VA Lounge Gold Member "Anytime Access"

[N860CR]

I'm sure this has been covered in one of the larger threads, but I thought I'd bring it to the top because it addresses an issue that I've seen raised many times. The great VA reps here have stated a few times that "Anytime" or "Arrivals" access is available to the Lounge for Gold Members as an "unpublished benefit". It seems that the benefit is now published:

Member Access
If you are a Virgin Australia lounge or Velocity Gold member, simply present your Velocity membership card together with your flight itinerary or boarding pass for onward domestic travel with Virgin Australia on the day for access to the Virgin Australia lounge.
Subject to space availability, Velocity Gold members are welcome in the Virgin Australia lounge at any time, and do not require a boarding pass.
Velocity Gold and Silver members receive additional perks. For more information please visit Velocity Program Benefits.

Members Guests
Each time you enter the Virgin Australia lounge, you may invite one Guest to join you at no charge. Your Guests do not need to be travelling with Virgin Australia to join you. Additional Guests will be charged the Casual entry fee of $35 (inc. GST) until 31 July 2011 or $65 (inc. GST) from 1 August 2011 at the lounge reception area. Velocity members can pre-purchase Single entry passes online for their Guests and save.

My reading of that is that, space available, a Gold Member can access the Lounge at any time (be it on arrival, on a Qantas departing flight or just because they have a boring afternoon and want to hang at the airport). Even better, I would read that as if one guest is permitted regardless of the type of access granted (be it departing, arriving or anytime).

I see this as a massive positive for VA (and just as I've ticked over to QF WP!). I'm arriving into Brisbane next weekend and have two hours to kill at the airport. I had planned to visit the lounge on arrival anyway, but it looks as though I can take my guest with me as well which is just great news.

 

[concorde71]

Thats great that they have made it Official. I always thought it was a bit hit and miss, as to whether access was granted. now its on the website, we can refer to it. Not that I have ever been challenged, just show the card and straight in (Swiped more often than not for some reason, but still no issues)
This is the sort of thing that could give VA the advantage over QF, if they can get their other issues sorted. A step in the right direction regardless, and everything is transparent. Good to see.

 

[awilcockson]

QF taketh away and VA giveth back.

Well done VA, well done indeed.

 

[DJ 1D]

Interesting. I agree this is a very good development but I am surprised this isn't one of those perks they would have reserved for Platinum members.

 

[malmacdowall]

Interesting. I agree this is a very good development but I am surprised this isn't one of those perks they would have reserved for Platinum members.

If this level is for Gold then what will the Platinum offer be? (And come on VA.... just launch Platinum will you....):mrgreen:

 

[DJ737]

Excellent news, now I can check in for an international flight at MEL , head to the DOM lounge for awhile, then head out for some last ciggies, before clearing immigration and then heading to the NZ lounge when i'm on VA & Trans-Tasman flights.

 

[DJ737]

If this level is for Gold then what will the Platinum offer be?

VA plats will be flown to the airport by chopper from the nearest piece of vacant ground to your house* every time you wish to visit the lounge.

* 30 mins notice required

 

[Virgin Australia]

Once again, the AFF community shows their combined speed to market with new news!

Confirmed that this is now a "written" benefit for our Gold Members.

(Gold's are also able to take a guest and / or 2 children 3-12 yrs complimentary)

Great to hear the positive sentiment around this!

 

[MelUser]

This is good news - I think I'll fly Air NZ on next USA trip as this will tip me over to Gold.

 

[awilcockson]

(Gold's are also able to take a guest and / or 2 children 3-12 yrs complimentary)

That is awesome to hear. When I travel with my family I always feel uncomfortable taking my two young children into the lounge, knowing that I'm breaking the rules (although I've never been questioned on it).

 

[Virgin Australia]

This is good news - I think I'll fly Air NZ on next USA trip as this will tip me over to Gold.

Or you could fly V Australia?

 

[malmacdowall]

VA plats will be flown to the airport by chopper from the nearest piece of vacant ground to your house* every time you wish to visit the lounge.

* 30 mins notice required

and drink wine pressed by the feet of vestel virgins.....

 

[Justinf]

I qualify for Gold this weekend for the first time ever. Mostly self-funded. Is it weird to feel very, VERY excited at this?

 

[MelUser]

THe only reason I am not flying VA is that they don't have a direct LAX to MEL flight on Friday nights.

Perhaps you could suggest this to the scheduling department.

An international to domestic change in SYD or BNE is for me more of a hassle than AKL which is INT to INT so no terminal change.

It surprises me why VA doesn't have a direct LAX to MEL flight on Friday night - this is QF's busiest night in LAX as it allows pax to get home sunday and start work Monday.

 

[Virgin Australia]

THe only reason I am not flying VA is that they don't have a direct LAX to MEL flight on Friday nights.

Perhaps you could suggest this to the scheduling department.

An international to domestic change in SYD or BNE is for me more of a hassle than AKL which is INT to INT so no terminal change.

It surprises me why VA doesn't have a direct LAX to MEL flight on Friday night - this is QF's busiest night in LAX as it allows pax to get home sunday and start work Monday.

Will share your feedback with the team.
Thanks

 

[samh004]

Interesting. I agree this is a very good development but I am surprised this isn't one of those perks they would have reserved for Platinum members.

I’d imagine this benefit will eventually move across to Platinum, when it’s released.

Once again, the AFF community shows their combined speed to market with new news!

Confirmed that this is now a "written" benefit for our Gold Members.

(Gold's are also able to take a guest and / or 2 children 3-12 yrs complimentary)

Great to hear the positive sentiment around this!

Wish I’d known that last weekend!

 

[djfuzz]

Or you could fly V Australia?

Would do this in an instant if the status match was reopened.

 

[MelUser]

2 return trips in Premium or higher will get you to gold (although if all premium then at least one has to be via SYD/BNE/MEL as it is 120 x 2 x 2 = 480 for the transpacific crossing to LAX).

This really is very generous compared to QF.

 

[leemin]

Great work, again VA!

It would be nice if Lounge members got arrivals access too. 'Anytime access' I see as a different benefit, but at the moment with departure-only access, paid-up members IMHO aren't really getting the full lounge offering in a sense, which doesn't seem quite right. Particularly post-price rise.

I’d imagine this benefit will eventually move across to Platinum, when it’s released.

I'd hope it was replicated in the platinum benefits rather than 'moved to'. Surely Golds still earn it too..


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Major]

The only improvement on this is lounge access at the International Terminal for Pacific Is. travel.
Going to Port Vila week after next and no lounge available.