VIRGIN LOUNGES I’ve been living in Europe the last 4 years and missed most of the Virgin re-branding/positioning under John Borghetti.

VIRGIN LOUNGES

I’ve been living in Europe the last 4 years and missed most of the Virgin re-branding/positioning under John Borghetti. The new VA on-board product looks great and I generally like what I see (even if just from the pages of Aus-BT!). It’s good that Qantas now has a type of competitor not seen since Ansett.

Regarding the lounges, is it just me, or do the VA lounges appear to be a little stark and cold looking? Or is it that the photos don’t do them justice. I like the purple and white contrast and the use of wood but the arm-chairs look a little uncomfortable. I’m comparing these to the Qantas Business Lounges and more tired looking Qantas Clubs, both of which were homes away from home when I worked in Australia.

This isn’t an attack on VA. Just curious as to everyone’s opinion.

Just flew back from Canberra on Va- the lounge there is really stylish and has lots of natural light. Some of them can be a little cold i suppose- the areas with dimmed lighting. Overall though they're much swankier than the old QF clubs (also fly QF a lot, just a bit 'stale' IMO). They've been very clever with their branding and its produced nice lounges!

The first rendition of the lounges was very stark white and purple (and a little cold).

More recent renditions include wood tones which softens the look a lot. They also tend to use a lot of blinds and walls to break up the space.

Personally the Qantas lounges feel a little more homely but both are pretty decent.

I personally find the VA lounges to have all the charm and warmth of a dentist's waiting room. 

I believe Virgin have done a stunning job on the ambience of their lounges, with higher ceilings and better lighting (compared with qantas) However QF business lounges definately win for catering.

Thanks everyone for your feedback so far. I have never visited a VA lounge and, given I may be returning to Australia and will need to re-allign with an airline there, lounge quality would be an issue in that decision.

As time goes on, the VA lounges will only get better.

I had never been into any of the Golden Wing (AN) lounges, and have not seen the new VA PER lounges, but they must all by now be improving.

In the early days DJ was supposed to be a discounted airline, but they have taken over from the time when AN died to become Australia's 2nd major carrier.

Things over time, can only get better for VA.

As they (VA) have taken over the old AN lounges, they have gutted out a lot of it, and renewed it.

MELd for eg, and SYDd as well.

Depending on who you have a FF membership with, go with that.

When AN died, they had a tie in with SQ and NZ, now VA has it.

I have my toes in both VA and QF, (their FF systems anyway), which is better, QF is (in my point of view, now, but over time), but VA is making headway.