MEL-ZQN lounge access

[MollyJones]

What options are there for lounge access when flying MEL-ZQN with VA?
Is it only open access lounges /credit card accessed lounges?
Looking at the website, it seems there is no lounge access unless you sort it yourself but surely that can't be right?

 

[henrus]

Looking at the website, it seems there is no lounge access unless you sort it yourself but surely that can't be right?

That is correct, since 2020 VA has no longer offered lounge access prior to international flights operated by Virgin Australia.

Obviously there are paid lounge access options but that's up to you. Finally you can access the Virgin lounge in the domestic area however this requires clearing security twice and factoring in extra time.

 

[MollyJones]

Thanks. Crazy but there you go.

 

[henrus]

Thanks. Crazy but there you go.

Where is gets even stranger is that if you're Gold/Platinum/Beyond flying VA from MEL to ZQN/DPS/NAN then you have no access but you do flying other airlines.

If Gold/Platinum/Beyond flying Singapore airlines to Singapore or United Airlines to the US then you get access to the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge. If flying Etihad you get access to the Aspire lounge. If flying Qatar Airways you get access to the Marhaba lounge.

There is a chance this will change again soon with the Virgin/Air New Zealand deal approved by the AU regulator (yet to be approved by the NZ regulator) which would allow Air New Zealand Trans Tasman flights to be booked via Virgin and lounge access would become apart of the deal.

 

[antycbr]

Thanks. Crazy but there you go.

Not really, multiple Middle East airlines have unbundled lounge access from Business fares. Many US airlines don’t allow lounge access on domestic business/first itineraries. Business class doesn’t always guarantee lounge access.

Virgin are explicit about this on their website.

 

[antycbr]

Where is gets even stranger is that if you're Gold/Platinum/Beyond flying VA from MEL to ZQN/DPS/NAN then you have no access but you do flying other airlines.

If Gold/Platinum/Beyond flying Singapore airlines to Singapore or United Airlines to the US then you get access to the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge. If flying Etihad you get access to the Aspire lounge. If flying Qatar Airways you get access to the Marhaba lounge.

There is a chance this will change again soon with the Virgin/Air New Zealand deal approved by the AU regulator (yet to be approved by the NZ regulator) which would allow Air New Zealand Trans Tasman flights to be booked via Virgin and lounge access would become apart of the deal.

Except for flights which VA operate with their own metal which are excluded from the deal. VA would need a separate commercial negotiation with NZ (or someone else) for the ZQN services.

VA have decided to offer a lower fare for business internationally. Therefore no lounge.

 

[MollyJones]

Not really, multiple Middle East airlines have unbundled lounge access from Business fares. Many US airlines don’t allow lounge access on domestic business/first itineraries. Business class doesn’t always guarantee lounge access.

Virgin are explicit about this on their website.

Flying as platinum and gold

 

[HS-TQE]

Unlikely that VA will negotiate for lounge access on their own services (including ZQN) for the foreseeable future. Also as stated, the upcoming (pending) NZ deal is a unilateral agreement where VA acts as the 'authorised travel agent' on behalf of NZ, where VA resell seats (and lounge access for eligible passengers) for services to AKL/CHC/WLG.