Virgin has no plans for its own international lounge at Sydney Airport
By David Flynn, March 7 2018
Virgin Australia is set to add another Sydney pushpin into its route map with the mid-year launch of flights between Sydney and Hong Kong, but the airline has no plans to open its own business class lounge at Sydney Airport's T1 international terminal.
Although Virgin has developed its own domestic network of lounges in both capital city and regional models, the airline – which doesn't belong to any of the alliance families such as Star Alliance or SkyTeam – continues to rely on its partners for lounge access ahead of international flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
But the exact lounge you're sent to depends on the flight you're on: out of Sydney, foe example, Virgin taps the Etihad Airways lounge for flights to Los Angeles, the Air New Zealand lounge for trans-Tasman services and the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge if you're headed to Bali or Fiji.
A dedicated Virgin Australia lounge would swap confusion for consistency, but pose an added expense for the airline which has only recently returned to financial blue skies.
And at this point 'lounge lotto' is likely to continue, with the airline having no plans to lease its own space and open its own Virgin-branded international business class lounge at Sydney Airport.
"We continually review our lounge offering and at this stage we are confident our international lounge proposition suits the requirements of our passengers and our operation," a Virgin Australia spokeswoman confirmed to Australian Business Traveller.
In 2011 Virgin and Etihad planned to build and operate a Sydney T1 lounge as a joint venture, however the Gulf airline eventually went its own way and opened the lounge as a solo affair.
it's not yet known which airport lounge Virgin will use for its Sydney-Hong Kong flights, although those of stakeholders Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines are believed to be the most likely contenders.
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.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
I was talking to one of Virgin's VIPs on the phone while he was at the Singapore lounge, he said he was miles away from the gate. Later he then txt saying a limo took him to the plane like a rock star and they bordered before anyone else. Maybe one day I will be that lucky instead of having to walk even though I need the excerise.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
08 Feb 2016
Total posts 35
There's really nothing to suggest that a dedicated VA business class lounge would be any good. I'm ok with the lounge lotto. It gives variety. I haven't been to a 'crap' lounge in VA international network.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
Clearly you've never been to the Krisflyer gold lounge at Changi
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
08 Feb 2016
Total posts 35
Sadly, I have. Worst lounge in SIA plethora of lounges.
27 Aug 2015
Total posts 26
Is there actually any space in the Syd Intl terminal for a lounge, even if they did want to create one?
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 174
I would prefer a Virgin lounge for consistency so that every time I fly with them I know what I'll be getting from the 'lounge experience' but based on their domestic lounges I think Virgin would need to really raise the bar, needs to be at least as good as the Qantas business lounge for f&b and I'm not sure Virgin could do that.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Jan 2016
Total posts 59
Quite the contrary. Given the brand, I would expect that any VA branded international lounge at what is in effect their home base. Is likely to be closer to the VS clubhouse in LHR, and a step up from the QF business lounge. But until there is a consistent international product, or EY continue cutting and give up the SYD lounge, its unlikely.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 88
Hardly a “home base” anymore than MEL or even BNE is for them. All three ports have a similar frequency (less than daily) service to LAX and a similar frequency of service across the ditch.
05 Oct 2011
Total posts 195
Might be a good time to rethink "lounge and checkin" at LAX. I cannot think of another airline where you have to checkin at one terminal then proceed quite a long way to another terminal for processing. Once you get to Tom Bradley, you have to wait until 5:00pm to get into the EK lounge because the deal with EY is now dead. My wife had this indignity on Sunday when travelling from SLC to LAX and on to OZ. Every indication online says the flight is leaving from Terminal 2. It was only when I was able to find the correct gate (by looking at codeshare info from DL) that I was able to confidently advise her where it was leaving from. It is always a problem with using others lounges (especially in the US) because the employees of the "home" airline always seem to resent the interlopers from other carriers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
It's due to lack of check-in desk space at TBIT. Virgin isnt alone in doing this shuffle at LAX.
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 87
Unfortunately, this is hardly a surprise. They’ve only just launched the SYD-HKG route and I imagine they’d want to prove it’s viability before even contemplating lounge spend. It’s still not clear to me why you’d choose VA over CX or QF if you’re regularly doing HKG/Asia routes.
01 Jun 2016
Total posts 58
There is talk that given Etihad's poor financial performance that their lounges will become co-branded with VA. VA already staff the lounges prior to their international flights in MEL. On that note, I don't mind the lounge lotto, it means I get to try a variety of good lounges
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
03 Oct 2016
Total posts 21
I have grown to enjoy the lounge lotto as I have managed to try a number of airline lounges from different airlines (Skyteam, AirNZ, Emirates, Etihad, Singapore and AMEX once when I was left out in the cold by the arrangements).
