I'm in the VA Lounge thread

[Human]

Virgin Lounge Melbourne.
Am I old and tired if I find this inappropriate?

I don’t like it either … but whenever I see this sort of thing I think of the time when, after 29 hours of flying and while at my third transit airport, I was so exhausted that I just had to do the same thing. Literally couldn’t keep my eyes open.

Not ideal… but just occasionally necessary (I’m in my 50s and I’ve slept in a lounge exactly once). We don’t know this person’s background or how long their trip has taken so far. Best to cut them some slack.

 

[Must...Fly!]

It's a lounge, not an office. I think the same as @Human, you just never know what someone has been through.

Maybe they're hungover. Maybe they've been up all night driving from the country in a mad dash to get to a dying relative and are just exhausted.

Either way I'll take that person having a quiet lie down over an obnoxious DYKWIA in a suit having a loud business meeting that all and sundry have to suffer through.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

I must be getting old and too set in my ways.
I will have to try to be more understanding.

 

[kookaburra75]

I'm in the Adelaide Lounge until 5.30pm. Can guest 2
The food options are really good

 

[simmomelb]

I'm in the Adelaide Lounge until 5.30pm. Can guest 2
The food options are really good

What is on offer today?
That's my favourite lounge with the full refurb.

 

[kookaburra75]

What is on offer today?
That's my favourite lounge with the full refurb.

I haven't been here for a couple of years. I agree it's the best of the Virgin Lounges, and out shines the QF Domestic Lounges, except for the wine selection - but that's ok.

 

[simmomelb]

MEL lounge has a reasonable selection of food today. The pumpkin and fetta wraps are delicious
A nice welcome and friendly service at the front desk, with a smile
Tables being cleared quickly.
Wine selection, poor, Hardy's, as always.

 

[PERLHR]

MEL lounge has a reasonable selection of food today. The pumpkin and fetta wraps are delicious
A nice welcome and friendly service at the front desk, with a smile
Tables being cleared quickly.
Wine selection, poor, Hardy's, as always.

Am I the only one who thinks the Melbourne lounge is really quite poor? Yes I see the pumpkin sannies and some over cooked samosas that are look warm, some.soup and little else!! It's actually probably one of the worst "business" lounges around....and I have seen a few! The Hardy's selection is hardly "business class or lounge material". Come On Virgin this is meant to be a flag lounge is it not?;Poor , Poor, Poor!

 

[Human]

Am I the only one who thinks the Melbourne lounge is really quite poor? Yes I see the pumpkin sannies and some over cooked samosas that are look warm, some.soup and little else!! It's actually probably one of the worst "business" lounges around....and I have seen a few! The Hardy's selection is hardly "business class or lounge material". Come On Virgin this is meant to be a flag lounge is it not?;Poor , Poor, Poor!

In VA's defence, it's not a "business" lounge -- it's a (domestic) airline lounge. As far as domestic airline lounges go (not just in Australia but around the world), it seems to be average or slightly above average as far as I can tell.

Sure, it's often too crowded for comfort, but that's not a VA thing. I've used the Qantas domestic lounges (both the Business lounges and the Qantas Clubs) in Melbourne and Sydney and they've been too crowded for comfort too.

The food can be pedestrian, but again, that's not something that's limited to Virgin lounges. And their wraps can be pretty good.

Having said that, there's no use sugar-coating one fact: you won't get worse felafel anywhere in the world.

 

[PERLHR]

In VA's defence, it's not a "business" lounge -- it's a (domestic) airline lounge. As far as domestic airline lounges go (not just in Australia but around the world), it seems to be average or slightly above average as far as I can tell.

Sure, it's often too crowded for comfort, but that's not a VA thing. I've used the Qantas domestic lounges (both the Business lounges and the Qantas Clubs) in Melbourne and Sydney and they've been too crowded for comfort too.

The food can be pedestrian, but again, that's not something that's limited to Virgin lounges. And their wraps can be pretty good.

Having said that, there's no use sugar-coating one fact: you won't get worse felafel anywhere in the world.

In VA's defence, it's not a "business" lounge -- it's a (domestic) airline lounge. As far as domestic airline lounges go (not just in Australia but around the world), it seems to be average or slightly above average as far as I can tell.

Sure, it's often too crowded for comfort, but that's not a VA thing. I've used the Qantas domestic lounges (both the Business lounges and the Qantas Clubs) in Melbourne and Sydney and they've been too crowded for comfort too.

The food can be pedestrian, but again, that's not something that's limited to Virgin lounges. And their wraps can be pretty good.

Having said that, there's no use sugar-coating one fact: you won't get worse felafel anywhere in the world.

I disagree. It's a business and status lounge like all other carriers. The MEL lounge is rather poor compared to even other VA lounges and is well under par to many other airlines serving short haul and domestic destinations. People complain about the BA lounges (and they provide around 3 hot variety of meals and choice) as well as other stuff. Others do as well. It's poor.

