Virgin Australia's Melbourne Airport lounge: now with wine bar
By David Flynn, February 20 2014
The final extension to Virgin Australia's Melbourne Airport lounge opens today, with the addition of a wine bar where travellers can enjoy a pre-flight tipple.
The stand-up wine bar complements the wine service at the existing buffet and bar area, but provides guests with another 'social focus point'.
It mirrors the late December debut of the lounge's espresso bar which serves up a quick caffeine hit to have there or take away, if you flight is boarding and you're on the go.
With the upgrading of Virgin's Melbourne lounge now complete it has room for 604 guests, the airline says.
It's been a much-needed expansion for Virgin's Melbourne lounge, which opened in May 2011 and this year has been almost bursting at the seams during peak hours as Virgin's share of the Australian business travel market has increased.
“The problem with Melbourne – and it's a good problem to have – is that when we built it with 80 or 100 percent more seating capacity than the old one, we were expecting it to last us for another two or three years” Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti told Australian Business Traveller last year.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
16 May 2011
Total posts 113
So Melbourne's lounge now compares with Sydney and its should be boosted to "Flagship" status now?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 173
Have they included direct security line access?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2012
Total posts 580
Any word on when or if they've opened the premium security lane accessible from within the lounge?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2012
Total posts 580
bmc beat me to it!
20 Oct 2011
Total posts 77
From what I read, Instead of a direct secure entry, Melbourne's lounge will have a secure exit direct to the sterile areas.
Velocity Platinum
10 May 2013
Total posts 82
This is the first I've heard of a direct access security line, even though I was in the lounge in December during renovations, but I like the sound of it.
I'm based in Perth but do fly to/through Melbourne occasionally so I'm just trying to imagine how it would conenct with the the two piers. Exiting from the lounge into the North pier seems straightforward, if a new exit was knocked out to the left of the reception desk.
What about connecting to the South pier? My flights to Perth on the A330 always seem to leave from the South pier. Will there be another security lane exit somewhere near the lounge toilets? (Or at least where they were in early December - it could have changed by now)
Or do I have it backwards and the lounge will have a security lane on entry, like Sydney?
20 Feb 2012
Total posts 66
I doubt they will do much as my understanding the area in front of the lounge and the lounge itself will become sterile once they complete the southern precinct project. Phase 1 is due mid next year.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 173
North pier only as far as the lounge staff said in January. Anyone been there? Is there a security lane from the lounge??
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