Virgin Australia and Westfield today launched an Australian first partnership that will enable Members of Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program to earn and redeem Points online with Australia’s largest shopping centre group, creating the widest retail offering of any frequent flyer program in Australia.
With Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program, which is free to join, Members can earn and redeem Points online at westfield.com.au, which provides access to over 160 stores and 3,000 brands from Australia’s leading designers to high street stores. With over 10,000 items on sale every day and free shipping on all fashion and accessories1, Members of Velocity Frequent Flyer Members will experience excellent value when shopping on westfield.com.au.
The Westfield Online and Velocity Frequent Flyer partnership is excellent news for shoppers in the lead up to the festive season, allowing Members to redeem Velocity Points for Christmas presents or shop the Boxing Day sales at all stores on westfield.com.au including retailers such as Glue Store, Jeanswest, Saba, Sheike, Peep Toe, Novo, JB Hi-Fi, Teds Cameras, Napoleon Perdis, Ben Sherman, Supre and Charlie Brown. Recently westfield.com.au also introduced The Designer Collection featuring curated collections in “pop-up” boutiques from leading Australian designer brands including Sass & Bide, Ksubi, Ginger & Smart, Leona Edmiston, Little Joe, Farage, Thurley, Lisa Ho, Dion Lee, Alex Perry and Ellery.
Velocity Frequent Flyer members will earn 2 Velocity Points per dollar spent on westfield.com.au and to celebrate the launch of the new partnership, they will earn 4 Points per dollar spent until 31 December 2011.
For more information on this partnership visit this link. If you aren’t yet a member of Velocity frequent Flyer, it is free to join, visit the website here. To become a member of Westfield, visit their website here.
Does the idea of being rewarded with points when you are shopping, excite you to join and try?
An eagle-eyed Virgin Australia follower has picked up that the recent construction at the Gold Coast (OOL) Airport is for our new Lounge!
Announced earlier this year, the Lounge will join a list that includes the recently redesigned and renovated Melbourne and Brisbane Lounges, as well as Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra.
Designed by renowned architect Tim Greer of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, the Lounge will be a key tool to providing an improved experience for those Guests visiting an important tourism destination such as the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Lounge
The Lounge will be completed in 2012.
Are you excited by this addition to our Lounge network? Will you make good use of the Lounge?
Research released today by Virgin Australia[1] shows that over the next few days, baggage carousels will be filled with up to 40,000 hats and over 55,000 lip glosses, which will be flown especially to Melbourne for The Cup and the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival.
With most believing that the Spring Racing Carnival is more about the social occasion, champagne and fashion (74%) than the racing (22%), it’s no wonder that getting their luggage there on time and intact is a top priority. Virgin Australia’s research revealed that the baggage carousels may be filled with an estimated $40 million worth of luggage this racing season.
Nikki Phillips flying with Virgin Australia to Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival
Virgin Australia Group Executive Corporate Communications, Danielle Keighery said the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival is a positive boost for the Australian economy and the tourism industry in general.
“The Victorian Spring Racing Carnival has developed a reputation as one of the most important events on the sporting calendar, attracting domestic and international visitors alike. Last year, the carnival generated $728 million[2] for the Australian economy, with a similar contribution expected this year”.
“We are committed to supporting the Australian tourism industry and will be putting on 36 additional flights into and out of Melbourne over the key racing period[3]. Virgin Australia is well-prepared to transport Australia’s latest fashion trends as 40,000 hats, 110,000 dresses and pairs of heels make their way through carousels across the country”, Ms Keighery said.
Virgin Australia’s top tips for packing for the Spring Racing Carnival:
* Check the dimensions of your hat box. If it exceeds the carry-on allowance, check it-in at least 30 minutes before your flight.
* Pack an extra pair of shoes. A day at the races carries the high risk of broken high heels, mud and sore feet.
* Prepare for all weather conditions. With the unpredictability of the Spring season, you never know when you might need a warm jacket or an umbrella.
