Short review
Note: 3 is average
Lounge: 4/5 (Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge at Melbourne Airport) – Spacious lounge; good variety of drinks; fast Wi-Fi
Seat: 3/5 – Standard business class short-haul recliner seat in a narrow-body aircraft
Entertainment: 3.5/5 – Bring your own device, which is their norm; free Wi-Fi
Service: 3/5 – Flight was delayed 15 minutes
Food and beverages: 4.5/5 – Nice dish and great drink options for such a short flight
Pros:
- Free Wi-Fi on board for business class passengers
Cons:
- Flight was delayed 15 minutes
Long review
I arrived at Melbourne Airport around 1.5 hours before my flight, which was scheduled to take off at 19:00 and arrive in Sydney at 20:25 (1 hours and 25 minutes flight duration). Check in was done quickly through one of the many self-check-in kiosks. Given that I did not have any check-in luggage with me, I simply went through security afterwards, which was fairly quick too. From there, I went directly to the Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge.
The lounge was spacious and had a variety of spaces, including work zones and more casual seating for those looking to unwind. It offered a nice view of the tarmac. There was also a dining area offering a range of complimentary food options. The spread included fresh salads, spiced pork rice, chicken cream soup, bread rolls and beverages, such as coffee, tea, juices, and soft drinks. While the food was ok, it was not particularly extravagant. One of the standout features of the lounge was the bar area, which served alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits. In terms of amenities, the lounge offered fast Wi-Fi and power outlets for charging devices. The lounge was rather crowded due to it being a busy time at the airport, but I could still find a seat easily.
Check the video below for getting to know the lounge more.
Boarding was delayed 30 minutes. When it was time for boarding, as usual business class passengers and high-tier frequent flyers were invited to board first. The business class cabin featured a 2-2 seating arrangement. There were only 8 business class seats, and all were occupied. The seat was a typical business class recliner seat cladded in a kind of leather-like material. There was no entertainment system as Virgin Australia used a bring-your-own device system, where passengers could use their personal devices to access the in-flight entertainment options. The good thing was that free Wi-Fi was provided for business class passengers, which was handy for those who would like to remain connected for work. It was not speedy, but it was enough to send and receive emails.
I was greeted with a warm welcome from the flight attendants. One of them offered welcome drinks, in which I picked a glass of refreshing sparkling wine. Even though boarding was delayed 30 minutes, at the end the plane left the gate around 15 minutes late.
After reaching the cruising altitude, a flight attendant took my dinner order. I opted for beef rendang with rice and apple juice. The dish came with a small packet of crackers and cheese. It was not bad actually. I did not expect that they would have rendang as an option.
After dinner, I did a bit of work on my laptop before we descended into Sydney and landed 15 minutes late. Overall, the delay was not serious, and the overall experience was rather pleasant. The Lounge was a nice way to start the trip, offering a relaxing space to unwind or catch up with a bit of work before flying. The in-flight meal was generous for such a short domestic flight.
