Virgin Australia Golds lose LAX lounge access

[aaronm]

This move definitely seems to have taken VA by surprise. 10k points plus a $40 voucher seems quite reasonable compensation, especially given the new TBIT is fairly decent to begin with.

 

[Denali]

....10k points plus a $40 voucher seems quite reasonable compensation....

Not if you want a shower, some quite and a comfy chair.

I would be pissed if I rocked up at checkin tomorrow and get told sucks to be you, heres a voucher to have a burger - good luck.

 

[anat0l]

Not if you want a shower, some quite and a comfy chair.

I would be pissed if I rocked up at checkin tomorrow and get told sucks to be you, heres a voucher to have a burger - good luck.

There's quite a few people here who have cards which give them PriorityPass access.

You can use a pass to go to the KAL Lounge, which is not ideal food wise but they do have showers (and decent ones at that).

I realise not all Gold members may have PriorityPass, let alone that the inclusive access with cards typically only grants 2 opportunities per year gratis.

 

[fewings85]

well this sucks just a little bit

I have a flight on VA out of there on 7th of March, I'm gold and im just in economy for that leg, way out of Aus I'm in business.

Virgin said in that statement that they are vigorously working towards a solution. What do you think they chances are they will have something in place by early march??? I have about a 5 and a half hour lay over after flying back in from Vancouver and would love a shower in a lounge!

It does seem odd they couldn't allow it for a few months til Virgin move into the new T5 with Delta and obviously we would have access to the New Sky Lounge. Its being talked up but I'm not holding my breath until I see it.

I wouldn't like my chances as I only had book the basic fare on the way back (yes stupid me wasn't thinking) but what would be the chances of talking to Virgin customer service and modifying my booking? I.e I could change the fare type over to a freedom fare and use points to upgrade to business or move to the codeshare flight on the same to the delta flight (I wouldn't mind trying the delta metal again its been a while) so I could access their lounge. I wouldn't like my chances.

It is really disappointing to see this especially seeing as it seems like there was no warning to VA, at least maybe they could of given two weeks notice or something? It sucks Etihad is only taking business and platinum but here's hoping maybe they work something out there.

Im just hoping for something by march!

 

[ozjuice]

OK so suddenly I'm overjoyed to be VA Plat.

 

[Bagpuss]

what would be the chances of talking to Virgin customer service and modifying my booking? I.e I could change the fare type over to a freedom fare and use points to upgrade to business or move to the codeshare flight on the same to the delta flight (I wouldn't mind trying the delta metal again its been a while) so I could access their lounge. I wouldn't like my chances.

This will depend on the fare rules. Also there will be a change fee, if permitted. Though sometimes they will waive the change fee.
The only way to know is by talking to them

 

[deepblerg]

Wow.

This was inevitable but what I think is crazy about this is the circumstances around the announcement. Literally no notice period. Announcement today, lounge revoked tomorrow. The fact that they couldn't negotiate an extra few months cover until the new Delta T2/T3 lounges kick in is really telling about how tenuous VA's agreements/partnerships are.

I know a WP on the other thread mentioned they could still access the *A lounge as well as the Etihad lounge - so are we safe to assume WP's can still access the *A lounge?

 

[TomVexille]

About time VA bit the bullet and joined *A.

I suspect that VA has gotten too far into bed with DL for that to happen anytime soon

 

[anat0l]

Wow.

This was inevitable but what I think is crazy about this is the circumstances around the announcement. Literally no notice period. Announcement today, lounge revoked tomorrow. The fact that they couldn't negotiate an extra few months cover until the new Delta T2/T3 lounges kick in is really telling about how tenuous VA's agreements/partnerships are.

I know a WP on the other thread mentioned they could still access the *A lounge as well as the Etihad lounge - so are we safe to assume WP's can still access the *A lounge?

I guess the extra 10k points per affected person was supposed to allay part of the problem of the announcement being so short notice.

I had no idea Platinums were still being let into the *A lounge, as the rules on the website clearly state that it's the EY lounge for them.


The only way for both Golds and Platinums to access the *A lounge is to be flying NZ.

