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

[wob.geek]

I didn't think that my thread would receive so many replies! Guess this is official, based on the AusBT confirmation

As others have said, ATA access was a nice benefit. But if access on arrival remains for Golds and Plats, I can't think of many scenarios where ATA would be used. Perhaps when picking someone up from the Airport? Goes without saying that DJ would want to discourage people using their lounge facilities while flying on QF/JQ/TT

The first time I used ATA was last Saturday (21st July). My son was flying to BNE (on VA) so I took the family into the lounge for some breakfast - very nice it was too. Funny you know, prior to doing this I checked da' rules on the Lounge web site, now they have changed:

"Members

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.
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.
For more information on additional benefits available to Velocity Platinum, Gold and Silver Members please visit Velocity’s benefits-at-a-glance.
Virgin Australia international long haul Business Class guests and Velocity Platinum and Gold Members can access selected international airport lounge locations operated by airline partners when travelling internationally.
Members’ Guests

Virgin Australia lounge members and Velocity Gold Members may invite one accompanying guest to the Virgin Australia lounge 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.
Velocity Platinum Members may be accompanied by up to three guests at no charge."

The other time I have used ATA (sort of) is when flying SkyWest out of PER - apparently I can still do this (whew!!?!).

I am a bit miffed that as soon as I find out about this benefit it gets whipped away!!?!

Can someone direct me to the official Velocity statement?

 

[oz_mark]

Can someone direct me to the official Velocity statement?

I don't think there is anything other than what is written on the website.

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.

 

[markis10]

I don't think there is anything other than what is written on the website.

The post here by VA is pretty official:

Hi AFFers and Velocity Frequent Flyer members, we’d like to clarify and clear the discussions on this topic.

As you are all aware, we have been welcoming Velocity Platinum and Gold Members to our lounges without the need of a boarding pass (subject to availability)

Effective Wednesday 15 August 2012, we will require Gold and Platinum Members to present a same-day boarding pass for Virgin Australia or one of our airline partners in order to access the Virgin Australia lounge. Why? This will allow us to dedicate our lounges entirely to our travelling guests, ensuring they have the best experience possible prior to and/or after their flight. We are still the only Australian airline to allow both Gold and Platinum members to access the lounge before or after their flight. All other lounge access entitlements still apply.

We are communicating this via our website (some of you have already seen this) and it will also be included in a newsletter to our Velocity Frequent Flyer members.

This is about improving the travel experience of our guests, so we trust you and your guests will still enjoy our lounges before and after your flight with us.

 

[anat0l]

The post here by VA is pretty official:

For us, it is good enough. Doesn't have a lot of public strength, however. That's what those emails (or notices to go with our next Velocity statement) are for.

 

[lovestotravel]

Haven't read the whole thread yet, but sure do love another Virgin "enhancement"

They should have kept anytime access for Plats.

Instead they offer customers the chance to fly once or twice and retain Gold/Plat for another year........

 

[markis10]

For us, it is good enough. Doesn't have a lot of public strength, however. That's what those emails (or notices to go with our next Velocity statement) are for.

The question was as quoted- ie where is an official statement - and answered!

If the question was "where is the official communication notifying members of a change of benefits giving 30 days notice of a detrimental change", that has not been answered nor has the communication taken place as it should under said terms and conditions!

As it stands, removing the privilege on the 15th is currently against what is committed to by Velocity Rewards in its current member terms and conditions!

Pretty amateurish work which stinks of reactionary behaviour without regard for the rules set IMHO.

 

[lovestotravel]

Pretty amateurish work which stinks of reactionary behaviour without regard for the rules set IMHO.

You knew I'd bite on this...

Virgin are consistently are amateurish with pretty much everything they do!

J refit for 738's
J refit for 737's
J refit for E-Jet
Meals on-board
Meals in the lounge

Qantas can change their meals on-board and the lounge much faster and more often. Now that's just based on my last month of flying QF, twice in J and twice in Y but they have had different meals on all flights and the lounge in CBR has had different food.

VA over the past 3 months has had about 2 different meals on-board and in the lounge...


At this stage slowly moving back towards QF for my flights. Domestically they are really trying very hard it seems!

 

[markis10]

You knew I'd bite on this...!

Lets try and keep OT please, its about ATA.

 

[lovestotravel]

Lets try and keep OT please, its about ATA.

Yeh and the lack of communication, with the change to the T&C's, fits in-line with their constant amateurish behaviour with no real regard for customers! Was just making the point clear that VA have a history for not really caring about customers....

As others have said, it's likely been abused, but with VA handing out comp memberships left, right and centre it's no surprise. Then, as I said earlier, allowing people to retain gold/plat with 1/2 flights is questionable...

