No Virgin Lounge Access for International or Red-Eye Flights

If you have a Virgin Australia Lounge membership, a Business Class ticket or hold Velocity Gold or Platinum status, you can normally use the lounge prior to any Virgin flight from an airport where a Virgin Australia Lounge is available.

Lounge access is a sought-after benefit at the best of times, but it’s especially handy if you’re about to board an international or overnight red-eye flight. The ability to have a shower, grab a drink and have something to eat before boarding a long flight, especially an overnight flight, is a game changer.

Unfortunately for Virgin Australia passengers on most of the airline’s international flights, as well as the overnight flights from Perth to the east coast, there are no available lounges.

No Virgin international lounges

Virgin Australia flies to Nadi and Denpasar from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. But no lounge access is currently offered to eligible frequent flyers or Business Class passengers departing on any Virgin-operated international flight from Sydney, Brisbane, Nadi or Denpasar. (In Melbourne, the Virgin Australia domestic lounge is at least available – although it’s in a different terminal.)

On this, the Virgin Australia website says:

Virgin Australia international lounges are temporarily closed. We are continuing to assess the re-opening of international lounges as travel restrictions ease.

Considering there are barely any remaining COVID-related travel restrictions for Australia, Indonesia or Fiji, this seems like a fairly lame excuse for not providing a service.

When flying out of Australia on Singapore Airlines or United, Velocity Gold and Platinum members are able to access the Singapore Airlines lounges – but not when flying on a service operated by Virgin Australia.

By comparison, Qantas operates its own international lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (among other airports). And at overseas ports where Qantas doesn’t operate its own lounge, it at least makes arrangements for eligible frequent flyers, Qantas Club members and Business passengers to access a third-party lounge – including in Bali and Fiji. The only airport where Qantas does not offer any lounge access is Dili, which has no lounges.

Virgin’s Perth lounge closes at 6pm

Every day except Saturday, Virgin Australia operates an overnight flight from Perth to Sydney departing at 11.55pm and arriving at 6.15am the next morning. On several days per week, Virgin also runs flights from Perth to Brisbane at 11.30pm and Melbourne at 11.45pm. But the Virgin Australia Lounge in Perth closes daily at 6pm – even on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays when Virgin has three late evening departures to the east coast.

Not only is the Virgin Australia Lounge closed in the late evening when the redeye flights depart, but Virgin does not offer any food or drink vouchers in lieu. There is no lounge access, nor any alternative arrangements provided for those who would otherwise be eligible to use the lounge.

Virgin has kept its Perth lounge open for the redeye departures in the past, including as recently as April this year. But Australian Frequent Flyer understands that the Perth lounge will continue to close at 6pm for the foreseeable future.

Several AFF members recently departed Perth on one of the Virgin Australia red-eye flights, and this is what they had to say…

Last Friday night (05 August) the Virgin lounge in Perth was definitely closed at 6pm, despite three red-eye 737’s departing later that evening. I expect these were all pretty full, so this would affect of lot of customers who would otherwise enjoy lounge access. This seems the new-norm and not a one-off. Of course it makes sense financially, given the gap in flight times just to tend to the needs of customers flying out at midnight. However, it’s pretty poor form given that is a benefit of status you now don’t have. There was a sign on the door saying they would re-open at 5am and that they “apologise for the inconvenience.” I will agree on that – it was certainly an inconvenience ! It now makes their competitors more attractive if you’re heading out of Perth at that hour..
– jakob01

I can confirm that the lounge was shut when we flew the red eye last month. No signs, no notice. Couldn’t believe this was the case before the red eye and topped things off after no priority/business check in and only one bag drop operating. At the time, this information was not on their website.
There was nothing in the way of vouchers (though this would also mean they need staff at check in to give such vouchers which didn’t exist)
– amcmahon

Have experienced the ‘difference’ flying ex PER to MEL/SYD on the redeyes twice in the last fortnight – the first time two weeks ago (a Thurs night), VA emailed me to say that the lounge would be shut and there was a sign on the door. On (last) Friday night, no notification whatsoever – email or signage. The only places open airside were the WHSmith (‘general store’ with cold food) and Toby’s Estate (cafe), which was absolutely heaving being the only one of the two that is licensed. Coming back last night around 2330 however the cafe was very quiet – however I think the last flight was about to board!
Surely VA can take a leaf out of the international players’ and have a split opening for the lounge – could shut at 6PM and reopen at 10PM – I guess there are also practicalities to consider with respect to staffing it.
– trisreed

If you’re a Velocity Gold or Platinum member, you would at least be able to use the lounge in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane for up to 60 minutes after arrival. But arrivals access is no longer offered to Virgin Australia Business Class guests or paid lounge members.

The Qantas Club and Qantas Business Lounge in Perth both remain open until the last Qantas flight for the day has departed.

Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Virgin Lounge in Perth closed prior to the redeye departures?

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 70 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.