Update on VA Lounges? [BNE/SYD/MEL/PER/OOL/ADL/CBR now open]

[Dee#]

I contacted Virgin about this yesterday and just received a response!-that was quick.

My platinum (I presume everyone else's too) is going to be extended for a year from June 2021 to June 2022! Whow! Also economy X is still going to exist as is the 4 platinum complementary upgrades and current international partner alliances. Good call Virgin. May not need to rush to Q.

 

[BNEFlyer]

I contacted Virgin about this yesterday and just received a response!-that was quick.

My platinum (I presume everyone else's too) is going to be extended for a year from June 2021 to June 2022! Whow! Also economy X is still going to exist as is the 4 platinum complementary upgrades and current international partner alliances. Good call Virgin. May not need to rush to Q.

Was yours already extended or had you already requalified up to June 2021?

 

[Dee#]

I had requalified up til June 2021.

 

[ozstamps]

Sad to say this, but every booking that exist on the newly updated, VA booking website, in the past, the last 3 columns that are listed for J (business class), used to have "lounge access", with a green tick.

Now, the listing of "lounge access" is not even mentioned on the booking website.
Writing on the wall, despite VA under Bain saying, they will keep most lounges.

Up to April/May, 2021, (haven't checked further), no lounge access line appears.

Looks like they will keep lounges closed for the forseeable future, by and by.

Shame. Opening Cap City lounges really should be happening now.

I wonder what real costs of lounges is, after offsetting paid memberships, revenue sold one use guest passes, and billing to partner airlines like Delta and Etihad etc, when their Elites access them who are charged $US25 an entry as I recall.

They simply will NOT be selling many premium fares if Biz catering has been shaved down, and no lounges are offered etc, if QF lounges and catering are more or less at pre-COVID level.

If say 5% or 10% of all Biz revenue seats was accounted into cost of Biz lounges operations, I suspect it would stack up.

And they have an VERY short window to band the drum on this, or they are Tiger Mark 2 very fast.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

its possible that Bain's view, of a mid range airline, means keeping J on the 737 as premY like the old days, when the middle seat on Virgin Aust had the hard part on the middle seat.
Seeing that they have let WLG go, and their PER T2 (regional flights) go, its just possible that their (Bain's) view is that they don't need lounges.
SQ let their smallish ADL lounge go back to AAL.
I still have my 2x access as a VFF PS, so they "still" owe me 2.
Not sure if Bain's VA will still have "comfort seat" capability in future, either, that was a good thing.
If REX decides to fly more flights into ADL via its capital connect, that VA's ADL lounge may turn out to become an all encompassing paid entry lounge, the current ADL REX lounge is not all that big.
Yes, its all speculating/speculation, but in the end, I can see cost cutting as a reason for VA2 possibly not reopening lounges.
Its not only wages and visible expenses, there is also insurance expenses and airport costs in relation to the lounges that may make it unsustainable.

 

[ozstamps]

its just possible that their (Bain's) view is that they don't need lounges.

Well if that is the case, welcome to Tiger Australia. That model never worked before, and lost money for years, so why would they think it will now?

Hope not, but no lounges will be the death knell to all except lowest $ leisure travellers, and Rex is looking to hoover up many of those anyway.

If they sell a premium seat as they do, at a HIGH price as they do, but except Bizoids to hang about airports for hours, eating Hungry Jacks on their own dime, they have a lot to learn about this business.

 

[jase05]

SQ let their smallish ADL lounge go back to AAL.

SQ didn’t have much choice as the area was needed for renovations and would have been acquired no matter.
It makes sense to move to the new Premium lounge aswell so win/win

 

[ozstamps]

SQ had one flight a day - this thread I think is about VIRGIN airlines and their lounges?

 

[jase05]

SQ had one flight a day - this thread I think is about VIRGIN airlines and their lounges?

Yes, sorry off topic.
Possibility that lounges will re-open at the end of October seems to be the talk. Hopefully that date can come forward if more routes and flights come back online

 

[Formal Hall]

Possibility that lounges will re-open at the end of October seems to be the talk.

Other thread noted that 30% J award discount lasts until 24 October - perhaps this would the restart date in covid safe states?

 

[oz_mark]

Other thread noted that 30% J award discount lasts until 24 October - perhaps this would the restart date in covid safe states?

I'm banking on it happening when Bain formally takeover (on or before Oct 31). Hopefully, all the supplier contracts etc etc are sorted by then

 

[AIRwin]

Other thread noted that 30% J award discount lasts until 24 October - perhaps this would the restart date in covid safe states?

