International Lounge Access

[777]

Clear as mud on the new site...

International Lounge Access | Virgin Australia

At the top in big letters it says "Lounges for Guests Travelling on International Virgin Australia Operated Flights" and then says the Air New Zealand Koru lounge is available in SYD, MEL and BNE for "International Business Class guests and Velocity Platinum and Gold Members".

And then way down the bottom of the page it says "+ Air New Zealand lounge access is not permitted when flying on Virgin Australia Short-haul International flights, e.g. Pacific Islands, Bali and Papua New Guinea" noting that + isn't anywhere to be seen at the top of the page.

Frankly, i think the headline is misleading when about half the international destinations that "International Virgin Australia Operated Flights" fly to don't include lounge access. I really think this needs to be addressed/ clarified/ particularly since it appears that VA is now selling business class on a lot of those routes.

 

[LiamR]

Completely agree, clear as mud.

I think they need to change how they present all their information. Maybe even a little gadget that you can insert your flight (destination, origin), airline and status and it'll tell you where you can go/how many guests.

At the least, take a leaf from Qantas, they present their information quite clearly advising how many guests as well as any conditions.

Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club lounges

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Good posting 777 - I can see a promotion in store for you.

Funny thing is I was on new VA site today - we are flying MEL-BNE-VLI on Dec 26 - I noted on site the lounge access for Short Haul Inter and thought you beauty - beats paying' for early morning drinks - didn't go lookin' any deeper - now you point this out am kinda confused and totally pissed off.

Hopefully a VA rep will clarify soon.

 

[777]

Good posting 777 - I can see a promotion in store for you.

Promotion? From what to what?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Promotion? From what to what?

Aw I dunno - tis the season of giving - where you come from? Where you wanna go?

Speak up - Santa will be listening.

 

[777]

Aw I dunno - tis the season of giving - where you come from? Where you wanna go?

Speak up - Santa will be listening.

I think VA gave me my Xmas present early this year

 

[Batesy]

I checked access a while ago as Mrs Batesy and I are off to Bali in February with another couple and I thought we had access (we are both gold).

I get the impression this has changed since I looked two months ago.

Not happy and would like some feedback from the DJ rep.

Not sure why Bali is considered short haul it's still a decent trip.

Why bother having partner lounges if they have restrictions on which flights you are taking?

 

[DGW]

I've queried with VA whether there are plans to provide an Intl lounge option for Golds/Plats on flights such as those to Bali and have been told there is nothing new to report, which is disappointing. Particularly now that VA is "one airline".

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[777]

I've queried with VA whether there are plans to provide an Intl lounge option for Golds/Plats on flights such as those to Bali and have been told there is nothing new to report, which is disappointing. Particularly now that VA is "one airline".

Somewhere i saw reference to a revamping of the international product (i think both short and long haul) early in the new year. I am hoping that that will involve some revamping of all this but it is definitely sub par for now.

 

[serfty]

Promotion? From what to what?

Dreamliner of course!

(I can picture it now ... Arise Mr. 787! )

 

[jjsyd]

I've booked 2 PE tickets SYD-BNE-POM in January and didn't even think that I would have issues accessing the Air NZ lounge! Hopefully they'll put something in place in the near future... I guess it's an overpriced breakfast and bad coffee at Aromas for me!

 

[zoomaloid2000]

Hi there,
I'm in the same boat - booked economy flights to Bali thinking my Gold status would give me lounge acces, but told it is a no-go. What I have asked now is - can we check at Sydney in then go over to the VA domestic lounge for a while? Does anyone know if this is possible? I believe Gold status gives me access at anytime, but as the lounge is after security does tht mean we need to be on a domestic flight? Thanks guys - I'm new at all this.

 

[nlagalle]

Hi there,
I'm in the same boat - booked economy flights to Bali thinking my Gold status would give me lounge acces, but told it is a no-go. What I have asked now is - can we check at Sydney in then go over to the VA domestic lounge for a while? Does anyone know if this is possible? I believe Gold status gives me access at anytime, but as the lounge is after security does tht mean we need to be on a domestic flight? Thanks guys - I'm new at all this.

It wouldn't be worth it. They are in separate terminals requiring a bus ride.. The time to ride there and back would outweigh the time in the lounge

 

[Sequel]

I wonder if there are any plans for this (short haul int lounge access) to change in the near future?

While the BNE QF "1st" lounge is nothing to write home about, it is better than the DJ offering for the family holiday trip to NAN/VLI/DPS.

For me, this makes choosing DJ for the family holiday a much less enticing option. I was matched WP and will retain it easily with dom travel, and find them a strengthening alternative for dom. While the int network is ok, and the pacific coverage is great, why cant they sort out some lounge access, especially while selling J.

O/T - Should we be calling them VA or DJ? Most of the flight numbers are still DJ.

 

[jb01]

Hi all

To resurrect an old thread.... has anyone found anything clearer on this subject?

I'm planning a SYD-HNL-LAX-SYD trip later in the year, and as I understand it seems Gold would definitely give lounge access at LAX... but not so sure about SYD.
Although this statement one the website is a glimmer of hope:

"

Virgin Australia international long haul Business Class guests and ​

Velocity Platinum and Gold members

can access additional selected international airport lounge locations operated by airline partners."

​

So is SYD a "selected international airport lounge location"?? I would assume it is but if someone could say for sure it would put my mind at ease!

 

[notzac]

I'm planning a SYD-HNL-LAX-SYD trip later in the year, and as I understand it seems Gold would definitely give lounge access at LAX... but not so sure about SYD.

Expect the answer to be "no", but give it a go anyway. HA use the NZ lounge at SYD, which you may or may not get away with using. You may need to get yourself a lounge invite at check in. Given that it's for later this year, who knows what things are going to look like then?