Other findings from the survey included:
* For most women Melbourne Cup is an excuse to splash out on new clothes and accessories with 80% of women willing to purchase a new dress for the race
* The average amount Australian women are prepared to spend on new items to look their best at Melbourne Cup is $370 – and that’s even before they have placed a bet
* Dirty shoes (48%), broken heels (42%) and fashion faux pas (23%) at the top of peoples ‘stress list’ when it comes to attending the races, explaining the sheer volume of luggage that travels to Melbourne
* The must-have beauty items for the race include lip-gloss (51%) and concealer (36%)
[1] Galaxy Research conducted 6/10/11, with a sample of 1510 respondents aged 18-64 across Australia.
[2] Figures provided by Victorian Racing Club and based on National Gross Economic Benefit – the total amount generated by the MCC in Australia by all Australians and international visitors.
[3] Refers to 29 October to 5 November 2011.
To book flights with Virgin Australia, visit the website here
Mackay’s newest sporting and entertainment venue will now carry the name Virgin Australia Stadium Mackay, following our three-year naming rights sponsorship announcement.
As part of our commitment to the area, we will also be opening a new Lounge and offering Business Class services before the end of 2011.
The new 260m² Mackay Lounge will offer:
· lounge seating for up to 70 Guests
· Premium Luke Mangan designed refreshments
· A premium selection of beverages
· Business services including complimentary WiFi, power, PC and printer
· Entertainment and relaxation with newspapers, premium magazine titles and a Panasonic high definition flat screen television featuring FOXTEL and free-to-air programming.
Our new Virgin Australia Lounge experience is a stylish yet practical space in which to work, socialise or unwind in comfort prior to your Virgin Australia flight departure from selected domestic airports.
Offering a great selection of complimentary benefits including a new Luke Mangan designed buffet menu and premium wines, business services, news, and entertainment, the Virgin Australia Lounge is your airport haven.
We’ve just been released a new TV commercial to promote the Lounge (see below).
The new Brisbane Domestic Lounge opened last week (27th July), joining the flagship Melbourne Lounge as both being recently renovated by renowned architect Tim Greer of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer. – see the photos here
To find out more, including entry rates or how to join visit the website here
Have you already experienced either of these two fantastic spaces prior to your flight? Favourite part? Any tips for your fellow travellers when using them?
Today we have announced the first routes for our new ATR aircraft, under the regional alliance with Skywest (subject to regulatory approval).
From October 2011 we will commence new services from Brisbane to Gladstone (double daily service) and Brisbane to Port Macquarie (daily return service) plus add extra services between Canberra and Sydney, bringing the total number of flights between the two cities to 60 each week.
Are you a fan of the AFL? A fan of the Gold Coast SUNS? A fan of travel? A fan of tropical Queensland?
If you are, why don’t you book a Blue Holidays package to join the Gold Coast SUNS on an AFL charter flight to travel with the players to beautiful Cairns for their match with the Richmond Tigers on July 16th.
Package price is $376 per person twin share and includes:
Return airfares from Gold Coast to Cairns flying Virgin Australia
1 nights accommodation at the Mantra Trilogy Cairns
Return airport & stadium transfers
Upper Grand Stand Ticket
Package must be booked via the Blue Holidays Guest Contact Centre by calling 13 15 16.
It has been nearly two weeks since the Chilean volcano Puyehue-Cordón Caulle, and the ash cloud that was produced, entered Australian airspace.
Check out below for an amazing graphic that the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) have created, showing how the ash cloud has travelled around the world twice!
Here’s hoping it doesn’t travel around the globe a third time!
Thursday May 26th will always be known as the day Virgin Australia started their business class offering in Australia, with their first Airbus A330 beginning operations between Sydney and Perth – known as the “Coast To Coast”.
Sir Richard Branson Arrives at the Virgin Australia brand launch aboard the A330 Cable Beach
The aircraft, VH-XFB is named “Cable Beach”, after the beautiful West Australian coastline.
Even with a 50 minute delay leaving Sydney Airport, the flight crew were able to make up time and arrived on time into Perth!
This is the first Airbus to join the Virgin Australia fleet, will eventually be joined by three more, and of course joins the existing Boeing and Embraer aircraft.
By July, there will be a three-daily service operating the Coast To Coast route between Sydney and Perth.
