Virgin Lounge in Perth closed prior to the redeye departures?

[Mattg]

Having a look at the VA website, it says that the Perth lounge in Terminal 1 "opens daily from 60 minutes before first Virgin Australia flight departure until 6pm each day".

Domestic lounge access

Explore our array of domestic lounge locations at Virgin Australia.

www.virginaustralia.com

Virgin has 3 redeye departures from Perth to the east coast on some days. There's a flight to Brisbane leaving at 23:30, Melbourne at 23:45, and Sydney at 23:55.

Is the Virgin lounge not open prior to any of those late evening departures? And does anyone know if Virgin is giving food vouchers or something in lieu? If not, that seems pretty poor.

 

[Notyourbag]

Interesting. Last data point from me was from April and it was definitely opened for the red eyes.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

I was in the Perth lounge on 24th June for a 18:00 flight to Melbourne (delayed until 18:40), and it was the last of the batch of flights departing around that time until the ~23:00 batch.

The lounge staff were putting things away and setting up breakfast items (e.g. cereal, juice) which I thought was strange - but makes sense if the lounge was closing after we left.

 

[jakob01]

Last Friday night (05 August) the Virgin lounge in Perth was definitely closed at 6pm, despite three red-eye 737's departing later that evening. I expect these were all pretty full, so this would affect of lot of customers who would otherwise enjoy lounge access. This seems the new-norm and not a one-off. Of course it makes sense financially, given the gap in flight times just to tend to the needs of customers flying out at midnight. However, it's pretty poor form given that is a benefit of status you now don't have. There was a sign on the door saying they would re-open at 5am and that they "apologise for the inconvenience." I will agree on that - it was certainly an inconvenience ! It now makes their competitors more attractive if you're heading out of Perth at that hour..

 

[amcmahon]

Having a look at the VA website, it says that the Perth lounge in Terminal 1 "opens daily from 60 minutes before first Virgin Australia flight departure until 6pm each day".

Domestic lounge access

Explore our array of domestic lounge locations at Virgin Australia.

www.virginaustralia.com

Virgin has 3 redeye departures from Perth to the east coast on some days. There's a flight to Brisbane leaving at 23:30, Melbourne at 23:45, and Sydney at 23:55.

Is the Virgin lounge not open prior to any of those late evening departures? And does anyone know if Virgin is giving food vouchers or something in lieu? If not, that seems pretty poor.

I can confirm that the lounge was shut when we flew the red eye last month. No signs, no notice. Couldn't believe this was the case before the red eye and topped things off after no priority/business check in and only one bag drop operating. At the time, this information was not on their website.

There was nothing in the way of vouchers (though this would also mean they need staff at check in to give such vouchers which didn't exist

 

[Bagpuss]

When I flew on a red eye in 2021 from Perth during the brief time borders we opened the lounges were shut. I emailed someone very high up and got a response ... I think they then opened up the lounge for the red eyes the following week.

(I noticed pre-covid which still seems to be the case for a Sunday (only) I think there's a Melbourne flight at 5PM and no more outbound until the red eyes. I used to wonder the efficiency of keeping the lounge open for so long with no outbound flights. )

It's strange because Virgin seems to have a good foothold on the Perth market.

 

[Notyourbag]

Looks like VA572 PER-SYD is the only daily red eye ex Perth at the moment.

VA473 to Brisbane & VA698 to Melbourne also fly Sundays.

 

[mrmerc500]

Thanks for the heads up on this Mattg, certainly a little disappointing but understandable considering the significant down time until the Red Eye’s.

VA are running 4x weekly flights to MEL & 3x weekly to BNE with an increase to daily from Dec.

 

[trisreed]

Have experienced the 'difference' flying ex PER to MEL/SYD on the redeyes twice in the last fortnight - the first time two weeks ago (a Thurs night), VA emailed me to say that the lounge would be shut and there was a sign on the door. On (last) Friday night, no notification whatsoever - email or signage. The only places open airside were the WHSmith ('general store' with cold food) and Toby's Estate (cafe), which was absolutely heaving being the only one of the two that is licensed. Coming back last night around 2330 however the cafe was very quiet - however I think the last flight was about to board!

