Given that va has been developing its lounge network throughout domestic networks, its noticeably absent from the international terminals relying on partners lounges. Now they have flights to HK and lax should they open an official international lounge at major Australian airports and maybe at lax and HK? What are your thoughts?
I would say it would cost too much for VA to do their own lounge, from planning, to implementation to operations.
After all, their international footprint is not all that large, not as large as QF or NZ.
Go with PriorityPass I say, or Maharba.
Or pay NZ for premium guests to keep using NZ lounges, after all, its probably cheaper than opening lounges in all of Aust's international terminals for VA flights.
After all, if we choose to fly SQ as VA flyers, in premium class of J/F, we already get access to SQ's lounges.
But I don't work for VA, so all I am doing is speculating, which we all know is not the ideal.
With the vast bulk of VA’s operations being domestic, they should get the holes in their domestic lounge network plugged before starting with international lounges. As others have pointed out, there are usually other lounge options when flying internationally
At most VA could at least come to agreement with Etihad to co-brand the EY lounges in Sydney and Melbourne as joint EY/VA lounges. Considering both EY and VA don't have large enough international operations to justify separate lounges on their own.
At times the EY lounges are VA staffed during VA int'l flights.
At most VA could at least come to agreement with Etihad to co-brand the EY lounges in Sydney and Melbourne as joint EY/VA lounges.
That sounds like the most sensible option. But first, they need to do a
deal with SQ to give VA status flyers (particularly WP) access to decent
SQ lounges (when flying Y)!!!
It would be great if they looked to partner with Virgin Atlantic to reopen a joint "clubhouse" in Hong Kong.
At least Virgin Australia is using the much better Club Autus lounge with HK airlines instead of the contract Plaza Premium. But agree with what you guys said as partnering with airlines being the most economical option. Air New Zealand has a great network of lounges in Aus but doubt that would work out as they are cutting ties. Singapore airlines would be a good option with lounges at Aus airports so they can stop contracting inferior Plaza Premium and use the better SQ lounges. In Hong Kong, Club Autus I think is still pretty good. In LA, the Emirates arrangement is kind of weird but still very nice. Hope I will not be left lounge-less at LAX again, probably partnering with Delta LAX lounge or Singapore Star Alliance lounge if that happens.
Given their cash flow position, I doubt adding extra lounges is high on the list of priorities unless it is a real cost saver compared with using their partners lounges. Surely if they have capital to spend it would be on something more profit generating like aircraft - especially since their major partners already have lounges here, so its not like they can make money off lounge access for other airlines.
LAX, hkg, Bali, 4 destinations in NZ and several in the Pacific....surely there is some justification for their own international lounge - in Sydney at least?
Surely if they have capital to spend it would be on something more profit generating like aircraft
Yeah while i'd enjoy having a VA branded Int' lounge network i'd love them to buy some more aircraft to open up some more/ interesting long haul international routes.
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Chance of a Virgin Australia international lounge
djtech
djtech
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Andrew Barkery
Andrew Barkery
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I would say it would cost too much for VA to do their own lounge, from planning, to implementation to operations.
John Phelan
John Phelan
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alyopsis
alyopsis
Member since 02 Aug 2018
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With the vast bulk of VA’s operations being domestic, they should get the holes in their domestic lounge network plugged before starting with international lounges. As others have pointed out, there are usually other lounge options when flying internationally
DanV
DanV
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Member since 04 Nov 2017
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At most VA could at least come to agreement with Etihad to co-brand the EY lounges in Sydney and Melbourne as joint EY/VA lounges.
Considering both EY and VA don't have large enough international operations to justify separate lounges on their own.
At times the EY lounges are VA staffed during VA int'l flights.
Pabs
Pabs
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Someone I know works for VA international Ops at an East coast airport and they mentioned VA might be building their own lounges
stmaus
stmaus
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Total posts 45
That sounds like the most sensible option. But first, they need to do a deal with SQ to give VA status flyers (particularly WP) access to decent SQ lounges (when flying Y)!!!
mcglynp
mcglynp
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 20 Jan 2016
Total posts 48
It would be great if they looked to partner with Virgin Atlantic to reopen a joint "clubhouse" in Hong Kong.
djtech
djtech
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Sep 2018
Total posts 375
At least Virgin Australia is using the much better Club Autus lounge with HK airlines instead of the contract Plaza Premium. But agree with what you guys said as partnering with airlines being the most economical option. Air New Zealand has a great network of lounges in Aus but doubt that would work out as they are cutting ties. Singapore airlines would be a good option with lounges at Aus airports so they can stop contracting inferior Plaza Premium and use the better SQ lounges. In Hong Kong, Club Autus I think is still pretty good. In LA, the Emirates arrangement is kind of weird but still very nice. Hope I will not be left lounge-less at LAX again, probably partnering with Delta LAX lounge or Singapore Star Alliance lounge if that happens.
andyf
andyf
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 07 Dec 2014
Total posts 55
Given their cash flow position, I doubt adding extra lounges is high on the list of priorities unless it is a real cost saver compared with using their partners lounges. Surely if they have capital to spend it would be on something more profit generating like aircraft - especially since their major partners already have lounges here, so its not like they can make money off lounge access for other airlines.
rencontre
rencontre
Member since 27 Aug 2015
Total posts 9
LAX, hkg, Bali, 4 destinations in NZ and several in the Pacific....surely there is some justification for their own international lounge - in Sydney at least?
banana0692
banana0692
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 03 Oct 2016
Total posts 11
Yeah while i'd enjoy having a VA branded Int' lounge network i'd love them to buy some more aircraft to open up some more/ interesting long haul international routes.