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

[Deleted member 29185]

For those who think this will reduce the status match freeloaders have a think about it. The freeloaders status match, assuming they have not met their re-qualification requirements will be expiring within a month or so anyway.

Soft landings!!!

Those that have requaled are far from the freeloaders I bemoan. Even those who've not requaled but still flown VA a fair amount are fine (IMO), even those who take up one of the new incentives are now "paying" for their status, but those who were comped plat and have not flown VA at all and have no intention of flying VA at all, but still rocked up to use the less crowded lounges, had another 14 months of freeloading to use. There's plenty of evidence here on AFF of that attitude so out in the real world I'm sure there's a lot of it going on (and the advice given to mickeyc747 certainly confirms it).

 

[tuapekastar]

If the outcome of removal of ATA is that they remove the freeloaders that are comped status AND still don't fly VA, then all the better IMHO.

I think it is a good thing.

At the end VA needs to make money. No point feeding the status match freeloaders who flies JQ/QF and drink up on VA. It is just wrong.

I was status matched to Gold, and whilst I did use 1 ATA (to send my wife to MEL who is also VA Gold anyway and booked on J), I have flown VA exclusively.

I like the idea of lounge access on arrival. It is a good thing.

While I'm certainly all for removing freeloaders I'm not sure there actually are any.

Anyone who was matched would have (unless they let it lapse) lounge access with QF - when I'm flying QF I certainly don't see myself traipsing all the way over to the DJ lounge for food/bev. And if a company says 'come and enjoy our lounges anytime you want', and you do, are you freeloading? I understand the expectation (hope?) of DJ is that you do fly with them, but if you don't, yet still use the lounge for whatever reason, I'm not sure it really is 'freeloading'. That said, I fully understand why DJ do not want this sort of thing happening, and it is all slowly starting to sort itself out.

 

[TonyHancock]

Soft landing!

Fair point...but status matched Gold's, who have not re-qualified, don't benefit.

So DJ remove ATA from Gold's or even better don't allow status matched Platiinum's to have a soft landing!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Fair point...but status matched Gold's, who have not re-qualified, don't benefit.

So DJ remove ATA from Gold's or even better don't allow status matched Platiinum's to have a soft landing.

Yes I agree they were all options over the extreme. I for one (being a SG) will be glad if golds are still included though however I'd also understand plats suggesting otherwise.

 

[TonyHancock]

Yes I agree they were all options over the extreme. I for one (being a SG) will be glad if golds are still included though however I'd also understand plats suggesting otherwise.

I thought about modifying my post whilst writing it, because i do believe that existing gold members have much more of a right over any status matched members. I'd like to see DJ kick status matched members who have failed to meet even the silver level into touch. I don't think that is unreasonable.

I'm a big believer in taking a status match only if one is prepared to re-qualify. I sincerely regret taking the Europcar Privilege Elite offer because I feel honour bound in racking up the 85 rental days despite the absolutely disgusting efforts of Europcar. (Worst offering I have ever received from a travel provider, utterly pathetic and now removed from our global travel suppliers from 2013 as a result.)

 

[repete]

I'd like to see DJ kick status matched members who have failed to meet even the silver level into touch. I don't think that is unreasonable.

And I guess if they did, we might be disappointed, but couldn't really complain could we. And yes, I am sticking my neck out as someone who 'might' fit the 'freeloader' category. I managed to get a status match to Gold and only took two virgin flights this year. That was the sum total of my flying though in my circumstances - so they got all my business! I was preparing to drop down anyway so had realised no more gold soon.
I have used ATA twice in the year... Both times we were either doing something at the airport anyway, or picking up family off a Virgin flight. Both times with my 4/5 yo son who has exclaimed excitedly about every plane that has moved on the tarmac. . Thanks for the memories DJ

 

[TonyHancock]

And I guess if they did, we might be disappointed, but couldn't really complain could we.

I don't believe anyone could complain at getting gold or platinum status for a year. With all of the double SC offers about it doesn't seem to hard to retain status.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I am surprised that ATA was available for DJ Gold, and I am surprised that ATA has been taken away from the Platinum members, I thought that one day that DJ Gold would lose ATA.

One reason I was considering the few flights I need to regain Platinum was for the ATA access, now I am not so sure I will bother.

Do I spend the $600 I need to keep DJ Platinum or do I let it drop back to Gold.

