MEL Premium Entry

[Danger]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

According to an email sent to Club members today, Virgin will open a Club in Perth next year and the Melbourne refurb is scheduled to be reopened in mid-January complete with kerbside check-in. (None of this may be news to anyone but me.)

 

[777]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

According to an email sent to Club members today, Virgin will open a Club in Perth next year and the Melbourne refurb is scheduled to be reopened in mid-January complete with kerbside check-in. (None of this may be news to anyone but me.)

The kerbside checkin is pretty obvious from the new box they've built. The shape gives it away but it hasn't been announced AFAIK. Hopefully it's available to top tier FFers and J class passengers and not just club members. I'd assume so if Sydney is the precedent.

 

[markis10]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

According to an email sent to Club members today, Virgin will open a Club in Perth next year and the Melbourne refurb is scheduled to be reopened in mid-January complete with kerbside check-in. (None of this may be news to anyone but me.)

I thought Melbourne had impost of the refurb open?

 

[bullerdude]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

The kerbside checkin is pretty obvious from the new box they've built. The shape gives it away but it hasn't been announced AFAIK. Hopefully it's available to top tier FFers and J class passengers and not just club members. I'd assume so if Sydney is the precedent.

What would be awesome is if they built baggage check-in capabilities into the new curbside entrance... thus making premium check-in completely separate from regular check-in and bag drop.

And then if they later add them to the Sydney premium curbside check-in as well.

Theoretically it shouldn't cost them too much if they remove the premium check-in from the regular areas and move those staff to the separate premium entrances.

 

[drewbles]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

The kerbside checkin is pretty obvious from the new box they've built. The shape gives it away but it hasn't been announced AFAIK. Hopefully it's available to top tier FFers and J class passengers and not just club members. I'd assume so if Sydney is the precedent.

They announced kerbside check-in for MEL though?

 

[jneufeld]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

For those playing at home this what is being talked about. This is looking back along the departures ramp from the VA terminal towards T4
View attachment 21027

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

For those playing at home this what is being talked about. This is looking back along the departures ramp from the VA terminal towards T4

I see what you mean........it must really be a HUGE secret with all those padlocks securing it :mrgreen:

 

[serfty]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

I see what you mean........it must really be a HUGE secret with all those padlocks securing it :mrgreen:

Hasn't you come across "Love Locks"?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_lock

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

Hasn't you come across "Love Locks"?

Love lock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Er, no!

Just had a read of that link and all I can say is what an absolute load of bollocks! Chained "love" to an industrial chain wire mesh fence? How romantic.......(NOT).

I guess a red rose is old fashioned .

 

[777]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

Hasn't you come across "Love Locks"?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_lock

I thought that might just be another term for the golden handcuffs.

 

[serfty]

Re: MEL Lounge air-side entrance?

Getting there, just got of the sky bus ...

View attachment 21271

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: MEL Lounge air-side entrance?

Getting there, just got of the sky bus ..

Stylish design is obviously not a priority.

It looks like a shipping container that's taken a tumble and wedged between ship and wharf :shock:

 

[777]

Re: MEL Lounge air-side entrance?

Getting there, just got of the sky bus ...

A few questions spring to mind:

1. Will this be a gold/ plat/ Club entrance or just a club one? (i.e. Is that space in the box "The Club"?)

2. How would this physically connect into the lounge? If it does i assume there is a bridge above the terminal corridor and a stair and elevator of some sort that drop into the lounge?

3. WTF didn't Melbourne airport take advantage of this whole development to move the security point to a point behind the two piers so the whole of the lounge area can be sterile? Seems a whole lot more efficient than the rabbit warren it is now?

 

[DGW]

Re: MEL Lounge air-side entrance?

A few questions spring to mind:

1. Will this be a gold/ plat/ Club entrance or just a club one? (i.e. Is that space in the box "The Club"?)

2. How would this physically connect into the lounge? If it does i assume there is a bridge above the terminal corridor and a stair and elevator of some sort that drop into the lounge?

3. WTF didn't Melbourne airport take advantage of this whole development to move the security point to a point behind the two piers so the whole of the lounge area can be sterile? Seems a whole lot more efficient than the rabbit warren it is now?

I've never been much good at reading plans but I found some info on the Melbourne Airport website that might shed some light (or lead us to speculate wildly..).

I take it the Virgin Lounge and the Premium Entry are the two structures in white ("Phase 2 Infill"):

View attachment 21290


And this seems to show a security screening point between the roadway and the Virgin Lounge which I hope is part of the Premium Entry. Although if this is the point where T3 connects to the airside area of T4, does it indicate the T3 area behind it is still landside?

View attachment 21289

See the plans here: http://melbourneairport.com.au/docs/appendix-j--detailed-plans-and-description.pdf

 

[Tuddy]

Re: MEL Lounge air-side entrance?

Ooh now this looks promising! So, as I thought could happen months and months ago has happened with a link directly from behind REX checkin into the Lounge. For the record, I've heard along the grapevine that this will be accessible to top-tier VFFers and the Club will be elsewhere in the expansion (I heard behind the current entry reception...). Will be good to see it when it's all finished!

Also - agree on the comments RE: security. Why Melbourne Airport don't make all mezzanine levels sterile is beyond me.

 

[serfty]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

More pics today:

 

[bullerdude]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

It does seem a bit silly putting that door on the side with that little walkway...

You'd think it would open right up onto the roadside for a better visual/premium look.

 

[serfty]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

Maybe they were looking to have the door open int away from the prevailing weather.

 

[777]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

It does seem a bit silly putting that door on the side with that little walkway...

You'd think it would open right up onto the roadside for a better visual/premium look.

Nothing says premium quite like a "discreet" entrance.

 

[carwashhair]

Re: Pics of Virgin Australia's 'The Club' (SYD and BNE)

An ad in the Australian's Wish advertorial mag says Melbourne lounge will "feature Australia's first Premium Exit. With its own private security screening point... providing a quick and seamless path to their departure gate".