VA pilots in lounge. New?

[juliusg]

Totally relaxed of course, just wondering whether the pilot deal added on lounge? Happy to see them in there!

 

[MarkD]

been in there for years. Good on VA for allowing them somewhere to grab a bite whilst commuting.

 

[antycbr]

been in there for years. Good on VA for allowing them somewhere to grab a bite whilst commuting.

I always thought pilots got a meal during the flight - the head FA always seems to do some form of service once J is done.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

You know, it's funny. I have no issue with pilots being fed at work, or with airline staff getting lounge memberships etc... but it always strikes me as odd to see uniformed airline staff hanging out in the 'passenger' space like that. I've noticed pilots in the VA lounges on previous visits more often than not, and to me, it does make the lounge feel more like a staff room than a premium space - it cheapens things a little bit, to the tune that the airline is too cheap to give staff a staff room and a meal, so dive in here and eat what the passengers eat instead.

They used to take off their hat, lanyard and epaulettes to blend in a little - but now they wander around in full uniform. Yeah, it's odd. You know, half the time when I sit down, there are VA staffers hanging out nearby beyond just pilots - not in uniform, but you can tell from the conversation (if you're close enough), the bags and sometimes, the lanyard turned backwards. They should remember there are passengers around them who can hear all the 'secret' things they choose to discuss so loudly in public.

Some days it makes the lounge even feel like more of a space for airline crews that happens to also serve passengers, rather than the other way around. Again, no issue with any of them being there... but maybe, just try to blend in a bit more like a passenger, rather than make passengers feel like they're intruding on the airport staff room.

 

[RSVKanga]

it cheapens things a little bit

Shouldn’t be surprising or shocking.

Virgin Australia is a budget airline, just with lounges and more generous baggage allowance.

It’s no secret that VA want the lounges to be social/casual places for their predominantly value-based and leisure FFs to relax, along with their staff (presumably as staff rooms have been removed/scaled down as a part of their cost cutting).

 

[RooFlyer]

It’s no secret that VA want the lounges to be social/casual places for their predominantly value-based and leisure FFs to relax, along with their staff (presumably as staff rooms have been removed/scaled down as a part of their cost cutting).

Qantas also allow their crew into their lounges. There is quite a long thread about it.

 

[MarkD]

I always thought pilots got a meal during the flight - the head FA always seems to do some form of service once J is done.

Yep. They do as far as I know. I believe most pilots seen in lounges are commuting. Ie they live in brisbane and commute to a sydney base for rostering. May not be the case always but I was having a chat to a captain in Sydney a few months back and he was saying thats very frequent. They most certainly wouldnt just hang out in the lounge before / between flights i wouldnt think.

 

[RooFlyer]

They most certainly wouldnt just hang out in the lounge before / between flights i wouldnt think.

I think they may if they are paxing on duty. Personally, I have no issue at all with any of the flight crew being in a lounge.

 

[clifford]

Shouldn’t be surprising or shocking.

Virgin Australia is a budget airline, just with lounges and more generous baggage allowance.

It’s no secret that VA want the lounges to be social/casual places for their predominantly value-based and leisure FFs to relax, along with their staff (presumably as staff rooms have been removed/scaled down as a part of their cost cutting).

You don't seem to like VA do you? Or perhaps I'm imagining it?

 

[twinaisle]

Pilots have agreement where they can access the lounge while on duty, this doesn't have to be if they are commuting. They used to have to remove branding but are now allowed to be in full uniform.

Post automatically merged: Jun 24, 2024

They used to take off their hat, lanyard and epaulettes to blend in a little - but now they wander around in full uniform. Yeah, it's odd. You know, half the time when I sit down, there are VA staffers hanging out nearby beyond just pilots - not in uniform, but you can tell from the conversation (if you're close enough), the bags and sometimes, the lanyard turned backwards. They should remember there are passengers around them who can hear all the 'secret' things they choose to discuss so loudly in public.

Maybe they want the public to hear. Its a perk that they get. We still have staff rooms. Some are landside, some are airside.

I'm fine with my pilots stopping off for a coffee or a snack between their 12 hour duty

 

[jb747]

Qantas also allow their crew into their lounges. There is quite a long thread about it.

Sort of. You had to be paxing on duty, and we generally removed the stripes, or put on a jumper. Commuters had to purchase a membership, though it was discounted.

 

[jase05]

Virgin Australia is a budget airline, just with lounges and more generous baggage allowance

And better meals in J plus a PDB

 

[Saab34]

We still have staff rooms.

Are they decent spaces? I’ve seen some photos of one of the American carriers and crew rooms, looked better vs most airline lounges.

 

[twinaisle]

Are they decent spaces? I’ve seen some photos of one of the American carriers and crew rooms, looked better vs most airline lounges.

Most have been renovated or relocated to newer and larger spaces. We also have napping spaces

 

[SeatBackForward]

I think this far less of a bad look than seeing "CREW" bags off the carousel first.

 

[twinaisle]

I think this far less of a bad look than seeing "CREW" bags off the carousel first.

Too bad. So sad. Crew who do check in their bags will most of the time have priority.