Was asked a question by a friend who is KrisFlyer Elite Gold about lounge access while travelling Y on VA operated flights.

Was asked a question by a friend who is KrisFlyer Elite Gold about lounge access while travelling Y on VA operated flights. I wasn't quite able to answer her.

Obvs domestically she has VA Lounge access while travelling on VA operated flights, but internationally, would her KrisFlyer Elite Gold also give her access to the Koru Club by virtue of her Star Alliance status? Or being on a VA coded flight with no VA/NZ status, would she fall in to the little lounge access hole that sometimes we fall in to?

The KrisFlyer website isn’t as helpful as others regarding lounge access.  KrisFlyer Gold Elite page, “Access the Virgin Australia operated lounges in Australia when departing on flights operated by Virgin Australia. You can invite one guest provided he/she is also departing on a flight operated by Virgin Australia.”

VA doesn’t operate any lounges in any international terminal, so no option there.

Access to Star Alliance Lounges is stated as, “Access over 900 designated Star alliance Gold lounges worldwide when departing on flights operated by Singapore Airlines or a Star Alliance partner airline, where available. You may invite one guest provided he/she is departing on any flight operated by Singapore Airlines or a Star Alliance partner airlines.”

Based off these two snippets, I don’t think KrisFlyer Gold Elite will give you lounge access when travelling internationally in VA Y, with a VA flight number.

Booking on an NZ code share might change things though! (although the rules say ‘operated by’).

Heya Sim - Correct. I found the KrisFlyer site decidedly ambiguous on international flights operated by VA :/ 

And based on the part you bolded in your cut/paste, I determined that if she's on a VA code, she may end up being in a lounge void, so-to-speak... so I echo your deduction. Shame.

Agreed on the NZ flight booking though... I might encourage her to book on NZ next time. 

I know the pain!

I'm VA Gold flying Etihad in Y from Sao Paulo to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad flight number (no VA codeshare option) and I don't get any lounge access in Sao Paulo.

That's very poor form. I would have expected a a tight partnership would afford lounge access in lieu of codeshare sectors, a la Qantas and Emirates.

D: 

I think you get access to the new ANZ lounge if you're departing SYD

I stand to be corrected though!