Summary

  • Virgin Australia has reduced routes and now focuses on domestic flights.
  • Despite facing competition, Virgin Australia serves five international destinations.
  • Seven Virgin Australia lounges offer amenities such as free WiFi and showers.

In Australia, two main airline groups are looking to dominate the sky. Qantas Group, which owns Qantas, Jetstar, and then Virgin Australia, is the brainchild of Sir Richard Branson.

Virgin Australia once upon a time had an extensive domestic and international network to and from Australia; however, since the pandemic and its voluntary administration, the carrier has scaled back a number of its routes substantially and has practically abandoned its South Pacific and New Zealand markets. Before COVID-19, Virgin served over five destinations in New Zealand, which has now shrunk to just Queenstown.

Virgin Australia faces stiff competition, with Qantas, Jetstar, and Rex hot on its heels throughout the domestic market. While Virgin retains its base in Brisbane, it also has hubs in Melbourne and Sydney, with secondary hubs in Adelaide and Perth.

Virgin_Australia_Lounge_Melbourne__11_

Photo: Virgin Australia

Today, according to ch-Aviation, an online aviation database, Virgin operates a fleet of over 80 aircraft to 44 home and abroad. While it serves all major Australian cities, its international network now serves:

  • Nadi (NAN) – Fiji
  • Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Japan
  • Queenstown (ZQN) – New Zealand
  • Apia (APW) – Samoa
  • Port Vila (VLI) – Vanuatu

This is a far cry from what it was pre-pandemic, with Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s (now both retired) that, through history, have served as far as Johannesburg, Hong Kong, and Phuket. Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles.

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Domestic lounge locations

Those holding boarding passes on Virgin Australia flights can access seven lounges across the continent. These are positioned at the airline’s significant airports; let’s look at the finer details:

Airport

Opening hours

Key features

Brisbane International Airport (BNE) – Domestic terminal

60 minutes before the first domestic flight of the day until the final departure

  • Free WiFi
  • Self-service food
  • Barista coffee
  • Bar service from 12:00
  • Premium entry for eligible passengers between 05:00 and 10:00 on weekdays
  • Shower facilities

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) – Domestic terminal

60 minutes before the first domestic flight of the day until the final departure

  • Free WiFi
  • Self-service food
  • Barista coffee
  • Bar service from 12:00
  • Premium entry for eligible passengers between 05:00 and 10:00 on weekdays
  • Shower facilities

Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport (MEL) – Domestic Terminal 3

60 minutes before the first domestic flight of the day until the final departure

  • Free WiFi
  • Self-service food
  • Barista coffee
  • Bar service from 12:00
  • Premium entry for eligible passengers between 05:00 and 10:00 on weekdays
  • Shower facilities
  • Meeting rooms: These are available for a fee to eligible guests.

    • Meeting room 1 – Capacity 12 – 14 people
    • Meeting room 2 – Capacity eight

Adelaide International Airport (ADL) – Domestic terminal – opposite gate 15

60 minutes before the first domestic flight of the day until the final departure

  • Free WiFi
  • Self-service food
  • Barista coffee
  • Bar service from 12:00
  • Shower facilities
  • AvailaIt is availablenternational travelers also, who can access it before passing through immigration into the international departure wing

Canberra International Airport (CBR) – Level 3 Western Concourse

60 minutes before the first domestic flight of the day until the final departure

  • Free WiFi
  • Self-service food
  • Barista coffee
  • Bar service from 12:00
  • Shower facilities
  • Meeting rooms: These are available for a fee to eligible guests.

    • Meeting room 1 – Capacity of four people

Perth International Airport (PER) – Domestic Terminal 1

60 minutes before the first domestic flight of the day until the final departure

  • Free WiFi
  • Self-service food
  • Barista coffee
  • Bar service from 12:00
  • Shower facilities
  • Meeting rooms: These are available for a fee to eligible guests.

    • Meeting room 1 – Capacity of six people
    • Meeting room 2 – Capacity of ten people

Gold Coast Coolangatta International Airport (OOL) – South End of Domestic Terminal

60 minutes before the first domestic flight of the day until the final departure

  • Free WiFi
  • Self-service food
  • Barista coffee
  • Bar service from 12:00
  • Shower facilities
  • It is available for international travelers also, who can access it before passing through immigration into the international departure wing

For those with access, you will be treated to a range of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options specific to the time of day, all prepared onsite. For those looking for a drink, there are barista coffee options, premium tea, and a range of soft drinks. Due to local liquor licensing laws, alcoholic beverages, including curated wines and craft beers, are available from noon.

With WiFi, printing facilities, and showers at all locations, you can finish your day’s business or freshen up before your flight. Towels are also available.

Accessing the lounge

Complimentary lounge access is permitted for business class, Velocity Platinum, and Gold members, while Silver members can redeem their single-use lounge passes when awarded. If you don’t travel frequently enough to reach the airline’s frequent flier tiers, you can opt for paid membership, with details outlined below:

Joining fee

AU $99 ($67)

Annual membership

AU $450 ($305)

Lifetime membership

AU $9,750 ($6,593)

Senior lifetime membership

AU $6,750 ($4,565)

Various Australian credit cards also offer free single-use lounge passes, which include the Westpac Altitude, AMEX Velocity Platinum, Gold and Business, and Virgin Money credit card holders, or you can opt to pay as you go, with standard entry at the door (subject to capacity), for AU $65 ($44) per adult, which is permitted up to two hours before departure.

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