving the new Sky Lounge a go one time just to see what its like. If no good and Air NZ get a lounge in perth I would be very tempted to use them across to LAX! Even if I for go the 75% points loading.