Will Virgin Australia international lounges ever return?

[aaronm]

With VA now expanding its international flight offerings, surely the time has come to reinstate some sort of lounge access in the international terminals at MEL/SYD/BNE. It's bizarre that status pax are eligible for a lounge on a $100 flight to Hobart but nothing at all heading to NZ or Bali. The international J fares don't exactly scream low cost carrier either. Is anyone else disappointed that this is still a gap over a year after borders have reopened?

 

[Notyourbag]

With VA now expanding its international flight offerings, surely the time has come to reinstate some sort of lounge access in the international terminals at MEL/SYD/BNE. It's bizarre that status pax are eligible for a lounge on a $100 flight to Hobart but nothing at all heading to NZ or Bali. The international J fares don't exactly scream low cost carrier either. Is anyone else disappointed that this is still a gap over a year after borders have reopened?

They definitely could and should but I'd imagine it's low on their priority list. Given VA is looking to showcase a return to profit to investors maybe once they have floated or been sold they will start a new partnership with The House in Sydney & Melbourne.

 

[twinaisle]

With VA now expanding its international flight offerings, surely the time has come to reinstate some sort of lounge access in the international terminals at MEL/SYD/BNE. It's bizarre that status pax are eligible for a lounge on a $100 flight to Hobart but nothing at all heading to NZ or Bali. The international J fares don't exactly scream low cost carrier either. Is anyone else disappointed that this is still a gap over a year after borders have reopened?

VA are hybrid, they're not low cost.
You can get lounge on a $100 flight to HBA because you're utilising the existing VA run lounges. They don't run or have their own INT lounges.

Example between VA and QF in the screenshot. You're saving $337 for no lounge access. It most likely will be that way as it's low priority and it costs the company money, that's something they won't spend money on.

Sorry to break it to everyone but it's not the same VA. If you want lounge then pay $1541 for QF, utilise priority pass/amex/cc lounge or save yourself $337 and fly VA.

VA these days are about choice for their customers. Fly ISH for cheaper (on days) and forego lounge access or fly with the competition.

 

[HS-TQE]

The other alternative is starting the process of joining an Alliance to solve the 'longe issue', however as stated by prior/current management, Alliance fees (for a full member) are considered very expensive, other one-off expenses such as ongoing computer upgrades, the recurring membership fees and would likely be well down the priority list.

Also as to singling out Star Alliance as most of VA's partners are from there, there is also the requirement of having everyone agree to the application (as a unanimous decision is required), as only one airline saying 'no' (and it can be an *A member that has nothing to do with VA whatsoever such as TG for example) is effectively a block/veto.

 

[Bagpuss]

Lounges

Make your next trip to the airport an enjoyable one by experiencing the Virgin Australia Lounge.

www.virginaustralia.com

Virgin Australia do not currently operate any international lounges at any international departure port. *

The acknowledgement and wording indicates they will. Though obviously it's a case of time will tell.

 

[aaronm]

Surely reinstating access to The House (or another pay-in lounge) would work as an interim arrangement for the airline? Maybe limit access to J and WP if cost is a concern...

 

[twinaisle]

Surely reinstating access to The House (or another pay-in lounge) would work as an interim arrangement for the airline? Maybe limit access to J and WP if cost is a concern...

At the moment no lounge access means no cost for ISH sadly. Someone asked that question regarding lounge for ISH and reply pretty much was not feasible right now

 

[Bagpuss]

Really Virgin Australia's short haul operated flights are mainly leisure focus. They could almost sell the Business Cabin as a "Premium Economy" which could be inclusive of meal deal off the buy on board menu and ditch the business class catering.

 

[HS-TQE]

Really Virgin Australia's short haul operated flights are mainly leisure focus. They could almost sell the Business Cabin as a "Premium Economy" which could be inclusive of meal deal off the buy on board menu and ditch the business class catering.

There are no buy on board 'hot meals' on Short Haul International in Economy apart from the Toasties and/or Pies, Noodles, etc.

I do supsect it could be a catering issue (Creditors/Money Owed) from the VA 1.0 days post Administration preventing VA from offering BoB Hot Meals in Y, which could easily be incorporated into the Booking engine as a pre-book option just like their fellow LCCs/Hybrid rivals such as JQ, TR, D7/AK (AirAsia Group) and ID/OD (Batik Group).

 

[GrahamBRI]

With only half a dozen flights and only 8 x J seats, not sure that they are at a scale to open international lounges. I think the international lounges will arrive when bigger aircraft do....... not until they are trading on the stock market again is my prediction.

