Preview: Virgin Australia's new Perth Airport business class lounge
By David Flynn, November 13 2015
Virgin Australia's bespoke Perth Airport terminal will open its doors to travellers on Sunday November 22nd, and the centrepiece for frequent flyers will be the slick new lounge.
With room for some 400 passengers it's twice the size of the previous T3 lounge, and like the rest of the airline's new T1 Domestic Pier home boasts plenty of natural light.
Of course, Virgin's iconic Espresso and Wine bar takes pride of place in the sprawling space.
Those also-familiar snaking workbenches – which are sensibly fitted with AC and USB power sockets – provide ample room for travellers to catch up on their emails before the flight.
There's a variety of other seating to cater for different tastes and travel styles.
"This is truly going be our flagship lounge" remarked Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti at a media preview of the new terminal.
Also read: Virgin Australia's new Perth Airport terminal, lounges open Nov 22
David Flynn travelled to Perth as a guest of Virgin Australia
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Dec 2014
Total posts 284
Don't think it's as nice as the QF lounge TBH
21 Mar 2014
Total posts 8
The Qantas lounge is pretty good - That Pizza bar is amazing!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Dec 2014
Total posts 284
The first picture looks like something out of the late 1900's that brown wall and the sign, yuck!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards Gold
04 Jul 2014
Total posts 129
Gotta say, I'm a bit dissapointed in this..We've been hearing huge things from John Borghetti about how it would be the flagship lounge and beautiful... Just looks like every other VA lounge but over crowded and clammed together. I'm usually a huge fan of VA lounge over QF..But this isn't a winner in my eyes.
19 Jun 2012
Total posts 30
The naughties called; they want their tub chairs back.
21 Mar 2014
Total posts 8
So do you think this lounge will be open to International Virigin customers or we will still be expected into thr Silver Kris lounge?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Nov 2015
Total posts 36
This is a domestic terminal lounge, so I don't think any international customers will be able to access it.
21 Mar 2014
Total posts 8
That bites - the domestic pier they have built is off the International terminal - they don't have a International lounge and make you use the Singapore airlines one which is nothing spesh!
Consdering there is'nt that many International flights from Perth with Virgin I think they should let us folk in.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Nov 2015
Total posts 36
I'm sure they would if they could, but I have no idea how an airport would facilitate letting international passengers into a domestic space and then back out again. Barely any good international lounges except the new Emirates one!
25 Jun 2012
Total posts 61
How sterile and dull does this look?
Would be nice to see some plants/greenery, natural finishes and some warmth... this looks incredible cold and uninviting.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jul 2014
Total posts 143
Reminds me of an open plan office
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 232
Have any of the people making comments actually walked through the new terminal and visited the VA lounge? According the local newspaper the terminal was open to look through (not operational). yesterday so it's rather likely none have actually seen the new lounge in person. Sure people have every right to post their feelings based on what they see from the photos and some won't like it when they visit it but until they do it can only be an impression of what they feel it will be like. I will be flying out Business Class on the 24th November so should be able to see what it is really like. As for the comments about International travelers they will have to use the SQ lounge which is totally pathetic,old,small, lousy food very shabby.
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 645
True, some (probably) havent seen it 'in the flesh', but it just looks like every other VA Lounge...cold and sterile..this is being touted as a flagship lounge/something special...being the 'newest', doesn't automatically make it 'flagship'/'special'. Personally, I prefer the new QF direction of 'personalizing' their lounges to the ports they are located in, without losing their brand identity. VA to me, just seem to go for the 'cookie cutter' look..(probably cheaper) ;)
Of course this is just my opinion...as we are all entitled to one! ;)
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 438
It looks identical to the MEL lounge but I guess thats the point.
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
08 Jun 2014
Total posts 262
I attended the launch and walk through of the Lounge and Terminal opening. Terminal is quiet impressive and fresh, compared to what Perth already have both Qantas and VA wise... so it's a great addition. The VA Lounge is nicely sized, I would rate Brisbane's lounge at 1, then Syd at 2, then this new Perth lounge... though I believe it needs more of those white curvy glass panels to create intimate, quite spaces like Brisbane has. I did find out there is a large space behind the far end of the lounge in Perth, which is blocked by a wall... and spoke to a VA rep and she mentioned that there is a possibility of growing into that space in the near future. And I found the top secret "Club" entrance too :D
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
The space looks like its been turned magically into a lounge by Cinderella's fairy godmother from an overgrown aubergine!
Qantas Platinum
04 Dec 2012
Total posts 48
Thanks David. Excited to use The Business on 24 Nov SYD-PER and test the new lounge. Back on 26 Nov, does it have VIP access like in Sydney and Brisbane?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
25 Jul 2013
Total posts 72
Well Virgin has certainly come a long way since its rebrand less than five years ago. The space looks great. Visually and functionally similar to its other Australian lounges, sure, but lets not forget: they're actually good!
Yesterday I used the Sydney premium valet entrance, had a great chat with one of the security guards (it was a quiet day), had a quick shower, a barista-made coffee, light snack and read the paper before running down to gate 40. Seriously the best domestic service in the world. Australian airlines (yes including Qantas) are awesome.
In the short term the main things Virgin lounges can improve in my opinion are the volume of the TVs and the range of menu items in their lounges.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Nov 2011
Total posts 186
A question from a non-virgin flyer: I love the look and of Virgin's lounge design, and the wine/espresso bar looks uber cool. But I get the distinct impression that the seating is on average bellow par compared to qantas lounges. Im a QF Plat. so obviously the Business lounges trump the virgin lounges in most respects, but for those that reg use QC and Virgin lounge how does the arrangement and comfort of the virgin purple tub chairs compair to standard QC chairs? Weird question, but lets face it it is where you spend most of your time in these lounges.
05 Oct 2011
Total posts 195
I am BIG VA fan and Platinum holder. In spite of this, the new lounge(s) look a bit naff to me. I am not quite sure who they are trying to appeal to. I agree that the new QF business lounge is PER is splendid in almost every respect. I wont get to VA PER ;ounge until May next year but I doubt it will measure up to the new QF offering.
05 Oct 2011
Total posts 195
I am BIG VA fan and Platinum holder. In spite of this, the new lounge(s) look a bit naff to me. I am not quite sure who they are trying to appeal to. I agree that the new QF business lounge is PER is splendid in almost every respect. I wont get to VA PER ;ounge until May next year but I doubt it will measure up to the new QF offering.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
20 Jun 2013
Total posts 63
No offence to our friend's in Asia, however, this VA Lounge looks a bit like a KTV Bar (Karoke) crossed with a open plan office.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Preview: Virgin Australia's new Perth Airport business class lounge