Virgin Australia to use Etihad lounge for Sydney-Hong Kong flights
By David Flynn, June 22 2018
With Virgin Australia's daily Sydney-Hong Kong flights taking off from July 2, the airline has finally confirmed which lounge it will be using at Sydney Airport's T1 international terminal.
As widely expected, and now confirmed to by a Virgin Australia spokesperson to Australian Business Traveller, the lounge of partner Etihad Airways will play host to Virgin's business class passengers alongside Velocity Platinum and Gold frequent flyers.
Etihad Airways' Sydney Airport lounge
Etihad's combined business/first class lounge nominally opens three hours ahead of its 3.15pm and 8.55pm flights to Abu Dhabi.
However the 10am departure of Virgin Australia's flight VA83 to Hong Kong will see those passengers joining VA1 travellers headed to Los Angeles at around 9.30am, who also use this lounge and enjoy a breakfast service similar to what was done for Virgin's Melbourne-Hong Kong flights before shifting to a 12.30am departure.
Etihad Airways' Sydney Airport lounge
Read more: AusBT reviews Virgin Australia business class from Melbourne to Hong Kong
So while the Etihad lounge's tended bar may not be open...
Etihad Airways' Sydney Airport lounge
... travellers can expect a decent breakfast spread along with some lighter continental options in case they want to leave room for Luke Mangan's inflight business class fare.
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.
27 Aug 2015
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Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
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..what are the chances that ALL VA international flights will use this / Etihad lounge come 28 October?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
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And the bar is open and tended in the morning. It was the only place I could find a seat in the lounge before VA1. Sadly they don't serve the real Champagne until the evening (not that it's spectacular Champagne).
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
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It seems to be around 1/2 the size of the Air NZ lounge, which always seems to be packed; but presumably that has to cater for more flights?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
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Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
07 Dec 2014
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In comparison the VA 777 and A330 have 57 premium seats combined - smaller than one of Etihad's plane loads.
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