Hi everyone, I am new to Velocity - came over from Air NZ on a status match. We are moving to Canberra in a few days and I look forward to flying Virgin Australia/VAustralia. It is terrible that you can't use upgrades on international long-hauls, but at the very least the Y seat is much more comfortable than Air NZ's. (VAustralia's long-haul Y seat is 18.5 inches; Air NZ's is 17.1 inches on their new 773.)

I have a question about the Melbourne airport. I'll be coming in from Auckland on an Air NZ flight and switching to a Virgin Australia flight to Canberra. We will have a lot of bags and my partner has a injury so won't be able to help with the bags (and we also have a preschooler). At the Sydney airport, you collect your bags, go directly to customs, and then you can walk a few feet to the Virgin Australia transfer desk and drop your bags there. Is it like that in Melbourne, or do you have to haul the bags a long way? If so, are there porters easily available?

Also, there's a Velocity lounge available in the Melbourne domestic airport, right? Since I'm platnium, we'll hang out there until our connecting flight.

One last quick question. As Gold Elite on Air NZ, I'm allowed to bring 2 carry on bags. Will this be OK on Virgin Australia?