A Qantas lounge opening its doors to Virgin Australia frequent flyers? No, you're not dreaming.

Gold and Platinum members of Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program can now use the Qantas International Business Lounge at Perth Airport when travelling on Etihad’s new direct flights to Abu Dhabi.

As Etihad lacks its own lounge in Perth, the Gulf airline is sending its first and business class passengers – along with Etihad Guest Gold and Gold Elite flyers, and now Velocity Gold and Platinum members – to the Qantas lounge in Perth’s T1 international terminal.

To make things easy, Velocity Gold and Platinum guests receive a Qantas lounge invitation from Etihad when checking-in at the airport.

Access is available whether travelling to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad (EY) or Virgin Australia (VA) flight number, but a Virgin Australia spokesperson strongly recommended to Australian Business Traveller that all Gold and Platinum guests show their Velocity card at the Etihad check-in desk.

That’s because you’ll need to pick-up a lounge invite before heading through passport control – if you head airside without one, you’ll be stuck in the food court until your flight boards.

Lounge entry is also subject to capacity constraints as passengers on Qantas’ seasonal Auckland flights plus those on Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and even Air New Zealand can use the Qantas lounge at Perth International.

Velocity Gold and Platinum members jetting to Singapore and beyond with Singapore Airlines can continue to use the SQ SilverKris Lounge in Perth.

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