MEL lounge full - Friday 7th Sept

[lovestotravel]

It appears that Virgin were turning away lounge guests on Friday evening as it was too busy!

I arrived about 4:30pm and got one of the last seats, shortly after it was standing room only and you couldn't move from the food area to the toilet area as there were simply people everywhere!

Quite a few flights were delayed due to Sydney airport operating on one runway, which explains why it was busier than normal.

As a result Virgin stopped additional guests coming into the lounge at the front and were handing out food/drink vouchers to people attempting to enter the lounge.

A victim of their own success!

 

[Tuddy]

Wasn't quite as bad in that no one was turned away, but ADL was also very busy on Friday arvo with no available seats prior to the last MEL flight leaving, whilst some of the Lounge Angels (who were lovely I might add) were surprised by the number of people at that hour (before taking note of the delayed BNE and SYD flights). I know there flight delay is a rarity, but could a minor expansion of the ADL Lounge be in order, especially given no pressure will be taken off the current Lounge by a new Club (as will occur in MEL in the reasonably near future) in the foreseeable future?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

A victim of their own success!

Don't whisper that too loud. Next we'll see arrivals access disappear due to lounge overcrowding.

If indeed this is due to "their own success", then there is absolutely no impediment to VA building more lounges to accommodate the happy hoardes!

 

[lovestotravel]

True, and they are building the "VIP lounges" of which there is no official explanation but they do need a J/Platinum lounge to ease the load in the current lounge

The "VIP lounge" of which perhaps a small handful of people can access won't fix the near capacity lounge in MEL

 

[drewbles]

True, and they are building the "VIP lounges" of which there is no official explanation but they do need a J/Platinum lounge to ease the load in the current lounge

The "VIP lounge" of which perhaps a small handful of people can access won't fix the near capacity lounge in MEL

I've heard that MEL is getting a J lounge with the terminal overhaul (although i'm sure most people on here have heard the same). That's going to go a way to reducing the strain on the standard lounge.

 

[lovestotravel]

I've heard that MEL is getting a J lounge with the terminal overhaul (although i'm sure most people on here have heard the same). That's going to go a way to reducing the strain on the standard lounge.

Terminal is well on it's way to looking great! Saw they have projected a completion date of Dec this year!

As for the J lounge - Heard the same but I'll be excited when they start building.

Given the now QF/EK tie-up I think VA will be pushing forward everything FAST.... It should have them a little worried... The only reason EK has joined with QF... Well that's a long rant but VA should be a little worried, any airline with a fleet of 100++ A380's...... and how many 77W's ?

 

[JohnK]

Perhaps it is a sign of things to come....

 

[lovestotravel]

Not sure who they were turning away, I had a very quick chat to the guy at the front but there was several people waiting to come in, but he confirmed the lounge was "FULL"

I wonder if they turned away gold/plat/J/all passengers....

 

[JohnK]

You would think in times where lounge is full they will turn back guests first and if still a problem then start working through the statuses.