Virgin Australia has lifted the velvet curtain on the airline’s long-awaited invitation-only private Beyond Lounges in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Here’s a first peek inside the swish space many of us will likely never get to see.
Wanna be to be a VVIP? That’s a “Very, very important person BTW.
According to Virgin Australia, the new Beyond Lounges are reserved for “corporate partners, some high-status Velocity Frequent Flyer members and key opinion leaders throughout the country.”
The Beyond member list reportedly includes business leaders as well as key individuals from the worlds of travel, politics, sport, music, entertainment and society.
With the capacity for hundreds of Virgin Australia’s most valued frequent flyers across the three capital city private lounges, members enter via existing domestic lounges and a discreet door with access granted through a sustainable digital membership card only given to Virgin Australia’s most loyal flyers.
What’s it like inside?
Once you’re through the discreet entrance, you’ll get to experience a quiet and welcoming space, with design elements including feature leather-clad and oak timber walls, plush MadMen styled Chester-style armchairs and secluded privacy pods.
The privacy pods are apparently a member favourite in the lounges (handy for the celebs) and contain timber cabinetry with built-in charging stations, making it easy for members to work or relax on the fly.
Transparent frosted glass surrounds the pods allowing for natural light to enter while maintaining discretion for those seated inside.
Numerous seating zones are spread throughout the lounges, providing members with different spaces to dine, relax, refresh and recharge. End of day facilities such as showers (available from 1 July 2022), towels and premium bathroom amenities by Appelles Apothecary Lab are also available for members.
Private offices and board rooms are also available in each Beyond Lounge and can be booked by members ahead of or on the day of travel.
What about the food and drinks?
Inside you’ll find a fresh à la carte menu for Beyond members, featuring light and substantial fresh menu options using the finest Australian produce.
All food is freshly prepared on-site and can be ordered with the airline’s dedicated Beyond Lounge Hosts who are on hand to deliver a personalised service experience.
The breakfast and all-day dining menus will rotate regularly based on supply and seasonality, and include eggs made to order, superfood salads, decadent desserts and Virgin Australia’s signature truffle fries.
There’s also a wide range of carefully selected beverages, including top-shelf spirits, Australian wine, cocktails and freshly squeezed juices.
Get the VIP Beyond service experience
In keeping with the quiet atmosphere vibes, you won’t hear any boarding announcements and instead will get a personalised 1:1 boarding invitation from the dedicated Beyond Lounge Hosts, who will swing by when it’s time for you to board your flight. Very handy in case you’ve fallen asleep from all that peace and quiet.
Beyond Lounge Hosts will also recommend meals from the all-day à la carte menu based on the duration of your visit before your flight.
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the opening of Beyond Lounges is a significant milestone in the airline’s transformation strategy.
“We are continuing to write a new chapter at Virgin Australia and this is the next wonderful edition of our transformation journey,” said Ms Hrdlicka.
“Virgin Australia is dedicated to providing exceptional service experiences and product offerings at great value prices, and Beyond is a great example of Virgin Australia investing in the products and services our guests value most.”
Virgin Australia Beyond member benefits include
- 12-month annual membership for the primary member with the option to also nominate a spouse/partner for Beyond membership to enjoy the same benefits. Membership is reviewed each year.
- Access to dedicated Beyond Lounges in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with a relaxed à la carte menu offering.
- Dedicated phone concierge service to make or change bookings.
- 4 x complimentary upgrades to Business Class each year*.
- 1 x complimentary Velocity Gold membership for the primary member’s executive assistant.
The re-opening of the highly anticipated lounge network (previously known as The Club), a key benefit of the new Virgin Australia Beyond loyalty program announced last year, signifies a major milestone in the airline’s transformation plan and follows a long list of significant customer improvements since Virgin Australia was relaunched in 2020.