Anytime Lounge Access Finishing? [Yes, from 15Aug12]

[drewbles]

They probably say the same about AFF...

and there is a massive crossover of members. I'm on both as are a lot of people. It's more QF centric than VA though. I actually prefer FT most the time as its more global in its reach.

 

[serfty]

I hate to go off topic but I find AFF so, so much more palatable than Flyertalk. Naturally, I don't wish to sound at all racist, nor do I suggest the manner covers the whole populus, but I find so many comments by many Americans (going by their location info) on Flyertalk as purely argumentative, often dummy spitting and sometimes downright offensive in tone. ...

Just to spread the 'love' abit - try reading the BA FT forum ... but don't knock a brit/BA there but ... :shock:

Seriously, both FT and AFF are invaluable sources of knowledge for the traveller ...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I am very close to renewing my platinum through hard-earned flying, and I was planning to do so with one last international flight in September. (I fly only economy unfortunately so it takes a lot more flying to get to Platinum this way.) I'm not sure why I wasn't given any of these special offers, but apparently I'm not very valuable to DJ.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you made the cardinal sin of showing VA some loyalty as a thank-you for your status match. That ruled you out of the offers. Had you shown no loyalty, used (and maybe even abused) ATA and flew VA only once or twice in the past year, they would be showering you with offers.

Sounds silly? Don't be worried, I can't work out the logic either. Here's a sample of the offers made just recently to the predominently disloyal VA SMed members...

- “purchase two return business fares to maintain platinum status”
- “receive 100 bonus status credits for any flight purchased”
- “receive 200 bonus status credits for any flight purchased”
- “purchase one return business fare or two return flexi-fares to maintain platinum status”
- “receive 50 bonus status credits for any flight purchased”
- “Platinum promotion 200 complementary status credits”
- “Gold promotion 100 complementary status credits”
- “Silver promotion 50 complementary status credits”

 

[Flashback]

Me either. I have now tried 2-3 times to notify DJ that I get *no* status emails from them these days. Not even monthly statements. I know it's them too, as my mail server receives the emails for my parents and brothers, and I see their emails in the past 24 hours logs.

DJ keep saying "oh but you are signed up you'll get email' even though I never do. The only thing I get is my itineraries. I'm a little sick of reporting this.

Another suggestion, change it to another e-mail address for a month or so, then change it back?

 

[simongr]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you made the cardinal sin of showing VA some loyalty as a thank-you for your status match. That ruled you out of the offers. Had you shown no loyalty, used (and maybe even abused) ATA and flew VA only once or twice in the past year, they would be showering you with offers.

I flew four times on VA and didn't get the offer.

 

[clarkkent]

So why the hell was he using the DJ lounge and not the QP?

He was specifically using the SYD premium entry, which is certainly a nicer entrance than the main security area and so perhaps understandable (unlike his behaviour).

 

[drewbles]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you made the cardinal sin of showing VA some loyalty as a thank-you for your status match. That ruled you out of the offers. Had you shown no loyalty, used (and maybe even abused) ATA and flew VA only once or twice in the past year, they would be showering you with offers.

Sounds silly? Don't be worried, I can't work out the logic either. Here's a sample of the offers made just recently to the predominently disloyal VA SMed members...

- “purchase two return business fares to maintain platinum status”
- “receive 100 bonus status credits for any flight purchased”
- “receive 200 bonus status credits for any flight purchased”
- “purchase one return business fare or two return flexi-fares to maintain platinum status”
- “receive 50 bonus status credits for any flight purchased”
- “Platinum promotion 200 complementary status credits”
- “Gold promotion 100 complementary status credits”
- “Silver promotion 50 complementary status credits”

Yes. Apparently spending well over $15k to keep my Platinum has made me ever-so-more-valuable to them than someone who's not spent a cent, used ATA flying JQ and then spends $800 to keep platinum for another year. (That's not a DYKWIA FYI, it's just saying that it's strange where their priorities lie, IMHO it's better to keep the spenders happy than try and re-comp someone who was comped, and a large chunk of my spend is from my employer and work travel so it's not all my spend).

I'd be surprised if a lot of zero use WP's (the matched ones) took up the offer. With the removal of ATA, WP would be useless for people who don't fly them. The next 12 months are going to be interesting, i'm willing to bet that the WP numbers will have dropped off substantially.

Another suggestion, change it to another e-mail address for a month or so, then change it back?

Well that's the great thing. If I change any of the notifications I get a confirmation email that I've made a change (always have had that).

Something's not right!

 

[amaroo]

Just to spread the 'love' abit - try reading the BA FT forum ... but don't knock a brit/BA there but ... :shock:

Seriously, both FT and AFF are invaluable sources of knowledge for the traveller ...

FT BAEC forum was the very first flyer forum I joined - fantastic people, extremely keen to help & a joy to be part of. I joined AFF after FT because I have more to contribute to an Australian site rather than just the QF/BAEC fora on FT.

Sure, I could wing it (make things up) and spread the love all over the FT forums however, most would only be BS! I'm limited in what I can contribute on FT however, it's a great resource to jump in & out of.