 

[JohnK]

Oh dear. There's that difference between VA Platinum and VA Gold....

 

[cm2225]

Well I agree, this is a complete bummer I'm due to fly LAX to SYD 7th Feb, Econo and I'm Gold. The entire reason I booked with VA was lounge access, when the outbound flight is at 10pm a nice meal and a shower after a full day is a must. I had let my Priority Pass Membership expire due to VA Gold access and sampling the *A Lounge early last year. Well guess i'm about to re apply seems TBIT doesn't have many other options for paid access. :-|

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Ouch! The box for LAX/gold on https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/...ational-lounge-access/lounge-reference-guide/ has just been replaced with:
"Refer to a Virgin Australia Guest Services team member or contact the Guest Contact Centre"

VA won't even tell you unless you call? That's just brutal. :shock:

If all you wanted was food and beverage, USD 40 voucher and 10k points actually seems reasonable. But if you planed on having a shower, that would well and truly suck!

I'm amazed VA couldn't negotiate a longer period before the change took effect, or did they sit on this for ages? And they only announced the platinum/EY change not even a month ago. For those speculating that it's NZ's doing, well it's fitting the only way you can access the *A lounge holding VA status is now when you fly NZ metal.

oneworld seems awfully nice and reliable right about now...

 

[grubbidok]

So I guess now when Mrs G (SG), Miss G (Red) and I (WP) fly through LAX we'll no longer be directed to separate lounges!

 

[bullerdude]

A very unfortunate situation indeed! Although I suspect that VA has known about this for some time, hence the move to the Etihad lounge for J/Plat guests.

 

[grubbidok]

TBH my usual routine for a long LAX layover was to leave the airport and walk the 10/15mins down the road to In-N-Out Burger (though it is often longer, as there are amazing views of aircraft approaches on the way), and return to spend less than an hour in the lounge (after buying some See's Candies to take home, of course).

Here's hoping VA can give me the USD in cash to spend there!

note: not likely, but hoping!

 

[Bibendum]

What's VA reason for not joining *A.. Surely the reciprocal business would be beneficial.

 

[anat0l]

What's VA reason for not joining *A.. Surely the reciprocal business would be beneficial.

They (John Borghetti) didn't want to be bogged down by the structure and rigid systems of being tied into an alliance, along with participation fees and the like.

EY's CEO James Hogan, which was a strong supporter of VA (at least in the infancy of when JB took the reigns at VA), also put the sword to the global alliances and believed the liberal bilateral agreements was a better and more flexible approach.

Ever since Game Change has been installed at VA, the emphasis was supposed to mean VA was maintained as flexible, lean and adaptable; not bogged down, rigid and stale (its direct home rival used as the yardstick of this).


Anyway, that's what I thought was the whole idea. How valid all of this is then and now is up to you.

 

[VOZ102]

They (John Borghetti) didn't want to be bogged down by the structure and rigid systems of being tied into an alliance, along with participation fees and the like.

EY's CEO James Hogan, which was a strong supporter of VA (at least in the infancy of when JB took the reigns at VA), also put the sword to the global alliances and believed the liberal bilateral agreements was a better and more flexible approach.

Ever since Game Change has been installed at VA, the emphasis was supposed to mean VA was maintained as flexible, lean and adaptable; not bogged down, rigid and stale (its direct home rival used as the yardstick of this).


Anyway, that's what I thought was the whole idea. How valid all of this is then and now is up to you.

Considering Borghetti & Hogan are on the way out - & both airlines are in trouble financially compared to the relative fiscal success of both SQ & NZ (both *A) I think the experiment looks to be failing.

 

[moa999]

Think EY itself is doing OK, just all the investments they made, including VA are cough

 

[clipped_wings]

It kinda takes the sting out of my predicament ironically. Given that husband will drop to SG when we fly VA2 economy with our two kids in October - the (2) vouchers* will actually allow us to find a nice eatery somewhere and kick back with the kids, as we would not have gained access for all 4 of us.

*I am full of optimism as I believe a companion voucher is issued. However I may be wrong and therefore full of rage..................