As a VA Plat I don't rate the lounges very highly. Food selection is okay, not great, ambiance is lacking. SYD is terrible. I think they are just getting a bit long in the tooth...
I've also been in Emirates LAX, Air NZ WLG, Delta JFK and Singapore SYD & SNG lately, and with the exception of Singapore's SNG lounge, all are better. Delta JFK and Air NZ WLG the best of the bunch, imho.
I've recently been spending a decent amount of time in the BNE QF (QF Club) and VA lounges, mainly of a morning when travelling to regional QLD on daytrips. I can't speak for the QF J lounge or for other times of day, but I personally prefer the breakfast spread and overall ambience of the VA Lounge. Whilst there are many similarities in the food and drinks offering these days (you have to thank competition for that - the QF Club food offering has undoubtedly improved over the years!), recently at VA I've been enjoying the bacon and scrambled eggs, something I've yet to see at the domestic QF Club.
Obviously none of this compares to the amazing offerings in some of the international Lounges - the QR Lounge in Doha, EY Lounges in AUH, and CX Lounges in HKG are hard to beat, to give 3 world class examples. But it's not fair to compare against those - as far as domestic flights go, we are pretty spoilt here in Australia!
SYD and MEL QF J lounges are sub par. There is often a line up for the male amenities, that are also in need of a refurb.
I regularly go to the QF Pub in Sydney for the amenities alone! The difference between it and the business lounge are minimal (chocolate brownie v profiteroles for example - woo hoo).
I am Plat with both and find overall the QF lounges especially the buis ones superior to all VA lounges, they really rely on toasted sandwiches as the fare of the day all day every day. I have always been able to grab a seat in either lounge, this is the one area that QF are clearly ahead in.
VA's domestic lounges are perfectly good. Not as good as QF's new domestic lounges in BNE and PER, but at least as good as, if not better than, the QF domestic lounges in MEL and SYD.
VA needs to open international lounge within next few years. This is no joke.
SYD: takeover Etihad lounge, other aspects business as usual.
MEL: takeover Etihad lounge and get rid of The Residence private room, other aspects business as usual.
BNE: open VA premium lounge once international routes ex-BNE expanded.
LAX: takeover Etihad lounge. Etihad operate 1x daily 77L to Abu Dhabi while VA operate 3x daily 77W to Australia.
Perhaps Virgin can bring back bartender and barista service which Etihad eliminated earlier this year and Virgin can earn revenues by contract their lounge to following airlines:
I've flown VA domestically whenever possible for many years. In my experience their service - especially premium cabin service - is better than QF. However, I can't help but wonder if their Lounge offering - especially for premium class pax - is up to scratch.
I recently used my points to upgrade to domestic business class and as I sat in the overcrowded Sydney VA Lounge I wondered if the QF offering was better. Travellers in QF domestic J class get access to a separate business class lounge with upgraded amenities and a more exclusive ambiance. (QF also make their domestic business class lounge available to Plat frequent fliers too.)
It seems like QF offer a better pre-flight lounge experience. Does VA need to lift its game - especially for pax in J class?
I fly from Darwin to Alice Springs Regularly,
The nice new lounge in Alice Springs is very comfortable - the only thing that is missing is a shower
maybe this might happen as they announced today increase capacity on the Darwin - Alice Adelaide sectors
I think a lot depends upon where you live and the lounges you frequent the most. I'm in Melbourne and my experience is similar to reeves35. Apart from food and mocktails, which were better with Qantas, I found the Virgin lounge to be brighter, with more natural light, a better feel and better facilities (toilets and shower). The Sydney Virgin offering is not on the same level as Melbourne.
I've been in the Virgin Lounges in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne recently in the late afternoon/early evening peak-hour. On all occasions there was no hot meal on offer, only soup and the routine salad bar. Has something changed or was I just unlucky? They used to have a curry, fried-rice dish, meat pies or something else to help fill the gap. Have the rest of you also had this experience?
xtfer
xtfer
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 14 Mar 2017
Total posts 159
As a VA Plat I don't rate the lounges very highly. Food selection is okay, not great, ambiance is lacking. SYD is terrible. I think they are just getting a bit long in the tooth...
