Virgin Lounge Access changes for International Short and Long Haul

[Wayne Herring]

Lounge access for Short Haul International/Hawaiian

Not sure if anyone had noticed previously but the lounge access page appears to have been updated and suggests that Gold and Platinum members on Short Haul International and Hawaiian Airlines Flights are now eligible for lounge access in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Lounge Access with Velocity Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

 

[777]

Re: Lounge access for Short Haul International/Hawaiian

Not sure if anyone had noticed previously but the lounge access page appears to have been updated and suggests that Gold and Platinum members on Short Haul International and Hawaiian Airlines Flights are now eligible for lounge access in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Lounge Access with Velocity Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

Well spotted! That's great. Has cleared up access and basically made it consistent across the board: HA, VS, DL, DJ short haul etc. Belated but very welcome!

 

[moa999]

Re: Lounge access for Short Haul International/Hawaiian

Good pickup.

Some interesting access rights - AirNZ lounge in Syd when flying Virgin Atlantic, something that a Koru Club member will not get.

Presume it also includes AirNZ lounges in Syd,Mel,BNE when flying Etihad as these are listed as Etihad Partner lounges.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Lounge access for Short Haul International/Hawaiian

Sorry to plead ignorance, but was DJ short haul international ineligible for lounge access before? Seems unusual.

HA is new - good to hear that's been patched in.

Some interesting access rights - AirNZ lounge in Syd when flying Virgin Atlantic, something that a Koru Club member will not get.

Oh well, poor KC sods.

Seriously though, VS use the NZ lounge as their contracted lounge in SYD. Since Velocity elites must have a lounge when flying on partner VS, that is why they gain access.

When VA/EY build their new lounge in SYD T1, the lounge access landscape may change.

Presume it also includes AirNZ lounges in Syd,Mel,BNE when flying Etihad as these are listed as Etihad Partner lounges.

Seems that's fair enough. I hope that EY's third party lounges (if any) at other outstations are also aware of these rules. I know that's a contrived point, but nonetheless......

 

[leemin]

Re: Lounge access for Short Haul International/Hawaiian

It appears to me that you now also get access to Koru lounges when flying on any ANZ flight anywhere. It used to be just trans-Tasman and NZ domestic flights that were eligible. Good news!

 

[anat0l]

Re: Lounge access for Short Haul International/Hawaiian

It appears to me that you now also get access to Koru lounges when flying on any ANZ flight anywhere. It used to be just trans-Tasman and NZ domestic flights that were eligible. Good news!

The lounge table still implies that you can't use the KCs if you have a flight to the Pacific Islands. This, however, seems to only apply to lounges in New Zealand and in said Pacific Islands.

I'm not too sure but I think only NZ elites and KC members can use KCs on such Pacific Island flights. Someone better pull me up on that one if it is incorrect.

Also, a slight N.B. on NZ rights (not a big deal), but it seems for NZ "short haul" (e.g. domestic and Trans-Tasman), VA WPs can take 3 guests, but on NZ long haul, only 1 guest.

 

[leemin]

The lounge table still implies that you can't use the KCs if you have a flight to the Pacific Islands. This, however, seems to only apply to lounges in New Zealand and in said Pacific Islands.

I'm not too sure but I think only NZ elites and KC members can use KCs on such Pacific Island flights. Someone better pull me up on that one if it is incorrect.

Also, a slight N.B. on NZ rights (not a big deal), but it seems for NZ "short haul" (e.g. domestic and Trans-Tasman), VA WPs can take 3 guests, but on NZ long haul, only 1 guest.

Quite right. A rather large omission from my post. You are correct on all 3 points as far as I'm aware.

 

[markis10]

About time (from the latest newsletter for Gold and Platinum members only)

Lounge access on international flights

You and a guest can now access the Air New Zealand Koru lounge on Virgin Australia and Virgin Samoa international short-haul flights to the Pacific Islands, Denpasar, Honiara and Port Moresby departing from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Members and one guest can also access the Air New Zealand Koru lounge on flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic.[SUP]8[/SUP] Find out more.

Virgin Australia lounge Members have reciprocal access to Air New Zealand lounges[SUP]+ [/SUP]^^ in Australia and New Zealand. This gives guests a total of 24 lounges to relax in comfort prior to Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand Trans Tasman and domestic flight departures.
Note:

Reciprocal access applies to Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand owned and operated lounges only. Access to partner and contract lounges is not available. E.g. Access to Air New Zealand contract lounges in Adelaide and Perth for Velocity Platinum and Gold Members and Virgin Australia lounge members is not available.
Air New Zealand lounge access is not permitted when flying on flights other than flights between Australia and New Zealand, i.e. flights to the Pacific Islands, Bali and Papua New Guinea.

• Eligible Members and guests will be given applicable documentation to enter regional Koru lounges at the Air New Zealand check-in counters in these ports.

Virgin Australia international long haul Business Class guests and Velocity Platinum and Gold members can access selected international airport lounge locations operated by airline partners when travelling internationally.
* Subject to space availability
[SUP]+[/SUP] Air New Zealand lounge access is not permitted for flights other than flights between Australia and New Zealand, i.e., flights to the Pacific Islands, Bali and Papua New Guinea.
^^ Virgin Australia lounge members must be travelling on a Trans Tasman journey with either Virgin Australia or Air New Zealand, or domestic Air New Zealand flight to access Air New Zealand lounges.

 

[straitman]

A great improvement IMHO.

 

[TonyHancock]

Looks to be good news......but I still can't help feeling that it is all too complicated with VA's partners when flying internationally.

 

[k3nnis]

How about the AMEX Plat charge card holders? Does it apply to them?

 

[kamchatsky]

Updated Lounge Access for VA international flights on ANZ Koru Lounge

Got this in email. Please merge this if already reported:

You and a guest can now access the Air New Zealand Koru lounge on Virgin Australia and Virgin Samoa international short-haul flights to the Pacific Islands, Denpasar, Honiara and Port Moresby departing from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Members and one guest can also access the Air New Zealand Koru lounge on flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic.

Lounge Access with Velocity Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

 

[moa999]

Re: Updated Lounge Access for VA international flights on ANZ Koru Lounge

Still no SQ lounge access when flying on SilkAir, which is a pain for many Asian connections.