Disgusting State of Perth Virgin Lounge

[pointwilliams]

Hi all...I have been doing quite a bit of business in Perth over the last few months and my business partner and I have been using the Perth Virgin Lounge. I have to say I am amazed at what a dump it has turned into.

Food was rubbish (basic and very messy), carpets messy, the furniture was old and dirty (some with DNA or food remnants), and I made the mistake of grabbing a shower prior to getting on the red eye - my god the shower curtain looked like it had 50 shades of bacteria growing slowly up to the middle.

It really was an embarrassment, especially after a long day of meetings in Perth and trying to sit down and have a quiet business discussion with my partner. It sounded like a Friday night at a dodgy pub -"effing" this and "effing" that - with a few C words dropped in for good measure by those in hi-viz seated around us.

I'm no prude, but sitting there last night, I couldn't help thinking Virgin really doesn't care about high value customers such as myself (self employed, exclusively travel Virgin since Jan 2007, Platinum, pay for all my own flights and that of my colleagues etc) when it comes to doing business in Perth.

So 2 questions -
1. Am I being too touchy, or do others feel the same way?
2. Should Virgin introduce Dress Codes and Behaviour Codes at "Business Lounges"?

Comments?

 

[mannej]

I'm no prude, but sitting there last night, I couldn't help thinking Virgin really doesn't care about high value customers such as myself (self employed, exclusively travel Virgin since Jan 2007, Platinum, pay for all my own flights and that of my colleagues etc) when it comes to doing business in Perth.

Ironic comment - the FIFO "mob" are employed by some of VA's very high value customers...

 

[Milefest]

Was in the brisbane lounge the other day, full of rude, loud people.

They do have a dress code, I think it's smart casual, but I'm constantly seeing people with footy shorts and thongs in there so I don't think they enforce it.

 

[juddles]

Rather tan go through the same arguments, why dont you peek at the thread about Qantas and dress codes, etc. No one is a winner.

 

[Cessna 180]

Have to agree that the Perth V lounge is pretty average, but then I always remember I could be just sitting out at the gate paying ten dollars or whatever for a drink and dodgy sandwich.........

Regarding Hi vis, I don't think it is fair to lump all in the one basket as I'm sure its the loud minority giving everyone a bad name. After all they are equally entitled to be in their work clothes the same as someone in a suit is in their work clothes.

However, they should be clean and smell nice in a public place and when conversing they should ask themselves if they would speak like that if their Mother was sitting with them!

Virgin lounge staff should probably offer people with bad behaviour to go and sit outside regardless of who they are.

 

[Daver6]

I don't think you are being too touchy. However, did you point any of this out to any of the staff? Virgin aren't going to just guess that you are unhappy.

I'd imagine the easiest and quickest way to bring it to their attention and get some action on it, would be a few pictures tweeted to them. Ie, the shower curtain and grubby state of the lounge.

 

[andye]

..... It sounded like a Friday night at a dodgy pub -"effing" this and "effing" that - with a few C words dropped in for good measure by those ....QUOTE]

I think that there would be a reasonable chance that language might be moderated if politely requested by lounge staff.
When in a like-minded environment where offence is unlikely, it's not difficult for men (mostly but not uniquely) to get into the habit of swearing on an industrial scale. I noticed this when on rugby tours and team-mates would need to be reminded that they were in a public place and ought to self-censor

 

[andye]

I haev no issues with what people wear within reason but agree that loud swearing did ought to be an issue of concern for lounge management. The captive audience makes this different to a pub

 

[cory]

I was in there last week and everything you said is correct. There's no problem with people wearing high vis clothes, however when they set their chairs up into a 15 man circle and yell out to eachother its dam right annoying its supposed to be a quiet(ish) place. And yes, foul language included. Also, many of the miners who return to east coast after their swings over here, after having a shower etc return to the lounge for hours, and I mean hours dressed in nothing but a torn singlet, filthy dusty red thongs and rugby shorts. Surely it wouldn't be too hard to wear clean thongs or shoes, a tshirt and shorts. This will help explain the filthy showers and furniture.

