Revamped Melbourne lounge

[drewbles]

So can you get a coffee with actual milk in it that tastes okay?

Yes. The milk coffee there is quite acceptable.

 

[TomVexille]

Yes. The milk coffee there is quite acceptable.

Excellent. It appears I'll get to check it out in June.

 

[Melburnian1]

While the photos are not as good as one AFF member has already featured in this thread, for the sake of completeness I append 'The Age' and 'SMH' offering for Saturday 22 March which is really an 'advertorial':

Virgin Australia's new Melbourne Airport lounge: One of a grind

From the photos, it does not look as homely as say the Air NZ lounge in SYD (international airside) even though the latter may not have been renovated for a while.

The VA lounge seats do not look comfortable.

 

[bass_ke]

Some of the arm chair style seats with foot stool are quite comfortable, certainly enough to enjoy the morning coffee ( if it's decent! ) or an afternoon beer.

The bench seats however I have a love/hate relationship with

 

[Bofter]

I also find many of Virgin's chairs in lounges pretty uncomfortable. The worst I have found are not new, the left over chairs in the PER mini hidden area. Many of the newer ones are not better, and are particularly uncomfortable for eating.

 

[docjames]

First visit to the lounge post update this morning.

Scarce newspapers and one toilet cubicle broken. Food unchanged from previous offerings. Barista down one end - a long way to carry back to other end.

Overall, much less busy and space improvement but still some details to be touched up.

 

[bullerdude]

The thing i've noticed in the last few weeks is that the food service area in Melbourne always 'feels' busier than the one in Sydney. I think they could do much better by spreading the service area out over the whole bar/bench length where those new hot plates are instead if keeping it cramped at the one end.

 

[Frostydog007]

Recent visit to te new lounge and the wine bar was empty with lounge Angel standing their smiling away. We 3 decided we would try it. I saw the champagne flutes and asked for bubbles only to be told there was none at the bar and I would need to go over to the main bar to get a glass. Really? Travelling companion asked for a sparkling water. Angel plonked a small bottle on the bar. My companion waited to see if the top would be unscrewed or a glass provided/offered..............nope!

VA needs to improve this...........

On the other hand, I don't know what has happened to Canberra Lounge, but I feel like a long lost friend everytime I go in there - warm and genuine greetings, fabulous service and even table service when it is not busy!

Perhaps 1 standard of service across the entire lounges might be an idea - think McDonalds (not that I eat that stuff) - but the service is the same in every store you go (I take my nephews/nieces)

 

[serfty]

Just went board a flight to BNE from the lounge - there were about thirty people queued up at the lounge premium security.

I ducked outside and used the normal premium entry - it was empty and I was straight through ...

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Recent visit to te new lounge and the wine bar was empty with lounge Angel standing their smiling away. We 3 decided we would try it. I saw the champagne flutes and asked for bubbles only to be told there was none at the bar and I would need to go over to the main bar to get a glass. Really? Travelling companion asked for a sparkling water. Angel plonked a small bottle on the bar. My companion waited to see if the top would be unscrewed or a glass provided/offered..............nope!

VA needs to improve this...........

On the other hand, I don't know what has happened to Canberra Lounge, but I feel like a long lost friend everytime I go in there - warm and genuine greetings, fabulous service and even table service when it is not busy!

Perhaps 1 standard of service across the entire lounges might be an idea - think McDonalds (not that I eat that stuff) - but the service is the same in every store you go (I take my nephews/nieces)

+1 to the CBR lounge. They are absolutely wonderful there. Great views and lovely staff. They seem to take a lot of pride in that particular lounge.

 

[Ausbt]

+1 to the CBR lounge. They are absolutely wonderful there. Great views and lovely staff. They seem to take a lot of pride in that particular lounge.

Totally agree. The staff at CBR frequently walk around with trays of soda water & lemon to offer to loungers, and will replace drinks when they notice you are out. A very friendly and happy crew. Maybe their happiness is explained by the fact most pollies would probably be flying Q or RAAF so they only need put up with 'normal' people!