Melbourne VA Lounge becoming airside from August 2022

[ferntree]

Fantastic news! I transit regularly thru Melbourne Airport and this will make the experience hugely better. I feel like I have won the lottery!

 

[dk4]

I did not enjoy my experience of the new security.

IMO MEL T2 security has mostly been staffed with miscreants and tin pot dictators, who spend theirs days trying to be as nasty as possible to most people (using "random selection" as an opportunity to target anyone who doesn't demure to their power). For example, IME what happened to a former Foreign Minister simply shows how widespread the security staffing attitude issue is... and now, welcome to that same unfriendly officious tone at T4! (Clearly the rot starts at the top, and if Ms Bishop's experience wasn't enough to clear out the upper echelons of management at this airport, then we mere mortals will simply continue to endure the sadism that is MEL airport controlled security) ... anyway, obviously I have an issue with the way this airport is staffed and run, compared to others in Australia - but here is a walk through for y'all, from the ground floor to the pier...

Ground level, to the right of baggage claim


For a month or so now, the old escalators/stairs going up to the mezzanine/concourse level from the ground floor have been recomposed as a one way exit down from the mezzanine to baggage claim. So a little further into T2 there is a newish escalator that takes you all the way up to the T3 check-in level (by-passing the mezzanine completely.)



Once you get to the top of the escalator, the VA check in area is straight ahead to the right (and the old escalator/stairs down from the check-in level to the mezzanine, are now completely boarded off. Instead the area to the left of check in is opened up, and there is a hallway you proceed down to T4.



You continue down the hallway towards T4 and then down a lift/escalator.




Once you get downstairs you find the security screening area is immediately to your right, and the first lane is for Virgin Priority.



The security uses the new automated feeder style bins, so slow packers/un-packers can easily be bypassed. The personnel scanners are both a walk through metal detector, and then a (hands by the side) mm-wave detector. So every one goes through a metal detector, and people are then "randomly selected" to remain standing in the mm-wave detector.

The processing of the bags through the scanner was taking ages, and large queues were forming on the other side waiting - the machine was pushing around 80% of trays through for secondary inspection, and as only one person was allocated to do these, a mob was forming. Even my bag, with barely much more than a lap top (stays inside) and personal items, got shunted for secondary.... Luckily the secondary inspector was the only mildly competent person in the whole shamozzle, saw the image of my bag and yelled out "this one is clear" before handing it over to me and returning to their ever increasing pile of secondary bags, and I was able to escape the growing mob.

Following the long walk back to T3, I was finally into the lounge for a drink (although Virgin probably needs to relocate the lounge entrance to the place where they have their T4 gates one-way exit, and turn the current entrance into an exit only).

Bonus pics.



The mezzanine to ground/baggage claim (one way, going down only) and to the left the now boarded off former stairs/escalator to the check-in level.

The old security space in T3 (below).



The old lounge premium exit security (below).



So looks like, by making us go on a long circuitous walk (just like they did with T2 MEL airport has claimed a lot of new space, to add more retail to their "ultimate prison shopping centre experience" at T3.

 

[jakeseven7]

I think they need to be much clearer with their communication - if you are flying Virgin, have checked in online and don't have checked bags - just get dropped off at T4 now - there is zero point going to T3 up the ramp at all because you have to trek back down to T4.

Really what they should have done is move Virgin down to T4 with Jetstar and Rex and remove the 'token' T3 checked bag areas but perhaps they didn't have room?

 

[simmomelb]

I like the new layout, it should have been like this a long time ago, like every other airport in the country, the lounge is now after security.
It was also hell where security was squashed in with those exciting.
Flying out today so this will be interesting

 

[GSP]

I think they need to be much clearer with their communication - if you are flying Virgin, have checked in online and don't have checked bags - just get dropped off at T4 now - there is zero point going to T3 up the ramp at all because you have to trek back down to T4.

Really what they should have done is move Virgin down to T4 with Jetstar and Rex and remove the 'token' T3 checked bag areas but perhaps they didn't have room?

