Int. Lounge Acess Changes from Nov. 1 2016

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Let's hope SQ and VA can implement a slightly better system to check memberships.

Got a call from a very PO'd director this morning who was rejected from the SQ lounge flying SYD-SIN as their Platinum card had "expired". Virgin are still showing "under review" on the account (even though WP requalified months ago).

To add insult, the preallocated forward aisle was taken away and replaced with a rear middle.

I'm sure it will cause the same issue in SIN...
 
What the hell?!?!?!:evil:

I'm a TT flyer so guess I'll be affected. Never tried to get into any SQ lounges in Oz before.

I really don't know what to make of this airline right now. There's bad news (airfare changes) then good news (flybuys and sc earn) then bad news (losing NZ lounges)......must be due some more good news next?:confused:
 
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What the hell is this? I do like the SQ lounge but it is smaller than the Air New Zealand one in Sydney..
Charging for spirits.. come on, this isn't America. It just feels insulting to ask for money in a place you already have to spend a considerable amount to have access to..
 
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Interesting thoughts - we'll see how it goes.

I wonder why the shift - strategic shift, frosty NZ relationship...? And, is that an improvement or not, i.e. using SQ's lounges over NZ's?

This will be interesting in ports where there is no SQ lounge, although there is a NZ one. You'd think they'd just retain that existing agreement.

Why the temporary period with no lounge access? This is not a new lounge being built or anything, just a switch of providers, why the need for a dead delay period? If the delay was unavoidable, then why not ask other lounge providers for temporary access? I suppose during that time VA will have to offer some suitable compensation in the form of vouchers or the like if they cannot procure a suitable interim service.

.....must be due some more good news next?:confused:

Well according to the quoted article,

But as previously reported by Australinea, all the right pieces are in play – Virgin just needs to start delivering. There has never been a question of if Virgin Australia can be profitable, but rather when.

I guess if Qantas is anything to go by, we were loading on the flak like no tomorrow when the red roo was bleeding and down in the dumps. Now they've turned around, one could surmise that Virgin has to go the same way (i.e. eventually go back up without going in the toilet).

They are CHARGING for spirits? What. A. Joke.

That'd be interesting to see. So they'd have to maintain a cash float and card terminal at the bar? (No credit card fee for paying for drinks I hope). Would status members get a few free drinks (or WP get all of their drinks for free)? How much would they charge - surely they'd be a bit mad to charge prices near that of what the retailers do so outside the lounge, let alone the common city bar. If they are going to charge for it, then would the quality of the products offered be better, or would they go further, e.g. offer coughtails?

Sounds a bit like how the USA do their lounge bars, without the tipping, of course.

Anyone think that VA might be battling a complex within themselves which hypothesises that the introduction of free spirits might induce bouts of rowdiness, disobedience or disorder which they are fearful of?


Are we supposed to take this article as authoritative or is it just speculation?
 
If this article is true it is terrible news. The Air NZ lounge in Sydney is great, much better than Singapore's. JB must have really pissed off Luxon!

I hope we don't lose LAX *A lounge too. Although I think I remember reading this is in fact on the cards when Delta finish the T5 reno.
 
A week without a lounge ??? this has to be a joke… Also the source of the information seems interesting … started in July 2016 with very limited information
 
A week without a lounge ??? this has to be a joke… Also the source of the information seems interesting … started in July 2016 with very limited information

Someone posted on my Facebook group a week or so ago that the lounge access was being removed from non-premium VA FF on transpacific flights ex-AKL.
 
Someone posted on my Facebook group a week or so ago that the lounge access was being removed from non-premium VA FF on transpacific flights ex-AKL.

I knew things between VA and NZ were rocky..... but not that bad !

Wonder if this is the start of the end of the JSA ?
 
I knew things between VA and NZ were rocky..... but not that bad !

Wonder if this is the start of the end of the JSA ?

Mmmmmm unlikely - NZ hate VA now - but they also don't want to be crushed by the pincer movement of QF / Jetstar NZ / Jetstar AU / AA and EK who have all been masterfully coordinated by QF to attack them from all angles.

If they kissed the JSA goodbye, their trans Tasman business would be very vulnerable again.
 
Thats sad, I like they ANZ lounges over the SilverKris lounge.

Big question, what about LAX?
 
Thats sad, I like they ANZ lounges over the SilverKris lounge.

Big question, what about LAX?


Im flying BNE-LAX via AKL next March, and hope that VA WP still have access to the Star Alliance NZ lounge. Also interested to see if I have lounge access in AKL
 
Sounds a bit like how the USA do their lounge bars, without the tipping, of course.

That may be the "good news next" to which NZflygirl was referring ...

Press Release:

"We here at VA, after listening intently to our valued customers, are proudly extending our in-lounge visit the USA without leaving home experience by complementing our widely acclaimed, pay for use spirits offering, with the much requested tipping for coughpy service, or receive none policy. We know all our most important guests will be as excited as we are here at VA with such an innovative new product."
 
Mmmmmm unlikely - NZ hate VA now - but they also don't want to be crushed by the pincer movement of QF / Jetstar NZ / Jetstar AU / AA and EK who have all been masterfully coordinated by QF to attack them from all angles.

If they kissed the JSA goodbye, their trans Tasman business would be very vulnerable again.

I'm still of the opinion that they saw off the threat from VA themselves when Pacific Blue ceased to be. I always found Pacific Blue to be great value, and I'm sure it would have made a profit far sooner and have been far more trusted in NZ than QF ever was. When they eliminated those routes and stopped them from operating domestically (IIRC) they got rid of their biggest competition. So, having seen how ANZ has played them, I certainly hope they consider operating domestically again at some stage and give them a real run for their money.
 
I'm still of the opinion that they saw off the threat from VA themselves when Pacific Blue ceased to be. I always found Pacific Blue to be great value, and I'm sure it would have made a profit far sooner and have been far more trusted in NZ than QF ever was. When they eliminated those routes and stopped them from operating domestically (IIRC) they got rid of their biggest competition. So, having seen how ANZ has played them, I certainly hope they consider operating domestically again at some stage and give them a real run for their money.

They pulled out of domestic NZ operations because they were bleeding money.

The decision to pull out of the domestic market came after the airline lost millions of dollars in the New Zealand market. Virgin Blue's chief executive, John Borghetti, said there was no end in sight to Pacific Blue losing money in New Zealand because three airlines were competing for travellers in a country of just four million people.

Even now I suspect this would be true, either Jetstar or Virgin would have to go.

 
I'm still of the opinion that they saw off the threat from VA themselves when Pacific Blue ceased to be. I always found Pacific Blue to be great value, and I'm sure it would have made a profit far sooner and have been far more trusted in NZ than QF ever was. When they eliminated those routes and stopped them from operating domestically (IIRC) they got rid of their biggest competition. So, having seen how ANZ has played them, I certainly hope they consider operating domestically again at some stage and give them a real run for their money.

I'm of the opinion Pacific Blue was never ever going to last in NZ, wrong business model, wrong planes, wrong strategy and not enough money. In fact by exiting, it opened the door for a much more lethal opponent, Jetstar NZ and a dressed up QFLink (essentially!) diving into their monopoly regional routes which is now causing them more damage than Pacific Blue could ever have dreamed of. I would rate the chance of Virgin returning to NZ domestic at around .01% :)
 
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