I still spend a small amount time on FT but haven't got the time for both (FT & AFF) & have decided AFF is a better fit for me

 

[JohnK]

As they say better late than never.

Well not quite but this has been done to death and it would not have hurt to have been given advance notice by email....

 

[dandandan]

It's simple, if you fly Virgin you have nothing to worry about, good luck getting into a Qantas lounge when you are not flying with them or their partners or not flying at all. I am sure the Gold Coast lounge once opened saw a large number of non Virign flight ATA access.

There are over 3 million velocity members, with a large number of Gold and Platinum members, so every Joe Blogg's who decided to take themselves to a lounge for a freeloading session adds up and now they can't boo hoo.

Here is another scenario to ponder. QF Plat can take in 2 guests to a QF lounge or when status matched to DJ 3 into a Virgin lounge, guess where they go when they fly in a group of 4 and on a non Virgin flight.

From reading these post this does happen!

Good luck getting your clients into a QF lounge when you pick them up.

I'm a platinum who was status matched, and I am extremely annoyed about this change for a few reasons. First, I just received notice today in an email - the notice was buried deep in the email. Since I do use ATA about every 2 months, when I pick up out-of-town business clients, I am very glad that I read through the whole email (I normally do not). I would have been seriously pissed off to show up at the lounge with a client and be denied entry. DJ, this is poor form on your part.

Second, I have read through about 30 pages of this thread and skipped ahead to post. Apparently some people who were status matched are being given offers to allow them to retain platinum by flying only 1-4 flights? I am very close to renewing my platinum through hard-earned flying, and I was planning to do so with one last international flight in September. (I fly only economy unfortunately so it takes a lot more flying to get to Platinum this way.) I'm not sure why I wasn't given any of these special offers, but apparently I'm not very valuable to DJ.

Third, why is everyone assuming that there had to be abuse to cause DJ to end ATA? Until/unless DJ explains why, I think it's premature to make that argument. It may be that the cost-cutters got the upper hand. Facts are malleable things; the same set of facts can be construed as "success" or "abuse." Other people have made this same argument; if it's ATA, how is it abuse?

So right now, I'm scratching my head over what to do. I do mostly international flying and DJ's lack of alliance causes me endless grief. When I fly in the US on Delta, as part of DJ-booked tickets, I still get charged ridiculous amounts for baggage. That wouldn't happen if I had status with an airline in an alliance.

I have also brought my daughter to the lounge twice (we live in Canberra). It's a magical experience for her: the planes, the feeling of being in a nice restaurant, the atmosphere. I don't drink coffee or rarely drink alcohol, so we certainly haven't cost DJ much money this way. This was a major perk for me, even though we rarely used it (and only on Sunday afternoons, when the lounge is dead).

So DJ has ticked me off in a number of ways: 1) providing no advance notice of the change 2) providing no real visible notice of the change (burying it in the middle of a monthly email doesn't count) 3) refusing to explain the change and 4) refusing to consider less dramatic changes, such as giving it to Platinum only or allowing it only on off-peak times.

What does this mean for me? I'm glad I haven't booked my final international flight, because I'm not sure if I'm going to stay with DJ. If they had seamless international alliances, this would annoy me but not break the final straw. However, given the headaches I put up because of my loyalty to DJ, I was going to stay with them because of ATA - and now I may not.

It's off to the Qantas website to figure out which program is best for me.

 

[mickeyc747]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you made the cardinal sin of showing VA some loyalty as a thank-you for your status match. That ruled you out of the offers. Had you shown no loyalty, used (and maybe even abused) ATA and flew VA only once or twice in the past year, they would be showering you with offers.

I must have showed too much loyality (not status matched though Platinum the hard way) as through my flying I got Mrs Mickeyc Plat , Eldest Child Gold Middle Child Gold and Junior Mickeyc Silver no offers for me but at around 3750 SC what should I expect.

 

[JohnK]

I'd be surprised if a lot of zero use WP's (the matched ones) took up the offer. With the removal of ATA, WP would be useless for people who don't fly them. The next 12 months are going to be interesting, i'm willing to bet that the WP numbers will have dropped off substantially.

I was status matched Platinum but I was never ever going to requalify unless I spent some serious money going around in circles.

I should maintain Gold in the next membership year. And from the sounds of the email received both Platinum and Gold receive arrivals access if flying Virgin on the day.

As a Gold what am I missing apart from status bonus and 4 complimentary upgrades? There does not appear to be too much difference between VA Platinum and VA Gold which may well be another reason why many status matched Platinums are going to drop off and may actually settle at Gold.

 

[dandandan]

100% points bonus
3 guests into lounge
Companion membership, when you earn 500/1,000 SC's as a Plat
Weekend Financial review delivery for a year

There is a choice for these but I took these;

Hilton Diamond (Free Breakfasts, Executive lounge with free drinks/food plus great room upgrades)
Europcar Privilege Elite (free weekend rental, excellent upgrades)

As a Gold what am I missing apart from status bonus and 4 complimentary upgrades? There does not appear to be too much difference between VA Platinum and VA Gold which may well be another reason why many status matched Platinums are going to drop off and may actually settle at Gold.

