Anytime Lounge Access Finishing? [Yes, from 15Aug12]

[serfty]

Someone pointed out the timing of this being cancelled exactly one year after introducing it. To me it appears the thinking on this is not fully joined up at Virgin... Like one group is rigidly following the plan laid out a year ago, and others are assessing how their plans went and adjusting....

To be more precise "The timing of this being cancelled exactly one year after making it a published benefit.".

The reality is this benefit had existed (unpublished) for Velocity Golds well before the introduction of the Platinum Level.

 

[AaronBradford]

Yes, see here: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/lounge/

Please note:

Effective 15th of August 2012, Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum Members will require a same-day boarding pass for Virgin Australia or one of its airline partners in order to access the Virgin Australia lounge. All other lounge access entitlements still apply.​

Edit: Sam, where did your post go?

 

[samh004]

Yes, see here: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/lounge/

Edit: Sam, where did your post go?

I posted without reading the last few pages, went back and saw what you pointed to as well and deleted my post, hopefully before someone quoted me

But thanks for responding

 

[richie9x]

I must admit I have never used ATA with Virgin. Every time I have used their lounge I have been flying with them. But it seems like a valuable benefit to have it I ever needed it.

It seems quite a myopic view by Virgin (and Qantas as well). Any time access could be used as significant benefit to attract more people to travel with Virgin. While recognising that sometimes there is no choice as to which airline someone flies. But when there is a choice they will choose Virgin so as to retain a valuable benefit. While now it seems to best option is to split travel between Virgin and Qantas.

Instead it seems Virgin (and Qantas) are making it much easier to gain and retain status. Yet at the same time reducing the benefits of those status levels.

To me Cathay have got it right with ATA. Have it only as a benefit for the highest status. Only allow it when passengers are travelling, but with any carrier. While making it difficult to gain and retain status on the top level. Thereby making it worthwhile for passengers to travel with Cathay to gain and retain the benefit.

 

[Jama]

Interesting poll results:

View attachment 8615

(as of around 12:50pm today).

Obviously it's people who don't have ATA that are saying yes. I doubt very much that 116 people from here would say yes

(either that, or they've asked all their staff to go vote heh)

What sort of dumb question is that. Its like two different polls stuck together so you cant actually answer. Yes its a perk that should remain and Yes it isn't supposed to be for freeloaders. The results would clearly be meaningless.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I didn't do the AusBT survey as it is pointless. Poorly worded and poor response choices.

I also agree with sentiment expressed here that bit by bit VA are chiseling away at what made them different (perhaps even better) than the opposition. I've said a few times, VA have to make their product worth the extra $ they're asking (from me at least). The old redemption scales were one that made flying VA very much worth the difference, but they've been brought into line with QF and now this. The shareholder return has been used to justify most of the chiseling, but it would be interesting to see how much of a difference these "enhancements" have made to the bottom line (both positively and adversely).

 

[anat0l]

Yes, see here: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/lounge/

I'm assuming you're replying to my post about whether it was arrivals only access or same day travel access. (Apologies if not).

I do see your quoted phrase, but on another 'tab' of the same page (https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/lounge/#entry), you get this quote (emphasis mine):

Subject to space availability, Velocity Platinum and Gold Members can access the Virgin Australia lounge on arrival with an eligible day of travel Virgin Australia or Partner Airline boarding pass or itinerary.

It actually mirrors the confusion I mentioned above with QF's WP access policy. But this is what I want to clear up. Then again, it may just be unwritten and/or discretionary. (This will get more interesting if VA decide to use the self-entry machines, viz. what "rules" will they program into it).

 

[Jama]

I think everything that could be said about the removal of ATA was said in the prior thread so I don't expect the same debates to happen again.

I still can't believe people used it enough to be a differentiator.

I only used it a couple of times. It kind of sucks though that VA can give away status, then decide there is a freeloader problem as a result of their decision, and so punish those that have earnt status.

 

[Jama]

I also agree with sentiment expressed here that bit by bit VA are chiseling away at what made them different (perhaps even better) than the opposition. I've said a few times, VA have to make their product worth the extra $ they're asking (from me at least). The old redemption scales were one that made flying VA very much worth the difference, but they've been brought into line with QF and now this. The shareholder return has been used to justify most of the chiseling, but it would be interesting to see how much of a difference these "enhancements" have made to the bottom line (both positively and adversely).

The chiseling started pretty quick and isn't limited to the things that cost them money. Does anyone get a personal welcome anymore ? I only single this out because I remember when Platinum was introduced everyone was pretty impressed with the service level and there were lots of comments regarding being personally welcomed on board. I have never had any sort of acknowlegement and I have been Platinum for almost 8 months. Apart from getting a few upgrades to use (not OpUps as I have never had one of these), my Platinum experience has been identical to my Gold experience.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I only used it a couple of times. It kind of sucks though that VA can give away status, then decide there is a freeloader problem as a result of their decision, and so punish those that have earnt status.

