Virgin Australia Sydney Lounge Premium Entry Now Open on Weekends

[maninblack]

Totally agree. I'm doing SYD-HNL soon (on HA metal, obviously), travelling in J and am VA Gold. If I travel on the VA flight number, I get no lounge access. If I travel on the same flight on the HA flight number, I get access to the NZ lounge. Ridiculous. I had originally booked on the VA flight number, but have now cancelled that and rebooked on the HA flight number. So VA loses the revenue because of its stingy attitude on lounge entry.

VA needs its own lounge at SYD International.

I contacted the VA rep on the forum via PM about this who promptly replied that Business class guests flying Hawaiian on a VA ticket do indeed have lounge access both in SYD and HNL. Koru Club in SYD and Hawaiian Premier in Hawaii. This has now been added to the VA website but no mention of Gold or Platinum traveling in Y so I suspect they have no access. International Lounge Access | Virgin Australia I wouldn't describe the website entry as being absolutely clear and of course it relies on the staff at the Koru Club also knowing about this!

 

[SteveJohnson]

I might start flying Virgin Australia, getting a little bit 'over' Qantas from time to time and I like to encourage competition! Can I use this Sydney 'premium entry' if I have checked luggage or is it hand luggage only?

 

[dk4]

Can I use this Sydney 'premium entry' if I have checked luggage or is it hand luggage only?

You can’t check bags at the premium entry, as the check in desk doesn’t have a baggage chute or conveyor* to send them on their way to the aircraft's hold. You can however, check your bags in at the main terminal check in desks, then go back outside and enter the lounge via the premium entry and expedited security, if you so wish.

(* or a porter to manually move them, like Qantas does at its MEL T2 F kerbside check-in desk.)

 

[SteveJohnson]

Thanks Dk4, that sounds like the plan for now then.

 

[Warks]

I just received my Gold renewal with DJ for the first time (comped last year from QF SG) and it was mentioned in the email. This is the first I've heard of this 'exclusive' entry in SYD T2. I've been going through security with hand luggage only with all the other plebs all this time without knowing about this! I still don't quite know where it is and why I've never noticed it. Maybe because I nearly always take the train to the airport so I bypass it.

 

[Justinf]

I just received my Gold renewal with DJ for the first time (comped last year from QF SG) and it was mentioned in the email. This is the first I've heard of this 'exclusive' entry in SYD T2. I've been going through security with hand luggage only with all the other plebs all this time without knowing about this! I still don't quite know where it is and why I've never noticed it. Maybe because I nearly always take the train to the airport so I bypass it.

You have to go right to the end of the terminal and there it is. It is a wonderful thing.

 

[serfty]

I use it even with the train ...

As you come up from the train tunnel into T2 'arrivals', turn left and loop around the escalators before using them to head up to the 'departures' level.

Head outside then left walking right along, nearly to the end of the building until you see the shallow ramp up to the premium entry.

 

[hydrabyss]

Also if you have luggage have it checked in then go back out of the building to the premium entry ramp.

 

[Justinf]

I am 100% hit rate for being tested for explosives though. Only takes a minute.

 

[Jousams]

I am 100% hit rate for being tested for explosives though. Only takes a minute.

!!
The ONE time I made it through without being tested. I hear "mr jousams you left your boarding pass in the tub" ,
then got tested...


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Noob]

I am 100% hit rate for being tested for explosives though. Only takes a minute.

I think not giving eye contact and acting very busy works - well, when I do give eye contact/take my time I almost always get tested.

 

[Blinky]

I am 100% hit rate for being tested for explosives though. Only takes a minute.

I was 100%, and last time started to unzip my laptop case for the test, only to be told I could go in. 99% now.

 

[N860CR]

What amazes me is the fact that the security staff are actually friendly and pleasant at the premium entry I'm pretty sure they're the same contractors as the main terminal. So I guess that means the when working at the premium section they're specifically told to treat people with respect, whereas that would indicate they're told to do the exact opposite at the other screening points!

 

[Fruitcake]

What amazes me is the fact that the security staff are actually friendly and pleasant at the premium entry I'm pretty sure they're the same contractors as the main terminal. So I guess that means the when working at the premium section they're specifically told to treat people with respect, whereas that would indicate they're told to do the exact opposite at the other screening points!

You probably get a "different sort of crowd" through the premium entry point. Even the types who strive to emphasise the "W" in "WP" are at least frequent flyers and know what's acceptable to take through, don't need prompting to get their laptop out and will know if they happen to be wearing the shoes or belt that day that always sets the scanner off. So it's probably easier to stay happy if you don't have to get unhappy with half the people you deal with. Whereas in the main security area you'd be spending a lot of time dealing with people who are unfamiliar with the rules or just want to be belligerent for the sake of it.

There are, of course, plenty of gold and platinum frequent flyers that can be belligerent to security staff but I'd like to think there's not too many.

 

[Warks]

Used this entry for the first time today and it was very easy. As I had been taking the train for so long I'd never seen the ramp and entry down that end. I had noticed it once from inside the Lounge but I didn't really think about it!

Much easier than lining up with the hoi polloi in huge queues and I didn't even get the explosives test - luckily someone else came in at the same time.