Now refresh my memory, you get 2/4 free passes to the lounge when you hit Silver yes ? Nothing for Gold/Plat ?

MAYBE, but I doubt, we'll be surprised and VA will say that Gold and Plat get 2/6 ATA passes each year to keep us happy

 

[pauly7]

Found out from a reliable source the 2 lounges with the most ATA abuse were OOL flew out of there Wednesday and PER flying out of there tomorrow. OOL it was Jetstar pax ie the comped Plats and Golds that were never going to fly and PER is FIFO

That makes sense now! The DJ hot dogs in the Lounge were probably the culinary highlights of Perth and the Gold Coast and drew free loaders in for miles

 

[markis10]

That makes sense now! The DJ hot dogs in the Lounge were probably the culinary highlights of Perth and the Gold Coast and drew free loaders in for miles

Indeed, having only recently sampled the OOL Jetstar Lounge (High School Canteen would be more apt), I can understand why OOL was popular for ATA.

 

[MandM]

Found out from a reliable source the 2 lounges with the most ATA abuse were OOL flew out of there Wednesday and PER flying out of there tomorrow. OOL it was Jetstar pax ie the comped Plats and Golds that were never going to fly and PER is FIFO

If this was the reason it would have been nice for them to just add a clause such as *ATA is not available in OOL and PER, rather than take the whole perk away.

 

[oz_mark]

If this was the reason it would have been nice for them to just add a clause such as *ATA is not available in OOL and PER, rather than take the whole perk away.

One does need consistency

 

[simongr]

Also a lot of those freeloaders will drop off now - the only people hurt by this really are Virgin status pax...

 

[samh004]

Found out from a reliable source the 2 lounges with the most ATA abuse were OOL flew out of there Wednesday and PER flying out of there tomorrow. OOL it was Jetstar pax ie the comped Plats and Golds that were never going to fly and PER is FIFO

I was told MKY was a killer too.

That said, at OOL WP's can use the JQ Lounge so I'm not sure it'd be too common to use the DJ lounge instead, though they did put it in a really nice spot. And if it was Golds doing the abuse, as others have pointed out, fairly simple to stop that.

Surprised they didn't just add a clause about ATA not being allowed when flying a competitor, so some of the more regional airlines are fine, but for QF/JQ, if you're found to be flying them then they can revoke your membership. Then again, why am I still thinking of ways it could be saved?




 

[777]

Re: OOL. I don't want to say "I told you so" but somewhere around here is a thread where i predicted the end of ATA before the OOL lounge was even completed. I figured if it was going to be abused anywhere it would be there.

 

[anat0l]

That said, at OOL WP's can use the JQ Lounge so I'm not sure it'd be too common to use the DJ lounge instead

I thought the JQ Lounge is on the international side of the terminal, so it can't be used for domestic? Happy to be told wrong (only because I may need to draw upon that knowledge one cold day in Hell (just kidding)).

Surprised they didn't just add a clause about ATA not being allowed when flying a competitor, so some of the more regional airlines are fine, but for QF/JQ, if you're found to be flying them then they can revoke your membership.

So basically you would set a rule such that you can use the lounge as long as you are either:

• Not flying
• Flying anything except QF or JQ

The latter can be proven by demanding a boarding pass (so if it is QF or JQ, bugger off; anything else, OK). Mind you, for the new rules it's a same day boarding pass thing, so technically you could (why you would want to) fly JQ, say, OOL-SYD and connect to a DL flight and you'd be in the clear for access at OOL (though you can't produce a DL BP at OOL; you'd need a print out or screenshot of your itinerary).

Now how do you prove the former if you don't need a BP for walk-in under ATA?

Saying that, it would certainly make an impact statement if the lounge rules were tailored as such.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I thought the JQ Lounge is on the international side of the terminal, so it can't be used for domestic?

If you're still talking OOL, no it's in the dom section just past security.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

The easiest thing here would be to restricted ATA to the major ports (mel/syd/bne/adl/per). In each of these cities, if you are flying with a competitor - you really need to go out of your way to use the Virgin Lounge.

And/Or

Make it a Platinum only benefit, which after the end of October 2012 most will be *real* Plats who actually contribute to the bottom line.

Gold members will understand. Platinum members will understand they actually ARE valued. Virgin won't be seen as the airline that took away one of the best benefits going.

I'd love to know why the common sense approach outlined above wouldn't work for Virgin.. it ticks all the boxes.

 

[anat0l]

If you're still talking OOL, no it's in the dom section just past security.

Thanks for that. So ironically QF WPs (at least :-|) get a lounge in OOL when flying on "the Group".

Still, instant cup noodles don't hold anything against NPPPs

OK... back on topic now...