Review: Review: Virgin Australia’s exclusive Sydney Beyond Lounge

Introduction

Virgin Australia set the bar high for itself when the premium status tier and lounges, formerly known as The Club, opened by invitation only. relaunched as ‘Beyond’ in April† As a member or guest you now expect an experience that really goes beyond that of a traditional lounge.

After an opportunity to spend a few hours in the exclusive oak and leather clad lounge at Sydney Airport Terminal 2 while waiting for a flight, I am pleased to say that it lives up to both its name and the hype… though maybe not in ways you might have expected.

Where it could have gone bigger and flashier, Virgin has withdrawn and created a surprisingly sophisticated experience, almost like an executive lounge in a top hotel. It’s intimate and personal from the moment you arrive, and most people wouldn’t even know it existed.

Location & impressions

Privacy and discretion are the watchwords at this premium hangout, which is located directly upstairs and accessed through a separate entrance to the main area of ​​the Virgin Australia Lounge. There is no signage or velvet rope, just sliding glass doors and an entrance marked ‘Private’.

While still closed due to staff shortages at the airport, the Sydney Lounge Premium Entry also has a dedicated entrance for those lucky enough to be on the guest list. After Security Checks, a leather covered staircase will lead you to the check-in desk.

Once inside, it’s immediately apparent that Virgin Australia Beyond is no ordinary airport lounge.

Flooded with light, the space is divided into several zones. There are cozy nooks separated by curved frosted glass screens for guests to chat privately, as well as an open plan lounge area, dining area for four and a bar if you’re feeling sociable.

Every element has a premium feel, from abstract patterned rugs and emerald green leaf-shaped tiles along the bathroom entrance – specially imported from Italy – to high-back leather armchairs in both the main lounge and private corners for two.

Then there is the view. It’s only one level up from the regular Virgin Australia lounge, but it makes a huge difference, with commanding views of Botany Bay and Terminal 1.

Lighting is similar to the broken ceiling panels below, with subtle downlights around the lounge perimeter and the addition of caramel pendant lights drawing your eyes upward.

Combined with the wall treatments, it gives the space a warmer and more inviting feel.

Access

Virgin Beyond is the invitation-only membership tier. Who exactly will receive an invitation and when, is a well-kept secret. In the past, it was reportedly a hodgepodge of politicians and government officials, along with celebrities or those who had significant expenses with the airline.

Talking to the staff I learned that football and rugby coaches were also regular invitees, giving them the chance to enjoy the good life while the players used the primary lounge downstairs.

Beyond membership lasts for 12 months, with access reviewed and renewed annually.

In addition to access to the lounge, there are other benefits:

• 12-month annual membership for the primary member with the option to also nominate a spouse/partner for Beyond membership to enjoy the same benefits
• Access to Beyond Lounges in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane
• Dedicated telephone concierge service to make or change bookings
• 4 x free upgrades from Choice and Flex fares to Business Class per year
• 1 x free Velocity Gold membership for the primary member’s executive assistant

Beyond Lounges are open to members seven days a week, one hour before the first flight of the day and closing when the last one is boarding. The Sydney lounge has a capacity of 91 guests.

To dine

There is no buffet or breakfast bar in this lounge (nor homemade sandwich service). Instead, guests can look forward to an à la carte menu of breakfast and all-day options, plus a curated list of Australian and New Zealand wines, beer, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks.

Waiters or hosts tailor dining recommendations to how long you’ll be in the lounge.

After finding my seat, my lounge host Mario introduced himself and brought over a copy of the menu with a welcome glass of champagne, sparkling water and some toasted nuts to snack on as I browsed.

Among the highlights of the menu were a hearty grass-fed steak sandwich with caramelized onion and pickles; a superfood salad with brown rice, beetroot, broccoli, grapefruit, and pecans; grilled salmon with salsa verde; and a sandwich of the day from the chef, plus a selection of cheeses.

For breakfast, there’s an omelet of the day, plus pastries, fruit, berries, and cocoa granola, and a custom-designed breakfast option with eggs your way with choices such as bacon, spinach, sausage, and mushrooms.

Barista coffee and freshly squeezed juices are also available.

I chose pasta with grilled chorizo, zucchini, cherry tomato sauce and marjoram pesto, followed by a pistachio pavlova with whipped mascarpone and rhubarb ginger jam. Both were delicious and full of flavour, with a garlic bread a nice complement to the spicy pasta.

The steak sandwich was another winner, with some truffle fries served on the side for a more substantial meal.

Based on my meal choices, Mario made an advance on my wine selection, brought a small carafe of Peppoli Chianti Classico 2017 and offered a taste before returning with more.

Service was intuitive but not intrusive, just like you would find in a silver service restaurant.

Work

For those traveling on business, the lounge features private seating areas surrounded by curved screens.

Each room has two leather lounges, plus a handy sofa with power points and extendable tables that provide a handy workspace for tapping a few important emails. However, it’s not the most comfortable desk to work on, so a good dining table that you can stretch out on may be a better choice.

The main lounge has been tailored for several people to gather, with armchairs radiating from low coffee tables, and a dining area for four providing a convenient base for a working lunch.

It would make a fantastic location for travelers with little time to meet, work and then fly home, rather than going to a city office (although you all have to be Beyond members to enter).

A boardroom and private office can also be booked in advance or on the day of travel.

Relax

The opportunity to refresh yourself when traveling is always appreciated.

The Beyond Lounge has a stylish guest bathroom, with leaf-pattern vertical tiles adorning the entrance that will make you want to touch them. It’s a very luxurious feel for a bathroom, showing that it wasn’t just an afterthought.

Inside you’ll find tall mirrors and white shell-like tiles lining the walls, wooden and glass screens with a swirling jute-like design, and plush towels and toiletries from Appelles Apothecary.

The verdict

The name ‘Beyond’ is a fitting one – and I wish my name was on the regular guest list.

While Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are currently the only cities to have a dedicated Virgin Australia Beyond lounge, it would be a great addition in other major capitals.

Whisper quiet in design, but thankfully with a subtle background soundtrack to build up some atmosphere, it’s a very calm and inviting space. A perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of the main lounge and terminal beyond, and one I would happily return to again and again.