Virgin Australia: new lounges coming for Brisbane, Perth in 2015
By Chris C., February 19 2015
Virgin Australia’s new lounges in Brisbane and Perth are beginning to take shape, although travellers will wait a while longer for Premium Entry in the Sunshine State.
Following months of extension works to double its size, the Brisbane lounge is on-track for completion in April – easing the squeeze by giving guests considerably more room to work and relax – with Premium Entry following in August.
Similar to that in Virgin Australia’s Sydney lounge, Velocity Gold and Platinum members and business class passengers will have a kerbside entrance straight into the lounge, with a private security screening point directly accessible from the roadway.
Rather than wading through the airport terminal, top-tier travellers will find themselves perched in the lounge within just minutes of their arrival – a particular drawcard for VIPs, celebrities, CEOs and other members of ‘The Club’, Virgin Australia’s by-invitation frequent flyer tier and lounge.
Read: Virgin Australia’s ‘fast track’ check-in, security channel in Sydney
Residents in Perth will meet their new lounge in the second half of 2015, which will coincide with the airline’s long-awaited move into the airport’s newest terminal. Previously slated for “between May and July”, the reshuffle also brings with it Virgin Australia’s new automated check-in facility – aiming to rival Qantas’ own Smarter, Faster check-in – with the new terminal linked directly with the regional gates for easy flight connections. Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti told Australian Business Traveller that Tasmanians will continue to wait for their long-delayed Hobart lounge, and that "it may be for next year but I would suggest to you it’s the year after." New Virgin Australia lounges will also open in Darwin and Alice Springs in March to coincide with the launch of direct flights between the two regional centres. Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Virgin's swish new Perth terminal will boast a new flagship lounge
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
Is there any new information in this story?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2441
Yes Hugo, the dates that the (expanded) Brisbane lounge and its Premium Entry will open (previously flagged only as "mid-2015"), and that the Perth lounge has been pushed back until somewhere in H2 2015 rather than May-July.
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
Thanks.
See how that was much clearer when you expressed it as a sentence instead of trying to pad it out to a thousand words?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2441
One sentence isn't a news article Hugo, it's a tweet – and doesn't explain why the dates are of any interest other than that something shiny and new is opening – rather than detailing what's on offer and how it will affect the business traveller, which is what makes, in this case, a succinct 260-word article.
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 353
The nerve of AusBT as a highly regarded news site to write up a story with 'news' and in fact be the only publication to report on these lounges, because there's nothing about them in SMH or News.com.au or anywhere else I could see. That's why I come to AusBT, because it knows the 'news' that I'm interested in as a regular business traveller.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 124
Hugo, you seriously need to stop being an arm chair critic. How about leading by example by writing some articles yourself that displays your own (alluded to) prowess. By the sounds of it you seem to have a lot of time on your hands to do so.
Qantas Platinum
04 Dec 2012
Total posts 48
Is Hugo actually demanding executive briefings? ;-)
21 Dec 2012
Total posts 41
DYKWHI? ;) (couldn't resist)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 372
And still nothing for Hobart. I'm really hoping the owners of Hobart Airport can sort something out in relation to a terminal overhaul so Virgin Australia can invest in a lounge there.
12 Jun 2014
Total posts 71
I think LST should get one first ;)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Nov 2012
Total posts 41
How on earth did Alice Springs get a lounge before Hobart and Townsville? So ridiculous.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 444
Typical Perth Airport. Delay...delay...delay...
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...the CEO of Perth Airport couldn't run a bath, let alone an airport.
04 Oct 2011
Total posts 25
Adelaide's Lounge is also badly in need of an update. I hope VA are already in talks with Adelaide Airport to provide a new lounge as part of the planned terminal expansion.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 698
Premium Entry is the best! I wish all the capital airport lounges had such features. The Sydney VA lounge is perfect in this regard, as it has direct from the kerb entry and valet parking right at the door (which is how it should be).
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 119
And HOBART??
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 173
Sigh... HBA in limbo while their aiport management vacillate
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Virgin Australia: new lounges coming for Brisbane, Perth in 2015