I've also been in Emirates LAX, Air NZ WLG, Delta JFK and Singapore SYD & SNG lately, and with the exception of Singapore's SNG lounge, all are better. Delta JFK and Air NZ WLG the best of the bunch, imho.
apacau
apacau
Member since 02 Jun 2013
Total posts 38
I've recently been spending a decent amount of time in the BNE QF (QF Club) and VA lounges, mainly of a morning when travelling to regional QLD on daytrips. I can't speak for the QF J lounge or for other times of day, but I personally prefer the breakfast spread and overall ambience of the VA Lounge. Whilst there are many similarities in the food and drinks offering these days (you have to thank competition for that - the QF Club food offering has undoubtedly improved over the years!), recently at VA I've been enjoying the bacon and scrambled eggs, something I've yet to see at the domestic QF Club.
Obviously none of this compares to the amazing offerings in some of the international Lounges - the QR Lounge in Doha, EY Lounges in AUH, and CX Lounges in HKG are hard to beat, to give 3 world class examples. But it's not fair to compare against those - as far as domestic flights go, we are pretty spoilt here in Australia!
Steve987
Steve987
Member since 23 Feb 2015
Total posts 268
jenko13
jenko13
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 08 Feb 2011
Total posts 7
I am Plat with both and find overall the QF lounges especially the buis ones superior to all VA lounges, they really rely on toasted sandwiches as the fare of the day all day every day. I have always been able to grab a seat in either lounge, this is the one area that QF are clearly ahead in.
bmc
bmc
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 22 Aug 2013
Total posts 119
The Hobart lounge is certainly below par
AnthonyvB
AnthonyvB
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards Plantium
Member since 19 Jun 2013
Total posts 82
StudiodeKadent
StudiodeKadent
Member since 20 May 2015
Total posts 109
VA's domestic lounges are perfectly good. Not as good as QF's new domestic lounges in BNE and PER, but at least as good as, if not better than, the QF domestic lounges in MEL and SYD.
btaus
btaus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 15 Dec 2016
Total posts 171
VA needs to open international lounge within next few years. This is no joke.
SYD: takeover Etihad lounge, other aspects business as usual.
MEL: takeover Etihad lounge and get rid of The Residence private room, other aspects business as usual.
BNE: open VA premium lounge once international routes ex-BNE expanded.
LAX: takeover Etihad lounge. Etihad operate 1x daily 77L to Abu Dhabi while VA operate 3x daily 77W to Australia.
Perhaps Virgin can bring back bartender and barista service which Etihad eliminated earlier this year and Virgin can earn revenues by contract their lounge to following airlines:
-Virgin Australia (themselves)
-Etihad Airways
-Delta Air Lines
-Hainan Airlines
-Beijing Capital Airlines
-Lucky Air
-Hong Kong Airlines
markjd
markjd
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 19 May 2017
Total posts 1
Hi all
I've flown VA domestically whenever possible for many years. In my experience their service - especially premium cabin service - is better than QF. However, I can't help but wonder if their Lounge offering - especially for premium class pax - is up to scratch.
I recently used my points to upgrade to domestic business class and as I sat in the overcrowded Sydney VA Lounge I wondered if the QF offering was better. Travellers in QF domestic J class get access to a separate business class lounge with upgraded amenities and a more exclusive ambiance. (QF also make their domestic business class lounge available to Plat frequent fliers too.)markathome
markathome
Member since 05 Jul 2017
Total posts 11
I think a lot depends upon where you live and the lounges you frequent the most. I'm in Melbourne and my experience is similar to reeves35. Apart from food and mocktails, which were better with Qantas, I found the Virgin lounge to be brighter, with more natural light, a better feel and better facilities (toilets and shower). The Sydney Virgin offering is not on the same level as Melbourne.
Victor G
Victor G
Etihad - Etihad Guest
Member since 02 Jul 2015
Total posts 17
I've been in the Virgin Lounges in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne recently in the late afternoon/early evening peak-hour. On all occasions there was no hot meal on offer, only soup and the routine salad bar. Has something changed or was I just unlucky? They used to have a curry, fried-rice dish, meat pies or something else to help fill the gap. Have the rest of you also had this experience?