WTF? Virgin Australia selling lifetime Lounge access for $10,000!
By David Flynn, November 30 2011
We like Virgin Australia's funky new airport lounges. We're always happy to spend a few hours in them.
But would we hand over $10,000 of the hard-earned in order to ensure lifetime entry?
Would you, for that matter?
Because a cool $10k – well, $9,750 to be exact – is what Virgin is asking in exchange for "the opportunity to invest in a Lifetime membership to the Virgin Australia lounge, securing access for life."
If you're 60 years or over you get a discount to $6,750, because 'lifetime access' has a bit less pull when you're just a few decades away from The Final Boarding Call.
The deal also includes lifetime access to the Sydney lounge's direct kerbside entry, private security screening and check-in plus reciprocal access to Air New Zealand lounges in Australia and New Zealand when flying trans-Tasman and within New Zealand, but still...
In the words of the great Australian philosopher Darryl Kerrigan, "Tell 'em they're dreaming!".
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.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
Virgin CAN'T be serious about this. $10,000? Whoever buys this has 'sucker' stamped on their forehead!!
06 Sep 2011
Total posts 18
haha, i bet you there will be some people purchasing this!
Virgin Blue - Velocity Rewards
12 May 2011
Total posts 66
They may as well live at the airport, get a life, seriously.
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 580
Is there any other way to get lifetime access (like QFF Lifetime Gold?).
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
No AM, I asked Virgin about lifetime status when I shifted my business travel to them but they don't have any lifetime status right now.
You know, I could maybe see the sense in buying lounge access for a few years if the price was right and if you weren't platinum or gold, which means Virgin will need to wait a year and let all the complimentary Qantas memberships drop off their list. If you didn't think you could maintain Gold or Platinum then maybe for $2000 you might buy lounge membership for two years. But to drop $10 grand in one hit, even for lifetime membership, forget it!
17 Jun 2011
Total posts 64
While I wouldn't personally pay the money wasn't Qantas selling lifetime QC membership for around $6k several years ago when you could still buy it rather than earn it? Adding inflation seems about right, whether or not QC and DJ are equal offerings can be debated.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
01 Dec 2011
Total posts 2
you can get membership to Virgin Lounge through various travel agents that have corporate associations with virgin at $269 or so pa. eg. medical societies, law societies etc. So $10,000 seems very steep, unless you consider yourself flying for the next 40 years or so, and sticking with virgin!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jul 2012
Total posts 2
Back in the 90's, the Co I was employed with @ the time shelled out $4200+ for my QC Life membership. It was my TA,they paid to me ..
As for shelling out $10K, I do know some-one did just that...Yes it was their "OWN" money, not Travelling Allowances, dont know if I 'd go that far...
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