Melbourne VA Lounge becoming airside from August 2022

[Sprucegoose]

Yep - you'll have to pass more retail outlets to reach the lounge - which will be at least airside.

An airport is a parking and retail operation that coordinates aircraft movements.

 

[clifford]

Well, I went through T4 security around 2 pm today, and it was a breeze (as there were very few pax entering at that stage).

However, I did get a pat down (expected) and one of my items was sent for secondary screening (expected), but, surprise, surprise, nothing was found. And the secondary just resulted in "it's OK".

If it had've been busy, it could've been a s... fight.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

An airport is a parking and retail operation that coordinates aircraft movements.

Its also a money pot for the airport franchise holders/stores/shops/vending machine owners, and ultimately airport owner.
Its all about the money, money, money.
OffT: just wait till an airport line reaches T1/T2/T3/T4, or if, just had a look, the airport train line is coming by the end of 2029.
Lets see if there is an airport gate fee/surcharge on that "parking lot" as an end station for the "airport train".OnT.

 

[serfty]

An airport is a parking and retail operation that coordinates aircraft movements.

A bit like modern sports stadia - Parking, Retail and dining/food outlets with some elevated seating having views.

 

[GSP]

I went through Security around 6.00am yesterday and there was no priority screening lane. My bag got flagged (as did most others), but they didn't really check it much and gave it straight back to me.

 

[blamex]

I just experienced the new process. I travel weekly and business class. Well this requirement now adds around 30 minutes extra if I want to use the lounge. To be clear the security screening is actually slower with the new scanners. Key reasons - not enough staff to manage the flow as it has been designed to. This is a bad move by Virgin. In peak times they are down the street all of us! Further the Jetstar / Rex passengers are now in the mix. WOW what an amazing premium experience

 

[jase05]

This is a bad move by Virgin.

I don’t think they had any choice, the changes were forced upon them

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Maybe T4 wasn't making enough money with just budget airlines using that terminal, and to kill two birds with one stone (so to speak) Melbourne Airport decided to "upgrade" the terminal by spending money to "modernise" the airport, by joining T3 and T4 airside, after dom security, so people who usually use T3 will have to go to T4 to get security screened, and walk back to T3.
Personally, I am in 2 minds about it.
*OffT: I don't fly budget airlines these days, had used the T4 of old, and (T1 downstairs, when JQd flew out from there), T4 exit at that time was with the turnstil system when Tiger flew from HBA/LST to MEL, and that T4 was just more or less a tin shed sort of thing, years ago*OnT.

 

[simmomelb]

It definitely feels like a big upgrade to me, it looked very dated before. Have you personally seen the changes?
There are more upgrades being made now in the baggage collection area.

 

[simmomelb]

I just experienced the new process. I travel weekly and business class. Well this requirement now adds around 30 minutes extra if I want to use the lounge. To be clear the security screening is actually slower with the new scanners. Key reasons - not enough staff to manage the flow as it has been designed to. This is a bad move by Virgin. In peak times they are down the street all of us! Further the Jetstar / Rex passengers are now in the mix. WOW what an amazing premium experience

30 minutes extra? In fact, I find it faster.
If it's the walk, it isn't a long walk, maybe an extra 2 minutes from bag drop-off to security (depending on how fast you walk), then another 2 minutes after security to the lounge, the speedy security more than makes up the that.
I travel almost as much as you, so far for me, it has been much faster, could be the times I've used it also - early mornings and late evenings.
I also use the lounge each time I fly and really like not having to go through security after the lounge.

 

[bullerdude]

The upgrades make a lot of sense from a MEL airport perspective, especially the consolidation of security checkpoints and shifting the terminal to a secure zone. Virgin would be happy to remain in T3 for checkin and baggage as it separates them from the T4 airlines - plus they already upgraded this checkin with the automatic machines etc. The unknown is whether they will build a premium route from checkin to the lounge for status members as was the plan prior to entering administration. I suspect in time they will build it and the hold up is probably negotiation with the airport on how to achieve and who will pay.

 

[serfty]

I suspect in time they will build it and the hold up is probably negotiation with the airport on how to achieve and who will pay

... and how much they will pay; can't have PAX not walking past retail opportunities ...

