OOL Lounge

[lovestotravel]

It's particularly ironic to always defend VA every time someone dares criticise them

 

[MarkD]

Priority boarding has worked about 29 time out of 30 i've witnessed it in action.

Any time access seems hassle free - i'm sitting the VA lounge right now waiting for my JQ flight.

My free platinum upgrades work fine.

Fly ahead has been offered to me on every occasion where there has been a vacant seat and has saved me a small fortune by allowing me to book late evening return flights and swap them for earlier ones.

My 5 or so experiences of J domestic have been flawless (YMMV and obviously has and i'm not disputing that).

I personally think the renovated lounge in Melbourne is a massive improvement over the earlier version.

Kerb side lounge access in Sydney is working fantastically well and i greatly appreciate it.

I am now enjoying HHonors Diamond and extracting a hell of a lot of value of it.

I get a preallocated aisle seat in the first two rows of Y every time i fly (except when i book late or am swapped to an early flight by choice).

In the event of Irrops i am consistently contact in advance (if they are aware in advance) and looked after at the airport if they are not.

The enthusiasm professionalism of the flight crew is evident on most if not all flights i have taken.

The routes i look at are still mostly cheaper and generally comparable to QF - although there are always exceptions.

The generous bonus points i get as a platinum FF (mixed with come CC spend) have allowed me to accrue enough for annual international J class trips for our family of 3 for the last two years.

My partner has found her partner gold status soon to be partner platinum quite valuable.

OTOH... Yes, there are catering issues in J at the moment (i haven't experienced them but they are clearly valid), Aircraft subs are causing issues for a small but significant number of J passengers, the IFE is generally going backwards for the time being and this disappoints me. On the whole the positives are much more than the negatives.

It's particularly ironic to be complaining in the context of the OOL Lounge thread. You might want to ask some Qantas Club members who use OOL a lot for their perceptions of how Virgin are tracking there. Virgin may not be able to tell you the date the lounge will open but i'd imagine Qantas Club members can tell you when the lounge closed and QF dumed the place entirely.

Agree with the whole post. Rational evaluation, however some of us have had less than happy experiences with the airline. I agree especially with the comments re fly ahead, and admit I havnt factored that into my value for money, but will be now, as I have used it quite a few times, doing exactly as you said, bought the cheap later flight and flew ahead earlier. I know that's not guaranteed, however I have never been declined fly ahead, and 9/10 it's been offered without prompt at the lounge


Excuse the typos, this was sent from my iPhone using Fat fingers

 

[777]

It's particularly ironic to always defend VA every time someone dares criticise them

Clearly, your universe has a different definition of Irony and Asia to mine.

 

[777]

Rational evaluation, however some of us have had less than happy experiences with the airline.

So have I on occasions but as with all things we tend to notice the bad and take the good for granted. I keep testing VA's performance against where they were 12, 24 and 36 months ago and with the notable exception of IFE most things are generally getting better.

 

[Noob]

It's particularly ironic to always defend VA every time someone dares criticise them

I would think it's a little different when someone without fact in most cases continuously posts criticism on every thread they can lay their hands on...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

They are no worse at it than the red and white opposition who don't even fly to OOL.

With a Commonwealth Games heading toward the Gold Coast in 2018, I wonder if that might change soon............and to keep on topic, I'll add I'll be able to use ATA in the OOL Lounge whilst I wait for a QF flight........(I jest there, I don't believe ATA should be used whilst flying an opposition airline).

 

[LiamR]

Umm, at the chance of sounding on topic.

Has anybody photographed the OOL lounge recently? Perhaps acidentally wander into the construction sight with your iPhone?

 

[777]

With a Commonwealth Games heading toward the Gold Coast in 2018, I wonder if that might change soon............and to keep on topic, I'll add I'll be able to use ATA in the OOL Lounge whilst I wait for a QF flight........(I jest there, I don't believe ATA should be used whilst flying an opposition airline).

Guilty as charged. My excuse is that I'm flying to Newcastle and virgin simply have no flights within the window I'm available to travel so I'm about step on board JQ after 2 beers, a hot dog and some pizza at VAs expense. I do however think the OOL will probably have the highest level of ATA of any port once it opens as theres no QP there. I wouldn't be surprised if they restrict it there at some point.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I do however think the OOL will probably have the highest level of ATA of any port once it opens as theres no QP there. I wouldn't be surprised if they restrict it there at some point.

I sincerely hope they do. The OOL Lounge won't be big enough to support DJ flyers as well as JQ and TT flyers who happen to have DJ status. It would be by far preferable to removing ATA entirely. I use ATA for the odd AFF get together but commonly to have a meal at the end of a DJ flight which originated at a port without lounge facilities, although with complementary coffee served now, the early mornings out of OOL are more bearable .

 

[samh004]

I do however think the OOL will probably have the highest level of ATA of any port once it opens as theres no QP there. I wouldn't be surprised if they restrict it there at some point.

