As a Qantas Platinum or Oneworld Emerald frequent flyer, you can access some excellent First Class airport lounges. These include the Qantas First Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and Los Angeles, as well as the Cathay Pacific Wing and Pier First Lounges in Hong Kong.
Unfortunately, Virgin Australia Velocity status gets you into far fewer international airport lounges. What’s more, although Velocity Platinum gets you lots of extra perks when flying Virgin Australia, there are very few differences between Velocity Gold and Platinum status when flying on partner airlines.
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International lounge access for Velocity frequent flyers
When travelling internationally, lounge access for Velocity Gold and Platinum members is a rather complicated affair. There’s almost no lounge access when flying Virgin Australia internationally. And when you fly on partners, the rules vary by airline.
When flying Singapore Airlines, United, Air Canada, South African Airways or Virgin Atlantic, Velocity frequent flyers only get access to lounges owned and operated by those airlines. But when flying Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, you get access to both those airlines’ lounges and their contracted third-party lounges at airports that don’t have a Qatar or Etihad lounge.
Other Virgin partners, including ANA and Hawaiian Airlines, don’t provide lounge access at all.
Qatar Airways lounge access for Velocity members
On Qatar Airways, Velocity Gold or Platinum status at least gets you into a lounge at most airports. But these aren’t necessarily Qatar’s top lounges.
Even as a Velocity Platinum member flying from Doha, for example, you only get access to the Qatar Airways Platinum Lounge (not the Al Safwa First Lounge). Likewise, Velocity Gold members can use the Qatar Airways Gold Lounge (not the Al Mourjan Business Lounge).
In addition, the Qatar Airways Premium Lounges in places like Singapore and Bangkok are reserved only for Business and First Class passengers. (Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald frequent flyers don’t get access either.) Velocity members get sent to other lounges instead.
Etihad Airways looks after Velocity Platinum members
Outside of the four airports where Etihad Airways still operates its own lounges, Velocity Gold and Platinum members get access to the same lounges as Etihad’s own frequent flyers who’ve selected lounge access as a Custom Benefit. In Sydney, that’s the Air New Zealand Lounge. In Melbourne, it’s The House by Aspire Lounge.
But when flying Etihad Airways out of its Abu Dhabi hub – including in transit – Velocity Platinum members can use Etihad’s excellent flagship First Class Lounge. In my opinion, this is the best lounge you can access as a Velocity Platinum frequent flyer.
Etihad’s lounges in Abu Dhabi
Aside from the US Premium Lounge located after USA immigration pre-clearance, Etihad Airways has two main lounges at Zayed International Airport Terminal A in Abu Dhabi. The main one is the huge Business Class Lounge, which spans three floors.
Both Velocity Gold and Platinum members can use Etihad’s Business Class Lounge. This superb lounge has several dining areas, a cocktail bar, showers, a play area for kids, and even a games room.
At the far end of the Business Lounge, on the top floor, you’ll find the entrance to the First Class Lounge. This one is available to Velocity Platinum but not Gold members.
Etihad’s First Class Lounge
Thanks to my Velocity Platinum status, I was recently lucky enough to visit Etihad’s new First Class Lounge while transiting through Abu Dhabi on my way to Istanbul.
It really was an oasis within the airport. There were so few guests in this lounge when I visited around 7am that we were outnumbered by the staff – who were all very friendly, helpful and eager to please!
The First Class Lounge isn’t nearly as big as the Business Class Lounge, and it doesn’t have all of the same facilities. But it does feel more private and exclusive.
Of course, there were clean toilets and showers. One thing that was perhaps missing was workstations. That said, you could simply head into the Business Class Lounge if you wanted a desk.
I wanted some breakfast, so a staff member directed me to the dining area and handed me an a la carte menu:
There was also a large range of drinks available, including champagne on request.
I ordered two dishes from the menu and a coffee, which were all delicious. The staff also offered still or sparkling water.
There was a separate buffet with a selection of food including premium chocolates and pastries.
There were a few other seating areas as well, including some “semi-private cocoons” in the back part of the lounge:
You could probably take a nap in one of those cocoons.
If you wanted a proper sleep, this lounge also houses a few private rooms with beds and en-suite bathrooms. But these are reserved for passengers flying in The Residence. If, like me, you’re not flying The Residence – and a private room happens to be available – you could book one of these for an additional charge.
The best perk of Velocity Platinum?
Access to the excellent Etihad Airways First Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi, with its brilliant service, would have to be one of the top perks of Virgin Australia Platinum status.
This lounge really was very nice. It could be a good reason to fly Etihad Airways to Europe if you have Velocity Platinum status.
Want to learn more about Velocity’s partner airlines?
Australian Frequent Flyer will host a webinar on 18 September 2024 which will demystify Virgin Australia’s airline partnerships even further! Click here to learn more about AFF Webinars.
All photos by Matt Graham, who travelled at his own expense.
