MEL "Lounge" Upgrades

[EuroKick]

Re: Lounge expansions...

Just had a look, looks massive!

 

[EuroFlyer]

Re: Lounge expansions...

Noticed when I was transiting through MEL last night that it looks like there's some action occurring which will see the (desperately needed) extension of the Lounge outwards (it appears the balcony area will be extended along toward gate 11 as far as the current area near the Lounge bathrooms are located. Only looks like initial works, but will be interesting to see how it's all formatted when finished and whether it will extend any further

(in my mind, the ideal extension would see a second level added to the existing Lounge, allowing for a Premium Entry a la SYD from what would be behind the REX check-in and also allowing for a security pre-clearance and entry into the secure area for gates 1-10 via escalator from said upper level. Airbridges at gates 9 and 10 would be nice too. I digress...)

Also, is there any word on when ADL will have a refresh and expansion? It seems to be last cab off the rank for any refresh and no word has yet come through. Furthermore, speaking from my only ADL experiences being multiple times around 8:30-9:00 and 17:00-18:00, the Lounge is often quite full. Is it believed by the populous that an extension of this Lounge would occur? If yes, where?

Thoughts always appreciated.

Adelaide lounge is always full ! I do it every week and have done for the past few months and I often struggle to find a seat especially if a syd/mel flight is delayed.

 

[Jousams]

Re: Lounge expansions...

Adelaide lounge is always full ! I do it every week and have done for the past few months and I often struggle to find a seat especially if a syd/mel flight is delayed.

ADL is not the only one.

SYD is disgraceful at the moment (understandable). But i don't understand how it's going to be any better on Monday mornings & Friday nights even when the whole lounge opens.

OOL can be just as bad when there's a SYD & MEL flight. Even worse when there's delays or the SYD,MEL,CBR combo at night.

And with all the new regional flights & runway delays BNE gets to standing room only.

VA has some serious lounge problems that are going to get worse before getting better
(Not saying its not an issue over in the QC though)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Lounge expansions...

VA has some serious lounge problems that are going to get worse before getting better

Given I've qualified as plat, I'm all for a plat/J lounge roll out! Seriously though, it may alleviate the problems. Now they're rolling out "Clubs" around the place, they already have much of the added necessity (spirits, chef, etc)

 

[bullerdude]

Re: Lounge expansions...

Any one have pics of the 'upgrade' work on the MEL lounge?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Lounge expansions...

Any one have pics of the 'upgrade' work on the MEL lounge?

I was there last night and saw no upgrade works.

 

[DSFlyer]

Re: Lounge expansions...

I was there last night and saw no upgrade works.

So was I and down the quiet end near the bathrooms, about a third of the area has been partitioned off on the airport side. If you look out through the windows in the raised section overlooking the apron, you can see the front of the building that backs on to the quiet area has been removed.

 

[Jousams]

Re: Lounge expansions...

Given I've qualified as plat, I'm all for a plat/J lounge roll out! Seriously though, it may alleviate the problems. Now they're rolling out "Clubs" around the place, they already have much of the added necessity (spirits, chef, etc)

I really don't get the economic concept of 'club' lounges when VA lacks a business lounge (haha yes, i may be a tad jealous im unlikely to ever set for in one). the notion that VA are set on chasing the big contracts etc perplexes me as many of the big travel spenders in australia (e.g. big 4 banks and big 4 accounting) arent mutually exclusive to one airline and allow their staff to elect who they fly with (within economic reason). If the staff are freely selecting an airline, why on earth would the club affect their choice? a business lounge on the other hand would...

but it really comes down to the fact that australian airports lack the space for a J lounge, and virgin ultimately lacks the capital to make the space.

 

[medhead]

Re: Lounge expansions...

Adelaide lounge is always full ! I do it every week and have done for the past few months and I often struggle to find a seat especially if a syd/mel flight is delayed.

You need to get the 6am flights. I do ADL-SYD every week. And have no problems getting a seat in the VA lounge, when flying with them.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Lounge expansions...

So was I and down the quiet end near the bathrooms, about a third of the area has been partitioned off on the airport side. If you look out through the windows in the raised section overlooking the apron, you can see the front of the building that backs on to the quiet area has been removed.

I'm rarely quiet, so that'll explain it!

I did notice the apron works on the other side though so I'm all that unobservant!

 

[toowongman]

Re: Lounge expansions...

