Australia’s former overseas Minister Julie Bishop has reportedly reduce off ex-boyfriend David Panton’s govt entry to Virgin’s VIP-only Beyond lounge after she was dumped over dinner in early July.
Mr Panton reportedly turned up to the invite-only lounge just lately the place he was informed his Velocity profile was “disassociated” from Ms Bishop’s major Beyond membership, the AFR’s Rear Window Column reported.
While Mr Panton was stated to be disgruntled by the information, he informed AFR columnist Joe Aston the refusal of entry was: “No hassle in any respect”.
“I was more than happy to be downgraded to the [regular] club.” he stated.
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When informed of the incident, Bishop informed the AFR: “Wait until he finds out about the Chairman’s Lounge.” The Chairman’s Lounge is Qantas’ VIP lounge equal.
Mr Panton informed Aston he wasn’t going to “try his luck” with the Chairman’s Lounge, as an alternative embracing life as a Qantas life member.
Inside Ms Bishop’s public split
Ms Bishop and Mr Panton were together eight years before Mr Panton reportedly ended the relationship over dinner at Eastbank, in Sydney’s Macquarie Street on July 1 – just a week after the couple attended a gala dinner with Prince Charles.
“I’m going to be focused on living in Manly and Melbourne for the foreseeable future,” Mr Panton said in a statement to the Herald at the time.
“I wish Julie all the best in her ongoing stellar career.”
Ms Bishop was reportedly blindsided by the relationship breakdown with the NSW property developer.
In 2020, she opened up about the difficulties of their long-distance romance, with Panton based in Sydney and Bishop in Perth.
“We FaceTime. It isn’t great but it is all you can do because he can’t get in here (WA) and I can’t go there without having to get an exemption,“ she told The Daily Telegraph at the time.
“It is very difficult but I know a lot of families have been separated in this way, it is challenging.”
Just over a month after the split, Ms Bishop seemed ready to put it all behind her leaning into her new ambassador role with Perth-based mining services company Mineral Resources Limited.
She appeared eager to brush off the saga when asked how she was going post-break-up by Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon.
“I‘m fine but I’m wondering how you two are doing,” she said.
“I don‘t want to think about it too much, it is a Monday morning. As long as you’re OK,” she continued, forcing a change of subject away from the issue.
Mr Panton has kept a low profile since the split, although New Idea, citing an anonymous source, claimed Mr Panton had started a new relationship with a woman from Sydney’s northern beaches.
Inside Virgin’s exclusive Beyond lounge
Officially opened in April this year, Virgin’s Beyond lounge plays host to the airlines biggest corporate spenders with the invite-only lounge servicing high-rollers in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
The lounges can solely be accessed with a Beyond program membership card by way of “discreet” unmarked doorways within the home terminals the place solely members have entry and know the placement.
The lounge, which is claimed to have been designed in session with frequent flyers, affords a spread of luxurious options together with a la carte eating, refined areas to loosen up and even bathe.
“Numerous seating zones are spread throughout the lounges, providing members with different spaces to dine, relax, refresh and recharge in a delightfully Virgin Australia way,” an announcement from the airline stated.
“End of day facilities such as showers, towels and premium bathroom amenities by Appelles Apothecary Lab are also available for members.
“Private offices and board rooms are also available in each Beyond Lounge and can be booked by members ahead of or on the day of travel.”
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka stated the Beyond Lounge was part of the corporate’s “new chapter”.
“Many months have gone into market research and listening to feedback from our premium loyalty members, including me personally speaking with some of our largest corporate clients,” she stated.
“We are assured we’ve got the appropriate mannequin in Beyond to drive distinctive loyalty from company Australia whereas delivering robust industrial outcomes for Virgin Australia.
