Singapore Airlines lounge guide for Virgin Australia Velocity Gold, Platinum

Through Singapore Airlines’ partnership with Virgin Australia, Velocity Gold and Platinum frequent flyers enjoy access to Singapore Airlines’ airport lounges whenever travelling with SQ or its regional arm SilkAir, even if stuck in economy.

However, the same privilege doesn’t extend to ‘partner lounges’ in cities where Singapore Airlines doesn’t operate its own facility, and in Singapore, basics like showers and even toilets are unfortunately absent.

As a Virgin Australia Gold or Platinum frequent flyer, here’s where you can enjoy Singapore Airlines lounge access, and where you can’t.

Singapore Airlines lounge access: Australia

Your international trip begins in SQ’s SilverKris business class lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide prior to any Singapore Airlines flight, with Sydney boasting ‘productivity pods’ for the busy business traveller…

… Melbourne featuring individually-spaced seats, each with their own power port…

… and Brisbane a reasonably comprehensive buffet…

… with plenty of hot food to choose from:

In Darwin and Cairns, however, lounge access is unavailable prior to flights with SilkAir as SQ has no lounges in these cities. Velocity Gold and Platinum members also can’t visit Virgin Australia’s own lounges in Darwin and Cairns prior to these flights.

(Velocity Gold and Platinum members connecting from a same-day Virgin Australia domestic flight to a SIlkAir international flight could of course use their ‘on arrival’ privileges to stop by the Virgin Australia domestic lounge, leaving in plenty of time to clear passport control and security screening.)

Singapore Airlines lounge access: Singapore

At Singapore’s Changi Airport, Velocity Gold and Platinum members flying with Singapore Airlines or SilkAir in economy or premium economy can’t access the SilverKris lounges: instead being directed to the nearby ‘KrisFlyer Gold’ lounges in both Terminals 2 and 3.

There you’ll find basic amenities like complimentary WiFi and buffet dining, although showers and toilets – standard features in most international lounges – are notably missing.

When flying in Singapore Airlines business class, first class and Suites Class, the SilverKris business and first class lounges and 'The Private Room' await (as applicable), regardless of your Velocity status.

Singapore Airlines lounge access: worldwide

Beyond Singapore, SQ opens the doors to its lounges in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Manila, New Delhi, San Francisco, Seoul and Taipei to Velocity Gold and Platinum frequent flyers, some of which feature the great new ‘home away from home’ lounge design:

However, fly Singapore Airlines from Auckland or from popular Chinese destinations like Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou and you’ll be lounge-less without a business class or first class ticket, with the same true in Tokyo, Jakarta, Mumbai and elsewhere across Asia.

Manchester, continental Europe and Africa are also missing links in the chain with no access to lounges in big business hubs like Frankfurt and Zurich, or Paris, Rome, Milan, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Moscow or Munich.

With Velocity Frequent Flyer cards providing no lounge perks in these cities, you’d instead need Star Alliance Gold status with Singapore Airlines or one of its partners such as United, Air New Zealand or Avianca Brazil – even if procured from its recent Gold status match offer.

Failing that, a Priority Pass or Velocé lounge membership could get you out of trouble where Velocity Gold or Platinum isn’t recognised across the globe, and could even be available at no extra charge through your American Express, ANZ, Citibank or Westpac credit card.

Read: The five best credit cards for free airport lounge access

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Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.