(Rumour) Upcoming Domestic Qantas Club Closures

[Fluid-Flyer]

I have heard that Qantas staff at, at least two domestic Qantas Clubs have been issued with redundancy payouts through the end of next month. No prizes for guessing the one that I am most up in arms about… So, here is my demand –

Australian Airlines (mk2) failed (in part) due to Qantas trying to split its market as - leisure & business. And while I don’t deny that there are routes and destinations that offer higher yields than others, Qantas needs to focus holistically on frequent flyers across its network. I think this would be better achieved by having the "premium ground services" on offer at each port, stand or die on their own two feet.

I reckon the best business split would be to remove premium ground services from the airline, and making it a profit centre that charges the airlines back. This will not only create efficiency on the ground, but also enable the company to accurately assess the commercial return of paying for different market segments to enter a lounge.

If Qantas Group is serious about maintaining its 2/3rd market share then implementing unsophisticated, marketing101 strategies will fail (again). If they want to compete solely on price, then I will be flying Tiger more consistently.

If JQ must go it alone, then so be it, but Qantas must allow them to come up with their own form of cost effective premium ground service offer for their customers.

 

[Febs]

No prizes for guessing the one that I am most up in arms about…

Care to explain? Can't say I've seen your posts here before, and you haven't listed your location, so I'm not really sure how we'd know which QP you're talking about...?

 

[JohnK]

My guess would be for OOL to remain open as a JQ lounge.

No frills airline but provide lounge access to passengers paying the least amount possible for airfares. Am I allowed to laugh? :-|

 

[Mal]

Guesses, Guesses, Guesses.

OOL definately.
Alice Springs? Hobart? Townsville? I'd put each of these as equal odds for the other one closing.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I have heard that Qantas staff at, at least two domestic Qantas Clubs have been issued with redundancy payouts through the end of next month.

(my emphasis). Redundancy payments happen at termination of employment. If redundancy's HAVE been issued would think the unions would be making a big noise about it. QF & unions are not the best of friends

Still with QF cost cutting and QF club changes, closing of some is to be expected IMHO

 

[Fluid-Flyer]

Redundancy payments happen at termination of employment.

I don't confess to being an expert in this area. However one assumes that an option in a redundancy package might be for the employee to - leave immediately and be paid out for the correct notice time, OR to continue to work until the end of the period. Generally, in highly motivated, small team, loyal/committed work places - the latter option avails?

If redundancy's HAVE been issued would think the unions would be making a big noise about it.

All up, perhaps a maximum total of 10 Qantas employees effected? (Add to that contract staff, but they don't work for Qantas.) And I was told that Qantas has not tried to shirk their responsibilities in terms of termination allowances paid. Don't really see any union interest there?

 

[bambbbam2]

I hope it is not Darwin.. I am there tonight and my first time in this particular QP - I am very impressed.

 

[dajop]

Guesses, Guesses, Guesses.

OOL definately.
Alice Springs? Hobart? Townsville? I'd put each of these as equal odds for the other one closing.

I'd be surprised if they closed TSV. The current timetable has 6 QF 737 and 4 QF Dash 8 departures most days. Also - they only just renovated it 3 or so years ago.

I'd also consider LST for closure - but I guess that's a "partner lounge" (QFLink) not a Qantas Club.

 

[simongr]

I don't confess to being an expert in this area. However one assumes that an option in a redundancy package might be for the employee to - leave immediately and be paid out for the correct notice time, OR to continue to work until the end of the period. Generally, in highly motivated, small team, loyal/committed work places - the latter option avails?

The way a redundancy process work is that the employer announces that in 6 months we will be closing X location but that they will be maintaining services until the end of the six months. The employees can stay until they are actually made redundant and get a pay out or leave sooner thus saving on redundancy for the company.

I am not sure whether the small highly motivated team ethic has any impact on this at all.

 

[Travel Guru]

I have to confess i'll be sad to see the OOL QP go, its one of my favorites, nice and cosy and (due to the lack of QF flights) not too busy, unlike BNE QP where often times ill sit in the concourse rather than fight for a seat inside the lounge

TG

 

[markis10]

Believe its HBA and OOL, both have had similar history as far as reduction in QF flights lately.

 

[kpc]

Believe its HBA and OOL, both have had similar history as far as reduction in QF flights lately.

It will be sad to see HBA go, well really to see both go, as it will obviously diminish the benefit of being QF WP/SG / QP NB.

 

[serfty]

Can't see HBA (nor LST) going - that would upset to many Pollies ...

 

[markis10]

LST is an associated lounge, not a QP, OOL and HBA are the two QPs with the least amount of QF flights 3 and 2 daily respectively at present.

 

[coco50]

I have to confess i'll be sad to see the OOL QP go, its one of my favorites, nice and cosy and (due to the lack of QF flights) not too busy, unlike BNE QP where often times ill sit in the concourse rather than fight for a seat inside the lounge

TG

Yes, OOL is a nice lounge. Only recently (in the last 3 years) been refurbished) and very convenient to the departure gate.

 

[garyjohn951]

There are still QF flights from Hobart, can't see them closing that.

The two to close will be where there are no QF flights.

 

[dajop]

There are still QF flights from Hobart, can't see them closing that.

The two to close will be where there are no QF flights.

Maybe it isn't two Domestic QC closures, maybe it is two Australian Qantas Club closures ....

* Jetstar's withdrawal from the Cairns-Osaka-Nagoya route from December 2008;
* the replacement of Qantas' 14 weekly B767 Cairns-Tokyo (Narita) services with a daily Jetstar non-stop A330 two-class service from December 2008; and

OOL & CNS International? Do * class pax get lounge acccess?

 

[serfty]

... Do * class pax get lounge acccess?

Yes they do! Definitely where QP's exist and alos at other airports like KIX where non Qantas lounges are employed.

 

[Platy]

My local sources suggest the CNS INT QP may not be closing given the CX flights, codeshare flights which will go on Deathstar metal, which will include JAL business class (actually to be supplied as Deathstar *class)...we may simply see the lounge stay open, but with reduced hours so a couple of staff salaries can be "saved"

...I'm personally not convinced, however...

 

[Optics]

I have to confess i'll be sad to see the OOL QP go, its one of my favorites, nice and cosy and (due to the lack of QF flights) not too busy, unlike BNE QP where often times ill sit in the concourse rather than fight for a seat inside the lounge

TG

Regarding the BNE QP, I agree it can be very crowded, especially with the closure of half for the new J lounge, but still, you can't get free drinks in the concourse .