 

[GSP]

I just experienced the new process. I travel weekly and business class. Well this requirement now adds around 30 minutes extra if I want to use the lounge. To be clear the security screening is actually slower with the new scanners. Key reasons - not enough staff to manage the flow as it has been designed to. This is a bad move by Virgin. In peak times they are down the street all of us! Further the Jetstar / Rex passengers are now in the mix. WOW what an amazing premium experience

I'm a bit surprised with 30 mins. The extra walk is not that far really, as I mentioned earlier the two issues are having the priority lane and the high frequency of false flagging of bags through the machines. Even the scanners flag you a lot more incorrectly so a bit more teething issues there, although now I'm getting off topic on the security devices rather than the physical move which is the main topic.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For Simmomelb, not yet.
Maybe Dec or Apr.

 

[nutwood]

I haven't experienced the new scanners at MEL yet but if they are the same as the new scanners popping up elsewhere, they waste a lot of time. Every time I go through, I end up getting patted down, as the reinforcements on my trousers set off an alarm. It's only an extra layer of material but apparently highly suspicious.
Compare that with waiting for the green light and just walking through, then multiply the extra time by the number of other PAX who also require extra attention. Inevitably, a backlog is going to build up.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I got that in BNE with the QF premium entry, on the far left of BNE dom terminal.
Most of the older metal scanners, we just walk through straight.
But this side ways one, yes, it irks me too.
Have to stand sideways, with hands a bit apart, just like the xray that they have for Aust int flights xray.
And yes, I did too get the pat down.
Didn't get picked for 5 people at one bomb residue test though.
Maybe the new xray scanners do test for bomb residue as well.
Don't know if pleb entry to BNE dom terminal also have the new xray system.

 

[nutwood]

And yes, I did too get the pat down.

Perhaps you're like me, just so good looking that they can't resist the temptation for a grope...?

 

[simmomelb]

The more thorough the security check, the better. We don't need some nutter jumping on board with a weapon. There was already that incident at Canberra airport last Sunday, I know he didn't pass security but it's a little reminder of why security is so important.
The more advanced scanning equipment we get the better, the more thorough the security staff are, the better.

 

[straitman]

Further to my comments of a few days ago.
Last Monday evening I went through the new security setup at MEL T4. It was very busy and the VA priority machine was being used for general traffic and not priority passengers. They actually seemed quite overloaded.

The staff were very polite however appeared to be still learning how their new equipment worked.
The baggage line staff seemed to have no idea and were chopping and changing their requirements. eg One bag per tray but it's OK to add things with their approval even though that actually slowed the process down.
The equipment was set at its maximum detection level. My belt which doesn't attract attention normally was pinged as was the small piece of metal that goes over the nose on my face mask. The belt was easily sorted but the mask was more difficult. ie no one could work could workout the issue initially. This led to me having to face sidewards for the extra scan and then the guy got was doing it got a bit gruff when I didn't respond to his wave to move on. When I pointed out that he was standing outside my viewing area so would never respond to him waving he backed down quickly and apologised.
By then my bags were holding up the baggage line and there is no place to put trays aside for people who are delayed as I was.

Overall pretty poor but hopefully things will improve as the staff increase their familiarity with the equipment and processes. I have had much better experiences in the USA and we all know how pedantic they often are.

A little background is that I 'owned' the scanner system that ExxonMobil use for their Bass Strait offshore operations so I am reasonably familiar with how they work. I am also DG acceptance trained whereas the security staff are only DG awareness trained.

The more thorough the security check, the better. We don't need some nutter jumping on board with a weapon. There was already that incident at Canberra airport last Sunday, I know he didn't pass security but it's a little reminder of why security is so important.

Yes but it needs to be done properly and I personally don't think it is at the moment.

 

[nutwood]

The more thorough the security check, the better. We don't need some nutter jumping on board with a weapon. There was already that incident at Canberra airport last Sunday, I know he didn't pass security but it's a little reminder of why security is so important.
The more advanced scanning equipment we get the better, the more thorough the security staff are, the better.

Are you suggesting that the older equipment was not doing an adequate job? I've not heard of an incident where a weapon has passed through undetected?
My feeling is that the new equipment is a solution for a problem that didn't exist. When I've asked about it I've been told it is meant to make the process "more streamlined"; accompanied with a look to the heavens and raised eyebrows.