Upgrades now available in the lounge, PER lounge access improvements

[StevePER]

Received yesterday via our corporate travel people. Apologies if this has been posted already, I haven't been around much recently.


Domestic Flight Upgrades at the Virgin Australia Lounge

Effective immediately, Velocity Frequent Flyer members who are eligible to access the Virgin Australia Lounge are able to request for Flight Upgrades using their Velocity points at Virgin Australia Lounges in Australia on the day of their flight departure.

International Long Haul Flight Upgrades

Effective immediately, Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members will now be able to upgrade from a Flexi Economy fare to Premium Economy or Business Class or a Premium Economy fare to Business Class using their Velocity points on flights to Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi.

Perth International Airport Lounge Access

Currently, Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members (and 1 guest) departing Perth International Airport on Singapore Airlines operated services are entitled to access the Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge prior to departure, regardless of their cabin class. From 1 July 2013 Velocity Gold and Platinum members will also have the ability to access the Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge when departing Perth International Airport on all services operated by Virgin Australia (VA) and our Partner Airlines.

 

[EuroKick]

Yazooo! Finally, international lounge access in Perth! Heading to Bali in J next week and was wondering what I was to do with my time there!

 

[Pozza]

The lounge access is an interesting one for NZ passengers as well, because I assume this means the opening hours of the SQ lounge will be extended to be open during the PER-AKL flight lounge window. Meaning *G passengers will be able to choose between the QF and SQ lounge.

 

[Fruitcake]

Published opening times, from the SQ website:

Worldwide SilverKris Lounges
SQ224: 0530 - 0740 hours
Daily: 1300 - 1600 hours
2200 - 0100 hours

Those opening hours don't, on the surface, seem too useful for VA services. Although if VA pax on NZ-operated services are going to use the SQ lounge, perhaps NZ will also move to the SQ lounge. With NZ's evening departure to AKL (and CHC at year end) around the same time as the daily VA service to DPS it might become economical to change lounge hours a bit.

 

[oz_mark]

From 1 July 2013 Velocity Gold and Platinum members will also have the ability to access the Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge when departing Perth International Airport on all services operated by Virgin Australia (VA) and our Partner Airlines.

That's a good change!

 

[Strongarm]

Those opening times don't seem to cover my 1030 departure to DPS in December. What are the chances the opening times will extend???

 

[Virgin Bart]

Those opening times don't seem to cover my 1030 departure to DPS in December. What are the chances the opening times will extend???

The times also don't suit my PER-HKT departure at 1210..

Any ideas if they may extend opening times?

 

[btau]

I wish I'd known they were going to allow this before I booked BNE>SYD>LAX a few months ago Would've sprung for flexi vs saver..

 

[Mak404matt]

I wish I'd known they were going to allow this before I booked BNE>SYD>LAX a few months ago Would've sprung for flexi vs saver..

It has been going for at least 6 months.

 

[serfty]

It has been going for at least 6 months.

Maybe not six, but there was an ODU trial for domestic flights in MEL during April with expansion to domestic posts sometime in June.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....locity/now-live-upgrade-your-flexi-49186.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....c-flight-upgrades-virgin-australia-51726.html


There is no points based ODU for international flights.

 

[Fruitcake]

Maybe not six, but there was a trial in MEL during April with expansion sometime in June.

btau wants to upgrade a long haul international flight. The on-departure upgrades are only for domestic services. So the announcement btau refers to is probably the availability of points upgrades for gold and platinum members on international flights. These were "soft launched" by Velocity in late July 2012 (I tried to book one the day they were announced), it looks like they are now publicising them more widely.

 

[atreides]

About darn time, why lounge access in Perth took this long is beyond comprehension.

 

[EuroKick]

So... Has anyone been able to confirm if the SQ lounge is open when VA flights depart?

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hi guys,
Just to confirm that SQ has extended the opening hours of its PER lounge to accommodate VA flight schedules.
SQ will be updating their website to reflect the amended opening hours shortly.

 

[Mak404matt]

Hi guys,
Just to confirm that SQ has extended the opening hours of its PER lounge to accommodate VA flight schedules.
SQ will be updating their website to reflect the amended opening hours shortly.

Excellent news, thanks for letting us know You'll get my Indonesia flights now that previously went to GA

 

[Virgin Bart]

Hi guys,
Just to confirm that SQ has extended the opening hours of its PER lounge to accommodate VA flight schedules.
SQ will be updating their website to reflect the amended opening hours shortly.

This is really fantastic news. Thanks very much VFF.

 

[Strongarm]

Hi guys,
Just to confirm that SQ has extended the opening hours of its PER lounge to accommodate VA flight schedules.
SQ will be updating their website to reflect the amended opening hours shortly.

Fantastic news, I have a number of PER-DPS flights coming up over the next 10 months!

 

[Pozza]

The Singapore Airlines website has now been updated to reflect the changes:

Also opened for the following VA flights:
VA 4149, departing 1210 hours
VA 4173, departing 1425 hours
VA 4134, departing 1205 hours
VA 4138, departing 1935 hours
VA 1909, departing 1030 hours
VA 1911, departing 1300 hours

So I guess it is good news for NZ passengers as well

 

[williamsf1]

So I guess it is good news for NZ passengers as well

Are you referring to NZ members or VA ? NZ will continue to access the QF lounge according to the NZ site

Works Deluxe customers receive lounge access when departing from airports where Air New Zealand has an airport lounge and will also have access to the Qantas lounge when departing from Adelaide and Perth. There is no lounge access in Cairns or the Sunshine Coast.

 

[bass_ke]

Are you referring to NZ members or VA ? NZ will continue to access the QF lounge according to the NZ site

Works Deluxe customers receive lounge access when departing from airports where Air New Zealand has an airport lounge and will also have access to the Qantas lounge when departing from Adelaide and Perth. There is no lounge access in Cairns or the Sunshine Coast.

It'd be interesting to see a lounge squeezed into MCY, the Int'l side is quite entertaining