LAX Update: EK Lounge for WP; EY lounge for Business & SG - from March 21

[CJEMNMAC]

I used to enjoy the star lounge at like 4pm onwards.. I was either stuffed from flying the day of departure domestically or checked out of hotel around lunch time.


On Sunday I was in LAX and just went to Etihad at about 4.30pm and then at 6.30pm over to Emirates..Only had about 25 people in the EK lounge I reckon

VA have to get their act together on this.

The above quote is what I was allowed to do last week.


My daughter 5 mins ago ( who is Gold ) denied access to ETIHAD and told go to Emirates only. ( as Gold )

So Gold and Platinum can stand outside ETIHAD from approx 5pm until 6.30pm ( until Emirates open ) while the business class redemption or paid J enter Etihad.

VA, on this you are a joke

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Virgin promises lounge fix for Brisbane-bound LAX flyers - Australian Business Traveller

However, since the middle of April when Virgin changed the time of its Saturday VA6 flight to leave Los Angeles at 11.15am rather than the late evening, passengers on that flight have been without lounge access because neither the Emirates or Etihad lounges are open that early in the morning.

Instead, business class flyers and Velocity Gold and Platinum card-holders are provided with food vouchers to redeem at the terminal's eateries plus 10,000 Velocity points as a make-good for the inconvenience.

Australian Business Traveller understands that new lounge arrangements are almost in place and an announcement could be made this week – ideally in time for this Saturday's VA6 flight, which will certainly be news to cheer its passengers.

 

[fewings85]

Other side of the coin for a minute. Is there any issues with the lounge access pre departure on the new MEL-LAX route. I see we are pushed to the Etihad lounge according to the website. Looking at trying the new route for my trip in august. Flying in from Perth, with the unreliability of VA as of late I don't want to encounter any issues during the layover in MEL.

 

[liamsal]

Virgin promises lounge fix for Brisbane-bound LAX flyers - Australian Business Traveller

Maybe it's just me but I'd way rather the 20k points I received last time rather than 2 hours in the lounge when I won't be drinking much (or any) at all at that time of morning...

 

[bwhouse]

VA have to get their act together on this.

The above quote is what I was allowed to do last week.


My daughter 5 mins ago ( who is Gold ) denied access to ETIHAD and told go to Emirates only. ( as Gold )

So Gold and Platinum can stand outside ETIHAD from approx 5pm until 6.30pm ( until Emirates open ) while the business class redemption or paid J enter Etihad.

VA, on this you are a joke

Wow, that is pretty bad, I wonder if they are trying to control the overcrowding of the EY lounge. Hence they moved Gold members to the EK lounge.

Was your daughter flying in J or Y? I wonder what happens if you are Gold flying in J, do you still get access to both?

 

[TSOOBI]

I was a PLAT in J last week. Certainly had to push the access to the EY lounge as the desk wanted me to goto EK but then the VA staff showed up and reminded that PLAT in J can use either.

 

[deva22]

It's not a bad drop for NV, at some point Veuve became the trendy choice over Moet, I can only assume this was due to good marketing.

It tastes 10000x better.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Wow, that is pretty bad, I wonder if they are trying to control the overcrowding of the EY lounge. Hence they moved Gold members to the EK lounge.

Was your daughter flying in J or Y? I wonder what happens if you are Gold flying in J, do you still get access to both?

She was in PE..

I was a PLAT in J last week. Certainly had to push the access to the EY lounge as the desk wanted me to goto EK but then the VA staff showed up and reminded that PLAT in J can use either.

This was the VA staff member that denied entry..

I wonder who sits down and makes the rules ?

If Gold but not in J cant use EY must use EK

If Platinum but not in J cant use EY must use EK

If Gold and in J can use EY and then EK if you want

If Plat and in J can use EY and then EK if you want

If in J but no status you can use EY but not EK


The reason I am upset is the VA approach to virtually everything at the moment is on the run.. nothing is consistent

In other circumstances, being Gold or Plat or whatever allows the access. One of the benefits of status..

