A Sign of Things to Come ?

[Oneworldplus2]

I recently used the Lounge in SYD.

Some of the furniture is already starting to show it's age.

If you look at the bar head-on, turn left. The furniture looks nice, but to actually use it is a pain in the back-side. The chairs you either have to sit at the very front or all the way in. Hard to get comfortable in.

The PC's are ancient (old HP's) and running Windows XP shock

Nice beer selection

I would say that the food selection was better than a regular Qantas Club (in-between T3 QC-J Lounge)

 

[pshepvic]

I recently used the Lounge in SYD.

Some of the furniture is already starting to show it's age.

If you look at the bar head-on, turn left. The furniture looks nice, but to actually use it is a pain in the back-side. The chairs you either have to sit at the very front or all the way in. Hard to get comfortable in.

The PC's are ancient (old HP's) and running Windows XP shock

Nice beer selection

I would say that the food selection was better than a regular Qantas Club (in-between T3 QC-J Lounge)

You do realise the Sydney lounge hasn't been refurbished?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I feel they should have scrapped the soft landing for status matches, basically if they have a year of the privelliges and dont spend with the airline, then, why should they continue to recieve benefits. SOmeone who has spent $$$$$ to reach platinum, then has a slow year, has shown their loyalty, and remember, these are "Loyaly programs".

Wish I had two like buttons for this comment!

At the very least remove ATA from those who don't shift their flying but still use the Lounge as that is effecting us all, already. For those that are SMed and move at least part of their flying budget to DJ......I'd say welcome. For those who SMed but only wanted the extra pretty card in their wallet, but doesn't use ATA.......I'd say fine, enjoy the extra boasting ability for as long as you can. But for those who don't move their flying but still use (abuse?) ATA...........I'd say move on!

As DJ check each entry to the Lounge by card swipe, surely they could fairly easily have a "deny access" prompt flash up! My biggest fear right now, is we'll all lose ATA because of crowding issues.......... :evil:

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Apparently Virgin have signed up a further 30000 Platinum / Gold / Lounge Members in the past month.

"Signed up".......how? After the SM promo finished? Or via earned staus?

Whichever way, big numbers there!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The PC's are ancient (old HP's) and running Windows XP shock

Hey.......I like XP.....but then again I'm also ancient

 

[Oneworldplus2]

How old is the SYD VA Lounge?

 

[MarkD]

How old is the SYD VA Lounge?

Not as old as the QP

 

[The Rok]

I think there should of been some sort of built in safety net for Virgin. They should of said ok, we will status match you but you must fly XYZ with us in the first 6 months or completely lose your status match.

 

[MarkD]

I think there should of been some sort of built in safety net for Virgin. They should of said ok, we will status match you but you must fly XYZ with us in the first 6 months or completely lose your status match.

I agree somewhat, however, some people may not be able to change initially, due to travel agent / company deals, however, there should be no soft landing back to gold, if they are unable to use Virgin, for whatever reason. Basically, a use it or lose it scenario. They really had to offer the full 12 mths status match, to enable people time to hit reqaulify levels, but really, if someone is Platinum matched, and they only fly one sector in 12 mths, then really they shouldn't be rewarded by getting given gold for another 12 mths, there are plenty of people who fly heaps more than that and have no status at all. (ie if Joe blow did 10 return SYD-BNE P.A on saver, thats 20 flights he would only have 200 SC, not even enough for silver, yet Silvertail, with SMed Platinum, can fly no sectors at all, and at the end of the 12 Mths, have a "Soft Landing" to Gold. Seems rather strange. Truth be known though, they will offer another SM once all these non flyers continue to avoid virgin and fly with QF. Vicious circle really for Virgin, and TBH If price was unimportant to me, I would choose VA every time, I cant understand why anyone would choose to fly QF J class over VA J. (PE YES I can understand, if you are that way inclined), but VA really do seem to care about the customer, and are a very forward thinking company. QF are kind of stuck back in the government protected 80s mindset.



WOW that went way off topic didn't it........... Sorry

 

[Ewing]

The past month or so I have had problems finding a seat, lots of dirty glasses and plate and the food areas have looked very unloved, no ice...just the leftover melted stuff!

The last time I was in the SYD DJ lounge it was packed, but I did get a seat.

My only complaint was this:

- I put my drink down on a table and went to get some antipasto.
- I came back with antipasto and my drink was gone.
- I went to get another drink, when I came back my antipasto was gone.

