New international lounge arrrangements from 28 Oct 2018

[openseat]

Brisbane - My Lounge
In Brisbane the new "My Lounge" will open sometime in November but until then Platinum and Business Class have access to the Plaza Premium Lounge. Gold and Lounge Members instead get vouchers until the new lounge opens. Flights to Los Angeles (Business Class, Platinum and Gold) will continue to use the Singapore Lounge until the new Lounge opens.

Once it opens it'll be located near gate 77 from 4am until 11pm and will be staffed with a Virgin Australia host. Self-service lounge entry will apparently also happen but that'll occur after opening. The Lounge will also feature a buffet, Toilets/Showers (coming after lounge opens) and Barista Coffee (with app ordering).

Access prior to Virgin Australia and Hainan Airlines flights for Business Class (no guests), Platinum and Gold (one guest + two children for trans Tasman flights all other flights are just one guest), Lounge Members (prior to Trans Tasman flights only with one guest + two children)

Coming Soon - Lounge reference Guide

The existing lounge access guide allows Gold members flying international short haul into the Plaza premium lounge (but not Lounge members). I can't see in the update where Gold has been stuck off that list.

Has the location near gate 77 been confirmed?

Finally, as per the program update, access includes eligible passengers on "Trans Coral" (?) and Bali flights as well.

 

[stm1sydney]

Trans-Coral is probably trans-Coral Sea (eg, Honiara, Port Moresby, Port Vila) as opposed to trans-Tasman (Tasman Sea).

 

[openseat]

Trans-Coral is probably trans-Coral Sea (eg, Honiara, Port Moresby, Port Vila) as opposed to trans-Tasman (Tasman Sea).

Yes, I just made it up, hence the question mark If we use Trans-Tasman as in Tasman Sea, as well as Trans-Pacific and Trans-Atlantic, then it makes sense to have Trans-Coral. It also is an easier way of including all those destinations that lay across the Coral Sea.

 

[stm1sydney]

Haha, sorry. Hope it sticks!

 

[henrus]

These don't compute, unless a zero is missing after the '1'.

Yeh not sure. The Virgin Australia release says "The House – Melbourne International Airport: located in Terminal 2 adjacent to gate 1. " but it seems to be a mistake. The location will be the existing Etihad lounge.

I guess some proof ready was not done/effective:

Yep the trade document is a bit rough but it gives all the details and information which other site

The existing lounge access guide allows Gold members flying international short haul into the Plaza premium lounge (but not Lounge members). I can't see in the update where Gold has been stuck off that list.

Yeh you're probably right. The document says "For Velocity Gold and Lounge members travelling to New Zealand, food and beverage vouchers will be issued per guest. " so I guess it's just Gold members traveling to NZ that won't get lounge access for the time being and the flights to other short haul international destinations will still have access to the plaza premium lounge.

See the 3rd question on the first page of this document
http://t.e.virginaustralia.com/res/...ore&bId=690535162&acId=30112521&clid=PDM70211

Has the location near gate 77 been confirmed?

That's what the Virgin document says... "My Lounge - Brisbane International Airport: located next to gate 77."

 

[sven89]

Thanks for sharing the trade document.
Slightly unfortunate typo (including an obvious copy and paste) on page 4. According to it, both the Strata and Manaia Lounges will be offering "self-service dining including hot and old items"

 

[serfty]

Yeh not sure. The Virgin Australia release says "The House – Melbourne International Airport: located in Terminal 2 adjacent to gate 1. " but it seems to be a mistake. The location will be the existing Etihad lounge.

Certainly a mistake - Gate one has morphed into that twisty post emigration shopping mall rather than facilitating aircraft. The EY lounge was accessed via an escalator adjacent to Gate 10.

 

[openseat]

Yeh you're probably right. The document says "For Velocity Gold and Lounge members travelling to New Zealand, food and beverage vouchers will be issued per guest. " so I guess it's just Gold members traveling to NZ that won't get lounge access for the time being and the flights to other short haul international destinations will still have access to the plaza premium lounge.

See the 3rd question on the first page of this document
http://t.e.virginaustralia.com/res/...ore&bId=690535162&acId=30112521&clid=PDM70211



That's what the Virgin document says... "My Lounge - Brisbane International Airport: located next to gate 77."

Thanks for posting the document. I'll be interested to see what will be in place on my next flight north in early November.

 

[AWSH]

Any idea whether Virgin Lounge passes will be able to be used in The House or My Lounge to bring in extra guests, similar to what QF allows for its own lounges?

 

[henrus]

Any idea whether Virgin Lounge passes will be able to be used in The House or My Lounge to bring in extra guests, similar to what QF allows for its own lounges?

No idea yet but my guess is a no as the documents are suggesting that the lounge will be run by No.1 lounges (so not VA owned/operated).

I think the more interesting thing one will be the Virgin Australia Wellington pop up lounge... given it's Virgin operated I'd assume passes and also partner airline status holders like Delta/Singapore Gold would get access (noting that Virgin Partners have never had international lounge access prior to Virgin flights before except for the Gold Coast and DL flyers on VA metal back to the states).

 

[Cryptarcadian]

The FAQ document specifically refers to co-branded lounges, including "The House, home of Etihad Airways & Virgin Australia", so not just EY-branded like in the UK. That's sensible!

No idea yet but my guess is a no as the documents are suggesting that the lounge will be run by No.1 lounges (so not VA owned/operated).

So it'll be interesting whether they accept lounge passes, because if not it will certainly cause confusion! (Unless VA clarifies future lounge passes as being domestic-only passes...)

 

[serfty]

Unless VA clarifies future lounge passes as being domestic-only passes..

Current T&C are specific. Lounge passes cannot be used before international flights.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

I agree that it's clear if one actually looks in the T&Cs, but I meant VA might need to be more explicit in the general marketing around them, because as it stands it will cause confusion and disappointment from less-experienced Velocity members who are unlikely to be familiar with the T&Cs. For example:



And if you click "Learn More", nowhere on that page does it say they're domestic-only either, let alone all the promo material from affiliated credit cards that offer the passes in the first place!

So I'd suggest VA should add "Domestic" to the wording, or better yet... actually allow them to be used at The House/My Lounge.

 

[Harthagan]

Im currently at "the house" in MEL. Is it just me or is strange that their breakfast to lunch transition takes place at noon. I could swear most other lounges it happens at around 11am

 

[docjames]

Im currently at "the house" in MEL. Is it just me or is strange that their breakfast to lunch transition takes place at noon. I could swear most other lounges it happens at around 11am

Daylight savings.....

 

[Harthagan]

Daylight savings.....

Haha so it was at 11am previously i take it.

The funny part is how strict they are about it. I asked for a brisket burger at 11.50 and the hostess said she would'nt be able to put it through to the chef until midday lol

 

[Harthagan]

Beef brisket burger and porchini gnocchi at "the house" MEL. Tiny servings but very yummy!

 

[Harthagan]

Pic didnt load.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Yes I recall the servings being very....modest. It seems quality has not slipped with the transition to a private operator. However it is equally clear that they are on the path of saving money.

 

[cuttsy96]

Hi All,

I am currently a regular Virgin Lounge member flying SQ Metal / VA codeshare from BNE through SIN to NRT. Flying economy and was wondering will I have access to SilverKris lounges in both BNE and SIN. The new arrangements have confused the hell out of me.