Free Virgin Australia Lounge access for Qantas Gold and Platinum members

[serfty]

... The nice Lounge manager also made sure we knew that as DJ Gold members we would have ANYTIME lounge access, on ARRIVALS lounge access ...

ARRIVALS - yes!

ANYTIME - no!

 

[straitman]

ARRIVALS - yes!

ANYTIME - no!

DJ have in the past given anytime lounge access. I have not tried them recently.

 

[serfty]

DJ have in the past given anytime lounge access. I have not tried them recently.

I was going by this and following posts (and one or three others):

All well and good, but the other product in Australia at least is far from that of Qantas. What only 6 lounges with even more restrictive access agreements, no arrivals access, no international lounge access rights, how can the two even be compared? Maybe with the changes that are coming at DJ there may be some worry for Qantas, but for the time being I think they are doing ok and are not too worried that a few people might take their bat and ball and fly with DJ all because Qantas have taken anytime access off them.

DJ do have arrivals access though it is not well advertised.

I have attempted neither arrivals nor anytime, only on departure.

 

[connieguy]

I was going by this and following posts (and one or three others): I have attempted neither arrivals nor anytime, only on departure.

The DJ Mel Lounge manager told me that as long as the Lounge was not crowded then DJ Golds could get anytime access (including arrivals access). Depending on how crowded the Lounge was, guests may or may not gain entry.

Said if I was DJ Gold and just wanted a quick shower on arrivals, there should not be a problem even if the lounge was crowded.

What I found really interesting was her unprompted suggestion, for me to call Velocity and ask to be status matched to DJ Gold. I asked her if that was part of the promotion? She said, with a nice smile on her face, you will never know if you don't ask.

 

[MiLK_MaN]

I was on a MEL-CBR flight on Tuesday morning, went to go check out The Lounge, was a line 10 deep and people waiting outside the actual entrance.

Took close to a minute to process each person to get in, and since my flight wasn't that far away from leaving I decided not to bother.

Have another return flight on VA in the next fortnight, might give it another crack then.

 

[markis10]

What I found really interesting was her unprompted suggestion, for me to call Velocity and ask to be status matched to DJ Gold. I asked her if that was part of the promotion? She said, with a nice smile on her face, you will never know if you don't ask.

The last time they offered the access for QF customers thats exactly what happened, except they rang you with the offer! Looks like I picked the right half of the year to concentrate my flying to DJ to requal Gold, with WP wrapped up and DJs relaunch its looking like a good move, especially with the new QLD lounges !

 

[oz_mark]

The last time they offered the access for QF customers thats exactly what happened, except they rang you with the offer!

Well, not everyone got that phone call :shock:

 

[zig]

Apparently, I could have used my Priority Pass in the Lounge, even though flying with QF that day, according to the desk people.

Interestingly I was given different advice today. I have just left the lounge, and when I entered with my priority pass I was told that I had to be flying virgin to get lounge access, however today as a one off they would allow me entry :-|

 

[itsglenng]

Interestingly I was given different advice today. I have just left the lounge, and when I entered with my priority pass I was told that I had to be flying virgin to get lounge access, however today as a one off they would allow me entry :-|

Had no issues with entering the MEL DJ lounge with my Priority Pass on Thursday lunchtime, was flying JQ international.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Interestingly I was given different advice today. I have just left the lounge, and when I entered with my priority pass I was told that I had to be flying virgin to get lounge access, however today as a one off they would allow me entry :-|

I've used PP tens of times this year on DJ when flying QF. PP terms clearly state you can go into any PP lounge flying any airline. Honestly DJ should be flattered that passengers flying QF want to use their lounge. Says a lot about the competition :!:

 

[Smackbum]

I used this promotion at Sydney this morning. Arrived 30 minutes early for my flight to Canberra and The Lounge staff welcomed me inside and also printed my return boarding pass for me. It was my first time in the new Lounge and for someone used to the QP zoo it was very relaxed. I only had time for a bowl of muesli and a juice whilst picking up emails, so it was not something I would have paid $30/$35 for. Tempting for longer stays in future though.