Fearing an infinite loop scenario, I grabbed a random magazine from the stand and sat it on the table. That seemed sufficient to protect my drink while I fetched a second plate of antipasto

Normally I would have a carry-on to leave besides the chair, but in this case I was travelling between Home #1 (Sydney) and Home #2 (Canberra) so it was just my laptop bag (which I wasn't about to let out of my sight) and myself

 

[Reggie]

"Signed up".......how? After the SM promo finished? Or via earned staus?

Whichever way, big numbers there!

Even though the "official" SM promotion has finished, Virgin are still status matching, and / or giving status to secure corporate business. Many corporates with exclusive QF agreements are/have reconsidered these arrangements after the grounding. There has also been a spike in purchased Lounge Memberships during / since the grounding.


Look out for the new HOT FOOD offerings to be released into the lounges (SYD, MEL, BNE) - party pies, pizza unfortunately PER and ADL will miss out on these. However there will be a rotating menu with things like Mexican including mini Burritos.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Look out for the new HOT FOOD offerings to be released into the lounges (SYD, MEL, BNE) - party pies, pizza unfortunately PER and ADL will miss out on these. However there will be a rotating menu with things like Mexican including mini Burritos.

Now you've piqued my interest! This would , I believe, really help DJ lose that LCC lounge tag that many still harbour about them. Not to mention, I'd love to have a selection of hot food available all the time, rather than just at select intervals

 

[notzac]

LCC lounge, as applied to VA? That's a new one on me..

 

[Deleted member 29185]

LCC lounge, as applied to VA? That's a new one on me..

I meant not as good as a QP. Plenty have said that of late on AFF.

(PS - I'm not one of them.)

 

[pshepvic]

I meant not as good as a QP. Plenty have said that of late on AFF.

(PS - I'm not one of them.)

IMHO The Virgin lounges (in MEL/BNE/SYD anyway) are better than the QPs - better staff, better beer selection, better coffee (anytime not just on weekday mornings), generally less crowded at peak times. The Sydney one definitely needs a refurb to bring it in line with the others in terms of decor and look.

The QF J lounges in Melbourne & Sydney are definitely a step up again though, but the one in Brisbane is atrocious.

I think VA could do a bit of work on the cold food selection, however Luke Mangan's pizzas trump Neil Perry's! Have had them on a couple of occasions recently.

 

[Noob]

At this stage the Qantas Business lounges have a massive advantage from the culinary prospective - and that matters. After a day of meetings I would much prefer a hot curry with rice or a pasta dish to a self made sandwich.

If Virgin perfects their lounge catering, their offering will be better than the Qantas J lounges. Bigger bathrooms with boutique soaps, friendly "can do" staff, great beverage selection, spacious grandiose entrance, great wifi, comfy seating with plenty of choices, a secluded quiet area (the library) etc. They just need the food!

 

[lovestotravel]

At this stage the Qantas Business lounges have a massive advantage from the culinary prospective - and that matters. After a day of meetings I would much prefer a hot curry with rice or a pasta dish to a self made sandwich.

If Virgin perfects their lounge catering, their offering will be better than the Qantas J lounges. Bigger bathrooms with boutique soaps, friendly "can do" staff, great beverage selection, spacious grandiose entrance, great wifi etc. They just need the food!

Agree!

Coming around every now and then with a plate of pizza/snacks is a nice touch but I want a decent serve of food

Rice and some chicken curry does not cost that much to make and is easy to keep warm

 

[pshepvic]

They need the katsu curry from the JAL Sakura lounges - it's awesome! (and add one of the automatic Asahi beer pouring machines as well while you're at it!)

 

[Budley]

great beverage selection

How is this better than the Qantas Business Lounge?

And as for an ordinary Y class pax (I flew BNE-CBR a few days ago after flying QF NAN-SYD-MEL-BNE in J class) it's just total cough. Not even close to QF Y class (what about the food?).

DJ is still a LCC as far as I am concerned.

And what about the airline alliances? I'm afraid EY just doesn't cut it.

So tell me again what's so great about your airline...

 

[MarkD]

How is this better than the Qantas Business Lounge?

And as for an ordinary Y class pax (I flew BNE-CBR a few days ago after flying QF NAN-SYD-MEL-BNE in J class) it's just total cough. Not even close to QF Y class (what about the food?).

DJ is still a LCC as far as I am concerned.

And what about the airline alliances? I'm afraid EY just doesn't cut it.

So tell me again what's so great about your airline...

Comparing horses with horses there are we Budley?? INTERNATIONAL LONG HAUL BUSINESS VS 20 min DOMESTIC FLT ECONOMY, not a very fare comparison, and yes, I would assume any regional flight would be considered cough to an international Business class flight, even FJ's Business.
If you want to compare International J, go fly V Australia 777 J class, and give us a fare comparison of services.