That also happens to be the end of NS and start of NW schedules...

 

[ja1]

With Qld opening up as of Nov 1st, I noticed that VA is showing 3 flights a day now (in each direction) (SYD-BNE) and wondering if anyone has heard any rumours about the BNE lounge (or SYD?) opening.

I rarely if ever use any of the WP benefits and the lounge is pretty much the only one being used consistently.. not having any access takes all the fun out of it (and I end up caring a lot less about booking on VA as a result, which is also sad).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

With Qld opening up as of Nov 1st, I noticed that VA is showing 3 flights a day now (in each direction) (SYD-BNE) and wondering if anyone has heard any rumours about the BNE lounge (or SYD?) opening.

I rarely if ever use any of the WP benefits and the lounge is pretty much the only one being used consistently.. not having any access takes all the fun out of it (and I end up caring a lot less about booking on VA as a result, which is also sad).

Maybe try to put in something of an upgrade to J for those VA flights.
I too want to see VA2 survive, ie, book again with VA2 down the track...
Haven't flown in months, no news on ADL news of the lounge opening, but I can see if VA2 decide to go with the pay per use for all mentality, ie, PP sort of lounge, where they can get money from all and sundry, or **keep their lounges closed till 2021.**

 

[ja1]

Maybe try to put in something of an upgrade to J for those VA flights.
I too want to see VA2 survive, ie, book again with VA2 down the track...
Haven't flown in months, no news on ADL news of the lounge opening, but I can see if VA2 decide to go with the pay per use for all mentality, ie, PP sort of lounge, where they can get money from all and sundry, or **keep their lounges closed till 2021.**

I'm not sure what the point of an upgrade would be on SYD-BNE if there wasn't a lounge involved... my care factor about business on a 1 hour flight is awfully low (it might happen perhaps once a year). It's nice but not really necessary..

I too would also like to see VA2 survive but the lack of communication to its FF base is.. not very smart ?

For example if I knew lounges were open I would be booking mid range tickets rather than 'getaway' fares. VA would likely make an extra $60 on a ticket from me simply as goodwill. But with no lounge, I can't be bothered so I'm booking the cheapest fare.. and actually looking at QAN fares which I never bothered to do in the last 5 years for my own travel..

 

[oz_mark]

I'm not sure what the point of an upgrade would be on SYD-BNE if there wasn't a lounge involved... my care factor about business on a 1 hour flight is awfully low (it might happen perhaps once a year). It's nice but not really necessary..

I too would also like to see VA2 survive but the lack of communication to its FF base is.. not very smart ?

For example if I knew lounges were open I would be booking mid range tickets rather than 'getaway' fares. VA would likely make an extra $60 on a ticket from me simply as goodwill. But with no lounge, I can't be bothered so I'm booking the cheapest fare.. and actually looking at QAN fares which I never bothered to do in the last 5 years for my own travel..

I get that they are busy, but the lack of communication is getting a bit concerning. Together with being 5 months into my membership year with only minimal assistance on maintaining status, I may need to reconsider a few things as well.

 

[antycbr]

With Qld opening up as of Nov 1st, I noticed that VA is showing 3 flights a day now (in each direction) (SYD-BNE) and wondering if anyone has heard any rumours about the BNE lounge (or SYD?) opening.

I rarely if ever use any of the WP benefits and the lounge is pretty much the only one being used consistently.. not having any access takes all the fun out of it (and I end up caring a lot less about booking on VA as a result, which is also sad).

That reopening to NSW has more caveats than a velocity partner lounge access table.

 

[Jousams]

Speaking to checkin staff at Sydney yesterday, I got the distinct impression that there wont be any lounge openings until 2021.

 

[ozstamps]

Not sure check-in staff would have a clue on such matters.

You may as well ask them about their thoughts on Elite Status Extension.

This seems more likely I'd suggest -

''I''m banking on it happening when Bain formally takeover (on or before Oct 31). Hopefully, all the supplier contracts etc etc are sorted by then''

 

[Jousams]

Not sure check-in staff would have a clue on such matters.

You may as well ask them about their thoughts on Elite Status Extension.

This seems more likely I'd suggest -

''I''m banking on it happening when Bain formally takeover (on or before Oct 31). Hopefully, all the supplier contracts etc etc are sorted by then''

it wouldn't be the first time that check in agents / FAs / Lounge Staff, etc have been completely off the mark