I've done the walk from T4 drop off to T4 security many times and I suspect it to be a lot longer than T3 drop off and the walk back to the T4 security. Dropping off at T4 will remove the painful waiting to get up the ramp for drop off during peak times, (avoidable if dropping off in the 1 min pick up area) however T4 drop off could become a new bottleneck.

 

[GSP]

I did not enjoy my experience of the new security.

IMO MEL T2 security has mostly been staffed with miscreants and tin pot dictators, who spend theirs days trying to be as nasty as possible to most people (using "random selection" as an opportunity to target anyone who doesn't demure to their power). For example, IME what happened to a former Foreign Minister simply shows how widespread the security staffing attitude issue is... and now, welcome to that same unfriendly officious tone at T4! (Clearly the rot starts at the top, and if Ms Bishop's experience wasn't enough to clear out the upper echelons of management at this airport, then we mere mortals will simply continue to endure the sadism that is MEL airport controlled security) ... anyway, obviously I have an issue with the way this airport is staffed and run, compared to others in Australia - but here is a walk through for y'all, from the ground floor to the pier...

Ground level, to the right of baggage claim
View attachment 287671

For a month or so now, the old escalators/stairs going up to the mezzanine/concourse level from the ground floor have been recomposed as a one way exit down from the mezzanine to baggage claim. So a little further into T2 there is a newish escalator that takes you all the way up to the T3 check-in level (by-passing the mezzanine completely.)

View attachment 287672

Once you get to the top of the escalator, the VA check in area is straight ahead to the right (and the old escalator/stairs down from the check-in level to the mezzanine, are now completely boarded off. Instead the area to the left of check in is opened up, and there is a hallway you proceed down to T4.

View attachment 287674

You continue down the hallway towards T4 and then down a lift/escalator.

View attachment 287675


Once you get downstairs you find the security screening area is immediately to your right, and the first lane is for Virgin Priority.

View attachment 287676

The security uses the new automated feeder style bins, so slow packers/un-packers can easily be bypassed. The personnel scanners are both a walk through metal detector, and then a (hands by the side) mm-wave detector. So every one goes through a metal detector, and people are then "randomly selected" to remain standing in the mm-wave detector.

The processing of the bags through the scanner was taking ages, and large queues were forming on the other side waiting - the machine was pushing around 80% of trays through for secondary inspection, and as only one person was allocated to do these, a mob was forming. Even my bag, with barely much more than a lap top (stays inside) and personal items, got shunted for secondary.... Luckily the secondary inspector was the only mildly competent person in the whole shamozzle, saw the image of my bag and yelled out "this one is clear" before handing it over to me and returning to their ever increasing pile of secondary bags, and I was able to escape the growing mob.

Following the long walk back to T3, I was finally into the lounge for a drink (although Virgin probably needs to relocate the lounge entrance to the place where they have their T4 gates one-way exit, and turn the current entrance into an exit only).

Bonus pics.

View attachment 287680

The mezzanine to ground/baggage claim (one way, going down only) and to the left the now boarded off former stairs/escalator to the check-in level.

The old security space in T3 (below).

View attachment 287681

The old lounge premium exit security (below).

View attachment 287686

So looks like, by making us go on a long circuitous walk (just like they did with T2 MEL airport has claimed a lot of new space, to add more retail to their "ultimate prison shopping centre experience" at T3.

Thanks for the detailed walk through. Was there any type of control over the use of the Priority lane at Security in T4?

 

[alexczarn]

A priority screening lane in T4 makes me happy though..

 

[clifford]

I'm going through MEL T4 tomorrow, with some trepidation.

I've seen how these new installations of scanners (people and carry-ons) work at OOL recently. Quite frankly, they don't work very well, as the staff are inexperienced and poorly trained in the new technology, and the whole process takes twice as long.

So much for MEL airport's claim that these new machines will halve the time waiting for security.

 

[serfty]

I'm going through MEL T4 tomorrow, with some trepidation.

I've seen how these new installations of scanners (people and carry-ons) work at OOL recently. Quite frankly, they don't work very well, as the staff are inexperienced and poorly trained in the new technology, and the whole process takes twice as long.

So much for MEL airport's claim that these new machines will halve the time waiting for security.

