New international lounge arrrangements from 28 Oct 2018

[Maz11]

Hi, am flying from Auckland to Brisbane in a few weeks ( VIRGIN AUST INTL FOR VA SE ASIA)
Wondering if there is a lounge in Auckland for Gold Velocity Members? .
Thanks for any info

 

[serfty]

What date? After Oct 27th?

 

[Maz11]

Yes, after October 27, early December.

 

[serfty]

What date? After Oct 27th?

VA have not yet publicly announced what they will do.

There is some discussion here: #25

 

[Maz11]

VA have net yet publicly announced what they will do.

There is some discussion here: #25

Thank you for the information, looks like I along with many others will be waiting to see what announcements are made in the next couple of weeks

 

[Mondo]

With the demise of the Air NZ/VA alliance fast approaching, has there been any formal announcement on likely lounge for Trans Tasman flights out of BNE, SYD and MEL?

I can't recall reading it anywhere.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Nope.

 

[CPMaverick]

No, but there are several threads already about it. I'm sure that we can expect more and more as Oct 27th comes around....

 

[henrus]

Is it just me or has the Global Lounge Access page always listed:
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/international-lounge-access/

"Velocity Platinum membership. Lounge access is only available when travelling on domestic or trans-Tasman services operated by Air New Zealand."

I honestly can't remember it saying that but then maybe it has always.

 

[serfty]

honestly can't remember it saying that but then maybe it has always

It basically represents the situation since USA flights no longer qualified out of AKL.

 

[henrus]

It basically represents the situation since USA flights no longer qualified out of AKL.

Yep and I've been closely monitoring the Global Lounge access page for the last month or so... I honestly can't remember it saying that and it just seems so odd they haven't added 28 October as the end date (like what NZ have done on their own website).

In fact, I'm struggling to find a single reference to the Air NZ breakup on the VA website and you'd think they'd add something like you can't earn points after 28 October but nope... nothing yet.

 

[CPMaverick]

It's had that wording for at least a year. Like serfty said, since the NZ alliance broke down into solely the trans-tasman bit. Nothing new.

 

[AIRwin]

Virgin Australia announces expanded international lounge network:
News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry | CAPA

 

[CPMaverick]

Here's a link that doesn't require registration

How will Virgin Australia's new international lounges compare? | finder.com.au

 

[henrus]

It's had that wording for at least a year. Like serfty said, since the NZ alliance broke down into solely the trans-tasman bit. Nothing new.

Curious to see where the Brisbane "My Lounge" will end up (location wise?) and also what will happen in the meantime Plaza Premium?

It also leaves a few gaps in the network

In Australia
Brisbane - New My Lounge (not even built yet?)
Gold Coast - Virgin Lounge (existing arrangement)
Newcastle - No Lounge Access (airport doesn't even have one, will they give out Vouchers or something)
Sydney - Etihad The House Lounge
Melbourne - Etihad The House Lounge

In New Zealand
Auckland - Strata Lounge
Wellington - ?? (Is there even space to build another lounge?)
Christchurch - Manaia Lounge
Queenstown - Manaia Lounge
Dunedin - No Lounge Access (unless they strike a deal with Air NZ?)

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Here's a link that doesn't require registration

How will Virgin Australia's new international lounges compare? | finder.com.au

So that seems to indicate that they will essentially take over the Etihad lounge in Sydney and direct all their pax through that. If so, I wonder how this will affect VA status pax flying on SQ. I've gotten quite comfortable in the SilverKris lounge

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Finally! A week and a half before the great VA-NZ break-up, the details are here:
Virgin Australia reveals new 'international lounge network'

First impressions:

• This will bring standardisation across all VA flights departing Australia (not just trans-Tasman), which is a very good thing!
  
• Looks like the previous guesses about the SYD and MEL lounges becoming a new EY-VA lounge run by No 1 were spot on
• At The House lounges, "a la carte dining throughout the day" according to the article quoting VA
  
• SQ flights will continue to use SilverKris lounges in all cases
  
• WLG will be the home of the first VA-branded international lounge (Yes, Wellington!)
• "My Lounge" seems like a terrible, generic name... unless the intention is it will be yet another contract lounge? Where will it physically be in BNE anyway?

 

[samuson]

Importantly the ausbt article about The House lounges in Sydney and Melbourne mentions:
The House in Sydney will also be reconfigured and expanded "to create a new entrance, private room and lounge area, increasing capacity by 50 percent."
The increased capacity will definitely be required.

 

[Denali]

while Wellington will see its very own Virgin Australia lounge.

I hope who's building the Welly lounge isnt the same mob as the Hobart lounge.

 

[CPMaverick]

If flying on SQ metal it is up to SQ... But I'd bet they prefer to use their own lounges.