Selected passengers travelling on Singapore Airlines’ new flights from Canberra to Singapore and Wellington can cool their heels in the Virgin Australia Canberra lounge – but that list won't include most Star Alliance Gold frequent flyers, including those of route partner Air New Zealand.
Having previously informed Australian Business Traveller that all Gold-grade Star Alliance members would be able to use Virgin's lounge (below) prior to the Canberra-Singapore flight, the airline has now tightened the rules of entry to exclude its alliance partners.
So who does get in?
- Singapore Airlines business class passengers and KrisFlyer Gold, PPS Club and PPS Solitaire frequent flyers
- Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum members
Some high flyers will even have access to The Club, Virgin's discreet invitation-only lounge, which can be seen here from the lobby of the airport terminal.
Read more: Inside Virgin Australia's elite The Club
Because the Virgin Australia lounge is also located before passport control in the domestic area of the terminal, it won’t be accessible to any passengers merely transiting Canberra Airport when jetting from Wellington to Singapore (or vice versa).
That’s where a dedicated Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge would come in handy, and the airline is said to be considering adding a Canberra SilverKris lounge as the route grows in popularity.
“We’ve left space in the terminal for a SilverKris lounge to be built down the track as the service moves from four times per week to what we feel, in 12 to 18 months, will become a daily service as demand increases,” Canberra Airport MD Stephen Byron tells Australian Business Traveller.
Singapore Airlines' original plan for a 'premium waiting area' in the international departures zone for passengers in transit did not come to fruition, with these travellers instead waiting their onward flight within the public departures hall.
AusBT review: Virgin Australia Canberra Airport lounge
A previous version of this story incorrectly noted that Star Alliance Gold cardholders enjoyed lounge access in Canberra. This was based on inaccurate information supplied to us by Singapore Airlines, who have now clarified that Star Alliance Gold members will not have access.
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
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