V Australia to utilise Air New Zealand International Lounges in BNE/SYD/MEL

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hi everyone,

Exciting news!

Eligible V Australia guests are now able to utilise Air New Zealand International Lounges in the following Australian departure ports:

• Brisbane (BNE) – Effective immediately
• Sydney (SYD) – Monday 7th February
• Melbourne (MEL) – Monday 28th February

International Lounge Access for V Australia Premium Cabin Guests:

Air New Zealand Koru International Lounge, Brisbane International Airport:

• Premium Economy - No access
• Business Class - Access
• Velocity Gold - Access

Air New Zealand Koru International Lounge, Sydney International Airport:

• Premium Economy - No access
• Business Class - Access
• Velocity Gold - Access

Air New Zealand Koru International Lounge, Melbourne International Airport:

• Premium Economy - No access
• Business Class - Access
• Velocity Gold - Access

Other points to note:

• Business class guests are permitted to bring in ONE guest only
• Children under the age of 12 and one additional guest may accompany a Velocity Gold member
• Access is not available for any guests travelling on Pacific Blue including Gold Velocity members
• Access is not available to Virgin Blue’s The Lounge members
• Entry is subject to Air New Zealand Koru Lounge space availability for all guests

Look forward to hearing about more V Australia International flights from AFF members!

Virgin Blue, V Australia & Velocity Team

 

[Ricardo]

If I am a Koru member (which I am) can I use the Air NZ lounge in Bris if I travel on a Virgin flight to NZ? Anybody know or have the rules not been announced for this yet.

R

 

[dk4]

Hello NZ

IMO - some pros & cons...

PROS

Some Lounge access, now available at Brisbane International

Brisbane (BNE) – Effective immediately
Air New Zealand Koru International Lounge, Brisbane International Airport:

• Business Class - Access
• Velocity Gold - Access

CONS

• Access is not available for any guests travelling on Pacific Blue including Gold Velocity members
• Access is not available to Virgin Blue’s The Lounge members

Comparing Qantas Lounge Access at International Terminals in SYD, MEL & BNE, which is available to -

• Higher Status customers travelling all Qantas Group services, including Jetstar.
• Qantas Club members travelling on QF, JQ & BA.

 

[trooper]

As an NZ Gold excuse me if I am not terribly excited about this.... a BIG factor for me in ensuring I retain NZ Gold has always been the lounges....

...and they can already get crowded..... this will only compound the problem...

Is this a temporary measure?.. Does VA plan to do it properly and have their OWN lounges sooner rather than later?

Would it be too much to hope that VA's departure times are NOT close to/the same as the airlines already using the NZ lounges? That would be a start.....

(I had better away and have a look.....)

Sorry to add a "bummer" to the accolades...

EDIT:: OK.. I've had a look at the VA schedules*... and it is only (at present?) one flight in the early afternoon from each port... so "we'll see"...

* What is WITH the VA schedule page? Everytime you change the origin the destination defaults to Abu bloody Dhabi???? :mrgreen: Kinda funny actually.. but not very user friendly!

BIG QUESTION: Recipricity??? I'm NZ Gold... DO I get to use "The Lounge" when flying with "V" airlines?? (I suspect not, but ya gotta ask...)

 

[samh004]

I can understand why Virgin Blue’s The Lounge members don’t have access, as it’s like a third party lounge, and unless you inked a specific deal, I wouldn’t expect this. It’s akin to Qantas Club members getting access to lounges when flying AA/BA/QF/JQ as special deals have been made, but when flying other alliance members such as CX, there’s no access, so I can understand why there’s no access.

However the only way this would relate to me is if I was flying Pacific Blue to Queenstown (as you have such good deals), and if I’m still excluded from accessing an international lounge as a Gold member in this case, it really stinks.

I hope eventually lounge access could be provided on all services where there’s a lounge, such as from BNE/MEL/SYD in the Koru Club (or your own lounge), but I fear this’ll be long after I’ve given up my status (granted it was given, but for cheap flights to ZQN and lounge access I’d try my best at re-qualifying, as time by the gate in SYD isn’t fun) and focused primarily on Qantas, no offence.

 

[dk4]

Another CON

Premium Economy - No access

Comparing group-wide P.E. guests, particularly those flying on connecting sectors, where lounge access is available on some flights (domestic) but not others (international).

 

[markis10]

Another CONComparing group-wide P.E. guests, particularly those flying on connecting sectors, where lounge access is available on some flights (domestic) but not others (international).

PE is dead, so it's a minor point. It's a good move and not unexpected, especially for BNE based customers where the QF lounge is hardly a standout as a competitor, and the new clubhouse in Sydney should help shake the tree.

 

[oz_mark]

I have to confess to being a bit surprised by some of the negativity expressed here. Looks like a good, albeit small, step in the right direction.

