Your guide to Virgin Australia international lounge access

Virgin Australia and its Velocity Frequent Flyer program boast a strong array of airline partners, such as Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, United and Etihad. And while most of these partners offer reciprocal international lounge access to elite Velocity Gold and Platinum members, the rules are anything but simple.

Because Virgin Australia and its partners have a ‘pick and choose’ relationship rather than all being part of the same alliance, lounge access rules differ between each airline. Complicating matters is that Virgin Australia doesn’t operate any international lounges, even in Australia.

Here’s a brief cheat sheet on which lounges you can access with Velocity Gold or Platinum status, as of 12 September 2022.

1. Before Virgin Australia international flights

Unfortunately, Virgin Australia does not currently offer lounge access in any port before any of their international flights. You may want to consider accessing an independent lounge through schemes such as Priority Pass or a rewards credit card (such as American Express).

In some cases, you could visit a Virgin Australia domestic lounge before your flight if it’s nearby. For example, let’s say you’re flying from Gold Coast down to Sydney to connect to Fiji. Your luggage is checked through and you have both boarding passes.

If there’s enough time in between, you could get off your first flight at Sydney T2 and use the domestic Virgin Australia lounge to freshen up, before you exit and change to the international terminal. But you should take into account travel time between the domestic and international terminals.

2. Before United Airlines flights

• Access United-owned and operated lounges when travelling on a United Airlines-operated flight as part of an international itinerary with Velocity Gold or Platinum status. This means domestic-only United flight bookings aren’t eligible. Business Class passengers can use associated lounges due to the class of travel.
• Also, relax in the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge in Sydney and Melbourne when departing on a United Airlines flight with Velocity Gold or Platinum status.
• Velocity Gold and Platinum members can bring one guest, including children.

3. Before Etihad flights

• Access Etihad-owned and operated lounges and associated third-party lounges when booked on an Etihad Airways-operated flight with Velocity Gold or Platinum status.
• Velocity Gold members can use the Al Dhabi Lounge in Abu Dhabi when flying in Economy. Meanwhile, Velocity Platinum members can relax in the Etihad First Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi.
• Velocity Gold and Platinum members can bring one guest, including children.

4. Before Qatar Airways flights

• Access Qatar Airways-owned and operated lounges and associated third-party lounges when travelling on a Qatar Airways-operated flight with Velocity Gold or Platinum status. Make sure to get a lounge invitation from the check-in counters before heading to the lounge.
• In Doha, both Velocity Gold and Platinum members can use the relevant Gold or Platinum lounge. In most other ports, they can use the same lounge as Business and First Class passengers. But in places where Qatar Airways operates its own Premium Lounge, only ticketed First and Business Class passengers can get in. Velocity Gold and Platinum members may be allocated a different lounge.
• At most airports, Velocity Gold and Platinum members can bring one guest, including children. But in Doha only, children under 11 years old don’t count as guests. Bring them all!

5. Before Singapore Airlines flights

• Access Singapore Airlines-owned and operated lounges when travelling on a Singapore Airlines operated flight with Velocity Gold or Platinum status. Business Class and First passengers can use associated lounges due to class of travel.
• In Singapore, both Velocity Gold and Platinum members can use the KrisFlyer Gold lounge. In all other ports, they can use the same Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge as Business Class passengers.
• Velocity Gold and Platinum members can bring one guest, including children.

6. Before Air Canada flights

• Access Air Canada-owned and operated Maple Leaf lounges when travelling on an Air Canada marketed and operated flight with Velocity Gold or Platinum status. Business Class and First passengers can use associated lounges due to class of travel.
• Unfortunately, there is no lounge access in Sydney or Brisbane for Velocity Gold and Platinum members, because Air Canada does not operate lounges there.
• Velocity Gold and Platinum members can bring one guest, including children.

7. Before Virgin Atlantic flights

• Access Virgin Atlantic-owned and operated lounges when travelling on a Virgin Atlantic operated flight with Velocity Gold or Platinum status. Upper Class passengers can use associated lounges.
• Velocity Platinum members are also granted access to the London Heathrow Revivals Lounge upon arrival, but with no guests permitted.
• Velocity Gold and Platinum members can bring one guest, including children. This excludes the Revivals Lounge in London Heathrow.

8. Before South African Airlines flights

• Access SAA-owned and operated lounges when travelling on South African Airlines with Velocity Gold or Platinum status. Business Class passengers can use associated lounges.
• Velocity Gold and Platinum members can bring one guest, including children.

Summing up

Virgin Australia’s Velocity Gold and Platinum members can usually kick back in a lounge when flying with these seven partner airlines. But only Qatar Airways and Etihad provide access to associated lounges in ports where those airlines don’t operate their own lounges.

For all the other partners, you can only enjoy lounge access when you’re departing from a port where the airline owns and operates its own lounge. And some other partners, such as Hawaiian Airlines, don’t even have reciprocal lounge access arrangements yet.

You can find the latest Virgin Australia international lounge access policies on their website.