An Aussie bloke has shared his foolproof way of sneaking into the Virgin Australia Lounge to enjoy free food and drinks - but not everyone is happy with his reveal.
Josh Walker-Davis, who was the 2024 Bowls Australia Male Bowler of the Year, said he had been accessing the members-only lounge in both Sydney and Melbourne airports for years - and his method is surprisingly simple.
The 24-year-old explained in a TikTok video this week that the first step was to linger at the exit of the Virgin Australia Lounge in Sydney.
'There's an escalator that comes down to the food court, which is where people exit the Virgin Lounge,' he explained.
'You've got to walk around and wait for the right opportunity to go up.'
However, the procedure was slightly different at Melbourne Airport, and involved waiting for a paying member to leave through a sliding door.
'Once you go through security and go right, you've got the Virgin Lounges and once you go down this carpet, there's a sliding door on your left and that's where the lounge is,' Mr Walker-Davis explained.
'All you do is stand there and wait for someone to exit. There's no security cameras on the ceiling [of the hallway], so no one can catch you,' he said.
A Tasmanian lawn-bowler (pictured) has revealed how he's been sneaking into the Virgin Australia Lounge at two busy airports to snare free food and drinks for years
The Virgin Australia Lounge is strictly for paying members only
Once in the lounge, he said the bar staff had no idea that he wasn't a member.
He then filmed himself holding a large glass of free wine and showing off his snacks.
'It's that easy. Beaaautiful,' he said.
But angry Aussies were quick to lash the lawn bowler, with those who had been using the same hack chastising him for sharing it with the internet.
'Great, now they will put security at the exit and this little hidden gem that we all used is no longer available,' one person said.
'This guy literally just spoiled it for everyone,' another said.
'I did this in Cairns for a good while and had the best time,' a third wrote.
'I would have kept it to myself, they will have security there next week,' another said.
'So annoyed this has been outed. I've been doing this for years,' another wrote.
Josh Walker-Davis, who was the 2024 Bowls Australia Male Bowler of the Year, is currently 2nd in the national ranking - making selection for the national team likely this year
'My brother and I did this when we went to Sydney a few years ago. I can't believe more people don't do it,' another Aussie said.
A Virgin Australia spokesman told the Daily Mail it was 'aware of the videos' and was 'reviewing the matter with its airport teams'.
While it does not consider the behaviour to be common, the spokesman said the airline reviews any reported incidents and takes appropriate action.
'Access to Virgin Australia Lounges is restricted to eligible guests only, and we have processes in place to monitor entry,' he said.
'Anyone attempting to access Virgin Australia Lounges without eligibility may be refused entry or removed from the lounge.
'Where appropriate, matters may also be referred to authorities.'
Virgin Australia team members monitor lounge entry and eligibility, including reviewing CCTV.