I'm in the VA Lounge thread

[Milefest]

In the SYD lounge, not as busy as I expected. Vegetable biryani is the main on rotation today, I usually like biryani but this one is pretty bland.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

In the SYD lounge, not as busy as I expected. Vegetable biryani is the main on rotation today, I usually like biryani but this one is pretty bland.

That was on yesterday as well. Have they brought out the chicken sliders and onion rings yet??

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Sorry, we all know this of course, but I have to gripe.
I like the SYD layout of the VAd lounge there, at the least, they have the upstairs open(able) if the needs arise, and the premium entry.
MEL since the redevelopment, is now bad, ie, no premium exit, you have to enter and exit the same way, and if there are a lot of people wanting entry/waiting, its not a good set up.
The old way, with the side exit was good, in the sense that you or I could pop out onto the gates that way.
When they did the most recent redevelopment, that spot where the premium exit was, got taken over by the beer shop, and the sign also does not allow premium exit.
And when that area is packed, its packed, no way for people to go.
But due to way the airport is set up, I guess, there is nothing VA can really do.
Loos are ok, tho, had a look see into the shower area, grout still is white, ie, no mould.
Under Bain, lots of cost cutting, but also due to MEL airport, VA has also itself saved a lot of $.

 

[PERLHR]

Sorry, we all know this of course, but I have to gripe.
I like the SYD layout of the VAd lounge there, at the least, they have the upstairs open(able) if the needs arise, and the premium entry.
MEL since the redevelopment, is now bad, ie, no premium exit, you have to enter and exit the same way, and if there are a lot of people wanting entry/waiting, its not a good set up.
The old way, with the side exit was good, in the sense that you or I could pop out onto the gates that way.
When they did the most recent redevelopment, that spot where the premium exit was, got taken over by the beer shop, and the sign also does not allow premium exit.
And when that area is packed, its packed, no way for people to go.
But due to way the airport is set up, I guess, there is nothing VA can really do.
Loos are ok, tho, had a look see into the shower area, grout still is white, ie, no mould.
Under Bain, lots of cost cutting, but also due to MEL airport, VA has also itself saved a lot of $.

I thought there is an additional exit...near the loos? I think MEL lounge has a lot of room for improvement. As a major transfer point also it should be better.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, that one where the loos are, are still there, but that leads the opposite way, to gate 11 - 20, but not ideal if your gate is in the range of 1 - 10.
There used to be the one specific for that was for 1 - 10.
Even the exit from 11 - 20 is not open, and tho I saw it, I wasn't game to go out that way.
It was closed, ie, didn't seem that it was the door that had a sensor to open by itself.
It might have worked with a push, but I wasn't game to do it.
---
Food wise, they had a very slow turn around of food too on the day I was there, they had run out of ham slices on the servery, and it took about 15 mins before they brought out resupplies.
Turkey sliders were good and tummy filling tho a bit on the smaller side.
They were not warm, neither was the bread roll to go with the pea soup, which was spicy and a had a bit of a kick.
---
Yes, it could certainly be improved upon, faster clean up of tables, for eg.
If they had faster turn around, then people can be seated faster, eating faster, and moving out faster.
The way its set up, slow as she goes, means a lot of people hovering around looking for spare places to sit.
They also didn't open the serving area towards the loo, maybe if they had spread out the food to a compact zone, then it would not be so crowded at that narrow zone where the 2 pots of soup are.
---
I had used the coffee barista girl in the past, but this time round, as in pix, I made my own coffee with the machine.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

In BNE for the next 30 minutes, can guest 3. Pretty quiet (for AM peak), however coffee line is long and the automatic machine is broken
Chipolatas and scrambled eggs on the menu this morning.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

OOL Lounge reasonably busy.
1st Flight cancelled next flight
now delayed. Estimated departure time nearly 3 hours
from original booking.
Baked beans, scrambled eggs and pancakes.
Wonder if we will still be here
for dinner.
Never mind the bar will be open in an hour or so.

 

[PERLHR]

OOL Lounge reasonably busy.
1st Flight cancelled next flight
now delayed. Estimated departure time nearly 3 hours
from original booking.
Baked beans, scrambled eggs and pancakes.
Wonder if we will still be here
for dinner.
Never mind the bar will be open in an hour or so.

What was your routing?

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

What was your routing?

OOL - MEL
The delays concern me - next Friday we fly to SYD to depart SYD to ZRH
Our Sydney flight departs at 16.10. What time should we leave OOL ( separate tickets VA and SIA) to comfortably transfer from Domestic to International ?

 

[jase05]

OOL - MEL
The delays concern me - next Friday we fly to SYD to depart SYD to ZRH
Our Sydney flight departs at 16.10. What time should we leave OOL ( separate tickets VA and SIA) to comfortably transfer from Domestic to International ?

With the delays and issues currently there is no way I’d be doing that on the same day. I’d be flying to SYD the night before if possible

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Business commitments are such that we cannot leave on Thus
however I did change our departure from OOL to the first flight of the day on Friday. 6.00 am. Being optimistic I have also booked a day use for some hours at Rydges. Checking Flight Aware it seems that this flight has a fairly good chance of departing on time.

 

[FishFood]

OOL Lounge reasonably busy.
1st Flight cancelled next flight
now delayed. Estimated departure time nearly 3 hours
from original booking.
Baked beans, scrambled eggs and pancakes.
Wonder if we will still be here
for dinner.
Never mind the bar will be open in an hour or so.

All the line breaks meant I read this like a poem. I like the conclusion too

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

In SYD lounge for the next hour, awaiting VA965. Can guest 3.
Vegetable pies and chicken samosas on the menu this afternoon and it's not very busy.

 

[Human]

it's not very busy

Saturdays are always my favourite times to be in VA lounges. They never seem to be busy.

 

[PERLHR]

Let's hope for 2024 VA stop all this cancelled flights carry on and ease stress levels for all pax! I somewhat want the equivalent of EU 261 and airlines to be accountable for the mess they can cause..

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

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

 

[PERLHR]

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

Not brilliant...but maybe needs to be cut some slack....probably booked on a 2 hour flight that has been cancelled multiple times and then routed via MEL 24 hours later!!

 

[MooTime]

Not brilliant...but maybe needs to be cut some slack....probably booked on a 2 hour flight that has been cancelled multiple times and then routed via MEL 24 hours later!!

And at least took his shoes off.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

And at least took his shoes off.

But it's the dirty socks that really add the final touch !

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

But it's the dirty socks that really add the final touch !

As most Mums will attest to, once they've been worn once, white socks are never truly "white" again.