I really don't get the economic concept of 'club' lounges

One reason (of many) is that The "Club" (and QF's CL) gives chosen people the opportunity to mingle when otherwise it wouldn't be generally possible for them to do so.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Lounge expansions...

One reason (of many) is that The "Club" (and QF's CL) gives chosen people the opportunity to mingle when otherwise it wouldn't be generally possible for them to do so.

Seems to be working. I sat in front of one very prominent fed. Labor front bencher out of CBR this week and he wasn't in the lounge.......guess the club won for him. Thought it best not to ask "How's it all going" :shock:.......I think aircraft are meant to be "G" rated and something tells me any Labor pollie might be hard pressed to answer that question this week without a few dozen expletives!

 

[LiamR]

Re: Lounge expansions...

I was in Melbourne earlier today and I noticed right down the back there is large temporary barriers with those "We are busy building a new lounge" signs.

Interesting stuff.

 

[LiamR]

Just noticed this down the back.

 

[LiamR]

Was in the lounge in the very early hours of this morning. Took a more detailed picture today.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Lounge expansions...

I really don't get the economic concept of 'club' lounges when VA lacks a business lounge (haha yes, i may be a tad jealous im unlikely to ever set for in one). the notion that VA are set on chasing the big contracts etc perplexes me as many of the big travel spenders in australia (e.g. big 4 banks and big 4 accounting) arent mutually exclusive to one airline and allow their staff to elect who they fly with (within economic reason). If the staff are freely selecting an airline, why on earth would the club affect their choice? a business lounge on the other hand would...

but it really comes down to the fact that australian airports lack the space for a J lounge, and virgin ultimately lacks the capital to make the space.

I am with you on this! I personally would think that a J lounge would keep more travelers happy than a VIP/Club type lounge.

For me until Virgin has J lounges and/or better/more food in the lounges I will avoid them like the plague

Given that they didn't do a J lounge in CBR there won't be one in MEL or anytime soon IMO, it's a shame as I'd like to support Virgin a little but for me I fly mostly MEL/CBR where Qantas has 2 x great J lounges I find it hard to justify Virgin

 

[Jousams]

Re: Lounge expansions...

I find it hard to justify Virgin

It would be hard if that's your main route the pre security lounge annoys me beyond belief! having the premium entry in Sydney pretty much makes my decision for me.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Lounge expansions...

It would be hard if that's your main route the pre security lounge annoys me beyond belief! having the premium entry in Sydney pretty much makes my decision for me.

Yep that is annoying as well, it cuts back time in the lounge, but I have never had a long wait even during peak Friday evening departures out of MEL where the VA lounge is overflowing.

A J lounge in MEL/CBR would get me a few flights on Virgin, and I was really (yes I was) hoping that VA would open a J lounge in CBR, but since they haven't it's pretty much cemented me further to QF for life now!

I was hoping to try out the MEL lounge in a month or so again, after a long absence from VA, to see if they are still serving hot dogs and chicken and rice dishes, but as they changed my flights times, I am going to cancel those flights and book with QF....

 

[Jousams]

Re: Lounge expansions...

Yep that is annoying as well, it cuts back time in the lounge, but I have never had a long wait even during peak Friday evening departures out of MEL where the VA lounge is overflowing.

A J lounge in MEL/CBR would get me a few flights on Virgin, and I was really (yes I was) hoping that VA would open a J lounge in CBR, but since they haven't it's pretty much cemented me further to QF for life now!

I was hoping to try out the MEL lounge in a month or so again, after a long absence from VA, to see if they are still serving hot dogs and chicken and rice dishes, but as they changed my flights times, I am going to cancel those flights and book with QF....

Along with the hotdogs, we've been getting DIY wraps up in Sydney!
(Not that that is at all satisfactory for an airline lounge...)

 

[jpk]

Re: Lounge expansions...

I was invited to a focus group a couple months ago which asked us questions around Virgin lounge food and what would we want. It was related to the MEL & SYD lounge upgrades, as they upgrade the kitchen and serving areas.

Virgin really wants to have pre-prepared sandwches/wraps that are sitting there already made. Most of us doubted the ability of any airline to do this well, we had all seen skan_y dried up old sangers in other lounges before, and said if they have to do this it must be done well, consistently fresh and well made. They also want to do hawker style street food, with rotating themes. There was a lot of discussion around how often these themes should change. They seemed genuinely interested in feedback on current VA offerings versus QF. Will be interesting to see what eventuates.