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

[AIRwin]

Check the current closing time though.
6.30pm/18.30pm...
Hopefully that's temporary.

Last flight currently departs around that time...

 

[Carrots]

Check the current closing time though.
6.30pm/18.30pm...
Hopefully that's temporary.

Given at present their current last flights of the day around the same time, it's not particularly surprising.
Pretty much exactly what Qantas is doing here as well - just that their last flight is 90 ish mins later.

 

[kpc]

I checked out the new Adl lounge at 510am today ahead of my 0600 flight so only had about 25 mins there...no self serve and everything had to be ordered via the QR code...breakfast items started to appear after 5 mins and coffee at 10 mins. Only about 20 people there then
I wonder how they will cope at busy times with multiple orders with people rushing to carch their flights....overall I like the ambience of the lounge.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

My J upgraded VAd flight, ADL - BNE was supposed to leave at 9.10am, (not till Jun though), am staying at the Atura the night before, guess what, the flight now leaves at 6.10am, just a bit after yours, kpc.
So yeah, it will be a very quick look around, in my case, (as was yours), maybe just time for a coffee and a biscuit or what ever non yogurty things they have, if the lounge opens at 5.00am.
I will probably have to do another ecomX booking soon, after this upgraded flight, I still have 2 lounge entries, while as a VFF PS.
Hopefully they will extend status for another year, my assessment for status period is exended till Dec 21, will be hard to retain PS, without flying a lot, and FB now being so slow to transfer SC.
Of course, we all look forward to the "best" for VA/VFF, but this app order and all this modern jazz, does leave a bit of a bad taste of things to come, ie, no more buffet, even in future.

 

[Bolthead]

Visted the new lounge on Monday with my wife. Staff were very good, although I noticed a couple of times they incorrectly delivered to the wrong tables however they did deleiver to us correctly and promptly. They also cleared the used plates/glasses promptly as well. I had a gin and tonic which was a little on the weak side. (I'm always heavy handed at home ...LOL) Overall the food selection was good, service was prompt and friendly. Thumbs by me......

 

[jakeseven7]

Visited this week also.

Huge improvement in space v the old lounge.

Lounge feels really quite 'cheap' though from a design aesthetic point of view, furniture feels quite 'IKEAy/fantastic furniture' I think the slogan on the wall is really tacky - but I keep reminding myself that they are currently moving the brand back downmarket to a DJ level, so I expect more of this to come. Its a personal taste thing, I'm sure someone else will love the look as much as I don't so that is their call! The bathrooms were nicer than the lounge.

Food was just ok, nothing special. Our drinks took 10 minutes to arrive though, I think they are struggling with the ordering service and one drink was sent to another table and then they tried to bring it to us! We sent it back to be remade as it had sat on someone elses table for a few minutes.... not very covidsafe....... When it came, the spirit was weak, felt like a half shot, watered down.

Given service times at the moment, you wouldn't want to be in a rush in this lounge that is for sure - but I suspect their new target customer isn't exactly the high flying business crowd that are time poor anymore anyway, so probably doesn't really matter. The profile of people was quite 'leisure' when I was there....

We only used it because we are still burning through VA1 credit on VA2 and thankfully VA2 didn't cancel this flight, but I'm glad I got to check it out at least. QF lounge is far better in ADL, but this is a good improvement on the VA1 broom closet

 

[kookaburra75]

MrsK and I have just checked in. As others have said, it's a nice space and better than the old VA Lounge. Having visited The Club in Melbourne a few weeks ago, we're old hands at their ordering system. It is strange though, that they have the end part blocked off, as those chairs look a lot more inviting.

 

[ole nimeton]

Checked into the new Adelaide lounge for the first time a bit after 2pm this afternoon for a 4pm departure to CBR. Unplanned "aircraft maintenance" has just turned my 4pm departure into a 6:41pm departure at present. Reminds me of the long nights of delayed or cancelled flights in the old lounge before covid. Virgin is nothing but consistently inconsistent. Currently doing the status match challenge from Qantas and the delay on top of snack boxes, in flight, isn't impressing.

The lounge is self is pretty nice, though the low backs on the high stools aren't great, as others have mentioned. Food is the highlight with the beef salad and toastie both really tasty. The service from one of the guys serving is impeccable - friendly banter, calls you by name and gets the table right every time. Watching the rest of the staff find the right table number is comical, however. They do laps of the room, looking at every table and person until they eventually find the right spot for delivery. Some elevated table numbers might help with this. Staff just bought out coffees and snacks for people on the Brisbane flight that had already left as the boarding call was made 5 minutes earlier. Table service concept is good, in theory, but hopefully they eventually have some self serve options too in addition to keeping table service for those who want it.

Back area of the lounge is still roped off, however, as the lounge has just become really full with delayed flights they've started letting people into the roped off area which is good to see.

 

[Mattg]

@ole nimeton you're probably on the same flight as @kookaburra75

 

[AIRwin]

Unplanned "aircraft maintenance" has just turned my 4pm departure into a 6:41pm departure at present.

Looks like there has been a last minute aircraft swap as your flight VA580 will now be operated by VH-YFL which is arriving from MEL at the original scheduled time of 6 pm...

 

[ole nimeton]

Call just made at 6pm to place final orders as lounge will be closing at 6:30, apparently. Pity the poor people on delayed Melbourne and Perth flights, departing at 8:30 and 8:50...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Call just made at 6pm to place final orders as lounge will be closing at 6:30, apparently. Pity the poor people on delayed Melbourne and Perth flights, departing at 8:30 and 8:50...

Closed as in...closed closed? Or just the catering?

 

[ole nimeton]

Closed as in...closed closed? Or just the catering?

Closed as in closed, everyone get out. “Operational restrictions”. Assuming staff are only paid until 6:30/7ish, in other words.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Closed as in closed, everyone get out. “Operational restrictions”. Assuming staff are only paid until 6:30/7ish, in other words.

Well that's very poor

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

So they have put it in the new part of the terminal, where they had the construction site.
At least it is bigger, and has windows.
Thought it would have been enclosed, ie, only skylight for light.

 

[ole nimeton]

Taking 20 minutes to deliver a beer and pre-prepared salad in the Adelaide lounge today. It isn't particularly busy either. Pathetically long time to wait for a drink.

Second drink is an "8-23 minute" wait. Been 10 minutes so far... Going up to order in Qantas lounges or even the Sydney Virgin lounge results in far less frustration...

Second drink came after 15 minutes and asking someone, to be told it was "next in the queue". Have to board in 10 minutes... seems they are working through the list systematically, bringing out food and drink together, rather than prioritising peoples drinks and bringing out food later.

Utterly silly. Some of the staff need better training.

 

[AIRwin]

Happy Ann1versary!

 

[AIRwin]

Just had a shower for the first time at the ADL lounge since it's opening - marking my territory...

 

[AIRwin]

Some photos from my first visit today since 23 February 2021:

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I guess its better financially for them to have prepared meals, ie, half bagiuette rolls etc, rather than a buffet system.