18 Jan 2018
Total posts 63
With Qantas (and most other airlines) you get to try different lounges too - as part of OW. That’s the difference between a decent airline and a wannabe one. With an alliance you get an all you can eat lounge buffet. With Virgin you literally get a ‘lounge lotto’ - and just like real lotto you usually lose!
18 Jan 2018
Total posts 63
Virgin what a joke. No alliance. Ridiculous ‘boutique’ lounge share arrangements that are prone to cancellation without notice. And no cheaper than qantas. Who flies this garbage airline?
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
Who do you fly Qantas? If I was you I would be thanking Virgin for keeping Qantas on thier toes, how many ideas have Virgin come up with that Qantas has copied?
The last thing I want to see is a single competitor in the Australian skies, and whether they use several lounges or just one who really cares.
18 Jan 2018
Total posts 63
I fly qantas because I want to maintain OW emerald. In order to be competitive you need to provide a competitive product. Qantas’ competition is other international airlines. Not virgin and their domestic excuse for ‘food’, their poorly reciprocated FF program and their gimmicky jokes such as ‘economy x’. Who really cares about lounges? Uh me and anybody else who pays for a J class date? Imagine paying $6K for a LAX to Syd ticket then getting a $100 coupon for the Food court kfc? Oh that’s right no need to imagine it happened! 👍👍👍
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
Sounds like yr living in the dream
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Aug 2013
Total posts 248
Can’t be living the dream..sounds like Mr Miyagi hasn’t flown VA business :p
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Aug 2013
Total posts 248
I don’t think Virgin need to belong to a specific alliance - they have an unofficial alliance’ that’s spans Star, Skyteam and for a while One World with Air Berin..I think they could increase their partner airline offering though - but technically you have the same perks as any member with one world or star etc..just don’t have the title that it belongs to. This probably gives them an advantage so their not dictated which airline they can partner with..not sure why their FF is a pool excuse - In the past I have transferred points to SQ and secured EY tickets all on dates when I needed to fly. They do their job just fine with FF. For me the only lounge specialty QF trumps VA on is their pizza offering at the Perth lounge.
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 87
QF has yet to copy VA's wonderful ideas, such as geeing up exit rows as "Economy X", or other such delights as "grab and go" meals, aka fruit bowls, in their lounges.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 351
Seeing that no airline had joined any of the "Big 3" alliances in the past 3 years, and in addition to the rise of cross-alliance JVs of late such as QF/EK, and CX with LH and NZ suggests that Alliances may not be the "in-thing" in the long term.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Oct 2014
Total posts 687
Actually, a slight correction:
- Network Aviation joined OW as an Affiliate Member 22 September 2016. Yes, it is a QF subsidiary .. but it is also an airline.
I agree that there have been no major new airlines in OW over the past 3 years. Perhaps a good sign of maturity or at least relative stability within the industry?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Apr 2016
Total posts 8
That’s fine VA. Now could we pretty please have beer on tap at Adelaide? And maybe more than one urinal to dispose of said beer into?
06 Dec 2017
Total posts 110
it does not really need one.while i have never been in a air new zealand lounge anywhere.what they have with singapore airlines is good.i have had the pleasure years ago albeit in singapore of using their silver kris lounges when flying raffles class with my family and wow they are out of this world there.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Oct 2014
Total posts 687
Some may prefer the VA partner lounge 'lottery' - and some may not.
However, what I find somewhat disappointing is that - for international travel - one would expect Australia's second largest carrier to at least sport a relevant lounge product in it's major home ports of SYD, MEL & BNE.
Lounges are expensive add-on's for airlines and I entirely 'get' that. Conversely, a partner lounge access in overseas points is both logical and acceptable, to a degree, where the carrier has limited or codeshare flights.
That said, having pride in your carrier is an important element for any employee .. and it adds to the sense of recognition for an overseas traveller. Imagine an American flying LAX-SYD-LAX and having to play the 'lounge lottery' game on departure from Australia. Doesn't inspire that additional bit of loyalty and would make one question why a 'leading' Australian carrier can't provide an international lounge network even in it's home country.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Nov 2017
Total posts 49
I'm flying economy to Fiji next month, can I get access to the Singapore lounge as a Gold Velocity?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
17 Jun 2018
Total posts 1
I would like to know what plans Virgin has for its international passengers who will be traveling to New Zealand now that the Air New Zealand alliance is gone due to their new alliance with QANTAS. Velocity members use to have access to Air NZ lounges for international travel….What will Virgin offer its trans tasman travellers now?
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