Article: Virgin Australia Finally Refreshes Its Lounge Wines

[AFF Editor]

Virgin Australia Finally Refreshes Its Lounge Wines is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

Virgin Australia Finally Refreshes Its Lounge Wines

For a while, some of the wines served in Virgin Australia's airport lounges have tasted pretty bad. But the airline is finally refreshing its wine list with some new options.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Steven of Mysore]

Virgin Australia Finally Refreshes Its Lounge Wines is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

Virgin Australia Finally Refreshes Its Lounge Wines

For a while, some of the wines served in Virgin Australia's airport lounges have tasted pretty bad. But the airline is finally refreshing its wine list with some new options.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

When my cardiologist suggested that I shouldn't be having a glass or 'two' at the airport, I really didn't mind given the v poor standard anyway. $8 retail is around $3.50-$4.50 wholesale. Shameful.

 

[Gold Member]

“We constantly refresh and change our lounge menu and drink offerings to ensure our guests have an exciting and enjoyable experience in our lounges.”

Gotta love the marketing spin from the Airlines justifying their incessant cost cutting. They just damage their brand even more with this sort of tripe.

At $8 a bottle, the Accolade house special “paint stripper/methanol blend” might go down easier.

 

[henrus]

Ok now tap beer next!

 

[kileskus]

Thanks for the article. Was the rotation of wines directly in response to AFF or had they been showing signs of switching it up earlier?

I'm hoping Accolade starts branching out into gin and vodka

 

[AFF Editor]

Thanks for the article. Was the rotation of wines directly in response to AFF or had they been showing signs of switching it up earlier?

I can't say for sure, but the first we heard about the new wines being introduced was two weeks after we originally contacted Virgin for this story.

 

[drron]

My only VA lounge visit was in Sydney mid October. The Riddle was the cabernet merlot blend not the shiraz and the SB was from Hardys so it appears they were starting the change back then.

 

[kamchatsky]

With such low level of wines (and food) available, is it even worth chasing status to get access the lounges? Airport facilities food options are getting better and better these days.

 

[ols]

Ok now tap beer next!

STELLA!

 

[Mattg]

With such low level of wines (and food) available, is it even worth chasing status to get access the lounges? Airport facilities food options are getting better and better these days.

A good strategy for domestic flyers might be to get a Citi Prestige credit card, which gives you a $36 food & beverage credit (for yourself and up to 1 guest) to spend at participating Priority Pass airport bars/cafes/restaurants every time you fly. That way, you can get a decent feed and then go to the lounge (if you have access) once you're done.

 

[Assassin]

I’m not sure the Qantas offerings are really any better. There’s been the occasional acceptable drop in the Business lounges but a needle in a haystack of mediocrity…

Contrast the QF F lounge in Melbourne last Xmas: was pouring Grange…

 

[djh_was_here]

I'm already questioning the value of VA lounge access (or even VA status at all) these days. The food is terrible, and when the "improved" wine selection includes a cheap and rough Shiraz that Dan's is currently selling for $6 per bottle, Virgin is answering that question for me. I can't justify going out of my way to maintain platinum when this is the level of "rewards".

 

[justinbrett]

I’m not sure the Qantas offerings are really any better. There’s been the occasional acceptable drop in the Business lounges but a needle in a haystack of mediocrity…

Contrast the QF F lounge in Melbourne last Xmas: was pouring Grange…

At least there’s always a G&T

 

[Suakers]

Not sure why they don't make use of their wine club offerings (usually not bad at all or they used to be). That way they may encourage more members to join as well. But I guess as a few have mentioned they are probably not from the Accolade group.

 

[kamchatsky]

A good strategy for domestic flyers might be to get a Citi Prestige credit card, which gives you a $36 food & beverage credit (for yourself and up to 1 guest) to spend at participating Priority Pass airport bars/cafes/restaurants every time you fly. That way, you can get a decent feed and then go to the lounge (if you have access) once you're done.

Prestige card was OKish when you have setup PayAll with no fees and earn lots of points. With PayAll ending in Jan 2025, it is no longer worth it to keep the card just for PP unless you travel a lot, then you may as well get Amex Platinum charge card.

 

[p--and--t]

I don't drink a lot when traveling but do like one (sometimes two) in the lounge. Problem is my preferred tipple is a bourbon. Not much joy in the VA lounge (in the few airports where they have one) but I can get a Southern Comfort amongst a few others in QC.

 

[Mattg]

Prestige card was OKish when you have setup PayAll with no fees and earn lots of points. With PayAll ending in Jan 2025, it is no longer worth it to keep the card just for PP unless you travel a lot, then you may as well get Amex Platinum charge card.

The Amex Platinum card is good, but doesn't include the food & beverage credits at Priority Pass airport restaurants.

 

[Carmilla5]

Virgin Australia Finally Refreshes Its Lounge Wines is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

Virgin Australia Finally Refreshes Its Lounge Wines

For a while, some of the wines served in Virgin Australia's airport lounges have tasted pretty bad. But the airline is finally refreshing its wine list with some new options.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Please bring back the great food the lounges once had. If I see one more biriyani I’ll scream. Yes first world problems I know!

 

[ozstamps]

I am not a wine snob, and only drink white or sparking, but have never had any issue with the taste at any Virgin Lounge, and that is many 100s of visits.

Reds I can understand, is often a different animal.

Given they run a large wine club, they'd have more leverage than most, and really should be able to source decent choices - not hard.

What I was often appalled at, was seeing NEW ZEALAND whites on offer. Both in lounges and in Business Class quite often.

Unlike many - I am a strident proponent of BUYING AUSTRALIAN where at all possible, for ANY product, especially when price points are about the same - as they certainly are, in lower to mid-end wines. Employs Australians, and makes the economy stronger.

If we all did that, our economy would be in a FAR better place. Virgin alone would buy 100,000s of bottles a year.

Virgin would be WISE to make that a marketing mantra - 'we proudly serve only Australia grown and bottled wines'.