Will Virgin Australia international lounges ever return?

[andrewpf]

I don't think they need to open their own international lounges given their currently limited international network; but they should provide access to a third party lounge.

I think the problem is both that gold and platinum flyers have a reasonable expectation of lounge access given that is a benefit of their domestic travel; and that business class travellers absolutely should expect it.

Maybe they should rebrand their international business on the 737 as premium economy; but it still doesn't deal with status travel.
I get there is a cost involved, but they made the call to keep the status component of the Velocity program when they rebooted it, it should have some level of consistency.

I won't hold my breath though to be honest. Maybe an alternative is to arrange discounted access to one of the pay-in lounges for premium passengers? Surely some kind of no cost/low cost deal could be struck in this regard.

 

[GrahamBRI]

I think the problem is both that gold and platinum flyers have a reasonable expectation of lounge access given that is a benefit of their domestic travel; and that business class travellers absolutely should expect it.

Agree open to one class "business" open to all "lounge members", VA could price "business" for 3rd party lounge access, but I think would force an unnecessary price increase to their domestic lounge members..... as an aside, from my fading memory, the original Domestic Qantas Club's did not provide access to business passengers, only to Club members......... is this correct?

 

[Roflco]

Yeah I’m one of the foolish ones who didn’t even think to check. I’m VA WP and booked a trip to Fiji (ex BNE) in sept. Just stuck with VA because I thought the lounge was a given!

Don’t suppose anyone has any paid recommendations for lounge in BNE for 2 adults, a 5 year old and a 2 year old? Not sure if the plaza premium etc is worth it versus just sitting at a cafe

Post automatically merged: Mar 13, 2023

Dragonpass apparently has access to the air Fiji lounge for the return leg, so considering that

 

[stm1sydney]

I'm happy to keep $300 or more (compared to the competition) in my pocket in lieu of lounge access. Thanks VA.

 

[Stealthflyer]

We just checked in for our J flights to Bali at HBA and we were told we could go to the Virgin international lounge at Sydney airport when we transit. Am I going mad or is there no such thing? Has the arrangement with the House quietly recommenced? It would make my day if so.

 

[Human]

We just checked in for our J flights to Bali at HBA and we were told we could go to the Virgin international lounge at Sydney airport when we transit. Am I going mad or is there no such thing? Has the arrangement with the House quietly recommenced? It would make my day if so.

There's no Virgin international lounge at SYD. Unfortunately the check-in agent in Hobart got it wrong.

 

[Milefest]

We just checked in for our J flights to Bali at HBA and we were told we could go to the Virgin international lounge at Sydney airport when we transit. Am I going mad or is there no such thing? Has the arrangement with the House quietly recommenced? It would make my day if so.

Depending how long your layover is, you can use the SYD dom lounge on arrival, just ensure you leave enough time for the T1 transfer and security.

 

[jakeseven7]

We just checked in for our J flights to Bali at HBA and we were told we could go to the Virgin international lounge at Sydney airport when we transit. Am I going mad or is there no such thing? Has the arrangement with the House quietly recommenced? It would make my day if so.

Did the same well informed agent give you access to the HBA VA lounge

 

[Stealthflyer]

Depending how long your layover is, you can use the SYD dom lounge on arrival, just ensure you leave enough time for the T1 transfer and security.

Yeah I do that when I have long transfers in MEL because the VA lounge has better coffee than the SK lounge. I get nervous about the bus transfer between terminals at SYD though so I decided to go straight through. In the end it was super quiet today at SYD international. No queues. Only 3 of us on the international transfer bus.

 

[Stealthflyer]

There's no Virgin international lounge at SYD. Unfortunately the check-in agent in Hobart got it wrong.

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I assumed so. It was wishful thinking on my behalf. Last time I flew VA to Bali I was able to access the House and it was brill. That was pre-covid of course.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

VA has gone "mid scale", so same/a bit lower cost, even for J/VA status pax, but no int lounge included in that fare.
Should be an LCC!
But don't fret, consider this, when they start their flights from CNS - HND, there is also no lounge access included in the J fare, or for status pax.
Looks like VA and JH are happy for it to remain this way.
Ie, you want the extras, you pay for the extras extra.

 

[BAM1748]

Virgin sunk itself by spending more than they had income.

private equity won’t want a dollar spent on anything unless they can see when the return on that spend will happen.

Private equity senior management wouldn’t be flying Virgin international. There’re up the front on QF or Singapore or someone else.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

as an aside, from my fading memory, the original Domestic Qantas Club's did not provide access to business passengers, only to Club members......... is this correct?

First class, and club members.

I can’t remember the point where business class got access, might have been when first was abolished, or there might have been a short transition where they overlapped?

 

[LetsJustGo]

Yeah I almost booked a redemption business flight on VA to HND - so glad I realised it’s not really business at all before I did! Then was going to pay cash for the same flights, and realised there wasn’t even lounge access.

As VA Gold I really hope they change this soon, it definitely makes me reconsider chasing status with VA

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For LetsJustGo, it depends on price.
For some, maybe its ok to pay the cheaper price for Aust city -> CNS -> HND and back, without lounge access in CNS, they might not mind, as its quite cheap, $35xx or so, in quasi J, which is cheaper than the competition.
NH via SYD/PER might be ok in premY, also no lounge access, but a bit easier than going via CNS, if a flyer lives closer to SYD/PER.
If a flyer lives in BNE/Qld, then maybe going VAi via CNS is apt/suits.
I would probably save a bit, and then go ADL -> SIN -> HND and back.
Granted that the SQ flight will never carry a VA flight number, I don't think, but VFF points and SC are still earnable on SQ.
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As for if VAi will ever bring back lounge access, via a lounge provider in an int airport, that is included in the VAi fare, don't think so.
They have said they are now a "mid range airline".

 

[Digicola]

As for if VAi will ever bring back lounge access, via a lounge provider in an int airport, that is included in the VAi fare, don't think so.
They have said they are now a "mid range airline".

Meanwhile Jetstar is a full out low cost airlines but offer lounge access on business fares…