Hi Guys,
Any ideas on what the cheapest method to gain membership to either of these lounges is? I was looking around for a credit card that may include membership to these clubs however I can't seem to find any that include such lounges. Credit cards generally include access to Priority Pass which doesn't include the Virgin or Qantas Lounge.
Alternatively do you know how one could get cheaper rates to mentioned lounges?
Thanks!
ANZ Black cards can
1) get you into Veloce Lounges more details here
2) ANZ Black Qantas Freq Flyer - can get you into Qantas Club & discounted joining to Qantas Club (first year) here
good comparison here
The amex gold Qantas gives 2 passes a year to use, for some reason the gold velocity card is no longer on their website but they had 2 passes a year as well.
Joining as a Gold Member of The Australian Frequent Flyer ($50 per year) offers a range of benefits:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/vba_index.php?page…
Of these, $200+ savings off Qantas Club Membership
Qantas offer "10 or more business travelers" generous savings by creating and joining a Qantas Club Corporate scheme. Visit the Qantas Club Corporate Membership http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/qantas-club-members… for full details.
The saving amounts to $225 for new Qantas Club members and $85 per year for existing members (at time of writing). Our GOLD members can use our Individually Managed Qantas Club Scheme and enjoy these savings. Note that if you are already an (Individual) Qantas Club member, you can renew your Qantas Club membership under our scheme at the discounted corporate rate.
Thank you all for the responses. Are there any deals floating around for the Velocity Lounge? I'm not really bound by either airline so I'm just trying to get a feel for the best offerings from bother airlines.
If you work for Sydney Uni by any chance, you can get Virgin Lounge Access for $100/year. Check out the travel policy for details.
Silver status with Virgin FF gives $300 membership to the lounge + 2 free passes (in your first year of Silver). I just scape into Gold each year by 1 or 2 flights and I don't want to sound like i'm too up myself, but the Virgin Lounge (free with Gold) is pretty shabby at best - honestly if I didn't get it as an inclusion with my FF status or have my employer pay for it I don't think I'd stump up my own money for it.
If flying during peak times, you'll sometimes struggle to get a seat (my experiences are limited to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane at each of these I have found it difficult to get a seat at least 5-6 times from say 20 visits each during peak hours). Especially avoid when ever they are renovating or upgrading a lounge, just avoid it - nightmare on wheels stuff.
Most newspapers are now only downloadable via press reader app for free, so no more free Magazine and Newspaper fest (you have to connect to their wifi without a VPN which exposes you) - to add insult to injury the wifi is painfully slow especially if it is busy to the point of no seats, I usually connect just to start the press reader download then jump back to 4g to finish the download.
They have scaled back the nuts and chips (Sydney last Friday had some rice puff mix with about 3 peanuts in it).
Sometimes they have light meals - if you can call Risotto, day old soup or a hotdog station a "meal", other than that it is make your own toastie sandwich of you are hungry. Sometimes when you are really hanging for the free hotdog (yes my life has come to that) they simply have NOTHING - even during peak hours.
They do have all you can drink post mix, beer, cider and cheap wine - if you are into that.
But its a really an ehhh experience. A few times at Sydney I've actually preferred to sit in the food court or at the gate than the over stuffed virgin lounge.
They do take toilet hygiene pretty seriously so the toilets are always clean and if you need a shower (which I have required once in the past 8 years of membership the shower was clean and fresh and they give you towels and toiletries).
if you fly a lot for work, join and use it as a tax deduction