The time that I really needed access was this evening. I was booked on the 6:30pm flight back to Sydney and arrived at around 4:30pm at Canberra airport. It never hurts to ask so I took the long walk to The Lounge and enquired if the Melbourne/Sydney promotion for QF Gold/Platinum refugees had been extended to Canberra. "Sorry Sir - it hasn't" came the reply from the apologetic desk attendant.

Still in the "never hurts to ask" mode I enquired whether I could get an earlier flight. "Are you a member of our Velocity program?" the lounge angel asked as she viewed my dirt-cheap boarding pass. I answered in the affirmative, but confessed that I was at the bogan-red status. "I'm so sorry Mr Smackbum, but I can't move you to an earlier flight on that fare", was the final nail in my coffin.

I told her not to fret and got out my Amex to pay for a casual visit, when the gorgeous, gorgeous lady said "Please enjoy the lounge with our compliments today."

So here I am getting slowly sozzled on Fat Yaks and hardly even caring that weather delays in Sydney will mean another hour's wait in Canberra. I think I'm in love!

 

[kpc]

I told her not to fret and got out my Amex to pay for a casual visit, when the gorgeous, gorgeous lady said "Please enjoy the lounge with our compliments today."

So here I am getting slowly sozzled on Fat Yaks and hardly even caring that weather delays in Sydney will mean another hour's wait in Canberra. I think I'm in love!

With the lounge or the lounge dragon?

 

[MiLK_MaN]

I told her not to fret and got out my Amex to pay for a casual visit, when the gorgeous, gorgeous lady said "Please enjoy the lounge with our compliments today."

I was at Canberra last week, they are not lounge dragons, they are lounge angels. The front attendants at the lounge are smoking hot.

 

[Smackbum]

With the lounge or the lounge dragon?

Both. Though at my age the latter is a bit pathetic ...

But it was interesting that the whole feeling in The Lounge was totally different to the Canberra Qantas Pub. It is more compact but less crowded and didn't have that feeling of desperation you get at the QC. And there were no riff-raff (apart from yours truly).

 

[antycbr]

Both. Though at my age the latter is a bit pathetic ...

But it was interesting that the whole feeling in The Lounge was totally different to the Canberra Qantas Pub. It is more compact but less crowded and didn't have that feeling of desperation you get at the QC. And there were no riff-raff (apart from yours truly).

The Canberra VA lounge is nice and has excellent tarmac views of the not so exciting Dash8s, Embrarers and 737s that service Canberra routinely. The furnishings are not quite there compared to QF but then again the whole thing will be rebuilt when Stage 2 of the new terminal is completed.

I so know what you mean about the feeling of desperation at the Canberra QC - usually whenever a tray of food appears.

 

[markis10]

Both. Though at my age the latter is a bit pathetic ...

But it was interesting that the whole feeling in The Lounge was totally different to the Canberra Qantas Pub. It is more compact but less crowded and didn't have that feeling of desperation you get at the QC. And there were no riff-raff (apart from yours truly).

The CBR lounge has been like that for a long time, even in the old terminal it was an oasis compared to the QP, I took advantage of the last WP free access two years ago and spent 5 hours in the lounge which made the time pass quite quick!

 

[anthonysimilion]

It's been a while since anyone's posted in this thread, but I booked a Virgin Australia flight for this Thursday evening from Melbourne to Perth to try this out - just wanted to confirm the promotion hasn't been ended early?

 

[Simsy85]

Now if only DJ flew MEL - DRW.....

Edit: Oh wait... they do...

 

[jsd]

Now if only DJ flew MEL - DRW.....

Ummm. I'm pretty sure they do...

Sent from my Garmin-Asus A50 using AustFreqFly App

 

[jsoprano]

It's been a while since anyone's posted in this thread, but I booked a Virgin Australia flight for this Thursday evening from Melbourne to Perth to try this out - just wanted to confirm the promotion hasn't been ended early?

No, still going. Used it on Friday at MEL and the very friendly gentleman at the front desk even mentioned that it would have been extended until ???, he wasn't sure but seemed to remember some recent internal communication on this promotion.

Happy lounging!