 

[clifford]

I don't see why VA couldn't have an arrangement with 3rd party lounge providers for business class pax. (oh, it costs money, but apart from that).

I'm flying VA MEL-DPS J class as part of a UA award to HKT (well if VA manages to provide the flight) in August and I'll have to use my Diners card to gain access to a lounge. Not a huge problem, but it lets VA off the hook. What about the J pax who can't do that?

Very poor, VA. Even JQ can do better.

 

[twinaisle]

Very poor, VA. Even JQ can do better.

JQ have the option of the Max bundle which includes lounge access or the regular option of business only with no lounge access.

Nothing's stopping people from paying entry into the marharba or a 3rd party lounge if they wanted with their $300 savings from the comparison of VA and QF in the screenshot as example.

Lounge access won't happen any time soon (great if it did).

Post automatically merged: Mar 7, 2023

What about the J pax who can't do that?

Like I said, the cheaper fare accommodates for no lounge. People book it accepting this, keep that in mind.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

VAi has gone elcheapo, and won't pay unnecessarily.
And under Bain, they would have to pay out, even if ultimately, its the flier who pays, but passes through VA and Bain, they would want to keep it ($) all themselves.
VAi and Bain (I think I read) still have rights to that small space in the BNE int terminal, if they wanted to, but up to now, haven't made a move.
SYD and MEL, if they wanted to, could start talks with The House by Aspire, which was spun off into a separate business, but haven't made any moves.
Its now a user pay system with them, hey, even food on board VAd flight now apart the most basic tea, coffee, or small plastic cups of water, we have to pay.

 

[HS-TQE]

VAi and Bain (I think I read) still have rights to that small space in the BNE int terminal, if they wanted to, but up to now, haven't made a move.

VA never owned that space at BNE International. It was owned by the same company (No1) that ran 'The House' in SYD and MEL.

They chose to trade under 'My Lounge' in BNE Int'l due to the smaller space. Swissport/Aspire acquired the BNE space at the same time they acquired The House in SYD and MEL, and also kept the MyLounge name in BNE.

SYD and MEL, if they wanted to, could start talks with The House by Aspire, which was spun off into a separate business, but haven't made any moves.
Its now a user pay system with them, hey, even food on board VAd flight now apart the most basic tea, coffee, or small plastic cups of water, we have to pay.

As stated per others, VA 2.0 aren't willing to pay for Aspire/Swissport the space in the International Terminals in SYD/MEL, or BNE with the few international flights they operate on their own metal (to largely leisure destinations)

 

[odysseus]

Like I said, the cheaper fare accommodates for no lounge. People book it accepting this, keep that in mind.

Do they though?

I'm sure many assume, since the great bulk of travel is on domestic which has lounges, that international would equally.

And it's not as though the booking option for business international makes that deficiency explicit. No reference to "NO Lounge access" on the key criteria when you select a business flight.

There isn't any reason to expect there's no lounge access... until you get bitten when you check-in.

 

[twinaisle]

Do they though?

I'm sure many assume

Yeah

Yeah you're probably right that general would assume and savvy flyers would dig a bit deeper.

The VA lounge access page does state that lounge access for international flights isn't available so unless they've seen it they would assume so.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Also, a lot of fliers/flyers if flying partners in "upper class" or if flying with int partners, and have SG or higher, ie, flying SQ, would have access to the SK lounges in most airports.
Just that, VA is not looking after its own, for those who fly to places where VAi flies to, NAN for eg, SQ does not fly there from Aust's east coast, and no VAi lounges, ... how much is the House pay per entry though?
There are Plaza Premium discounts for pre entry purchases that are done online.
Or buy multicity Plaza Premium lounge passes, (new on their website).
Maybe its just a pain to "visually" have to pay extra for lounge entry, instead of having it in the fare.

 

[jase05]

Do they though?

I'm sure many assume, since the great bulk of travel is on domestic which has lounges, that international would equally.

And it's not as though the booking option for business international makes that deficiency explicit. No reference to "NO Lounge access" on the key criteria when you select a business flight.

There isn't any reason to expect there's no lounge access... until you get bitten when you check-in.

One of the few good things about flying out of ADL

 

[twinaisle]

One of the few good things about flying out of ADL

And OOL when the Bali Flights start.
Melbourne to a degree!

 

[jase05]

And OOL when the Bali Flights start.
Melbourne to a degree!

Being right near the International departures area and only needing about 10 minutes to get through immigration at ADL does come in handy.
A group of us are heading to Bali in July and we were going to make our own way there but everyone else was on the same flight so to make things easier we decided to jump on the same flight. The line was crossed though when they suggested that we could all sit together in Y. Yeah that ain’t happening