Photos: Virgin Australia gets new Hong Kong airport lounge
By Chris C., September 5 2017
Virgin Australia passengers have a new lounge to enjoy at Hong Kong International Airport as alliance partner Hong Kong Airlines opens the doors to its brand new Club Autus lounge this week.
Found on the seventh floor of HKIA's Midfield Concourse, Virgin Australia business class guests plus Velocity Gold and Platinum members stuck in economy can stop by before the airline's flights to Melbourne, with space for up to 225 passengers.
Divided into a range of zones, there's space to kick back before the journey in a variety of seats...
... spanning the more business-like above to those more 'chilled' below:
There's plenty of natural light to be had over by the windows, plus tarmac views, of course:
Continue roaming through the space to discover more communal seating – ideal for solo travellers setting up camp with their laptop in tow...
... and a quieter nook better-suited to reading and the like:
Two distinct VIP rooms also form part of the space – each with seating for up to 10 guests and separate shower facilities – with access granted at the airlines' discretion...
... while passengers in the main lounge also have access to showers. We're told the female bathrooms feature steam eye mask treatments as well, "for beauty-conscious passengers who wish to revitalise their skin".
For a bite before your flight, the 20-metre 'food line' buffet serves up a selection of local and international dishes including egg waffles, dim sum, spinach noodles, mixed mushroom soup, laksa, pizza, baked rice and desserts.
A separate 'health food area' instead specialises in vegetarian dishes with over 70% of the menu being meat-free...
... although don't fret: there's still a bar here with a selection of beers, wines and spirits available, plus seasonal juice cocktails, soft drinks, tea and Nespresso coffee.
There's also a 'welcome tea' service with over 80 specially-designed blends on offer ranging from ginseng oolong tea and rose tea through to kung fu tea and the coffee-flavoured 'Lattea' blend, in partnership with Hong Kong tea bar Jrink.
Along with Virgin Australia passengers, Club Autus also caters for Hong Kong Airlines' business class flyers – including those bound for Queensland's Gold Coast – and those of its other partner airlines, plus Fortune Wings Club Gold and Silver cardholders.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
15 Sep 2012
Total posts 95
Can someone please explain to me why airlines treat business passengers like gods with luxury lounges like this, but economy passengers can't even get a cup of coffee in gate lounge! Why such a massive difference in service?
26 Jun 2015
Total posts 6
Because business class passengers pay around 4 times more than economy class passengers??? Because profit margins are ultra slim on economy passesngers while business class makes airlines good margins.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
24 Jan 2013
Total posts 30
one would have thought the answer was somewhat obvious however i guess one needs to try booking a C/J seat to apreciate the difference and then they will get why you can expect a decent loung etc.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2013
Total posts 144
If airlines could get all business passengers on a particular segment, they would take it (plus cargo) and completely ditch economy. It's great business for the airlines to take less passengers and make same (or actually more) money. Economy class is close to break even, sometimes even subsidised, but majority make very little profit for airlines. However, at the same note, business class is a little too high and if the service is not worth that $$', customers will choose to take their business elsewhere (Cathay found it very quickly). Hence, the premium cabins get looked after well. I have flown economy for years and thanks to the work i'm in, i have been flying business class for the last 4 years consistently and i can tell you that "service" is very important for people like me, this includes a good lounge where one can take a good shower, eat healthy food and take care of work (emails/phones etc) and the flight ride is comfortable (good seats, lie-flat bed etc) so we can get out of the plane and go straight to work/meetings.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 May 2013
Total posts 24
Because you are paying for the higher level of service? Why would you expect an economy passenger paying possibly $800 return to be given lounge access free of charge?
13 Nov 2015
Total posts 49
You get what you pay for. Welcome to the real world. Even the Chinese Communists dumped Mao's vision of equality for all.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Jul 2017
Total posts 5
OH dear...You can't buy a Corolla and expect a Mercedes Benz. Commercialism . It's the world we live in - wholly dictated by how much you have $$$.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Sep 2017
Total posts 2
Goodness, if you need to ask this question, maybe you should not be in the lounge with me.
03 Nov 2014
Total posts 90
Why else would you pay big money to fly business? Sure it's a more comfortable seat for the flight, but it's also the experience pre-flight i.e. no queues, lounge, preferential boarding etc. If you'd like to pay an extra $200 for your ticket I'm sure they'll be happy to throw in a coffee at the gate or just buy an expensive coffee from one of the many vendors in the airport & you'll be about $195 ahead...
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
Wow, that sofa looks awesome!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Jan 2012
Total posts 258
Is it just me or do some aspects of this lounge look a bit VA-esque? Only with a more subdued colour palette.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
I was thinking even 1 of the seating areas in the photos has a resemblance of sorts vs the VA domestic MEL lounge
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Jan 2012
Total posts 258
The sweeping lounge and the table in the main picture and the ceiling... could be MEL VA lounge!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
02 Feb 2015
Total posts 39
yep - love it- love melb !!!
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 619
elchriss0:
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
So does VA generally depart from the midfield terminal?
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 174
Yes. before this lounge opened you had to alight the shuttle one stop short, visit the old lounge and then get back onto the shuttle to make your way to the VA gate. This new lounge has a much more convenient location as well as being miles ahead of the old one, if these photos are anything to go by!
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 619
moa999:
05 Sep 2017
Total posts 5
I used this lounge on the weekend.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
05 Sep 2017
Total posts 1
i will use it this weekend. i'm very expected it .
but do you know? even Qantas HK loundge is better than QF syd .
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
17 Mar 2016
Total posts 42
Is there any news on Velocity flyers travelling on the Hong Kong Airlines flight from the Gold Coast to HKIA being able to use the lounge at Coolongatta? For the size of the airport, it would not a hassle to use the domestic lounge before going through immigration. The flight can be booked on Virgin's website and carries a VA number but currently denied the ability to use the lounge.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
As we always say, when there's news to report, we'll report it. :)
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 4
Can VA Platinum guest travelling companions?
09 Mar 2017
Total posts 7
yes. 1 guest (inc children)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Dec 2012
Total posts 20
Looking forward to trying it out in Oct
03 Sep 2017
Total posts 49
Recently I just heard that AirAsia with their Premium Red Lounge access option, which means you pay a little more on your class of ticket, and you get access to their lounge at KLIA2, along with other special that's added to the airfare condition. Have a look at their webpage. https://www.airasia.com/au/en/inflight-comforts/airasia-premium-lounge.page
05 Sep 2017
Total posts 5
AirAsia lounges are bad. Limited food and soft drink, alcohol is extra cost. At KLIA2, I'd rather go to the capsule hotel than any of the crappy lounges. Back in my days of flying AirAsia a lot, that was my go to.
03 Sep 2017
Total posts 49
I have not been to the AirAsia lounge myself, but for the addition of such a low price, and it being a LCC in a LCCT, that would better than nothing at all.
19 Jun 2014
Total posts 32
You can get into the lounge regardless of your membership status if you are travelling with the airline on your birthday, apparently.
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 619
I think the most attractive aspect of this new HKAir lounge relative to other lounges @ HKG is gonna be its tranquil ambiance & a feeling of spaciousness.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2017
Total posts 4
Nothing to get your hopes up over. Comfy and close to gates. No announcements which caught a few less experienced travelers. Food average but definitely an improvement
13 Sep 2013
Total posts 116
I'm here tonight and I have to say, I think it's lovely! So much food and such a good array of drinks.
03 Dec 2017
Total posts 2
How long Sydney still have to wait to get the direct HK flights from VA?
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