Another VA low point - denied meet lounge access

[nlagalle]

I don't disagree. I said as much in my first post, but I was implying that the staff decision to deny access was based on no logic.

Let's look at it ...

1) if I wanted, in about another 45 min, I could have used arrivals access, perfectly legitimately, for not one but two people and we could have been there until the lounge closed, drinking and eating as much as RSA would allow; or

2) if I wanted, I could have gone and found 3 of the biggest groghead looking blokes in a VA gate lounge and guested them in as well as myself, perfectly legitimately and they could have possibly cleaned out the drinks fridge and made an absolute PITA of themselves.

Both would have seen them considerably worse off but no, I tell them the facts, I made a mistake, I'm VA plat, my +1 is flying in shortly, I only want to read a newspaper, she is flying J ... and what do they do. They tell me to go away. They do not try to validate my story (which they could have with a few strokes of a keyboard) nor do they offer a VA frequent flyer small but noticeable respect. A fair bit of bullcrap has been written in posts about me being a known culprit of pushing the boundaries with VA, but that is uneducated or biased drivel. VAs offering is simply not worth pushing the boundaries over, however when they fail to deliver on their undertakings, I'll certainly gripe about it. The reality is they didn't even pick up my plat card to check my bona fides, or how often I fly with them or to see if my story was true. It was just a flat no way, go away.

That was never the attitude with VA previously, but it's now par for course. That is why I posted this experience. Not to be belittled over it and told to buy my wife a phone or that my name is blacklisted by VA. That's just imbecilic nonsense. It was to tender more documented evidence that the VA of old has well and truly bolted. Like it or not!

But can you use arrivals access when you are picking someone up and not flying yourself? I wasn’t aware this was a benefit, only that you could use arrivals when you yourself were flying.


I don’t disgree that VA are hopeless in so many aspects, and the lounges have certainly tightened themselves up of late but i don’t know whether that benefit existed in the first place. I might be wrong but my understanding was arrivals was for you flying.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

But can you use arrivals access when you are picking someone up and not flying yourself?

I guess that's another problem with an unwritten benefit. All I can say is that has been permitted previously, from personal experience.

 

[sven89]

From memory, the term was not "you". It was simply a BP had to be presented for day of travel by anyone in your group. Have another read, perhaps it has not actually changed!

From VA's current access rules:

"Velocity Platinum Members and Velocity Gold Members may access the lounge by displaying their Membership Card and same day boarding pass...".

I take that to mean the member's own boarding pass, not just 'a' same day boarding pass. But happy to be corrected by VA at any time.

Anyway, apologies if I'm one of the posters you feel has been attacking you. Definitely by no means intended that. And I hope you don't feel my referencing of the T&Cs has been "bull****". You're sharing of an experience has sparked a lively convo, and helped to enlighten many of us on here to the access rules. So that's a plus I think and will definitely prevent others from finding themselves in the same situation

 

[JohnK]

I don't think there is any doubt at all, but I'm a big boy. It doesn't worry me in that regard. I do fear though, that if these personal attacks are allowed to continue, AFF and the members will be the losers because people will not post for fear of belittling. Perhaps some may wish to ponder that thought.

I have no doubt either. I have been the recipient of quite a few personal attacks in recent times. Some people don't know any better.

 

[flying_double]

Wrong on both occasions. I can guest 3 beer guzzlers in with me and +1 as a non-status J flyer is not entitled to arrivals access AFAIK, but keep in mind that there is nothing consistent with VA policy, so given the day, perhaps you are right.

I'm not wrong. If you aren't flying, you cannot guest 3 people into the lounge. You weren't flying so you're three new mates are getting very very thirsty waiting outside with you.

Regarding business class guests, quoting from the VA website: Virgin Australia Business Class 'The Business' guests, can access the Virgin Australia Lounge on arrival with an eligible day of travel Virgin Australia or partner airline itinerary or boarding pass.
I humbly accept your apology in advance.

 

[OzEire]

So much fuss over The Lounge. I get where Swanning_It is coming from, good business looking after your best customers, but dear lord the VA lounge is dreadful these days.

I actually feel like they are trolling pax at the moment with all these weird food choices and zero variety (over 100 sectors this year so far I can't look at another toastie). Like our OP I go in for a quiet seat and a glass of water (I don't read papers offline any more) but often leave the lounge to eat or drink.

I would be put out if VA refused a reasonable request to bend the rules (eg. A glass of water or meet a colleague in the Lounge when not strictly entitled).

As the US carriers announce onboard "we know you have a choice of airlines these days" and these little things do sway future purchasing decisions.

 

[JohnK]

I guess that's another problem with an unwritten benefit. All I can say is that has been permitted previously, from personal experience.

I could call up Qantas and request exit rows to be booked on international sectors and by magic the exit row seat allocation appeared on my booking within 24 hours. That was an unpublished benefit.

All anyone has to do next time they visit a VA lounge is ask if a Platinum or Gold can access lounge without flying VA on the day but a "friend" is holding a VA boarding pass. I have not heard any report of anyone on AFF refused access. So I am going to go with consistent unpublished benefit. I don't care if it doesn't feel right. Pooled SC's does not feel right either. Neither do SCs earned from shopping. I may just humour myself again on Friday and go to VA lounge and ask if I can guest my "friend" into lounge next Monday.

 

[Muppet501st]

I could call up Qantas and request exit rows to be booked on international sectors and by magic the exit row seat allocation appeared on my booking within 24 hours. That was an unpublished benefit.