 

[simmomelb]

Am I the only one who thinks the Melbourne lounge is really quite poor? Yes I see the pumpkin sannies and some over cooked samosas that are look warm, some.soup and little else!! It's actually probably one of the worst "business" lounges around....and I have seen a few! The Hardy's selection is hardly "business class or lounge material". Come On Virgin this is meant to be a flag lounge is it not?;Poor , Poor, Poor!

What makes you think its a "business" lounge, serious question? Next to anyone can get in here.
Their next tier lounge is Beyond, they definitely do not serve Hardy's in Beyond lounges, a very different experience.

 

[PERLHR]

What makes you think its a "business" lounge, serious question? Next.to anyone can get in here.
Their next tier lounge is Beyond, they definitely do not serve Hardy's in Beyond lounges, a very different experience.

Well I thought you needed status to get in or be flying business class. Silly me. Next time when I have no VA status and flying down the back I'll say you said I can come in....

 

[Harrison_133]

Am I the only one who thinks the Melbourne lounge is really quite poor? Yes I see the pumpkin sannies and some over cooked samosas that are look warm, some.soup and little else!! It's actually probably one of the worst "business" lounges around....and I have seen a few! The Hardy's selection is hardly "business class or lounge material". Come On Virgin this is meant to be a flag lounge is it not?;Poor , Poor, Poor!

I'd agree with you in terms of food. Personally I find the Melbourne lounge to be the poorest and most inconsistent in terms of food offerings and quality. I'd rate the Adelaide lounge best for food.

But in terms of the actual lounge space, it's one of my favourites on the network (along with Adelaide). The refresh made the Melbourne lounge a much nicer space.

 

[simmomelb]

Well I thought you needed status to get in or be flying business class. Silly me. Next time when I have no VA status and flying down the back I'll say you said I can come in....

Most people I know don't travel for business or fly business class, and have status, it's very easy to obtain, particularly with DSC and pooling
Hard to judge looking around the lounge, as everyone dresses differently, but a large proportion of those in the lounge today probably weren't business travellers.
My point is VA doesn't have a "business lounge", unlike some airlines, apart from Beyond, invitation only lounges, in SYD, MEL & BNE.

 

[PERLHR]

Most people I know don't travel for business or fly business class, and have status, it's very easy to obtain, particularly with DSC and pooling
Hard to judge looking around the lounge, as everyone dresses differently, but a large proportion of those in the lounge today probably weren't business travellers.
My point is VA doesn't have a "business lounge", unlike some airlines, apart from Beyond, invitation only lounges, in SYD, MEL & BNE.

In the same token VA offer really a premier economy cabin but they call it Business. I think we are playing with words and you probably know that but the fact remains you need status or flying in a "non economy class" cabin (or shall I even say LCC) to enter their canteen...oops "lounge". I'll.be looking forward to their wide array of "delights" (or slop) at lunchtime today at MEL!

 

[JohnK]

We've been in ADL lounge the past 3 hours. Looks really nice. Not many people passing through today.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What makes you think its a "business" lounge, serious question? Next to anyone can get in here.
Their next tier lounge is Beyond, they definitely do not serve Hardy's in Beyond lounges, a very different experience.

Not disagreeing.

I think the lounge is a members lounge, which is granted through your membership that comes with status, or by paying the annual fee.

Business class are ‘invited’ to enter.

Given there’s like 8J on a flight but upwards of 60+ pax in the priority boarding lane, the lounges really are geared towards to the LCD. Economy pax with status.

 

[simmomelb]

In the same token VA offer really a premier economy cabin but they call it Business. I think we are playing with words and you probably know that but the fact remains you need status or flying in a "non economy class" cabin (or shall I even say LCC) to enter their canteen...oops "lounge". I'll.be looking forward to their wide array of "delights" (or slop) at lunchtime today at MEL!

1) Qantas call the exact same seat business, yes it is just a word, you can call it whatever you like, different countries do this also, such as the USA, and then it's different between the international fleet and domestic also for many airlines. Everyone knows what they are getting and both Qantas and Virgin have no issues selling what they call, business and passengers keep returning.
Given the majority of flights are less than 3 hours, it's more than enough.
2) Anyone can enter the lounge, you don't need status or be flying a lot, you can either pay a yearly fee or a one off entry fee, or enter for free with another member.
3) I hope you enjoyed the "slop" in the MEL Lounge

On a side note, if anyone would like entry to the GC [OOL] lounge, I can guest 2 for the next 2 hours.

 

[ThatMrBlake]

In the Melbourne lounge - probably 40% full. Nice to see the hot option is this chicken, pita and salad combo. Sure beats overcooked pasta, but ranks below the slider specials.

 

[Must...Fly!]

In the Melbourne lounge - probably 40% full. Nice to see the hot option is this chicken, pita and salad combo. Sure beats overcooked pasta, but ranks below the slider specials.

The Brisbane lounge this afternoon is glaring at you. Overcooked pasta was a feature! Plus a smattering of other things, it wasn't a bad spread to be honest.