No Lounge access/priority check-in on Business Reward? [refuted by VA, website error]

[theoracle30]

I noticed something interesting when browsing today:


It appears that "Priority check in and boarding" & "Lounge access" no longer is included with a business reward ticket.

Whether this is actually true or not in practice is unclear - a friend who travelled on a J reward from PER-MEL last week, booked a few days prior, had no issues with priority benefits or lounge access.

Can anyone shed more light on this? VA 'enhancement' or IT glitch?

 

[Denali]

:shock: And with that screen shot, about a hundred AFFers just fell off their chair.

Off to sharpen my pitchfork

 

[PLANT]

That a doctored screen shot?
It better be sorted by Virgin ASAP or they just became bogan airline again...... Maybe an ex tiger air employee got access to the computer system?

 

[Mattg]

That a doctored screen shot?
It better be sorted by Virgin ASAP or they just became bogan airline again...... Maybe an ex tiger air employee got access to the computer system?

I checked on the Virgin website and it's definitely showing no lounge access or priority check-in on Business Reward tickets.

If true, this is extremely disappointing and gives me even fewer reasons to bother with Velocity at all.

I don't know of any other "full service" airline in the world that doesn't give their business class customers lounge access on a redemption booking!

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Here is an extract from the recent update to members and also on the website.

Does lounge access fall into the category of " no changes to the terms and conditions or fare inclusions of reward seat bookings " ?

I would say access is ok and I hope that the IT guru's have just stuffed up again

[h=2]Reward Seat and Any Seat bookings[/h]There are no changes to the terms and conditions or fare inclusions of Reward Seat bookings. Members who book a Reward Seat will continue to enjoy complimentary seat selection, food and checked baggage. Platinum and Gold members will still be able to Fly Ahead when travelling on a Reward Seat booking.
If you can’t find the Reward Seat you want, you can redeem Points for Any Seat with Virgin Australia. These seats have a higher Points price but offer the same benefits as ‘Fares for You’ fares.

 

[Milefest]

Wouldn't surprise me if John Thomas advised VA to no longer provide lounge access with reward seats making the airline more like a US carrier..

 

[Denali]

How does this work as a SG or WP with a VA boarding pass?

On the above, you and your guest/s should have access, whether its a reward seat or not.

 

[Moopere]

That can't possibly be right in real life - its got to be a website error .... surely. They'd be running the gauntlet of massive backlash to have a so-called business product without standard business inclusions. How does one get the VA reps attention on this forum? Is there any way to flag a post as an FYI for them?

 

[Denali]

OP should post it on Facebook and Twitter for a clarification/response.

 

[Mattg]

OP should post it on Facebook and Twitter for a clarification/response.

FWIW, I asked them about this on Facebook and got a reply that "all benefits for regular Business travel is also given to reward travellers".

 

[anat0l]

FWIW, I asked them about this on Facebook and got a reply that "all benefits for regular Business travel is also given to reward travellers".

Right, so it is a bug.

Thought as much; VA cops flak for many things, but a change like this they surely could not be serious.

 

[serfty]

The website front page has changed, but there's nothing I can see precluding lounge access for Business travellers in award (Z) class.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hi all,
I can confirm that this is a system issue that we are working to correct.
Lounge access and priority airport services are most certainly included in Business Reward seat bookings.
Apologies for the scare and inconvenience caused

Regards,
Velocity Team

 

[PLANT]

Any chance the posters alerting you on here can get a free upgrade on next flight?

 

[Danger]

Hi all,
I can confirm that this is a system issue that we are working to correct.
Lounge access and priority airport services are most certainly included in Business Reward seat bookings.
Apologies for the scare and inconvenience caused

Regards,
Velocity Team

Thanks for your input.

 

[Denali]

Hi all,
I can confirm that this is a system issue that we are working to correct.
Lounge access and priority airport services are most certainly included in Business Reward seat bookings.
Apologies for the scare and inconvenience caused

Regards,
Velocity Team

Seriously, you guys should just run beta testing via AFFers first.... it will save you a lot of back pedaling and IT fixing

 

[theoracle30]

Any chance the posters alerting you on here can get a free upgrade on next flight?

I'd like that haha Glad it's just a bug!

 

[slinkyap]

Was browsing for flights to HTI. Appears to have been fixed!

 

[pazz0102]

Lounge Access for Business Reward Tickets

Hi All,

I've noticed when researching for business reward tickets (EY to Europe), there is a x next to lounge access and priority boarding.

Does anybody here know for business reward tickets (EY), if you get lounge access domestically and in Abu Dhabi?

 

[777]

Re: Lounge Access for Business Reward Tickets

It's a mistake. See this thread:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ity/no-more-lounge-access-priority-78448.html