Virgin Australia Crews Now Use LAX's "Celebrity Terminal"

I don't see that as a bad idea. VA arrives very early in the morning and leaves very late at night.

Why doesn’t LAX just have a crew terminal? Surely that would solve congestion issues in all terminals.

This is unacceptable. I planned on trying it out this summer but honestly, if they're using it for airline crew and whatnot it just loses it exclusivity. I don't see why crew need to be given access to this, the entire point is that there won't be other people there and it will be exclusive.

last time i was in the business class security line at TBIT it was a disaster. All the crews were being escorted to the front of the premium security line, and there were tons and tons of crews all showing up. I was going to SYD so it was quite a busy time but frustrating nonetheless

Haha. Just like every peasant now flies first class and shows up in lounges, the celebrity terminal will soon become peasant terminal

Peasants like you. I'm sure you're not rich, just look at the language you're using. Disgusting.

Do you think this is at all indicative that The Private Suite isn't performing nearly as well (or well at all) as they thought it would? It sort of smells like this is a trial run for farming out the facility to airlines as a way of earning extra income if the rich/famous aren't dropping $10k at the rate the operators thought they would.

I don't see the problem with this, they'll be in, and out within a minute. I'm sure the management will time it that everyone is in their suite when the crew clears TSA on departure, and when the crew arrives as well.

I’m surprised there are airline crews that don’t participate in Known Crewmember (where they basically flash their ID’s at the TSA Exit, and walk in).

@Niko Goutakolis

We are talking about Virgin Australia here, Known Crewmember seems to be US airlines only.

I live in LA and LAX is my primary airport. Celebs arriving/departing the airport were putting a strain on airport staffers and, more importantly, airport police/security. That seemed to be the primary purpose behind the 'private' terminal (and not 'rich' individuals). No idea if the cost structure is intended to keep things exclusive or if it is merely a reflection of the cost to run the facility. One of my credit cards is offering a 'free' annual membership but the cost to use remains the same.....and I just can't fathom paying thousands of dollars per visit. Pretty easy to bypass the lines at TBIT (connecting flight entrance or AA terminal for example).....and the lounges at TBIT are just fine.

Nishit

You're not fooling anyone here that you're a big shot, mostly because you are trying way too hard. Real big shots do not need to.

I have to side with Brad... it seems logical to just create a separate crew terminal in the cargo area. It would alleviate quite a bit of congestion in the terminal areas not having the crew vans running in circles, and the crews would probably be happier too. LAX is such a mess anything helps.

@Nishit A: Please go back to Bangladesh.

This seems like a great change for VA crews--LAX is VA's largest long haul port so this should hopefully make a big difference for them in terms of ground time. That being said they must be paying an arm and a leg for this--upwards of 60 VA crew fly out of LAX every day and I can't imagine that the per-head rates the private terminal is charging are cheap. To soapbox for a minute, it would be really great if VA cared as much about their ground experience for their Platinum FFs as it seems to do for its crew. The VA check-in is still in Terminal 2 and requires a walk, premium security is a joke, and the boarding call for VA flights still lacks a priority queue for those premium guests who wish to board late. What's more, VA's LAX lounge agents cannot assist with reservations, and the Emirates lounge which used to be reserved exclusively for VA Plats, is now being used for all premium passengers. VA should put some real effort into their LAX premium operation, instead of cutting reciprocal benefits when VA elites started choosing Air NZ over dealing with VA's LAX nonsense. Making private suite security and immigration available to Plats starting or ending their journey at LAX along with the crew would go a long way towards righting the ship in that regard. As indeed would a dedicated lounge, and tarmac transfers to and from the Delta terminal, rather than putting connecting passengers on a shuttle to the TBIT bus gates.

Hi Martin,

I'm not a big shot at all and apologise if that's what came across from my comment. Can't use this service on a regular basis at all. I wanted for it to be a special experience for me and my family as it'll be my mothers first time in the US 🙂 . I'm from India. It's just very easy to get approved for the Centurion in India (Only 150,000 USD-200,000 USD annually) so I have a lot of points I would like to spend (Not sure if this was there on the Platinum as well, but, on the Centurion the agent told me that I could make regular purchases and then pay it with MR points and the redemption for MR to air miles in India is terrible). I'll give a screenshot from their website for this feature if you can give me your email or some way to contact you 🙂

Airline crew use designated channels at airports for security screening /passport control on departure and passport control / customs on arrival At their hubs they have crew bases( at least in Europe ) and are taken directly to the aircraft
Using a facility designated for VIPs is ridiculous Then as mentioned above ,VA pax check in in at terminal 2 and flights depart TBIT
LAX should demolish the garages between terminals 3 and 4 and to the east of TBIT in order to expand check in and improve the landside. It was already proposed in the original plan

Are the crews actually using the rooms, or just the TSA + immigration officers / facilities?

Not from Bangladesh but great to see the racism 🙂