Virgin Australia My Lounge Brisbane
The My Lounge Brisbane International Airport is a bit of an odd lounge. Run my the global lounge chain No1 Lounges, it run in conjunction with Virgin Australia, where it acts as the airlines lounge for it's half a dozen international flight. Not part of the No1 mainstream lounges, it is called 'My Lounge', their brand for the more bucket and spade brigade. It has a large seating area with runways views, a TV and games rooms, shower facilities and free wifi.
It's a great space for Business Class passengers on Virgin Australia and Hawaiian Airlines, who lack their own lounge at the Queensland airport. There are good seats, showers, complementary food and a bar. However, any traveller in economy can enter for a fee. And it feels like an add on, just in the middle of the terminal, and separated by slats from the main concourse. It's certainly unique.
NEWS: Virgin Australia's My Lounge Brisbane opens. The lounge has seating for 105 passengers, a self serve cocktail bar, barista coffee, a TV and games rooms, shower facilities and free wifi
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Brisbane Virgin Australia My lounge review
The Virgin Australia My Brisbane Lounge is a great, open space, right at the end of the terminal. Too open, perhaps, with not even a glass divider between it and the main waiting area.
The lounge is easy to find, but a long walk, located airside close to gate 77 within the airport's international terminal, but right at the end of the international arm. Turn left after you exit passport control, and keep walking. Eventually you'll see what looks like a newsagent hut with wooden slats right in the distance. This is the lounge. There is a small entrance podia, completing the resemblance to what seems like a pop-up lounge. One that is really a blink and you'll miss it affair.
The lounge itself isn't that small. It is 330 square meters, and has seating for 105 passengers. Between 9 and 11am, most of them seem to be in the lounge: it can get really busy at this time.
Effectively a long thin pop-up space, there are various rooms separated by the temporary wooden slats. Turn right from the reception podia and there is a small TV room and pool table. Opposite this is what seems to be a VIP room - it is often roped off, with a comfortable sofa and some bucket chairs.
Back in the main lounge, you walk past a 'living wall', then a large dining table - with magazine rack. There is a small coffee stand in the middle of the lounge, Then large sofas, before you come to the kitchen counter offering what is euphamistically called a 'hot and cold grazing menu'.
Separating this is the self serve cocktail bar, with barista coffee on the end of this.
To the window side are plenty of two chairs and table combos, and further along some recliners. Finally right at the end, and squeezed in, are the toilets with a single shower.
Food
There is decent food in Virgin Australia's 'My Lounge' Brisbane, with that famous 'hot and cold grazing menu' featuring local produce as well as cuisines from around the world.
What this really means for most passengers in the morning, is a fry up with sausages, bacon, beans, mushrooms, and hash browns. And jolly good it is too.
Later in the day there is a pie of the day, in the pie heater, plus a "kitchen counter" buffet, with three tubs of rice, pasta and meat, with choices rotating every two weeks.
The salad bar is really small, having just three bowls of salad on a shelf.
Bar
It's very much a do it yourself approach at the bar, even down to having a mix yourself cocktail instruction manual on the bar.
Beer is in the fridge, and there are a couple of white and two red wines. Don't miss the 'hidden' fridge behind the bar counter, with cans of Orchard Crush cider.
There's also a selection of signature cocktails, including the 'Virgin Australia Flamingo', a refreshing mix of Gordon's Pink Gin, cranberry juice, pink grapefruit juice, lemon juice, strawberry and mint. Yep, all of these are on the do it yourself menu.
Early morning, before the LAX flight leaves, there is also barista-made coffee, when the bar counter is actually staffed. This is on the left hand end of the bar. Just hover here, and the staff will take your order and shout your name when it's ready.
Business Facilities
Free wifi.A grand total of four magazines are in a W formation newspaper rack on the bench in the middle of the lounge.
There is a bench to park your laptop on, and wireless charging surfaces, along with mains and USB charging sockets below the bench.
At the end of the lounge is a small games room, with a table football machine, a TV with video games, and beanbags.
Bathrooms
In lounge, but only two unisex toilets available in the lounge. There is often a queue.
A highlight of the pre-flight space is its shower facilities - but there is only one shower, and no toiletries other than towels and a hair dryer.
Access
Brisbane's My Lounge has been launched in partnership with Virgin Australia, giving free access to the carrier's business class passengers flying long haul to Los Angeles (the only trans Pacific destination).
Platinum and Gold members of the Velocity Frequent Flyer programme, and Virgin Australia Lounge members travelling to New Zealand, also gain access.
Hawaiian Airlines Business class passengers plus Velocity Gold and Platinum frequent flyers, are also admitted, so long as on the Virgin Australia codeshare, and Hainan Airlines if a Velocity Gold or Platinum in economy class.
Passengers from other airlines are also able to pay to enter the lounge at a cost of A$70 when pre-booked, $30 for children (aged 2-11). Infants are free. Or A$80 on the day. This is a recent increase of $10 a person.
Paying guests can opt to get shower-only access for a charge of A$25.
The Virgin Australia MyLounge Brisbane is open 5.00am to 10.00pm.
Video: My Lounge Virgin International
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Brisbane Airport Guide
| Virgin Australia My Lounge Brisbane | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating |
Video walkthrough and Image gallery by Loungeindex.com
| |
| Location | Airside, close to gate 77 | |
| Opening hours | 0500-2200 | |
| Cost | A$70, $80 on the door | |
| Lounge for: | Virgin Australia | |
| Access | Virgin Australia Business Class, Velocity Gold or Platinum in economy class, Hawaiian Airlines Business class passengers plus Velocity Gold and Platinum frequent flyers. | |