All anyone has to do next time they visit a VA lounge is ask if a Platinum or Gold can access lounge without flying VA on the day but a "friend" is holding a VA boarding pass. I have not heard any report of anyone on AFF refused access. So I am going to go with consistent unpublished benefit. I don't care if it doesn't feel right. Pooled SC's does not feel right either. Neither do SCs earned from shopping. I may just humour myself again on Friday and go to VA lounge and ask if I can guest my "friend" into lounge next Monday.

i was denied entry to the MKY lounge last month as a VA WP, as I was flying on QF and my work colleague was flying VA.

 

[NZflygirl]

i was denied entry to the MKY lounge last month as a VA WP, as I was flying on QF and my work colleague was flying VA.

Almost a year ago I flew QF domestic out of SYD and was able to take the +1 in and he was flying Air NZ back home a bit later and was allowed in. He was quite nervous about following me to domestic though going "This doesn't feel right" - told him to hush

Same same ..... but different

 

[Deleted member 29185]

i was denied entry to the MKY lounge last month as a VA WP, as I was flying on QF and my work colleague was flying VA.

I think that adds weight to what I posted. There appears to be a tightening up of these previously unpublished benefits. It's of no doubt that it was a benefit which was honoured by VA lounges. The only thing that is unclear, is whether these benefits are now finished or whether we were both just unlucky.

 

[Punky]

From memory, the term was not "you". It was simply a BP had to be presented for day of travel by anyone in your group. Have another read, perhaps it has not actually changed!

So get rid of ATA, but allow Plats in if they turn up with any old boarding pass? What a ridiulous proposition. You may dismiss it as crass suggesting that people would abuse it, but such would be abused.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

"Velocity Platinum Members and Velocity Gold Members may access the lounge by displaying their Membership Card and same day boarding pass...".

I take that to mean the member's own boarding pass, not just 'a' same day boarding pass. But happy to be corrected by VA at any time.

That's the bit, and it was clarified by the VFF rep here on AFF. If you do a search, you should find where that meaning was debated and VFF actually confirmed it was yours or any of your guests BP for the day of travel. More to the point, that was what was in practice at the lounges as well. So this thread is actually not just a slanging feast between those that knew the benefit and those that did not, combined with reports from others, it is a pretty good indication that this latest round of cost cutting may also have cut these unwritten benefits. Of course being unwritten, VA does not need to advise of their demise, threads like this is the only way of finding out about it, but that does not indicate that they weren't, up until recently, a benefit none the less.

BTW, you don't have anything for which to apologise. You're not one to which I was referring.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So get rid of ATA, but allow Plats in if they turn up with any old boarding pass? What a ridiulous proposition. You may dismiss it as crass suggesting that people would abuse it, but such would be abused.

I suggest what I implied was crass, was your sweeping generalisation that most FFers are dishonest. Whether the benefit was abused or not has already been discussed at length. If you care to do a search you will find the discussions.

 

[yohy?!]

VA lounge angels have stated to me before that lounge access requires both membership to VFF and travel on VA that day. The member does not need to be travelling though so in the OPs case they should have let him in to wait and then paged him when the travelling party arrived satisfying this condition.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

in the OPs case they should have let him in to wait and then paged him when the travelling party arrived satisfying this condition.

Unless of course if this benefit has been withdrawn.

 

[MarkD]

I have also used this benefit when my wife has been travelling solo. Seems they are playing games again

 

[Punky]

I suggest what I implied was crass, was your sweeping generalisation that most FFers are dishonest. Whether the benefit was abused or not has already been discussed at length. If you care to do a search you will find the discussions.

I never said "most:. I said "many". And I will stand by my statements that a sufficiently large number of FFers would be like that (Most wouldn't, many would)

 

[pauly7]

VA lounge angels have stated to me before that lounge access requires both membership to VFF and travel on VA that day. The member does not need to be travelling though so in the OPs case they should have let him in to wait and then paged him when the travelling party arrived satisfying this condition.

VA lounge Angels?! Lol, I think that term passed away a few years back. The Angels have well and truly flown away, replaced by bored looking staff who sit and gossip amongst themselves from my most recent experiences...

 

[flying_double]

i was denied entry to the MKY lounge last month as a VA WP, as I was flying on QF and my work colleague was flying VA.

Imagine trying to get into QF lounge as a QF WP travelling on VA :shock: same same

They don't give you lounge access because you're a good guy, they give it to you so you choose to continue flying with them into the future. Completely illogical to allow 'members' who have chosen to fly with another airline group into your lounge to freeload

 

[flying_double]

VA lounge angels have stated to me before that lounge access requires both membership to VFF and travel on VA that day. The member does not need to be travelling though so in the OPs case they should have let him in to wait and then paged him when the travelling party arrived satisfying this condition.

[h=3]The member needs to be travelling or have travelled that day! Guests don't need to be travelling but the member does.


Members[/h]If you are a Virgin Australia Lounge member or Velocity Platinum or Gold member, present your membership card and your flight itinerary or boarding pass – for onward domestic travel with Virgin Australia on the day – for access to the Virgin Australia Lounge.
Velocity Platinum members can access the Virgin Australia Lounge on arrival with an eligible day of travel Virgin Australia or partner airline itinerary or boarding pass.
Subject to space availability, Velocity Gold members may also access the Virgin Australia Lounge on arrival with an eligible day of travel Virgin Australia or partner airline itinerary or boarding pass.


[h=3]Members’ Guests[/h]Virgin Australia Lounge members and Velocity Gold members may invite one accompanying guest to the Virgin Australia Lounge at no charge. Velocity Platinum members may be accompanied by up to three guests at no charge.
Guests do not need to be travelling with Virgin Australia to join members. Additional guests will be charged $65 at the lounge reception.