It should not be at the discretion of people who think they know better or because VA cannot get a decent arrangement in place. It is a shambles

Furthermore, last week when I was there I met a passenger no status but in J. If I applied today's position from VA. I may have been denied entry while the other passenger entered while I wait 90 mins for my turn..it is wierd

Anyway, rant over

 

[bwhouse]

It tastes 10000x better.

Personally, think they are both on par tbh. My pick of the NV in that price range atm would be Taittinger. But that is just personal preference.

 

[grubbidok]

Doing this next week. Given the omnishambles that exists I'm thinking of avoiding the lounge altogether and just making my traditional In-N-Out excursion a little longer than usual.

 

[deva22]

Personally, think they are both on par tbh. My pick of the NV in that price range atm would be Taittinger. But that is just personal preference.

Yeah of course it's all personal preference. I really dislike the taste of NV Moet. NV Veuve is nice, and my favourites are Mumm and Piper Heideseck (in that order).

 

[liamsal]

VA website has been updated with the following:

Business class:

Flights VA2, VA8, VA24:
Etihad First & Business Class Lounge
(Open from 1720 daily)

Flight VA6:
Los Angeles International Lounge

Platinum/Gold:

Flights VA2, VA8, VA24:
Emirates Lounge
(Open from 1830 daily)
Flight VA6:
Los Angeles International Lounge

 

[Mr Pumblechook]

Review: Los Angeles International Lounge LAX Airport - One Mile at a Time

The Los Angeles International Lounge looks new and neat but there are no showers and the food looks pretty average.

Having said that, it's only for morning flights so I think the strategy should be to have a big breakfast and shower in the hotel, then head to LAX at the last minute and think of the lounge as a waiting area.

 

[grubbidok]

VA website has been updated with the following:

Business class:

Flights VA2, VA8, VA24:
Etihad First & Business Class Lounge
(Open from 1720 daily)

Flight VA6:
Los Angeles International Lounge

Platinum/Gold:

Flights VA2, VA8, VA24:
Emirates Lounge
(Open from 1830 daily)
Flight VA6:
Los Angeles International Lounge

... just when you think VA can't make LAX lounge access any messier. What the hell are they doing over there?

 

[ozjuice]

I'm in the EK lounge now. Had the option of EY but looking in the goldfish bowl windows it didn't look too great. So far the EK has been pretty quiet, very comfortable, served great food, showers ok, good wifi, nice seating inc terrace over terminal, and lots of veuve clicquot. So far very happy with the lounge and a good alternative to star alliance, imho

 

[Dannyism]

I'll check out the EK lounge this arvo. Hopefullu not too many dramas being plat on J redemption.

On a different note i only had one small headache getting into delta lounges.

 

[ozjuice]

Well i was flying J and advised at check-in that my lounge was Etihad. However after signing in at the Emirates Lounge i saw that they actually had my name on their list so they must have assumed i may use it. No dramas at all.

 

[Dannyism]

Well i was flying J and advised at check-in that my lounge was Etihad. However after signing in at the Emirates Lounge i saw that they actually had my name on their list so they must have assumed i may use it. No dramas at all.

Hopefully that's the case for me too as I just misplaced my vff card lol

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Well i was flying J and advised at check-in that my lounge was Etihad. However after signing in at the Emirates Lounge i saw that they actually had my name on their list so they must have assumed i may use it. No dramas at all.

ozjuice

I think that is what has been highlighted throughout this whole mess.. If in J as Plat or Gold you can go to either / both.

But Plat or Gold in P/E or Y only get EK lounge.

Glad it worked out for you

Hopefully that's the case for me too as I just misplaced my vff card lol

EK lounge have a list of Gold and Plat upon entry, so they just mark you off. I imagine it will be on your boarding pass anyway and I doubt you will have any problems. This part of the new system seems to work

 

[Dannyism]

There was actually no one in the etihad lounge when i went past at 7:30. As previously mentioned name was on a list and the veuve is cold and plentiful.