VA Lounge Membership

[knagelli]

Has anyone recently bought lounge membership as I am planning to buy one.

I am VA Silver and partner is VA Red but she does more of flying domestic. We don't travel a lot but it will be good to have the lounge membership so she can relax and utilize the benefits as she is no where close to attaining gold which entitles free lounge membership. Any inputs are highly appreciated.

Is there a way to use any discount code to purchase the lounge membership.

 

[Mattg]

If you fly domestic on VA a fair bit and are going to use the membership, it makes sense. You can get the joining fee waived and pay only $330/year as a Silver member, which is pretty good really. That said, if you get the membership in your name then your partner would only be able to use the lounge when travelling with you.

 

[Happy Dude]

I recall that PS could buy lounge access for 40k points. Has that changed?

 

[knagelli]

That said, if you get the membership in your name then your partner would only be able to use the lounge when travelling with you.

Thanks @Mattg ;

I completely missed that part. I will probably have to search for other way to get her the access as it will help in case of late night/early morning flights. I just checked on VA site and for VA Red/new members the joining fee is $420 and additional $300 for the annual membership . Instead does it make sense to apply AMEX Platinum charge card and get the unlimited lounge access as well as the bonus points. Some calculations to be done to decide on way forward.

 

[RisingPhoenix]

The annual fee for the Amex Plat is high, the beneftis are pretty good, but you have to weigh it up. Would it be possible to family pool a few flights to your partner so she can achieve silver and wave the joining fee?

 

[Buzzard]

@knagelli can you pool to your partner to help her get to Silver so she can avoid the joining fee?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

And go Elevate instead of Getaway, the Elevate class of fare earns a bit more SC.
Buy as much of your groceries from Coles, and Coles Express, thus earning the requisite FB SC, 1 SC per $100, 12 months and thats 12 SC, similar MEL - SYD in Elevate fare class, return.
But be careful though, after that news of VA's financials, I am not sure if in the end, we will have a VFF in say, 24/36 months, down the track, if they feel the airline needs to get back to its roots as a LCC.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

How many times a year does partner fly with VA?
I think its $65 per person per access, if she flies more than 10 times a year, then its worth it...
Breakeven, maybe 5 trips a year?

 

[Buzzard]

How many times a year does partner fly with VA?
I think its $65 per person per access, if she flies more than 10 times a year, then its worth it...
Breakeven, maybe 5 trips a year?

TBH it's hardly worth $65 per visit.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

O/T, over the past 3 years, I did as a PS pay $300 a year, thats $600 (paid 2 years all up), to have more access than the 2 allowed under VFF PS access, that was when I used to chase VA domestic flights, now I am looking more into long distance flights, ones that VA does not do, ie, maybe Japan/Korea/Taiwan, going through SIN is nice, but doing the trip via SYD/MEL/BNE with OZ/BR as part of *A is better, or even CI who is with Skyteam.
With PS (Scurrah) at the helm now, don't know how long we will continue to have lounges, or even a VFF!
If costs have to be cut, they have to be cut, which is better, we continue to have VA with bare minimum, or no VA at all.
Yes, its all presupposition what will happen, but lets not ever forget AN.

 

[Bell21]

Thanks @Mattg ;

I completely missed that part. I will probably have to search for other way to get her the access as it will help in case of late night/early morning flights. I just checked on VA site and for VA Red/new members the joining fee is $420 and additional $300 for the annual membership . Instead does it make sense to apply AMEX Platinum charge card and get the unlimited lounge access as well as the bonus points. Some calculations to be done to decide on way forward.

The AMEX platinum has some nice perks - search up the forum threads on it, as the perks are clearly listed (both the explicitly advertised and less well advertised perks), so you can do a cost-benefit analysis - the lounge access offering is very good, as are the travel credits, which almost pays for the use of the card - YMMV of course, as it is an expensive card (you'd want to get some value out of other perks such as FH&R, gold status in hotel chains, accor plus free night, AFR access - note that the additional card holder gets most of the same perks as primary card holder, even travelling separately)

 

[knagelli]

The AMEX platinum has some nice perks - search up the forum threads on it, as the perks are clearly listed (both the explicitly advertised and less well advertised perks), so you can do a cost-benefit analysis - the lounge access offering is very good, as are the travel credits, which almost pays for the use of the card - YMMV of course, as it is an expensive card (you'd want to get some value out of other perks such as FH&R, gold status in hotel chains, accor plus free night, AFR access - note that the additional card holder gets most of the same perks as primary card holder, even travelling separately)

Thanks @Bell21

I suppose you are referring to the AMEX Platinum Charge Card. I will look into the card but I guess the annual fee for that card is 1450 AUD which is kind of over board for me just for the lounge access. However I will look up the details of Amex Platinum and check if that will be good to meet my needs.

 

[Bell21]

Thanks @Bell21

I suppose you are referring to the AMEX Platinum Charge Card. I will look into the card but I guess the annual fee for that card is 1450 AUD which is kind of over board for me just for the lounge access. However I will look up the details of Amex Platinum and check if that will be good to meet my needs.

Yes that's the card I'm referring to - balance the cost of outright lounge membership vs perks of card

 

[Harthagan]

TBH it's hardly worth $65 per visit.

Sadly, I'd say the sydney domestic lounge is not even worth $10 to visit.

The last few times at the Sydney lounge it was like an over crowded zoo. And the "hot lunch" offering always seems to be some variation of vegetarian fried rice or noodles with tofu (never anything substantial or containing meat)

Was actually embarrassed to have taken my friend in there on Friday it was so ordinary, espescially when he asked where the spirits were at the "bar" lol