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Introduction
My last leg to Melbourne was a domestic flight from Brisbane (BNE) on Virgin Australia (VA). Once I landed in the International Terminal, passengers continuing domestically needed to take a free inter-terminal bus to the Domestic BNE Terminal. With an 8-hour layover, I had plenty of time to navigate to the Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge.
My journey from Canada to Australia;
YYZ –> SFO (4 hr layover) –> BNE (8 hour layover) –> MEL
Review: Air Canada Business Class from Toronto to San Francisco
Review: United Polaris Lounge SFO
Review: United Polaris Business Class from SFO to BNE
Location and Access
Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge in BNE is located across from Gate 41 after security. My flight departed down the hall from the lounge at Gate D45. Conveniently, there is also a McDonald’s right before the lounge.
Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge BNE
A Qantas Lounge is also on the opposite end of this domestic terminal. It’s worth noting that Priority Pass has no lounge access at this BNE Domestic Terminal. However, they do have a few options in the International Terminal.
Layout, Seating, and Amenities
As you enter, there is more than ample space for seating. The lounge has a white motif, with the ceilings and the floor all in marble white. There are also a few red accents throughout the lounge, like red lounge chairs, which are the Virgin Australia colours of red and white.
Reception Desk in Lounge
Lounge Entrance – Seating
More Seating
Upon entering, you’ll find red couches in front. Then, as you make a left, you head towards the buffet station. To the right of the buffet station is the coffee bar, where they can make you any caffeinated beverage. I asked them for a menu, and they asked me, “What would you like? We’ll make it for you.” So, after a 14-hour flight, I got my caffeine fix here.
Also, before the buffet station, if you make a left, there are showers for men and women. You can get towels at the reception desk to freshen up, which I did. The bathrooms were immaculately cleaned throughout my 8-hour stay, which was impressive!
Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge – Coffee Bar
Behind the coffee bar is even more seating with high-top chairs and a tabletop. All the chairs were Aussie Plus, and all your devices had USB plug chargers. There’s no shortage of USB charging stations at this lounge. (Of note, Australia does have different plug points to North America, so don’t forget your international adaptors.)
The lounge offered more comfortable couches in the back. There are no views of the tarmac or any planes from any windows in this lounge. The views are more of the express train and tram and the street. Nothing special.
More Lounge Seating
Work Desks
Couch seating
Occupancy when I came into the VA lounge was 50% full, but there was more than enough food and no line-ups at the coffee bar. They make announcements about the Virgin Australia flights as they leave. There are more than enough screens across the lounge, so depending on where you sit, you’ll always have a view of flight information for VA flights.
Food and Drinks
When I came here, they switched from breakfast to lunch, so there were breakfast and lunch items. They had self-serve pancakes and a brioche bun with a poached egg, spinach, and hollandaise sauce (an Aussie spin on an Egg muffin).
Brioche Bun with Poached Eggs
When lunchtime arrived, there was also Thai chicken soup, chicken biryani, and a fusilli pasta dish. Later, cheese and spinach pastries, sausage rolls, mini beef pies (my favourite) were served, pre-prepared creamy herbed chicken sandwiches, a cold salad bar, and crackers and cheese. I thought the food selection was good for a domestic lounge.
Sandwich and Salad Station
Lunch Options
More lunch options
The bar had a selection of primarily Australian beers, ciders, and sparkling wine. No spirits.
Wine and Beer station
Local brew and snacks
Caffine Fix
Takeaway
Overall, the lounge space was good, and I appreciated the rotating menu during my 8-hour stay. I would give this Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge in BNE a 7.5/10. For a domestic lounge, I would put it in the same class as the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in the domestic terminal at YYZ.
