Your guide to Virgin Australia domestic lounge access

With lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and the Gold Coast to its name, Virgin Australia rolls out the welcome mat for a wide mix of travellers – and it’s not just Velocity status holders on the guest list.

Frequent flyers of partner airlines including Air Canada, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines are also invited in for a pre-flight snack and relax, as are business class travellers, single-visit passholders, and many more.

Here’s a complete list of who qualifies for Virgin Australia lounge access, along with how anybody flying Virgin can get into the lounge.

Virgin Australia lounge access by Velocity Frequent Flyer status

The most common path to lounge access is Velocity Frequent Flyer status – Gold and Platinum members, as well as those holding invite-only Beyond status, are all on that list. Guests are welcome also, as follows: 

Here’s who makes the cut, along with how many adult and child guests each member can bring along.

Unlike higher-tiered travellers, Velocity Silver members receive two complimentary lounge visits per year rather than unlimited access.

These are credited to the Silver member as electronic lounge passes, which can be redeemed on entry to the lounge – either by the member on two separate visits, or on a single visit when travelling with a guest (one pass per person).

The light and bright Virgin Australia lounge in Melbourne.

Velocity Silver members using these passes can’t bring a complimentary guest, however, and aren’t entitled to bring children into the lounge when only one adult pass is used.

(The discretion of lounge staff may allow this to occur, but it’s something the traveller can merely ‘request’, not ‘expect’.)

Virgin Australia lounge access by travel class

Business class tickets are another easy way of getting into the lounge before your flight. It’s included in the fare, after all. Simply scan your boarding pass or present it to staff on entry and you’re all set to enter.

Access includes those who booked business class outright, as well as travellers who upgraded using Velocity Points, an upgrade bid, or a Platinum or VIP UpgradeMe credit.

While Virgin doesn’t normally permit guests for business class passengers, an exception is made where that traveller is an Unaccompanied Minor – in which case, an adult (who isn’t flying) can enter the lounge and wait with the child until departure. 

Virgin Australia lounge access by partner airline status

Eligible members of selected Virgin Australia partner airline programs enjoy access to its domestic lounges when travelling on a same-day Virgin Australia flight, as below.

Virgin Australia notes visitors must present a valid membership card for their respective loyalty program when seeking access to the lounge.

The Gold Coast Virgin Australia lounge is a great spot to kick back and enjoy the runway view.

Top-tier frequent flyers of Virgin Australia’s other partner airlines, including All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Hawaiian Airlines, do not have access to Virgin Australia’s domestic lounges at present.

On-arrival lounge access is only permitted for Virgin Australia Beyond, Platinum and Gold members, guests in Business Class and Virgin Atlantic Gold members.

Those looking for Velocity international lounge access to partners such as Air Canada, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines can read our handy guide here. 

Virgin Australia lounge access by credit card

Does your Australian credit card offer Velocity Points? If so, you may also qualify for Virgin Australia Lounge access.

Cardholders with the following products can unlock two single-visit Virgin Australia Lounge passes every year:

• American Express Velocity Business Card
• American Express Velocity Platinum Card
• Virgin Money’s Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer Card
• Westpac Altitude Velocity Black Mastercard

Contact your financial institution to confirm how and when your lounge passes can be activated – which may first require you to book a Virgin Australia flight using that same card.

These can be used by the traveller on two separate visits, or on one visit with a guest in-tow, in the same way as Velocity Silver lounge passes are redeemed.

Virgin Australia domestic passengers with the following cards are instead entitled to unlimited lounge access, on presentation of a departing Virgin Australia boarding pass and their AMEX card:

• American Express Platinum Charge Card
• American Express Platinum Business Card
• American Express Centurion Card

Each cardholder is entitled to bring one guest into the lounge – who must be travelling with the AMEX Platinum or Centurion member on the same flight – and remember, you’ll require your physical AMEX card for access: cards in apps and mobile wallets don’t make the cut.

Paid access to Virgin Australia lounges

Travellers who can’t access the lounge based on their frequent flyer status or travel class can instead pay to gain entry – either through a yearly or lifetime lounge membership, or by purchasing a single-entry pass at the door.

For those travellers paying for access at the door, a $65 fee per person applies, and doesn’t include any complimentary guests.

While lounge staff may use discretion where children are involved, expect to pay $65 per person, and consider it a happy bonus if charges are waived for a little one.

Who can use Virgin Australia Premium Entry?

Virgin Australia Premium Entry facilities in Sydney and Brisbane provide a direct path from kerb to lounge – and the door list for Premium Entry is tighter than for the lounge itself.

Here’s who can use Premium Entry, when it’s available:

• Virgin Australia business class passengers
• Velocity Gold, Platinum and VIP frequent flyers
• Virgin Australia Lifetime Lounge members
• Frequent flyers of Air Canada, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic who qualify for lounge access, as above
• Travellers entering as a guest of the above flyers, where permitted

This means Premium Entry is not available to those either with annual lounge membership, paying $65 at the door, holding Velocity Silver and credit card holders using a single-entry pass, or to AMEX Platinum, Platinum Business and Centurion cardholders.

The kerbside Premium Entry at Brisbane Domestic Airport.

Passengers who qualify for Virgin Australia lounge access but not use of the Premium Entry are required to enter via the main entry i.e. passing through passenger screening points and walking up to the door from departures concourse.

It’s worth noting Premium Entry can only be used if travelling with carry-on baggage. If you’re lugging a checked suitcase behind you, you’ll need to proceed through the bag drop and security screening, and use the main entrance.

Can I access the Virgin Australia lounges after my flight?

Yes – Virgin Australia has confirmed that on-arrival access to lounges is available, but only for Virgin Australia Beyond, Platinum and Gold members, plus guests in Business Class and Virgin Atlantic Gold members.

Status holders of other partner airlines do not have on-arrival access.