I think this expresses my own feelings pretty well. (although perhaps my ATA/arrivals access may be considered excessive as well........shades of grey).

 

[Ewing]

Apart from getting a few upgrades to use (not OpUps as I have never had one of these), my Platinum experience has been identical to my Gold experience.

Ditto.

I travel by myself 99% of the time and was already Gold before status matching to Platinum last year. Besides the extra lounge guests (which I did take advantage of once when I went on a trip with 3 colleagues), I have not noticed any difference in service.

That's why it wasn't a hard decision when I decided to drop down and maintain Gold instead of Platinum.

 

[AaronBradford]

I'm assuming you're replying to my post about whether it was arrivals only access or same day travel access. (Apologies if not).

I wasn't actually. samh004 was asking whether it had been announced or not, and just before I made that reply he found the answer a few pages back and deleted his post.

 

[Ausbt]

I have used ATA an awful lot. Yesterday, for example, I flew to OOL. Now being on a very early flight I didn't have time to make the SYD lounge, so on arrival at OOL I went up to the lounge, made a toastie grabbed a latte and then headed to my meeting. That's been a fairly common and practical pattern for me for a long while.

 

[Alanslegal]

I must admit I have never used ATA with Virgin. Every time I have used their lounge I have been flying with them. But it seems like a valuable benefit to have it I ever needed it.

Its a useful benefit, if and when needed.

I am in the same position where even though ATA was available I only used it because I was flying VA that day. My girlfriend and I both could use ATA plus 6 guests but never have done so in reality, even though have talked about it jokingly we would.

Oh well, easy come easy go, but not a big deal to me as I don't fly enough anyway.

 

[AaronBradford]

I have used ATA an awful lot. Yesterday, for example, I flew to OOL. Now being on a very early flight I didn't have time to make the SYD lounge, so on arrival at OOL I went up to the lounge, made a toastie grabbed a latte and then headed to my meeting. That's been a fairly common and practical pattern for me for a long while.

You would still be able to do that, provided you flew with Virgin.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I have used ATA an awful lot. Yesterday, for example, I flew to OOL. Now being on a very early flight I didn't have time to make the SYD lounge, so on arrival at OOL I went up to the lounge, made a toastie grabbed a latte and then headed to my meeting. That's been a fairly common and practical pattern for me for a long while.

IMO I wouldn't consider arrivals access as ATA.

 

[drewbles]

The chiseling started pretty quick and isn't limited to the things that cost them money. Does anyone get a personal welcome anymore ? I only single this out because I remember when Platinum was introduced everyone was pretty impressed with the service level and there were lots of comments regarding being personally welcomed on board. I have never had any sort of acknowlegement and I have been Platinum for almost 8 months. Apart from getting a few upgrades to use (not OpUps as I have never had one of these), my Platinum experience has been identical to my Gold experience.

Are you meaning on-board welcomes? I always get "Welcome back Mr Drewbles. Great to have you with us again, you're in xx_x today just down on the right/left" or something similar to that. And the CSM tends to say 'thanks for being back with us today Mr drewbles' when taking drink orders etc (in J). I've noticed the personal attention from the FA's on a DJ flight is streets ahead of QF (even if it's read of a manifest, QF make this far more obvious having the J pax list on the trolley most the time whereas DJ don't).

 

[JRT]

Looking for confirmation from VA rep, or in the coming email but members have been able to access the lounge when your guest is departing on VA - maybe this will still apply?
I also have to agree with Swanning_it's post re future flyers - brand recognition and preference kicks in very early on. When we mention flying, Master 3 asks if we can go to the lounge first, and he's very keenly learning airlines as well as aircraft viewed from the lounges and on the tarmac. Unfortunately at this time his preference is for planes with propellers (ATR's are the best)!

 

[Justinf]

Looking for confirmation from VA rep, or in the coming email but members have been able to access the lounge when your guest is departing on VA - maybe this will still apply?
I also have to agree with Swanning_it's post re future flyers - brand recognition and preference kicks in very early on. When we mention flying, Master 3 asks if we can go to the lounge first, and he's very keenly learning airlines as well as aircraft viewed from the lounges and on the tarmac. Unfortunately at this time his preference is for planes with propellers (ATR's are the best)!

It's a really, really good point. My 12-year-old daughter has been flying with me ever since she could walk. Now she always asks 'Are we going to the Lounge first?'. Although her current fascination are the widebody jets, the opposite to your young bloke.

 

[pmdg7444]

So....with all the freeloaders now kicked out....does this mean there will be money left to improve the current lounge catering options?

I've for one had enough Arabic feasts, chickpeas, cold salads and sliced meats.

On the bright side however, DJ is building a new SYD T1 lounge and improving the T2 lounge - so I guess there is always a trade off