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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Alaska Airlines has announced its intention to join the oneworld alliance as a full member in mid-2021.

This is good news for Qantas customers as it means the two airlines’ existing partnership will deepen.

The Seattle-based airline has a strong network in North America.

Right now, Qantas gold and platinum status holders and Qantas Club members can access Alaska lounges when they are flying with the airline and connecting to or from a Qantas international flight.

Alaska has lounges in Seattle, Anchorage, New York JFK, Portland and Los Angeles.

Once Alaska joins oneworld, all Qantas gold and platinum elites will have access to Alaska’s lounges no matter where or which class they are flying, and they’ll also enjoy other tier perks like a bigger baggage allowance and priority check-in and boarding.

Qantas customers can currently earn and redeem Qantas Points with Alaska.

Once the airline joins oneworld, status credits will also be on the menu.

Alaska is also expanding its partnership with oneworld member American Airlines, with immediate reciprocal benefits for customers, such as lounge access.

The two carriers will also closely coordinate their networks and start flying to new destinations.

This includes today’s announcement by American Airlines for the first nonstop flight from Seattle to Bangalore, India, starting October 2020, along with new service from Seattle to London, starting in early 2021.

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