There's not many airlines that give PE lounge access, and I suspect that whatever their new product is, it won't be called PE. Anyway, one would expect things to clear up over time and have more cosnsistent product offerings across the group. Here's hoping anyway.

 

[trooper]

I hope you can understand my (slight) negativity on this!

You are of course quite correct about the PE/benefits side of things though...

NZ doesn't give lounge access on their own PE fares.. so it would be rather odd if VA Y+ pax could access the NZ lounges!! (Odd from an NZ pax point of view anyway)

For VA pax I certainly think this must count as a significant improvement!

 

[Gremlin]

Well, I'm rather chuffed about this announcement! The lack of Lounge access in BNE was a big issue for me. Good work guys!

 

[oz_mark]

I hope you can understand my (slight) negativity on this!

Coming from the NZ side, no doubt extra crowding is an issue for you:!: It was more the 'not good enough' comments I was referring to.

 

[dk4]

NZ doesn't give lounge access on their own PE fares...

NZ does however, give lounge access to those travelling Economy in Works Deluxe!

As for P.E., we all might think that it is dead and buried, but I would have thought that antagonising/confusing those top customers that you currently do have, as you prepare to go to market to attract additional ones, isn't the best business strategy. (Bird in the hand... YMMV)

DJ has used "baby steps" in the past with product developments, and they have not gained the results that they were after.

 

[oz_mark]

DJ has used "baby steps" in the past with product developments, and they have not gained the results that they were after.

VA is already a full service airline, and promoted as such, so it seems not unreasonable that it should offer lounge access to its cusotmers. PB is not promoted as such.

The rest of the group have a way to go, and we are told that there is a lot of work in the wings, so I think while it is a baby step, it does give a pointer to where they may be going with the alliances.

In a few months time, when we find out the full story, we are either going to be elated, or deflated.

 

[serfty]

PE may be dead on Virgin Blue, but certainly is not on V Australia.

 

[dk4]

VA is already a full service airline, and promoted as such, so it seems not unreasonable that it should offer lounge access to its cusotmers. PB is not promoted as such.

Pacific Blue has promoted lounge access to selected guests before (e.g. Pacific Blue announces lounge access for guests at Wellington Airport - Low Cost Airline News)

And today, from their website

Pacific Blue, out of Wellington, New Zealand


Complimentary access to the 'Corporate Box' Lounge Wellington Airport

• Gold Membership Card
• Boarding pass for same day travel

Pacific Blue, out of Christchurch, New Zealand


Complimentary access to the 'Manaia' Lounge at Christchurch International Airport

• Gold Membership Card
• Boarding pass for same day travel

http://www.velocityrewards.com.au/c.../Status/GoldStatus/GoldLoungeAccess/index.htm

 

[Major]

A long overdue announcement. I had 3 flights on VA last year, all in J.The first 2 - no lounge and the last flight in early Dec I was able to use the NZ lounge in BNE.
Plenty of room and well appointed. Another J flight on EY resulted in using the Qantas lounge in BNE which is amongst the worst lounge I have been in almost anywhere.

 

[markis10]

PE may be dead on Virgin Blue, but certainly is not on V Australia.

Lounge access for PE on VA has never been offered so its a moot point, DJ are being consistent here, and I am sure there are a few internally that cannot wait for Domestic PE and PB to die ASAP.

 

[concorde71]

On the general lounge access issue, I think DJ have a long way to go if they want the corporate market. Location, location, location. They need more lounges, and they need to offer access to their "The lounge" paid members at more points. Im not lucky enough to have 100J class trips paid for by an employer each year, hence, never make gold or Platinum, however, my travel budget (Self funded) is quite substantial). Unfortunately, I usually just book QF, because, as a Scummy Bronze QClub member they have lounges in most ports I visit, and we all know the value of a shower at a transit point etc. Its a shame, because the DJ product is, in my opinion, better than QF on many levels, I have had several PE trips on DJ, inter capital flights, and found their lounges to be 100% better than QF's. If they had more lounges at International ports, for paid, Lounge Members, and reciprocal access at other ports, then I for one, would switch in a flash to DJ group. Hopefully this may happen if/when they join an alliance.
Surely there are others of the same view on this ?

 

[serfty]

Lounge access for PE on VA has never been offered so its a moot point, DJ are being consistent here, and I am sure there are a few internally that cannot wait for Domestic PE and PB to die ASAP.

I was not referring to lounge access; it was more in terms of "PE is dead", of which I was clarifying it related to Domestic DJ service.

It may have been misconstrued as relating to V Australia service.

 

[anat0l]

About bl**dy time the Virgin Group of Australia set up lounge access in BNE I. Kudos to them, and it seems that the NZ lounge in BNE I has also improved, thereby providing good facilities for their members.

Good to also see that the NZ lounges in SYD and MEL will be used as well. Both of these are good lounges if one can't access the QF F Lounges.

I'm still holding out that Virgin will create its own lounge of great repute in SYD and MEL, and hopefully BNE.