Funny thing is when I was last on a transcon buiseness class flight with VA I was quietly talking to my partner during the flight, as it was a day flight and was told to be quiet by a flight attendant (in a nice way, apparently the passenger behind us was trying to sleep and had complained).

Perth lounge needs BIG improvement as it has nothing on Mel/Syd. And I mean nothing.

 

[dk4]

Perth lounge needs BIG improvement as it has nothing on Mel/Syd. And I mean nothing.

Tell you what, ask nicely and they might open a brand new one for you (after the middle of the year) on the other side of the airport, with city skyline views!

Problems is IMO, it will undoubtedly focus too much on Virgin Flair, and not enough on who Virgin's high value customers are (which frankly in the West is the hi-vis brigade, and in season, footy fanatics ).

But, I await to be surprised and find a new lounge concept which creates a "hi-vis gravitation area", that in turn generates quieter zones off to the side.

 

[grilled_cheeze]

Slightly off-topic, but is the Adelaide lounge ever going to get a revamp? The place is a joke...

I remember being in there last year and a footy team came through during the evening. I know the lounge there is small, but this resulted in players/staff from the footy team having to sit on the floor as the lounge was exceeding its seating capacity. Had to walk over bodies to get to any of the facilities. Deadset feels like you're sitting in a broom cupboard there some days.

 

[yohy?!]

Funny thing is when I was last on a transcon buiseness class flight with VA I was quietly talking to my partner during the flight, as it was a day flight and was told to be quiet by a flight attendant (in a nice way, apparently the passenger behind us was trying to sleep and had complained).

Really? I would have told that FA that an aircraft is not a library and to buzz off lest I lodge a complaint about her! Who was the other pax, her boyfriend?!

 

[smit0847]

Slightly off-topic, but is the Adelaide lounge ever going to get a revamp? The place is a joke...

I remember being in there last year and a footy team came through during the evening. I know the lounge there is small, but this resulted in players/staff from the footy team having to sit on the floor as the lounge was exceeding its seating capacity. Had to walk over bodies to get to any of the facilities. Deadset feels like you're sitting in a broom cupboard there some days.

I agree. Those tub chairs are hideous too. The lounge always seems to be crowded, its always filthy, and there is very little food.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

But, I await to be surprised and find a new lounge concept which creates a "hi-vis gravitation area", that in turn generates quieter zones off to the side.

Easy to do, just serve beer and bourbon at one end and wine at the other.

 

[cory]

Really? I would have told that FA that an aircraft is not a library and to buzz off lest I lodge a complaint about her! Who was the other pax, her boyfriend?!

Yup really, although I'm not really one for confrontation but just trying to highlight the fact the lounge is allowed to be seen as a playground yet got "told off" for talking to my partner the seat next to me. Just no consistency

 

[RooFlyer]

Oh, my. Another 'high viz (read: blue collar workers) bash' thread? Brings out the elitist in us, doesn't it?

In Hobart, we'd LOVE a Virgin lounge, with lots of high viz and grubby shower curtains. Any Virgin lounge, really.

 

[JohnK]

So 2 questions -
1. Am I being too touchy, or do others feel the same way?
2. Should Virgin introduce Dress Codes and Behaviour Codes at "Business Lounges"?

No you are not being too touchy.

Unfortunately society's standards have been dropping rapidly through the years.

 

[Comoman]

The new Perth Virgin lounge will be opening when Virgin move to the new terminal later this year (I think).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I am not at all surprise by your comments, OP.
I was also shocked my first visit, to the PER VAd the lounge, compared to PER QPd.

 

[clazman]

With Virgin moving to the other side of the airport, I suspect they don't want to spend any money.

Curious when QF move into Virgins part of the terminal will they renovate, close the lounge, or leave it as