How to use Qantas, Virgin ‘on arrival’ lounge access
Savvy frequent flyers can take advantage of visiting an airport lounge after their flight…
By Staff Writers, September 24 2024
Airport lounges are generally considered as places to spend time before jetting off somewhere, but in the right circumstances they can also be visited after your flight.
‘On arrival’ lounge access can be the perfect solution to those times you need to make a pit-stop to attend to some urgent business or join an online meeting, or even to grab a quick coffee or a bite to eat.
It's also a great way to maximise your sleep on those east-west ‘red eye’ flights, allowing you to skip the breakfast meal service and pop into the lounge for a bite to eat and a shot of barista-pulled coffee.
While only a relatively small number of airports around the world have a dedicated arrivals lounge for international travellers, Qantas and Virgin Australia offer the convenience of arrival access to their domestic airport lounges across Australia once you step off a domestic flight.
Here’s all you need to know about Qantas Virgin Australia ‘on arrival’ lounge access.
Qantas ‘on arrival’ lounge access
Qantas restricts domestic arrival lounge access to its very top-tier frequent flyers – specifically, those holding Qantas Platinum, Qantas Platinum One or Qantas Chairman’s Lounge status.
Disappointingly, there’s no arrivals lounge access for business class passengers (this is one area where Virgin trumps Qantas).
What about Qantas international arrivals lounge access?
Qantas does extend its ‘on arrivals’ lounge access policy to international flights landing in Australia.
While this is still restricted to Qantas Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers and Chairman’s Lounge members, they can be arriving on a Qantas, Jetstar, Emirates or Oneworld flight, or a Qantas codeshare service (such as a Fiji Airways flight booked under a QF flight number).
But with most Australian airports having physically seperate international and domestic terminals, the time and trouble to change terminals can reduce the appeal or even practicality of swinging by a domestic Qantas lounge after your long overseas flight.
There can also be the additional issue of having to deal with any checked luggage from your international flight.
Virgin Australia ‘on arrival’ lounge access
In stark contrast to Qantas, Virgin Australia offers arrival lounge access to a far wider range of passengers, including
- business class passengers
- Velocity Gold and Velocity Platinum frequent flyers
- members of Virgin’s exclusive invitation-only Beyond program
- members of the paid Virgin Australia Lounge program
However, two caveats apply here:
- you must enter the Virgin Australia lounge within 60 minutes after your flight arrives
- preference is given to business class passengers, Velocity Platinum and Beyond members, while everyone else is ‘subject to space availability’ as a measure to avoid the lounges becoming over-crowded
Sadly, members of loyalty programs from Virgin Australia partner carriers such as United Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways are not granted on arrival access.
21 Apr 2019
Total posts 22
As a Velocity Platinum on arrival J/C into Melbourne I had disposed of boarding pass.
I had a very stern suspicous questioning receptionist. Twice my QR code was scanned the process took a full 5 minutes.
I wrote to Velocity and received a stock bland reply.
So much for VA Platinum status.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
I was 'sort of' put through the same BS yesterday in MEL, after arriving on a delayed flight. Usually, merely scanning the Platinum Member barcode from the App would then invite details of whether any accompanying guests, followed by the polite 'wave through'. If I'd used it once I've used it probably over a dozen times in the last 12-18 months. But since the Multi-Factor Authentication (or 2FA) upgrade, both the Virgin and Velocity Apps have had troubles. I'll come back to that later. The lounge had, perhaps, 60% capacity at most, so I knew something else was amiss when the Kiosk told me to see a member of the service desk team, which is never a problem, but I don't like waiting in line (sorry).
When I got to speak to the chap behind the desk, in a pleasant, calm and clear tone (which he clearly appreciated), he was appraised that I didn't appreciate this inconvenience, and asked him something like 'what has changed, I didn't get an email'. He acknowledged there has been a change, but it's a simple fix. (I'd binned the paper boarding pass.)
The answer/solution, is to find the Boarding Pass QR Code in the Virgin Australia App (not the Velocity App). It's a bit of a journey (which was new to me), but here we go:
1. Log into the App, look bottom right for 3 dots with 'More' underneath the dots and select;
2. scroll down to the Information panel and select 'Past trips';
3. From the list of flights, select the sector/flight on which you arrived;
4. scroll down to the red box with 'Boarding pass' in white letters and select - BINGO - QR code appears with other flight details and you're all good to go.
Looking at the length of this post, I'm going to blog of the 2FA matter another time (even though tempted to offer a different meaning to that acronym - VA needs better IT people).
Ho, Ho, Ho - Merry Christmas to all.
25 Feb 2015
Total posts 68
Considering the configuration of our main international airports in SYD and MEL (separate terminals, separate arrivals and departures zones), and the fact that so many major international flights are overnighters, I really wish that Qantas would establish dedicated arrival lounges at both ports, like Cathay Pacific used to have.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2016
Total posts 8
If arriving on a OW flight into LAX can you use the QF F lounge in LAX
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1564
Basically useless. For QF pax for sure. To be useful such lounge must be outside security like CX one in HKG, if it still operates.
26 Oct 2017
Total posts 24
As a QF Platinum, I was denied entry at the Melbourne Qantas domestic Business Lounge in May. Staff at the desk said only Plat 1 members had access.
02 Mar 2019
Total posts 6
I've used Virgins on arrival access numerous times, the self kiosks make it pretty easy. Always nice if you have to wait around for a mate from another flight. Now they just need to improve the food & bev offering and i'll want more than the 60mins.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 122
United has an arrivals lounge at Heathrow T2, right outside the door from which one exits the luggage hall. Open also to Air Canada J pax and AC SuperElite pax (P1 equivalent) on any fare. Don't know the policy for other Star Alliance airlines.
25 Jun 2018
Total posts 51
Used the BA arrivals lounge at LHR last year. Made very welcome, plenty of room, reasonable breakfast food. Staff enquired if we needed assistance with car hire, onward travel arrangements etc. Advised us on train travel - which service & station to use. Very welcome after a red-eye transatlantic flight.
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