VA cuts Brisbane Premium Entry opening hours

[Fiches Mouser]

Finally! Our wishlist item has been granted!

Oh wait...

Virgin Australia cuts Brisbane Premium Entry opening hours - Australian Business Traveller

 

[hummel]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

Finally! Our wishlist item has been granted!

Oh wait...

Virgin Australia cuts Brisbane Premium Entry opening hours - Australian Business Traveller

Does this mean they can put the money saved into the website redevelopment??

What a joke though.. why even bother.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

Does this mean they can put the money saved into the website redevelopment??

What a joke though.. why even bother.

An absolute joke. Just close the place down and sell it to Qantas.

 

[Milefest]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

Incredibly disappointing. This is one of VA's strengths over QF and I looked forward to seeing them add premium entry to additional airports.

A better alternative would be to close the priority security lane for the main departures area during off-peak and use those security personnel in the premium entry. They could also use a staff member that's usually upstairs in the lounge and have them work in the premium entry. Possibly even allow normal lounge members through the premium entry during off-peak.

Insane to me that premium entry isn't open in the afternoon any more either, it can get packed in main security (especially with non-status pax clogging the priority security lane).

Multi-million redevelopment for <40% utilisation, that's crazy.

 

[Jousams]

Comment on AUSBT earlier today...

 

[toowongman]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

An absolute joke. Just close the place down and sell it to Qantas.

An absolute joke. Just close the place down and sell it to SQ. I often wonder what SQ flying domestic AU would be like...

 

[Milefest]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

They knew before they built it how many Club/Plat/Gold/J members would be using it on a daily basis, makes you wonder why they built in the first place..

I'd imagine it would affect their valet customers significantly too:

“The Valet service remains available (in Brisbane) for Virgin Australia guests from 1 hour before the first flight until 30 minutes after the last arrival,” the spokesperson added.
Of course, after handing over your keys you'll then need to walk for a few minutes to the terminal's main check-in and security screening area and then back-track to the lounge, rather than walking straight through.

How convenient..

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

An absolute joke. Just close the place down and sell it to SQ. I often wonder what SQ flying domestic AU would be like...

Have to say, I don't think SQ run the best lounges in the world, but if the premium entrance was anything like the F check-in in SIN that would be very nice indeed.

 

[farstar]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

So business travelers only fly out of Brisbane before noon. I need to remember that next time I am in Brisbane to tell my customers I need to leave early so I can get to the airport before noon. I can't be leave that they get all their Business traffic in the morning and none in the afternoon or evening.

 

[TomVexille]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

Disappointing from VA. How to shut down one of the true advantages they have over QF.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

So business travelers only fly out of Brisbane before noon. I need to remember that next time I am in Brisbane to tell my customers I need to leave early so I can get to the airport before noon. I can't be leave that they get all their Business traffic in the morning and none in the afternoon or evening.

Exactly. I mean, maybe there are numbers to support it, but I know every time I'm in BNE for work, I'll be on a afternoon/evening flight to make the most of the day (rather than booking another night in the hotel).

The key here is to make it clear to VA how bad of an idea this is. I encourage everyone to send an email.

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

 

[dec540]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

I've always wanted to use premium entry but I've never had a chance. I predominantly travel with checked luggage so I don't really see the value. If they allowed you to drop bags it would be epic (though I appreciate the logistical nightmare).

There's also no point using it to bypass security in BNE, since they have priority screening.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

This is madness! So why did VA spend money building it in the first place?!

As a regular traveller to Brisbane ― departing BNE either at the end of the day for work trips, or on the weekend for personal trips ― I guess I'll never ever get to use the premium entry again! Granted, it already wasn't ideal in that it was valet access only and you couldn't be dropped off there by car, but I can't believe the airline I'm loyal to is either this cheap or this stupid.

 

[clarkkent]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

There's also no point using it to bypass security in BNE, since they have priority screening.

Agreed. I don't bother using it because there's never a queue at security when I fly. Conversely, in Sydney I use the premium entry every time.

 

[bullerdude]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

From what I've read (since i haven't been to BNE since it opened) it sounds like they didn't think it through properly, given that getting to the premium entry is a small walk as you can't get dropped off at the premium entry itself (unless valet).

They would be better to allow all premium passengers to get dropped off at the premium entry, install baggage drop capability and the premium entry and close the regular premium checkin/screening in the terminal.

Then they would effectively created a private terminal entrance for all their premium passengers. That is something they could advertise well.

 

[deepblerg]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

Agreed. I don't bother using it because there's never a queue at security when I fly. Conversely, in Sydney I use the premium entry every time.

I haven't yet travelled to Brisbane since they launched premium entry but I also agree that getting through security at Brisbane is pretty efficient and 9 times out of 10 there is no line at security.

I think however, that is not the point. Breezing through security is a secondary benefit. Premium entry is for recognition of your status so you don't have to mingle with the plebs. Sure you might have to bag drop at the terminal and walk a fair distance to the entry but its a status walk that you've earned which all those other people can't do.

But all of this aside, the move to close the entry so early in the day is just ridiculous. I find it hard to believe its about cost cutting - surely there's better ways to cut costs?

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

I haven't yet travelled to Brisbane since they launched premium entry but I also agree that getting through security at Brisbane is pretty efficient and 9 times out of 10 there is no line at security.

I think however, that is not the point. Breezing through security is a secondary benefit. Premium entry is for recognition of your status so you don't have to mingle with the plebs. Sure you might have to bag drop at the terminal and walk a fair distance to the entry but its a status walk that you've earned which all those other people can't do.

But all of this aside, the move to close the entry so early in the day is just ridiculous. I find it hard to believe its about cost cutting - surely there's better ways to cut costs?

What a brilliant concept — a status walk. It's your walk. Because you've earned it.

 

[Milefest]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

This policy change is a big deal for me, I use the premium entry 1-2 times a week in BNE as well as in SYD. It saves me 5-10 minutes every time I use it which is a huge drawcard over QF. I can arrive, get my flight changed to an earlier time, go straight through the private security line, into the lounge where I can then go straight through to priority boarding.

But all of this aside, the move to close the entry so early in the day is just ridiculous. I find it hard to believe its about cost cutting - surely there's better ways to cut costs?

The club next door, according to my colleagues, is regularly empty for hours at a time and during operating hours there is generally at least 3 staff working. The Club is also not that much smaller than the main lounge, I wonder if that was a good investment by VA..?

 

[ozjuice]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

I haven't yet travelled to Brisbane since they launched premium entry but I also agree that getting through security at Brisbane is pretty efficient and 9 times out of 10 there is no line at security.

I think however, that is not the point. Breezing through security is a secondary benefit. Premium entry is for recognition of your status so you don't have to mingle with the plebs. Sure you might have to bag drop at the terminal and walk a fair distance to the entry but its a status walk that you've earned which all those other people can't do.

But all of this aside, the move to close the entry so early in the day is just ridiculous. I find it hard to believe its about cost cutting - surely there's better ways to cut costs?

That's a bit harsh mate........

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Re: VA wishlist. Time for.....

The club next door, according to my colleagues, is regularly empty for hours at a time and during operating hours there is generally at least 3 staff working. The Club is also not that much smaller than the main lounge, I wonder if that was a good investment by VA..?

I suppose The Club was set up to match QF's Chairman's Lounge, whereas the premium check-in was something exclusive to VA. They're trying to match QF without doing anything more than they have to.