'The House' 3 hour limit [Now rescinded for VA PAX]

[dandandan]

Apart from the initial stage of having lounge access, I can't understand why you would want to spend more than two hours in a lounge, let alone three.

Reading through I started to come to this conclusion myself, why would you want to be in the lounge more than 3 hours unless connecting or delayed. If delayed, I don't think they will come looking for you to say your 3 hours is up and the connecting part needs to be thought out a bit more, especially if the airline does not warn you when booking that the connection of say 4-6 hours only has 3 hour lounge access.

 

[Gazza129]

Just another example of our wonderful local l airlines treating it's (typically bigger spending)customers like the enemy.

 

[Walloper]

Apart from the initial stage of having lounge access, I can't understand why you would want to spend more than two hours in a lounge, let alone three.

Some of us on domestic transfer have to!

 

[aaspro]

Another reason not to fly Virgin.

 

[texanaust]

If you have more than three hours at Mel, could you not just go to the domestic Virgin lounge for a while? And how do the staff keep track of everybody? Do they scan you in and out of the lounge-could become very complicated.

 

[blaz]

It is an odd rule, obviously designed by accountants. But I can understand Virgin's reluctance to pay for the extra time, as it could be open to abuse (by the Lounge)

 

[CPMaverick]

If you have more than three hours at Mel, could you not just go to the domestic Virgin lounge for a while?

Not if you are doing an international-to-international connection (admittedly rare in MEL). Or if you don't know about the rule (and most wouldn't, since VA doesn't tell you), then you can't exit the terminal easily once you've been through exit immigration.

How do the staff keep track of everybody? Do they scan you in and out of the lounge-could become very complicated.

They don't keep track. You simply aren't allowed free entry until 3 hours before your flight.

I can understand Virgin's reluctance to pay for the extra time, as it could be open to abuse (by the Lounge)

I'm not sure how the lounge could abuse this. Everyone's entry time is tracked by when they scan the BP into the lounge. A VA staff member is present at the desk too. Of course abuse is always possible but this would be easy to audit and track.

 

[Dee Thom]

Brisbane International Airport is very pax friendly, so I would spend under 2 hours at the VA lounge, ( Air Kiwi that was. ) not rushing through chek in for the sake of lounge access.

 

[texanaust]

Not if you are doing an international-to-international connection (admittedly rare in MEL). Or if you don't know about the rule (and most wouldn't, since VA doesn't tell you), then you can't exit the terminal easily once you've been through exit immigration.



They don't keep track. You simply aren't allowed free entry until 3 hours before your flight.

Well that could irritate a few customers with connecting flights. I suppose flying revenue business class does not matter? I'll be connecting this week, but my layover is right on the 3 hour mark. If it had been longer, I could have used my Priority Pass.

 

[CPMaverick]

I was flying economy as a VA Platinum. I didn't ask if the rule applies to J pax... But my impression was that it was for everyone.

 

[aggie57]

Apart from the initial stage of having lounge access, I can't understand why you would want to spend more than two hours in a lounge, let alone three.

Connections. If I'm on a single booking with a long connection then I'd expect to be able to use the airline's lounge if access is otherwise OK

 

[jasetheace]

Sounds like exactly what I would expect from Virgin. Its not really for business travellers I have visited the domestic lounges in Melbourne and Sydney. I am sure it is perfectly fine for the Virgin customers.

 

[atreides]

How is the average traveller to keep up with all these VA quirks. 3hrs in this lounge, more in another. It sounds as mis-managed as their mediocre DIY alliance that seems to be written in sand.

 

[CPMaverick]

Note, I just looked at the No 1 lounge website and they spell out this policy as below. Note that 'The House' is not technically a No 1 branded lounge. But No 1 operates it. So I'm guessing this is the origin of the policy, although if you were searching for information and didn't know the company that operated 'The House' you'd never find this otherwise.

Bad news is, it appears to go off of departure time. So, it's more like a ~2.5 hour limit.

Faq - No1 Lounges

How long can I stay in the lounge?
You can arrive three hours prior to your flight time. You can also buy extra hours in advance or while you're in the lounge - if your flight's delayed and you want to stay longer for example.

When you book online, we automatically calculate the time you can enter (three hours prior to your flight time). You can leave the lounge and return any time during your stay, but must keep your luggage with you at all times.

 

[stm1sydney]

What rubbish poverty stricken crack laden airline claims to be full service and accepts 3 hour lounge time limits on its high status members. Actually this is amazing for the very fact that it perpetuates the big "F U" that virgin has been consistently ramping up to its status members. I now have to freely admit to myself that the continued pursuit of maintaining virgin platinum is actually feeding some deep dark sado masochis_ fetish as rationally no other explanation for continuing to fly virgin makes any sense.

That was so over the top, I suspect it was meant to be sarcasm.

 

[hossein_au]

Note, I just looked at the No 1 lounge website and they spell out this policy as below. Note that 'The House' is not technically a No 1 branded lounge. But No 1 operates it. So I'm guessing this is the origin of the policy, although if you were searching for information and didn't know the company that operated 'The House' you'd never find this otherwise.

Bad news is, it appears to go off of departure time. So, it's more like a ~2.5 hour limit.

Faq - No1 Lounges

Even for delays? To actually enforce this, they'll need to look up when you first entered the lounge; your flight is delayed by, say, an hour, and if they ask you say, oh but I just got in half an hour ago

 

[CPMaverick]

It says before your 'flight time' which I assume is scheduled departure time. So I suspect delays will be accommodated without issue.

 

[Blinky]

It says before your 'flight time' which I assume is scheduled departure time. So I suspect delays will be accommodated without issue.

Not according to post #34. You pay even if your flight is delayed.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Not according to post #34. You pay even if your flight is delayed.

I wish Etihad Airways, Virgin Australia and all other leading airlines the best of luck with this lounge.

Being realistic that rule would not apply to EY/VA passengers but I'd love to be in there if it did and they tried to charge me

 

[Blinky]

I wish Etihad Airways, Virgin Australia and all other leading airlines the best of luck with this lounge.

Being realistic that rule would not apply to EY/VA passengers but I'd love to be in there if it did and they tried to charge me

Oh, I would scream like a stuck pig. Let’s see how well they tolerate regular blow ups at the counter.