The new Virgin lounge in Adelaide [opened 23 Feb 2021]

[Must...Fly!]

The things that got me over to QF status match to Gold from VA Plat were three fold.

1) frequency - I can see VA continuing to lack on the Perth routes

2) regional network & lounges - with international travel unlikely for some time, QF's regional reach is a clear advantage for myself seeking to see more of country Australia

3) for the future - I personally think alliances will once again come in to their own as airlines struggle to reach the places they once could on their own metal

Now the overriding factor for 1 and 2 is of course pricing - if QF charge a hefty premium over VA for markets they both serve, then I feel VA will find their place. If not, then...they will find it difficult.

 

[AIRwin]

The things that got me over to QF status match to Gold from VA Plat were three fold.

Time to update your AFF profile to reflect your new status...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Time to update your AFF profile to reflect your new status...

Well, the chase to 100SC doesn't start for me until March, but I will when the times comes

I did just realise this is the Adelaide lounge thread though!

 

[AIRwin]

I did just realise this is the Adelaide lounge thread though!

Idle chatter after post #18 while waiting for the new ADL lounge to open...

 

[eastwest101]

I did initially think that way but I must admit I’ve come around and just accept it for what it is.
Of course I’d like things a little nicer including a lounge but my main priority is the seat so with the huge price difference I’ve pretty much gone back exclusively with VA.
As a few examples of midweek flights on the days and times I usually fly from ADL
MEL J SAV $399, J $549, QF $789
SYD J SAV $479, J $649, QF $946
BNE J SAV $549, J $749, QF $1129
PER J SAV $799, J $999, QF $1413

So if I fly VA J Saver I can pretty much get return for the same price as QF one way. Even if I choose the full VA J fare I’m saving between $250-500 one way, now I do like to indulge in the lounge but i can’t see me eating/drinking THAT much. I figure I’ll just put a few bucks back into the SA economy and have a bite to eat and a few drinks in the terminal before flights

Good point about the price differential is where the rubber hits the road for some/a lot of people, if the price differences are double what VA is charging for J then a lack of lounge and nicer on-board food can be overlooked. As you say - there is no way you can eat and drink $300-500 worth of food and wine at the ADL QF lounge and in the air to justify that sort of fare difference.

The J market is really two markets - "other peoples money" where the fare cost is irrelevant, and organizations/businesses/people who do have travel policies that are monitored and managed.

 

[Carrots]

So whilst no exact date - it's been narrowed down to "late" this month.

(for me - hopefully that means on or before the 19th)

 

[Bagpuss]

So whilst no exact date - it's been narrowed down to "late" this month.

(for me - hopefully that means on or before the 19th)

Likewise, along with SA relaxing it's Perth restrictions.

 

[dk4]

The things that got me over to QF status match to Gold from VA Plat were three fold.

1) frequency - I can see VA continuing to lack on the Perth routes

And remember that Australians have experienced a wide-body domestic transcontinental option since the beginning of the 1980s (and Virgin is now a single aisle operator only).

 

[ozstamps]

.
Walked past it this afternoon in Adelaide and not even a sign on it of any kind saying anything about an open date - just what you would expect from Virgin./Tiger #2

Needed to line up for 15 mins on the stairs in SYD today to get into their lounge as "too full''. WHY only upstairs is open in their main airport lounge only Ms Hrdlicka would know.

 

[AIRwin]

Walked past it this afternoon in Adelaide

Welcome to ADL @ozstamps !

 

[VPS]

Virgin's new Adelaide lounge opens February 23

The new lounge will showcase a fresh, more casual look that'll eventually be applied to all domestic lounges.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[ozstamps]

Welcome to ADL @ozstamps !

Thanks - Nice weather -- shame about the foot long cotton bud up the nose and self-quarantining on arrival, despite no new COVID-19 cases in Sydney for 3 weeks - gotta love mindless state Bureaucracies!

 

[jase05]

.
Walked past it this afternoon in Adelaide and not even a sign on it of any kind saying anything about an open date - just what you would expect from Virgin./Tiger #2

Needed to line up for 15 mins on the stairs in SYD today to get into their lounge as "too full''. WHY only upstairs is open in their main airport lounge only Ms Hrdlicka would know.

I was up there about an hour ago and there were a couple of people inside doing some work.
I have spoken to a couple of the AAL management team we deal with and they are saying VA hasn’t even given them a concrete opening date yet and they are playing their cards close to their chest. Apparently Bain are making a bit of fuss about it as it’s their prototype of lounges in Australia.

 

[Bagpuss]

I was up there about an hour ago and there were a couple of people inside doing some work.
I have spoken to a couple of the AAL management team we deal with and they are saying VA hasn’t even given them a concrete opening date yet and they are playing their cards close to their chest. Apparently Bain are making a bit of fuss about it as it’s their prototype of lounges in Australia.

Velocity email which has just come out says ADL opens "early this year"

Not much use posting a date as it usually changes. They re-opened the lounges at little to no notice.

 

[oz_mark]

Apparently Bain are making a bit of fuss about it as it’s their prototype of lounges in Australia.

From the pictures I have seen, it certainly is a different look to their current lounges.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Velocity email which has just come out says ADL opens "early this year"

Not much use posting a date as it usually changes. They re-opened the lounges at little to no notice.

It's not like anyone can plan around actually traveling at the moment anyway

 

[Bagpuss]

Needed to line up for 15 mins on the stairs in SYD today to get into their lounge as "too full''. WHY only upstairs is open in their main airport lounge only Ms Hrdlicka would know.

I would expect the data analytics team to known and to have also known prior the CEO on expected capacity levels etc.

 

[ozstamps]

I would expect the data analytics team to known and to have also known prior the CEO on expected capacity levels etc.

I have ran this thru Googe translate but it comes back with - ''no idea''

 

[Saab34]

From the pictures I have seen, it certainly is a different look to their current lounges.

So to those that have seen these pics (pm me a pic if you have one quite curious) what’s the verdict?

Yay or Nay?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Honestly I felt the lounges as they were appeared just fine. Now with that said I'm sure this new one will be far better than the original Adelaide lounge. But not certain why the need for a design overhaul.