Just prioritise getting the slot nearest the machine and then don't be shy of pushing your tubs onto the rollers in front of other's tubs.

 

[pauly7]

I think they need to be much clearer with their communication - if you are flying Virgin, have checked in online and don't have checked bags - just get dropped off at T4 now - there is zero point going to T3 up the ramp at all because you have to trek back down to T4.

Really what they should have done is move Virgin down to T4 with Jetstar and Rex and remove the 'token' T3 checked bag areas but perhaps they didn't have room?

VA wanted to move to T4 because T3 is a mess (arguably made even messier with this latest move) but MEL has other plans for them in the longer term.

 

[simmomelb]

I went through Melbourne today and I absolutely love the new layout, the old one was a total sh.. show.
Got through security very quickly, no need to take laptops or electronics out now, it's very streamlined.
Walked around to the right and then into the lounge.
I totally enjoyed not having to go through security after the lounge, the way it always should have been.
For those flying business class or have Gold or Platinum status, there is a priority entry at the single security point now.

 

[Astro]

I went through Melbourne today and I absolutely love the new layout, the old one was a total sh.. show.
Got through security very quickly, no need to take laptops or electronics out now, it's very streamlined.
Walked around to the right and then into the lounge.
I totally enjoyed not having to go through security after the lounge, the way it always should have been.
For those flying business class or have Gold or Platinum status, there is a priority entry at the single security point now.

Same as my experience last week on Friday. I may have got lucky in that I was through in about 15 minutes from the terminal parking to lounge. That right hand lane is awesome at security.

I wouldn't arrive at T4 - it's back and forth and up and down.

You want to walk in the main doors at T3 - turn hard left then you walk down and into the priority lane.

When it's busy in T4 those escalators would be hectic.

 

[Harrison_133]

No priority security lane when I passed through at around 6:40 this morning. Line roped off, no Virgin priority sign in sight. General queue was reasonably busy, but security was surprisingly fast. It took no more than 5 minutes from joining the line to reach the lounge. When I walked to my gate in T4 around 8:00, I did notice the Virgin sign had been rolled out and the priority line was open.

Overall, I’ll be happy with the changes as long as the priority security lane becomes more consistent. The walk from T3 check in didn’t seem all that long and they had volunteers in the T3 check in area directing people towards the ramp to T4. The lounge being airside is the biggest benefit IMO.

 

[simmomelb]

Same as my experience last week on Friday. I may have got lucky in that I was through in about 15 minutes from the terminal parking to lounge. That right hand lane is awesome at security.

I wouldn't arrive at T4 - it's back and forth and up and down.

You want to walk in the main doors at T3 - turn hard left then you walk down and into the priority lane.

When it's busy in T4 those escalators would be hectic.

Yeah, you are better doing the short walk from T3 I think, even if you don't have to check luggage in, as that leads you to the Gold, Platinum and Business Class priority entry first (if this applies to you).
Secuirty scanning is much faster than before also.
I don't know why some think it's a long walk, it didn't feel that way to me.
In fact if you add the speedy security factor into it, it's probably a little faster overall.

 

[serfty]

I don't know why some think it's a long walk, it didn't feel that way to me.

I'd guess the main problem is for those checking luggage.

 

[TMP]

I'd guess the main problem is for those checking luggage.

How? Drop luggage off and walk from T3 to T4. It's the same walk. And they aren't carrying luggage.

 

[serfty]

How? Drop luggage off and walk from T3 to T4. It's the same walk. And they aren't carrying luggage.

Pre-COVID they did not have to do that walk.

T3 - check luggage - go down to mezzanine, turn left for security for gates 1-10, turn right for security for gates 11-20.

Those using gates 1-10 would never need to even think about "T4".

 

[nutwood]

I've yet to experience the new arrangement but it seems to me that for us Tasmanians, the great advantage will be not having to go through security when simply visiting the lounge between flights. The recent demise of VA direct flights out of Launceston has seen me passing through MEL. Having always been a QF person, I was shocked to find the lounge on the wrong side of security. Then I discovered that although I'd arrived T3, my next flight was T4 and through security I never even knew was there!

