To help frequent flyers preserve their status during this time of massive travel disruption, Virgin Australia is extending status by 12 months and crediting bonus status credits to all current Silver, Gold, and Platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer members.

The extra status credits boost could even help customers reach a higher tier with no additional flying.

Here’s how many status credits Virgin will be gifting:

The status credits should be credited in the first week of each month.

Virgin Australia will be contacting customers with all the details in the next two weeks. You don’t need to do anything at this time.

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American Express has opened a stylish new Centurion Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): the company’s biggest airport lounge yet, taking up nearly 1,300 square metres in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, where Qantas and many other airlines operate from. The lounge is accessible post-security from Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world and a key port for travellers between Australia and North / Central America. The Centurion Lounge is a welcome addition to the facilities available for travellers, however to get in you’ll need to hold Amex’s top-tier Platinum Card or invite-only Centurion Card. Access is not available to holders of other American Express cards, except the US-issued Delta Skymiles Reserve Card.

Here’s a rundown of what lounge guests can enjoy.

An Homage to LA Arts & Culture

Paying homage to Los Angeles’ iconic film legacy, American Express has hand-picked film artifacts for the lounge, which also features a seating area with a backlit silhouette of the Hollywood Hills.

Teal shades in the space are inspired by design trends of the contemporary Los Angeles’ arts district.

LA-inspired design

At the lounge entry, guests will be greeted by a custom mural inspired by the State of California’s color and official gemstone and created by Los Angeles-based mixed media muralist, Danielle Garza, who goes by the moniker “Ellierex”.

Relaxing Tranquility Area and Spa Services

For people travelling into new time zones or guests hoping to relax before a long flight, the Centurion Lounge at LAX will feature Sunrise and Moonrise tranquility rooms, offering brightly and dimly lit quiet spaces to relax and recharge.

The Moonrise room ushers in a sense of nighttime relaxation through a starry night inspired ceiling, creating an atmosphere of subtle, yet relaxing energy. Meanwhile, the Sunrise room helps awaken the senses with illuminated walls, emanating an atmosphere of dawn-like hues.

Moonrise room

Sunrise room

American Express has partnered with Exhale to offer wellbeing and spa services centered around energy and light. Guests can indulge in Light Therapy designed to hydrate skin, Reiki treatments to restore the body’s equilibrium, and Ear Reflexology to relax the mind and ease the body. Hand and nail therapies, as well as chair massages, will also be available.

A Taste of California

Executive Chef Nancy Silverston’s dining menu will offer guests a taste of local cuisine. Some of the locally inspired dishes include: Asparagus Egg Pie, Panettone French Toast, Farro Salad with Fresh Herbs and Feta, Mozza Meatballs, Roasted Beets with Horseradish Vinaigrette, Butterscotch Budino and more.

The new lounge also offers premium wine selections and specialty cocktails inspired by Los Angeles’ cocktail culture, commercial aviation and Silverton’s menu. Some of the specialty cocktails include the Maliblue Lagoon, a color-coded ode to Malibu’s own blue lagoon and the Private Plane, a playful twist on New York bartender Sam Ross’ classic Paper Plane cocktail.

Main bar

Other facilities

The lounge will also provide guests with private noise-buffering workspaces, a family friendly room, high-speed Wi-Fi, premium restrooms and showers, power outlets and American Express Member Services Professionals to assist with on-site Card and travel-related services.

Accessing the lounge

Access to The Centurion Lounge is complimentary and exclusive for holders of the Platinum Card and invite-only Centurion Card. Platinum Card Members may enter with up to two travel companions at no additional charge. Centurion Members may enter with their immediate family or up to two travel companions.

The Centurion Lounge is the signature lounge program within the broader American Express Global Lounge Collection, which provides Platinum Card and Centurion Members with access to more than 1,200 lounges around the world, including Virgin Australia lounges within Australia. To find out more, check out our review of the Platinum Card.

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Virgin Australia is closing its lounge at Adelaide Airport next week to allow for construction works as part of a wider terminal expansion project at the airport. As part of the expansion project, a new “state-of-the-art” Virgin Australia Lounge will open in the terminal in April 2020.

The current lounge will operate until Tuesday 25 February, after which there will be a temporary ‘pop-up’ space for eligible guests. According to the info on Virgin’s website, the temporary lounge will be located near gates 15 and 16, and the following facilities and services will be available:

• Self-serve cold, “time of the day appropriate” Grab and Go items
• Barista coffee, tea, and soft drinks
• Alcoholic beverages from 11am
• National newspapers available to take onboard

Bathroom facilities will not be available inside the pop-up lounge, however airport facilities are located nearby.

The following passengers will have access from 90 minutes prior to their Virgin Australia-operated flight:

• Business Class customers (no guests permitted)
• Velocity Platinum members (2 adults and 2 children guests permitted)
• Velocity Gold members and Virgin Australia Lounge members (1 adult and 2 children guests permitted).

Note that guests must be departing on the same flight as the eligible passenger in order to get in.

The following lounge access arrangements are excluded from the pop-up space:

• Access on arrival benefit
• Single use passes including Silver Velocity passes, American Express passes and charge cards, Virgin Money passes, ANZ passes, and Westpac passes
• Partner Airline eligible members.

The new lounge opening in April will be larger than the current space, and reportedly it will showcase a new design concept that’s noticeably different to Virgin’s existing lounges. More information about the new space should be released soon.

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American Express has partnered with delicious. to create a brand new, month-long food festival in Sydney: the American Express delicious. Month Out.

Throughout March 2020, the city is set to come alive with special offers, experiences and events spotlighting local precincts to encourage Sydney-siders to get out and eat out.

As well as dining offers running all month, each Thursday night in March a special event will be held in a Sydney precinct to draw people to the area, where visitors can expect live entertainment and other activities. These will take place in:

• Sydney CBD, Pitt Street Mall – Thursday, March 5
• Surry Hills, Cnr Crown & Collins Streets – Thursday, March 12
• Potts Point, Fitzroy Gardens on Macleay Street – Thursday, March 19
• Parramatta, in-venue at ALEX&Co – Thursday, March 26.

At each event there will be a pop up American Express Lounge open from 4-7 pm providing a relaxing environment for Amex card members to enjoy a complimentary drink, light snack and entertainment – after which they’ll no doubt be inspired to dine out at participating restaurants and bars in the precinct, where they can score a discount with an Amex Offer.

For entry to the American Express Lounges, card members simply present their cards at the door. Visitors without an American Express card are also welcome to attend by registering up to two weeks in advance.

The Amex Offer at participating restaurants and bars will be $20 back when you spend $60, up to two times (this offer is only available for American Express Card Members and T&C’s apply.)

Guests are also invited to the official launch of the festival on Friday, February 28 at Barangaroo House, where each level will offer a unique experience.

House Bar, on the ground floor, will host a ‘Party Starter’; on level 1, Bea, Barangaroo House’s flagship restaurant, will host a VIP dinner; while Smoke on level 2 is set to host a one-night-only Veuve Clicquot pop-up bar to continue the festivities.

The online restaurant discovery and booking platform The Fork is the official restaurant booking and offer partner.

It will facilitate dining offers at a broad range of venues across Sydney and promote these via its app and website during the festival.

And if you’re not yet an Amex card member, there’s still time! You can check out the reviews of our favourite cards here.

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