 

[JohnK]

Some of those are once off. I cannot see Hilton Diamond offered again and if they do then I will make sure I do 40 OOL-SYD returns to attain Platinum again.

 

[kpc]

I cannot see Hilton Diamond offered again and if they do then I will make sure I do 40 OOL-SYD returns to attain Platinum again.

I'm secretly hoping for this....however, my Hilton Diamond is valid til end of March 2014:mrgreen:. As posted elsewhere [see below], thanks to various promos and DJs generosity, it did not cost me very much to maintain my comped DJ Plat for another year:shock:

I ended up booking Syd-Ool economy return ($170) during the promo period, and Syd-Ool economy return ($144) during a happy hour sale to complete the SCs required and the 4 sectors required just before my membership year ends. I know it will pain some here, but with various promos (eg Virgin Money credit card), it only cost me $597 on paid DJ flights to retain my comp DJ plat

...I'm sure Velocity were not planning on customers like me!

 

[dandandan]

Yes they are, Europcar, Fin Review is and also Hilton Diamond where you need 4 stays in 6 months to extend for another 6 months, in other words have the benefit for a year. It is has been great the times I have used it and my trip to New York next year, free breakfasts x 2 (infant free) equals more spending money.

Companion Plat will get me another year though.

Some of those are once off. I cannot see Hilton Diamond offered again and if they do then I will make sure I do 40 OOL-SYD returns to attain Platinum again.

 

[straitman]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you made the cardinal sin of showing VA some loyalty as a thank-you for your status match. That ruled you out of the offers. Had you shown no loyalty, used (and maybe even abused) ATA and flew VA only once or twice in the past year, they would be showering you with offers.

Sounds silly? Don't be worried, I can't work out the logic either. Here's a sample of the offers made just recently to the predominently disloyal VA SMed members...

- “purchase two return business fares to maintain platinum status”
- “receive 100 bonus status credits for any flight purchased”
- “receive 200 bonus status credits for any flight purchased”
- “purchase one return business fare or two return flexi-fares to maintain platinum status”
- “receive 50 bonus status credits for any flight purchased”
- “Platinum promotion 200 complementary status credits”
- “Gold promotion 100 complementary status credits”
- “Silver promotion 50 complementary status credits”

Is this any better, or worse, than Qantas with its seemingly random double SC offers. SWMBO got totally confused recently as she had several double (Qantas) offers running for months on end.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Is this any better, or worse, than Qantas with its seemingly random double SC offers. SWMBO got totally confused recently as she had several double (Qantas) offers running for months on end.

If it's totally random, than it's better. Better still would be a targeted offer that rewards loyalty. Take kpc's post above, just under $600 for plat for two years and gold for a third if he chooses not to fly VA any more. I've paid VA tens of thousands of dollars in the past few years, have never been comped one single SC and have never been near platinum. Why? Easy. Why should they. Well the answer is to keep me spending those tens of thousands with them. I'm not any more and I do wonder if I'm Robinson Crusoe on that score. How many have been turned off the VA product by VAs absolute indifference (rudeness even) to their proven loyal customers in preference to trying to win over their proven disloyal customers.

I'm fairly laid back over many things, but this has been weeks now (not including the first rounds of face-slapping last year) and I'm still bloody angry about this treatment. That's enough for me. As far as I'm concerned, VA would have been far better to offer their rewards if they so chose to do so, but to do it across the board.....either that or don't offer it at all. I now have my plan for the future that is so cunning even Blackadder would approve.........and VA only plays a minor part where I use them only to get what I want! Possibly not what JB had hoped for.

 

[QF WP]

I think we have some serious thread drift going on here

I also got my email yesterday and therefore wasn't surprised by the formal announcement.

IIRC, the VA rep at the AFF weekend said that of the status matched people, only 30% of those actually flew VA (I stand to be corrected), so there could have been a proportion of those that saw the benefits of trying out the ATA access whilst still flying their preferred airline. The scanning of our cards would have given them the percentage use of ATA.

I can understand their business decision to cease it now. They have given us status matchers almost a year to use it, although quite a number would cease to have access after their annual status rollover. That's the confusing part for me, but I contend that they thought the level of (ab)use would be greater in the last month of eligibility as people were alerted to it's demise.

At least the last time I used ATA (with my TA), I booked $2K worth of VA flights whilst there, so that repaid them for my half dozen ATA visits.

Still, having a good working relationship with the BNE Lounge Management does help - I'm sure I can drop in to say hi to the Lounge Goddess (and her Deputy) any time

 

[markis10]

Yes they are, Europcar, Fin Review is and also Hilton Diamond where you need 4 stays in 6 months to extend for another 6 months, in other words have the benefit for a year. It is has been great the times I have used it and my trip to New York next year, free breakfasts x 2 (infant free) equals more spending money.

Companion Plat will get me another year though.

The Fin Review was a once off offer and won't happen again. Most of the extras for Platinum are not that enticing, for me the main benefit has been the bonus points for third party earn like rental cars etc, it adds up very quickly.