 

[TMP]

Pre-COVID they did not have to do that walk.

T3 - check luggage - go down to mezzanine, turn left for security for gates 1-10, turn right for security for gates 11-20.

Those using gates 1-10 would never need to even think about "T4".

True. I was confused by your reply to the quote about the long walk - there is no difference in the length of walk for those with baggage or without

 

[straitman]

I did not enjoy my experience of the new security.

IMO MEL T2 security has mostly been staffed with miscreants and tin pot dictators, who spend theirs days trying to be as nasty as possible to most people (using "random selection" as an opportunity to target anyone who doesn't demure to their power). For example, IME what happened to a former Foreign Minister simply shows how widespread the security staffing attitude issue is... and now, welcome to that same unfriendly officious tone at T4! (Clearly the rot starts at the top, and if Ms Bishop's experience wasn't enough to clear out the upper echelons of management at this airport, then we mere mortals will simply continue to endure the sadism that is MEL airport controlled security) ... anyway, obviously I have an issue with the way this airport is staffed and run, compared to others in Australia - but here is a walk through for y'all, from the ground floor to the pier...

Ground level, to the right of baggage claim
View attachment 287671

For a month or so now, the old escalators/stairs going up to the mezzanine/concourse level from the ground floor have been recomposed as a one way exit down from the mezzanine to baggage claim. So a little further into T2 there is a newish escalator that takes you all the way up to the T3 check-in level (by-passing the mezzanine completely.)

View attachment 287672

Once you get to the top of the escalator, the VA check in area is straight ahead to the right (and the old escalator/stairs down from the check-in level to the mezzanine, are now completely boarded off. Instead the area to the left of check in is opened up, and there is a hallway you proceed down to T4.

View attachment 287674

You continue down the hallway towards T4 and then down a lift/escalator.

View attachment 287675


Once you get downstairs you find the security screening area is immediately to your right, and the first lane is for Virgin Priority.

View attachment 287676

The security uses the new automated feeder style bins, so slow packers/un-packers can easily be bypassed. The personnel scanners are both a walk through metal detector, and then a (hands by the side) mm-wave detector. So every one goes through a metal detector, and people are then "randomly selected" to remain standing in the mm-wave detector.

The processing of the bags through the scanner was taking ages, and large queues were forming on the other side waiting - the machine was pushing around 80% of trays through for secondary inspection, and as only one person was allocated to do these, a mob was forming. Even my bag, with barely much more than a lap top (stays inside) and personal items, got shunted for secondary.... Luckily the secondary inspector was the only mildly competent person in the whole shamozzle, saw the image of my bag and yelled out "this one is clear" before handing it over to me and returning to their ever increasing pile of secondary bags, and I was able to escape the growing mob.

Following the long walk back to T3, I was finally into the lounge for a drink (although Virgin probably needs to relocate the lounge entrance to the place where they have their T4 gates one-way exit, and turn the current entrance into an exit only).

Bonus pics.

View attachment 287680

The mezzanine to ground/baggage claim (one way, going down only) and to the left the now boarded off former stairs/escalator to the check-in level.

The old security space in T3 (below).

View attachment 287681

The old lounge premium exit security (below).

View attachment 287686

So looks like, by making us go on a long circuitous walk (just like they did with T2 MEL airport has claimed a lot of new space, to add more retail to their "ultimate prison shopping centre experience" at T3.

No priority security lane when I passed through at around 6:40 this morning. Line roped off, no Virgin priority sign in sight. General queue was reasonably busy, but security was surprisingly fast. It took no more than 5 minutes from joining the line to reach the lounge. When I walked to my gate in T4 around 8:00, I did notice the Virgin sign had been rolled out and the priority line was open.

Overall, I’ll be happy with the changes as long as the priority security lane becomes more consistent. The walk from T3 check in didn’t seem all that long and they had volunteers in the T3 check in area directing people towards the ramp to T4. The lounge being airside is the biggest benefit IMO .

Same issue last night at about 6:30pm. No VA priority line available and a bunch of polite, inefficient, disorganised, officious security staff. It was one of the worst security experiences I have ever had.
I have had much better experiences at LAX!