Surely VA can take a leaf out of the international players' and have a split opening for the lounge - could shut at 6PM and reopen at 10PM - I guess there are also practicalities to consider with respect to staffing it.

Agreed regarding food vouchers and the lack of staff to even ask - the first time two weeks ago, there was literally zero ground staff airside to converse with (with the lounge closed, both service desks empty and gate agents appearing at the gate only just in time to do their thing).

Certainly the redeye schedule appears to be 'unusual'/irregular - I flew VA698 on Friday night, but it appears to have been a 'one off' for a Friday (VA698 (VOZ698) Virgin Australia Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware).

 

[mrmerc500]

When I flew on a red eye in 2021 from Perth during the brief time borders we opened the lounges were shut. I emailed someone very high up and got a response ... I think they then opened up the lounge for the red eyes the following week.

(I noticed pre-covid which still seems to be the case for a Sunday (only) I think there's a Melbourne flight at 5PM and no more outbound until the red eyes. I used to wonder the efficiency of keeping the lounge open for so long with no outbound flights. )

It's strange because Virgin seems to have a good foothold on the Perth market.

Yes it’s fortunate that VA are still operating which continues to provide the mining sector & WA communities with essential flight services. Although QF is still very dominant, I was surprised that VA only had 2 less weekly flights to Kalgoorlie so they certainly have increased frequencies.

 

[MH_fan]

Discovered this closure of the VA lounge in Perth last month when I flew the red-eye to Sydney. Not happy.

 

[mrmerc500]

Last Friday night (05 August) the Virgin lounge in Perth was definitely closed at 6pm, despite three red-eye 737's departing later that evening. I expect these were all pretty full, so this would affect of lot of customers who would otherwise enjoy lounge access. This seems the new-norm and not a one-off. Of course it makes sense financially, given the gap in flight times just to tend to the needs of customers flying out at midnight. However, it's pretty poor form given that is a benefit of status you now don't have. There was a sign on the door saying they would re-open at 5am and that they "apologise for the inconvenience." I will agree on that - it was certainly an inconvenience ! It now makes their competitors more attractive if you're heading out of Perth at that hour..

Opening @ 5am seems the normal although noticed on a Tuesday, there is oddly a 5am Kalgoorlie flight so I wonder if it opens early @ 4am for this once weekly flight

 

[simmomelb]

What a sad state of affairs that I can book on a Virgin Partner airline, such as Etihad, and use one of the Aspire lounges, The House, in Melbourne or Sydney 2 hours prior to departure with my Gold or Platinum Velocity card but if I am flying to Bali, Fiji, NZ etc, directly with Virgin, they won't let me in.

Or I can fly with Singapore and walk into one of their local lounges with my Gold or Platinum Velocity card.

In addition to this, still, no onboard WiFi and the domestic lounge in Perth closes at 6 pm when there are flights up until midnight.

Time to pull your finger out Virgin, the Covid excuses have got to finish.

 

[Mitch_W]

I am flying in J to Queenstown in November with VA. I also have Gold status with SQ. Will I be able to visit a lounge at either end?

 

[simmomelb]

I am flying in J to Queenstown in November with VA. I also have Gold status with SQ. Will I be able to visit a lounge at either end?

No free lounge access in international for anyone flying on Virgin's own aircraft, at this stage, only partner airlines with Gold or Platinum status. What is your departure airport?

 

[AIRwin]

Will I be able to visit a lounge at either end?

SYD?

 

[simmomelb]

SYD?

So in Sydney and Melbourne they have "The House" lounge operated by Aspire, it is open to Virgin/Velocity Gold and Platinum flying on a partner airline, such as Etihad, but not yet for their own flights, but this could very well change by the time you depart in November.

 

[Mitch_W]

I am departing in SYD.

 

[Mitch_W]

*from SYD

 

[Princess Fiona]

*from SYD

On VA metal there is currently no lounge access at SYD Int.
That may change by November but no official announcement yet.