Virgin Blue & Priority Pass Lounge Access Ending Aug 1 2011

[serfty]

I have used PP once - at the LAS CO lounge whilst awaiting my AA flight to LAX.

(luckily AA use the same terminal area as CO)

 

[JRT]

re: Virgin Blue & Priority Pass Lounge Access Ending Aug 1 2011

Lounge staff told me this will now be extended to 31Jul11 to allow a 'grace period'.

 

[pshepvic]

I've never used the PP membership since I've had the charge card!

I think I might email the feedback to the Amex reps we met at the "AFF5" lunch on Tuesday.

What do we want to tell them?

Remove the full PP from the Plat charge card and the limited PP membership from the Plat reserve card benefits?

Is there anyone that would still use it?

Or would you like the option of that or something else?

What benefit would you like to see instead? (be realistic - I guess the PP value is about $250-300 isn't it? So maybe something worth similar to that?)

 

[serfty]

...

Remove the full PP from the Plat charge card and the limited PP membership from the Plat reserve card benefits?

Is there anyone that would still use it? ...

Absolutely I would continue to use it. The reserve gives 2 'free' admissions per year.

As a WP with Qantas I get access to most oneworld lounges when travelling *O. As a Velocity Gold I get access to many Virgin lounges when travelling Virgin. As a Air New Zealand Gold Elite I get access to most Star Alliance lounges when travelling *A.

The few times a year I would use it make it quite reasonable.

 

[Mal]

re: Virgin Blue & Priority Pass Lounge Access Ending Aug 1 2011

I can't see PP paying DJ more than $US20 / entry. Likely less. So that would likely be the reason for the cut (esp. when it cuts into their market for single use lounge entry tix).

In Australia (where lounges tend to be "full service"), I'm not sure that accepting PP is actually that viable.

 

[pshepvic]

Absolutely I would continue to use it. The reserve gives 2 'free' admissions per year.

As a WP with Qantas I get access to most oneworld lounges when travelling *O. As a Velocity Gold I get access to many Virgin lounges when travelling Virgin. As a Air New Zealand Gold Elite I get access to most Star Alliance lounges when travelling *A.

The few times a year I would use it make it quite reasonable.

No worries - I'll suggest they think about providing some options rather than get rid of it - kind of like QF do at 2400 SCs.

Maybe PP membership, or a bonus 30k FF points each year!

 

[oz_mark]

re: Virgin Blue & Priority Pass Lounge Access Ending Aug 1 2011

No worries - I'll suggest they think about providing some options rather than get rid of it - kind of like QF do at 2400 SCs.

Maybe PP membership, or a bonus 30k FF points each year!

..or a The Lounge Membership

 

[pshepvic]

..or a The Lounge Membership

Yes that had also crossed my mind!

What would I do with my gold membership then though?

 

[JRT]

re: Virgin Blue & Priority Pass Lounge Access Ending Aug 1 2011

Yes that had also crossed my mind!

What would I do with my gold membership then though?

anytime DJ lounge access on your Gold!

 

[Foreigner]

Virgin Australia and Priority Pass Access Comes to an End

Just received newsletter from PP to say this:

"We regret to inform you that effective 1 August 2011, Virgin Blue’s ‘The Lounge’ lounges at Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne International, Perth and Sydney Kingsford Smith airports in Australia will no longer accept Priority Pass cardholders. Rest assured, as the world’s largest independent airport lounge access program, we remain committed to looking for new lounge partners in Australia and other countries worldwide."

Let's see who else they can tie up with.

 

[nlagalle]

Just received newsletter from PP to say this:

"We regret to inform you that effective 1 August 2011, Virgin Blue’s ‘The Lounge’ lounges at Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne International, Perth and Sydney Kingsford Smith airports in Australia will no longer accept Priority Pass cardholders. Rest assured, as the world’s largest independent airport lounge access program, we remain committed to looking for new lounge partners in Australia and other countries worldwide."

Let's see who else they can tie up with.

Not sure how they'd do it domestically as there are no other lounge operators.

 

[TonyHancock]

Got the email too. PP was always a back up for me in Oz. (I still use it internationally though.)

 

[pshepvic]

Not sure how they'd do it domestically as there are no other lounge operators.

Rex perhaps? lol

Or maybe QF? Another possible enhancement for them to make the lounges more crowded!

 

[Foreigner]

I would prefer lounge access at international ports - SYD in particular.

 

[N860CR]

Actually the small handful of Rex Lounges wouldn't be a terrible option for them to look at. They're not to the same standard of the QF/DJ facilities (ie: should be cheaper for PP) and they're fairly well located (if I can remember correctly, haven't been in one for ages).

 

[MH_fan]

That's such a shame that PP membership will no longer be valid for Virgin Australia's lounges. That was the main reason I still fly Virgin. I have no reason to fly Virgin anymore now that I've attained gold with Qantas. I don't know if I'll even renew my PP membership since I no longer have any use for it. I always fly MH business interntionally, so I have lounge access that way and I'll have OneWorld lounge access now that I've reached gold with QF.

 

[clifford]

That's such a shame that PP membership will no longer be valid for Virgin Australia's lounges. That was the main reason I still fly Virgin. I have no reason to fly Virgin anymore now that I've attained gold with Qantas. I don't know if I'll even renew my PP membership since I no longer have any use for it. I always fly MH business interntionally, so I have lounge access that way and I'll have OneWorld lounge access now that I've reached gold with QF.

It is a real shame, and will cost DJ my money. I am QF Gold also, and even though their fares are a little higher, the value equation is much better now.

PP is indeed a strange animal for me (I've been a member for several years). I'm Star Gold, Qantas Gold and Emirates Gold and I also have a Diners card. There aren't that many lounges that I'm not already covered for, so probably I'll be looking carefully at renewing my PP next year.

But, if I weren't Gold with Star, QF and EK, and I didn't have Diners, I would find PP to be really great!

 

[kh01]

Not happy Virgin!!!! Not happy PP!!!!I was blissfully unaware of this change. I don't recall seeing any email from either Virgin or PP about this and if I did get an email it clearly was not made obvious. I walked in to The Lounge in SYD this morning and was refused access...Time to rethink my domestic airline allegiance!

 

[pshepvic]

Not happy Virgin!!!! Not happy PP!!!!I was blissfully unaware of this change. I don't recall seeing any email from either Virgin or PP about this and if I did get an email it clearly was not made obvious. I walked in to The Lounge in SYD this morning and was refused access...Time to rethink my domestic airline allegiance!

Refer to Post #50 above. PP did send an email to members to advise a few weeks ago.

 

[kh01]

Refer to Post #50 above. PP did send an email to members to advise a few weeks ago.

Noted. But like I said...I don't recall seeing any email from either Virgin or PP about this and if I did get an email it clearly was not made obvious.