I’m not so sure. The JQ lounge is fairly spacious and for $10 with a booking online or $15 at the airport it’s not expensive, especially if you’ve saved money choosing them over DJ. There’s also the fact Platinums can get in for free, but I would hope QF might renegotiate with JQ (supposedly they’re different companies) to allow access for QP and SG members… especially seeing as JQ’s lounge plans have stalled!

 

[Tuddy]

Umm, at the chance of sounding on topic.

Has anybody photographed the OOL lounge recently? Perhaps acidentally wander into the construction sight with your iPhone?

Ha! Liam, I was in the terminal last Friday and did take some photos (ceiling panels are all up now - fun fact), yet I'm still working out how to upload the darned things off my phone. Will do so ASAP.

 

[straitman]

It's the USA...... If anywhere was going to have tight/over the top regulations it would be there, yet in this case they seem more laid back, but then again it was in Hawaii.... I actually walked right past screwdrivers and any other assortment of tools and then got straight on the plane! This was back in June 2010....



I really don't need to list the issues that VA have at the moment with the implementation of new/improved products

Correct as you have stated your opinion many times but have you actually compared DJ to QF point by point or are you content to simply put Virgin down :?:

Priority boarding has worked about 29 time out of 30 i've witnessed it in action.

Any time access seems hassle free - i'm sitting the VA lounge right now waiting for my JQ flight.

My free platinum upgrades work fine.

Fly ahead has been offered to me on every occasion where there has been a vacant seat and has saved me a small fortune by allowing me to book late evening return flights and swap them for earlier ones.

My 5 or so experiences of J domestic have been flawless (YMMV and obviously has and i'm not disputing that).

I personally think the renovated lounge in Melbourne is a massive improvement over the earlier version.

Kerb side lounge access in Sydney is working fantastically well and i greatly appreciate it.

I am now enjoying HHonors Diamond and extracting a hell of a lot of value of it.

I get a preallocated aisle seat in the first two rows of Y every time i fly (except when i book late or am swapped to an early flight by choice).

In the event of Irrops i am consistently contact in advance (if they are aware in advance) and looked after at the airport if they are not.

The enthusiasm professionalism of the flight crew is evident on most if not all flights i have taken.

The routes i look at are still mostly cheaper and generally comparable to QF - although there are always exceptions.

The generous bonus points i get as a platinum FF (mixed with come CC spend) have allowed me to accrue enough for annual international J class trips for our family of 3 for the last two years.

My partner has found her partner gold status soon to be partner platinum quite valuable.

OTOH... Yes, there are catering issues in J at the moment (i haven't experienced them but they are clearly valid), Aircraft subs are causing issues for a small but significant number of J passengers, the IFE is generally going backwards for the time being and this disappoints me. On the whole the positives are much more than the negatives.

It's particularly ironic to be complaining in the context of the OOL Lounge thread. You might want to ask some Qantas Club members who use OOL a lot for their perceptions of how Virgin are tracking there. Virgin may not be able to tell you the date the lounge will open but i'd imagine Qantas Club members can tell you when the lounge closed and QF dumed the place entirely.

777,

I agree with you on this one and your words are pretty much my thoughts.

I'm not a fanboi of either airline, in fact I'm (qualified) Platinum with both, but just at the moment DJ are ahead and are probably getting further ahead. They are not perfect, they have a long way to go but at least they are trying and are prepared to resolve issues when they arise which is much more than I can say for QF and JQ.

I did have an outstanding complaint for the last few weeks but it was resolved yesterday when the Guest Experience Manager (Office of the CEO) personally rang me to resolve the issue. What are the chances of that happening from Qantas :?:




..... and we have wandered further off topic this time :!: :shock:

 

[LiamR]

Hmmm, the chances of the OOL Lounge being open for my flight to the Gold Coast on Friday is looking very slim.

*Quietly Weeps*

 

[mickeyc747]

Hmmm, the chances of the OOL Lounge being open for my flight to the Gold Coast on Friday is looking very slim.

*Quietly Weeps*

On the plus side you get to meet that great new DJ Rep Zowie

 

[DC3]

Umm, at the chance of sounding on topic.

Has anybody photographed the OOL lounge recently? Perhaps acidentally wander into the construction sight with your iPhone?

The most recent photo seen on here was six weeks ago, and another 2 weeks prior to that. Things seem to have gone very quiet.

 

[kevrosmith]

The most recent photo seen on here was six weeks ago, and another 2 weeks prior to that. Things seem to have gone very quiet.

Nothing has substantially changed in the last few weeks to justify a photo... but I'll have a look when I go over in the next hour and see if anything is worth photographing and posting.

 

[LiamR]

On the plus side you get to meet that great new DJ Rep Zowie

Where can I find her?

 

[jetlagger]

In my experiences... Most of the DJ crew @ OOL are fabulous, either gender & the lounge will just make this spartan terminal more bearable, especially when delays occur, ever so frequently - at times, - 'weather &/or ATC" related.

 

[cityloop]

I only have a couple of photos from about a week ago and just of the main entrance area.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So......escalators or stairs?

Wouldn't it have been so easy for them to do a walkway over the landside concourse and premium entry and security.......for Sir Liam of DJ?