This is the first aircraft to have business class included on a domestic route for Virgin Australia, which is significant in it’s own right, but more significant is what is on offer:
* Generous reclinable luxurious Business Class seating.
* Our new Business Class menu is your stylish restaurant in the sky where you can enjoy gourmet food created by our chef Luke Mangan.
* Business class guests have access to the Lounge (the new designer Melbourne Lounge opened earlier this week – see here)
* Priority Check in plus very generous Baggage allowances are also provided.
Virgin Australia today opened Melbourne as the first of its contemporary new airport lounges, designed by renowned architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (TZG).
Welcome to the new Melbourne Lounge
Virgin Australia Group Executive of Product and Guest Services Martin Daley said: “Our new lounge showcase Virgin Australia’s focus on providing a seamless, first-rate travel experience for business and leisure travellers.
“The crisp contemporary design balances the functional requirements of frequent travellers with luxury finishes, providing an inspiring and relaxing space for Guests to escape. Featuring multiple zones for meetings, wireless internet capabilities and a “quiet library”, the lounge is well-equipped to cater for modern business needs; while the high bar acts as the dynamic hub where Guests can celebrate and socialise.
“We’re also very pleased to announce that we are extending our culinary
Luke Mangan designed Food & Beverage offering
partnership with Luke Mangan, offering a fresh seasonal menu that draws on Luke’s extensive experience in fine food.” Mr. Daley said.
The new menu will be offered in all Virgin Australia lounges*. In designing the menu, Luke Mangan focused on the very best seasonal and flavoursome Australian produce, as he did with the inflight menu. “I took great care in tailoring the selection to the busy travel schedules of Virgin Australia Guests who are looking for a quick but delicious snack.
A beautiful continental breakfast with fresh fruit is served in the morning; seasonal salads and soups are offered throughout the day (with hot treats in our larger lounges); and evening introduces delicious Australian cheeses as well as mini cakes and gourmet biscuits to satisfy a sweet tooth”, Consultant Chef for Virgin Australia, Luke Mangan, commented.
We understand that Guests will come into the lounge looking for a tasty bite to eat and it is a priority to ensure the selection will change frequently with the seasons,” Mr. Mangan said.
The Flying Lady
TZG architects Director, Tim Greer, said the new design focused on creating a haven for guests to escape and imagine.
“An airport can be seen as nothing more than a place of movement: movement of planes, luggage and people. I have taken this idea as the starting point for the design of Virgin Australia’s Melbourne lounge and created a deliberate flow from one space to another, demonstrating and facilitating the ease of travel.
“In essence, the Melbourne lounge is designed with plane-inspired organic and streamlined architecture and reconnects with the glamour days of air travel, when it was a time to relax in a luxurious setting”, Mr. Greer said.
Key features of the new Melbourne lounge include:
* Contemporary design, featuring modern digital artwork Imaginary Object #1. #3, #4, 2007 – 2008 by Australian artist Daniel Crooks, illuminated Marblo bars, intricate timber paneling, vertical glass screens, natural light and expansive views;
* Multiple quiet zones for meetings;
* Wireless internet with power and data throughout, workstations and PCs;
* A “quiet library” retreat;
* High comfort contemporary designer furniture including Walter Knoll leather chairs;
* A Luke Mangan-designed menu, offering high quality meals and snacks;
* Premium wine and beer selection from 11am;
* All hours barista service;
* Australian made and owned GROWN organic skincare products.
Virgin Australia launched the lounge program in May 2006 and now has six lounges in the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth domestic terminals.
Sydney Premium Entry
Today’s announcement follows the April launch of the Sydney loungePremium Entry and Premium Valet service, offering an exclusive entry, check-in and security screening point for Velocity Gold members, Business and Premium Economy Guests at the Sydney T2 Domestic terminal. Priority Screening was introduced in Melbourne earlier this month, providing these premium Guests with an exclusive security screening lane.
“These are all key parts of our plans to provide travellers with a streamlined, hassle-free experience both in the air and on the ground”, Mr. Daley said.
* Luke Mangan designed menu is not available in the Brisbane temporary lounge facility this will be available upon opening of the new Brisbane lounge.
