Another one bites the dust.

[turtlemichael]

After too many years to remember I took my last walk through the Domestic Business lounge in Melbourne this morning on my way to Adelaide. My platinum membership expires in a week and I will revert to lifetime gold (actually 172% of lifetime gold) for the first time. I made the decision as a self funded WP when the last lot of enhancements went through I think the best part of two years ago that I was not prepared to play the game anymore and now it is just about over. Actually I was not the sort of flyer that Qantas wanted or needed. I'll miss some aspects of being WP but my wallet will be a fair bit happier as I choose my flights based on best use of points and dollars. Thanks Qantas but I do feel that I have now got a fair bit of freedom.

 

[Pushka]

Lifetime Gold is all you need though. Anything else is fluff.

 

[NZflygirl]

You won't be the first you won't be the last. It's really the baggage limit that gets me about gold, not too fussed on the rest (although of course they are nice).

You may find you're happier with the adjustment. You can always see who is in the J lounge same day, or time your flight to coincide with someone!

 

[drron]

We will probably be in the same position in 12 months time.I have my life QP + life plat on AA.Mrsdrron will be just short of LTG but should reach it in 2018.

 

[mviy]

It's really the baggage limit that gets me about gold, not too fussed on the rest (although of course they are nice).

I try to travel light but still pack more than I should. The baggage limit for carry on I find restrictive (7kg gets used up quite fast) but not the limit for checked baggage.

The domestic J lounge is nice, but not that much better than the QANTAS Club. What I will really miss when I fall back from WP to SG at some point (I'm nowhere near LTS so could fall back to NB even) would be the FLounge in MEL and FLounges elsewhere. There's too big a gap between the MEL Int J Lounge and the FLounge imo. The Int J lounge could be better.

You can always see who is in the J lounge same day, or time your flight to coincide with someone!

Another option (if you don't need the points for international travel) could be to occasionally upgrade to fly J domestic (I probably would not do this myself or if so very rarely, but it is an option nevertheless).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There's too big a gap between the MEL Int J Lounge and the FLounge imo. The Int J lounge could be better.

This is true. The QF F lounges are true F lounges, but the aussie Int J lounges are pretty much economy class lounges. But that's not all that uncommon - Lufthansa, Thai, Asiana, to name a few are the same. CX does proper business class.

 

[mviy]

This is true. The QF F lounges are true F lounges, but the aussie Int J lounges are pretty much economy class lounges. But that's not all that uncommon - Lufthansa, Thai, Asiana, to name a few are the same. CX does proper business class.

I think a case could be made for having three international lounges (QANTAS Club, International J and FLounge) or perhaps having some perks in Int J lounge for those flying long haul J or with SG/OWS status.

 

[BD1959]

This is true. The QF F lounges are true F lounges, but the aussie Int J lounges are pretty much economy class lounges. But that's not all that uncommon - Lufthansa, Thai, Asiana, to name a few are the same. CX does proper business class.

It had been a while since I last visited the SYD Int J Lounge (I'd been WP for a while) but did so last month. The slide down to QC level was quite obvious, in my mind the only difference being alcohol available prior to midday. Having also reverted to SG in Sept, the (lack of) FLounge access is the only downside to date. However, I've not experienced any operational issues over that time and it'll be interesting the next time I don't have access to the WP Line in such circumstances to see the level of support provided to a non-WP.

Regards,

BD

 

[Bundy Bear]

When flying J domestically you will still be able to use the J lounges.

The only thing you will miss is the F lounge in Melbourne or Sydney.

Life goes on.

 

[BD1959]

When flying J domestically you will still be able to use the J lounges.

The only thing you will miss is the F lounge in Melbourne or Sydney.

Life goes on.

As useful advice as "when flying F internationally you'll be able to use the F Lounges". Yes, first world problems in the first world we inhabit.

Regards,

BD

 

[Altair]

I agree that the Qantas International Business Lounges are woeful in regards to hot food selection compared to many others and as a former WP mostly flying international the loss of First Class Lounge access hurts the most. I believe by time I reach LTG in a few years I will be able to fly more to get WP status again but I still do not know if it is worth the extra cost and time away from family...then again by that time I may actually want to be away from the family a bit more....

 

[turtlemichael]

The pluses of WP for me are F international and J lounge access and seat selection. But the QP and J international lounges are a whole lot better than waiting in the terminal and I can select exit rows on (most) domestic flights. I haven't flown QF internationally for a long time as most of my flights are, and will continue to be, using points on partner airlines. I am pretty sure that the sadness of losing something I've had for a long time will be well countered by the freedom and cost saving as I do less travel generally. And it is also really a first world problem.

 

[UP4014]

I find the all the AF lounges to what they say they do. While some internationls do it better there is no local competition and most internaitonals don't seem to do it better.

All depends where you fly often.

If you're a self funded flyer gold is more than enough.

Matt

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I find the all the AF lounges to what they say they do. While some internationls do it better there is no local competition and most internaitonals don't seem to do it better.

All depends where you fly often.

If you're a self funded flyer gold is more than enough.

Matt

I'm self funded and would look forward to overseas travel less if I only had access to the dire affairs that are the MEL and SYD J lounges. I don't see why anyone should accept a lower offering if you're not achieving status on the company dime.

 

[UP4014]

I'm self funded and would look forward to overseas travel less if I only had access to the dire affairs that are the MEL and SYD J lounges. I don't see why anyone should accept a lower offering if you're not achieving status on the company dime.

If a lessor lounge makes your overseas trip worse then you and I travel for different reasons.

Matt

 

[GoldCanyon340]

If a lessor lounge makes your overseas trip worse then you and I travel for different reasons.

Matt

And it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things.

 

[Danger]

I think a case could be made for having three international lounges (QANTAS Club, International J and FLounge) or perhaps having some perks in Int J lounge for those flying long haul J or with SG/OWS status.

I've often thought that Lifetime Gold should come with just one or two additional benefits than regular Gold. Whether it be two guests in the lounge, arrivals access, a higher baggage allowance, F check-in, I'm not sure. Just a little something to reinforce the 14000 SCs, particularly in the absence of a lifetime top tier.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've often thought that Lifetime Gold should come with just one or two additional benefits than regular Gold. Whether it be two guests in the lounge, arrivals access, a higher baggage allowance, F check-in, I'm not sure. Just a little something to reinforce the 14000 SCs, particularly in the absence of a lifetime top tier.

it does! you get the words 'lifetime' on your card.

platinum seems like a gold plus level. Once you drop to LTG you realise how much QF is missing out on business.

 

[Deleted member]

I've often thought that Lifetime Gold should come with just one or two additional benefits than regular Gold. Whether it be two guests in the lounge, arrivals access, a higher baggage allowance, F check-in, I'm not sure. Just a little something to reinforce the 14000 SCs, particularly in the absence of a lifetime top tier.

Or maybe some additional LTG + benefits as the SC's continue to accumulate. There are LTG folk out there who have probably qualified twice or even three times over !!

 

[RichardMEL]

Can definitely see something for continued SC earn specially with no LTP. Maybe at 20k LT SC say throw some sort of bonus, 25k etc....