Virgin boosts fast-track airport security lanes, closes Premium Entry
The popular Premium Entry screening channels are being replaced by Priority Screening lanes.
By David Flynn, December 16 2025
Virgin Australia will permanently shut its Premium Entry screening channel in Sydney this week, and temporarily close the Premium Entry in Brisbane, as the airline streamlines the passenger security process at its major airports.
In their place will be dedicated Priority Screening lanes in the main terminal, which the airline says are now open for extended hours to the following travellers::
- Virgin Australia business class passengers
- Velocity Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus and Beyond members
- Virgin Australia Lifetime Lounge members
Also cleared for Priority Screening are high-tier frequent flyers of Virgin’s partner airlines, such as:
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold and Platinum members
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold and PPS Club members
- United Airlines Premier Gold, Platinum, 1K, and Global Services members
A Virgin Australia spokesperson said the move meant “doubling access to priority screening for eligible guests across major domestic airports,” while eligible travellers would “have greater access to priority screening queues.”
Virgin Australia Priority Screening
Priority Screening lanes at Sydney and Melbourne are now open across the morning and evening peak hours, from 5am to 10am and then 2pm to 7pm, from Monday to Friday (but not on weekends).
In Brisbane, Priority Screening is available all day at the new central security zone on the mezzanine level (accessible from the Skywalk and the check-in hall).
Priority Screening at Perth is available all day.
Virgin Australia Premium Entry
While Premium Entry at Sydney Terminal 2 will be permanently closed from 19 December, Premium Entry at Brisbane will be temporarily unavailable from 19 December 2025 to late 2026 due to infrastructure works at the terminal.
The Sydney and Brisbane Premium Entry lanes were highly valued by frequent flyers for the time-saving convenience of a private security screening path which speeds their way from the kerb straight into the Virgin Australia lounge.
However, they have lately been open for very limited hours, such as 5am to 8am weekdays in Sydney and 5am to 10am weekdays in Brisbane.
Virgin says the replacement Priority Screening lanes will be available over a much longer period, and combined with new scanning tech installed at the airports will still see travellers enjoying the fast track treatment.
Also read: Virgin Australia trials free Wi-Fi messaging
10 Jul 2023
Total posts 8
Gee, would it hurt them to keep the SYD priority screening lane open all day long?
If cost is an issue surely they could just leave it unstaffed and redirect to the main scanners at off-peak periods, while still being able to promote an all-day fast lane.
23 Nov 2023
Total posts 3
Is this article an April Fools joke. The priority lanes or entries are hardly ever open. In Melb the priority is closed by 9am.
Virgin offers all these perks that actually are not perks, as they are hardly ever available.
So the question is, when is a perk provided by not a perk, when Virgin provides it. As a Gold flyer, previously Platinum, it’s getting worse and worse. And let’s not even talk about the disgusting food provided in their lounges.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
12 May 2022
Total posts 33
I'm not sure if you read it article fully. The Melbourne & Sydney priority screening queue will be open 5am until 10am with these changes, then reopen again at 2pm until 7pm (Mon - Fri).
05 Dec 2017
Total posts 23
Yeah, so another nail in the coffin for bothering to maintain Platinum with VA. The benefits are just so small it's not worth going out of my way to get the company to book VA over QF.
Devaluation of points? Check. More stringent tiers? Check. Barely distinguished from Jetstar onboard product? Check. The same limited lounge food and beverage offering for more than a year at a time? Check. Removal of minor premium amenities for premium pax? That's right... CHECK!
Virgin - just not worth the effort.
18 Mar 2021
Total posts 70
I can't work out how any company could be so hopeless like what VA is doing, going down the drain big time.
07 Mar 2022
Total posts 75
The way they are going the share price will hit $2.00 which devalues the company by around 37% from listing on the ASX.
Looks like no one is in control, a free fall, no innovation just devaluation.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1095
Virgin is being Qantas' best salesperson, all Qantas has to do now is offer a status match VA Gold for QF Gold, VA Platinum for QF Platinum. The ironic thing is QF Platinum is better than VA Platinum Plus WITHOUT LISTING ALL THE PERKS for example QF Platinum gets International First Class Lounge access while VA Platinum Plus don't even have a lounge!!!! 😭😂😭😩😩
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1095
I think the Gold Coast does Premium Entry the best, and it's all day everyday for all "valued" (JOKE) frequent flyers. It would be so easy for Sydney to copy that set up.
QFP
22 Jan 2013
Total posts 99
Adelaide does it well to, and it is all day. I guess both ADE and OOL have single entry points so can share the cost.
10 Jan 2011
Total posts 6
Such a contrast to QF at Brisbane.
Not flying for work much any more, and won't have premium access with VA unless flying in J. One less reason for burning points or dollars for it, compared to QF.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1095
Silly Question so will Qantas passengers with shiny cards have priority access as well flying on Jetstar, I think YES.
16 Jun 2023
Total posts 11
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