Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [No longer "Mid 2014" - maybe never!]

[DavidFlynn]

Seriously though, last we heard Virgin's proposed Hobart lounge continued to be tied to the terminal redevelopment, which puts it some while away... it's been a moving target for a while now

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Yes indeed, the sandwich press is a real game-changer! Tassie Toasties for everybody!

Well, not everybody​...

 

[DavidFlynn]

Well, not everybody​...

True, we will need to trust in the generosity of frequent flyers to 'plate around' toasties to those outside the Hobart Qantas Club. It's all about the sharing.

 

[i_hate_the_tulla_freeway]

David Flynn... Excuse me for asking (I am not one of the cliquey people on this site so am not in on the presumed in-ness of it all) but are you AusBT's David Flynn ?

 

[DavidFlynn]

That's me.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Seriously though, last we heard Virgin's proposed Hobart lounge continued to be tied to the terminal redevelopment, which puts it some while away... it's been a moving target for a while now

Oh come now......I disagree! It's no longer moving, it's been dead in the water for ages so not even worth shooting at!

 

[DavidFlynn]

Are you suggesting, in outraged John Cleese tones, that "this is an ex-lounge"?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Are you suggesting, in outraged John Cleese tones, that "this is an ex-lounge"?

Yep! It's expired....passed on......it's no more.......bereft of life.....ceased to be.........it's an ex-lounge (or perhaps one pining for the fjords)!

 

[Kolo]

Yep! It's expired....passed on......it's no more.......bereft of life.....ceased to be.........it's an ex-lounge (or perhaps one pining for the fjords)!

Sadly I think you're right. If it was going to happen it would be now in the current building works. ...but it's not on the plans.

 

[mavrick9]

Yes indeed, the sandwich press is a real game-changer! Tassie Toasties for everybody!

Perhaps Virgin should start with a sandwich press behind the checkin counter for Gold/Plat/Lounge members to use. A wheel of Ashgrove and some Cripps'

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Given that Mrs swanning_it wants a Tassie trip around next March, I'm tending to believe we'll have to pack our own fold out camping table and chairs and set up our own VA lounge in the carpark........complete with King Island double brie with a smart chilli cranberry dipping sauce, accompanied by a nicely complex drop of Arras Grand Vintage cuvee. (come to think of it, bugger a VA lounge, that sounds almost tempting)!

Currently enjoying lunch at Bay of Fires winery! Unfortunately, the House of Arras Grand Vintage is unavailable. We are however, managing to enjoy an Arras Sparkling Rose and I'm seriously considering an Arras Blanc de Blanc!

 

[SimonF]

So the lounge is coming soon?

 

[kalboy]

Some time soon after Christmas 2012 apparently


"You will see them in more regional ports as we go along," Borghetti promises. "We've already done Mackay and you will see one in Hobart. So the lounge program for the next 18 months is quite extensive." Quoted FEB 2012 AustBT

 

[farstar]

Virgin are no better even with their magnetic barrier I was told by the CSM on coast to coast on a 737 that after the meal service they would need to let Y pax use the J lav.

 

[Milefest]

Virgin are no better even with their magnetic barrier I was told by the CSM on coast to coast on a 737 that after the meal service they would need to let Y pax use the J lav.

On a 737 today and someone tried to sneak through the J cabin, the CSM caught them and sent them to the back. It was satisfying to see.

 

[Coops1]

Yay, activity in the thread.......hopes to see HBA Virgin Lounge progression.....

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Yay, activity in the thread.......hopes to see HBA Virgin Lounge progression.....

Seems thread activity bears little resemblance to lounge activity. Let's hope I'm dreamin'!

 

[mavrick9]

Yay, activity in the thread.......hopes to see HBA Virgin Lounge progression.....

I was at HBA about 3 weeks ago, there is some construction underway on the VIRGIN side of the building. The Arrivals / baggage collection are has been reduced where the construction is.

Have a read of this : http://hobartairport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/HIA_MasterPlan_FINAL_030316.pdf

Page 55 has a good plan of the building, showing the current International Lounge area.

Page 57 Plan shows two Airline Lounge areas next to each other in the corner near the current

Page 59 Says :

"Airline loungeAn area for airline lounge expansion has been identifiedin the 0-5 year period, located at the southern end of thebuilding. "


Page 151 : Ben Says "The lack of a Virgin Loungeis likely to be contributing toinflating the cost of Qantasairfares. "

Page 152 : Jess Says "Providing strong supportfor the upgrade. Would likea Virgin lounge included asthe lack of these facilitiesmeans she is less likely to flyto Hobart for business" ..

The report states : "The development of a lounge is a commercialdecision for the airlines rather than the Airport.Hobart Airport will continue to work with ourAirline partners to develop customer facilities.The future layouts depicted in Section 6.2accommodate potential lounge expansion areas. "


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Virgin Australia will only build a lounge where a business case exists, I think i've said this before, that they may not see enough originating (home base) passengers for whom a lounge would sway their purchasing decision out of HBA.

I'd even say that the large majority of outbound passengers are on returning flights to their home state.

Tiger and Jetstar are often considerably cheaper MEL-HBA, I can live without lounge access if I'm going to save a few hundred $$$ on a family trip.

 

[Milefest]

Tiger and Jetstar are often considerably cheaper MEL-HBA, I can live without lounge access if I'm going to save a few hundred $$$ on a family trip.

At least with JQ you have lounge access (if eligible).

I'm still hopeful for a lounge, although I do understand that less than a 1/3 of flights in and out of HBA are VA and the rest is QF & JQ.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Virgin Australia will only build a lounge where a business case exists, I think i've said this before, that they may not see enough originating (home base) passengers for whom a lounge would sway their purchasing decision out of HBA.

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but airports right across Oz are burgeoning. For those of us that remember the days/months/years immediately post 9/11 where you could fire a cannon down the main concourse in SYD and not hit anyone, this is a truly pleasing eventuality. Sure, air travel has changed dramatically in Australia since then, but I have no doubt that tourism is a reasonable player in this transformation and Tassie has become a BIG tourism hot spot (just look at the accommodation rates for evidence of that).

Any airline that is making decisions purely on "home base" business flyers are very short sighted IMHO. Having recently returned from Tassie, I can vouch for the "hustle and bustle" at the airport (the fairly newly constructed LST airport) and the queues at the hire car counter, and the queues at the carousel and the chockers full aircraft.

I have the feeling it's not the destination/origin that's the issue.....I think it's simply that the piggie bank was cracked open and they're too busy trying to super-glue the parts back together again!