 

[TonyHancock]

I am surprised that ATA was available for DJ Gold, and I am surprised that ATA has been taken away from the Platinum members, I thought that one day that DJ Gold would lose ATA.

One reason I was considering the few flights I need to regain Platinum was for the ATA access, now I am not so sure I will bother.

Do I spend the $600 I need to keep DJ Platinum or do I let it drop back to Gold.

I think the 4 comp upgrades might make it worthwhile. It is of course all subjective.

 

[straitman]

Do I spend the $600 I need to keep DJ Platinum or do I let it drop back to Gold.

Remember your line about regretting things that you do not do :!:

 

[medhead]

I'm a big believer in taking a status match only if one is prepared to re-qualify.

That's the thing, isn't it? I was offered a status match shortly after Qantas removed ATA via a private communication. It took me a week to work the numbers and decide, yes I would do it because I would make a decent effort to retain that status. It was only then that I accepted the offer. There would be little point otherwise.

 

[leemin]

I've used ATA only when arriving on a DJ flight, or dropping a relative off (probably twice in 12 months) for their DJ flight.

Removal would annoy me. Not hugely, but enough.

My suggestion would be that someone, either the FF or their guest, be required to have a DJ boarding pass when using ATA. Surely that would be a happy medium? I'd certainly be fine with that and it would stop QF flyers using DJ ATA, which IMHO, is kinda wrong.

 

[Justinf]

I do recall a story from a few months back, where a member used to use ATA to take his young grandson on a Sat afternoon. He'd have a quiet peaceful coffee during an "offpeak" lounge time while his grandson would have an exciting time plane watching in MEL. What a pity that ATA will now go, as too for the people picking up friends and relatives (arriving on VA flights).

I don't mean to be rude and I sincerley apologise if I have read this wrong, but the Lounge isn't a creche where grandparents can drop their kids off a drink barista coffee. I know it's just a story you heard and that it's not you, but I reckon this is absolutely abuse of ATA.
Sorry once again if I have completely misread what you said.

 

[medhead]

I don't mean to be rude and I sincerley apologise if I have read this wrong, but the Lounge isn't a creche where grandparents can drop their kids off a drink barista coffee. I know it's just a story you heard and that it's not you, but I reckon this is absolutely abuse of ATA.
Sorry once again if I have completely misread what you said.

Sorry but if you read the post you'll see that the lounge wasn't used as a creche. I remember the post concerned and the grandparent was with the child and there is nothing in the repetition of the story that says otherwise.

 

[leemin]

I don't mean to be rude and I sincerley apologise if I have read this wrong, but the Lounge isn't a creche where grandparents can drop their kids off a drink barista coffee.

IIRC, the member said that he explained to the lounge angels what he was doing and asked if it would be okay, each time.

Personally, I'd say that specifically asking each time puts it in a slightly different category. Can easily understand if others disagree though.

 

[anat0l]

Compared to when QF removed ATA for Plats only ('cos they were the only ones that had it, cf. in VA where Golds and Plats get it), everyone here seems to be a whole lot more understanding and cooler about things.

Also, people should keep in mind that under the old VA FFP, Golds had arrivals access (i.e. access to the lounge after an eligible flight). Presumably, even if there wasn't ATA in the new FFP, VA Golds (and Plats by corollary) probably would've kept this 'benefit'.

 

[medhead]

Compared to when QF removed ATA for Plats only ('cos they were the only ones that had it, cf. in VA where Golds and Plats get it), everyone here seems to be a whole lot more understanding and cooler about things.

Another factor is that there was no equal alternative when qantas removed ATA. Really, the whole dynamics of the 2 events are very different such that they aren't really comparable.


Sent from the Throne

 

[Bofter]

I have earned gold through putting all my flying on DJ and paying for a some flexi fares instead of saver fares (so real additional revenue and margin for Virgin). Having lounge access for me was one of the reasons, but only in a limited sense - I don't arrive at the airport too long before my flights and I rarely drink alcohol in the lounge (which seems a key saving for some compared to buying at bars). A big benefit of gold status for me is ATA, as for the 2-4 times a year I drop my fiancee off at the airport it makes her feel a little special and as if she gets something (small, but something) in return for the time for the time I have spent working away from home associated with the flights that got me to gold. Given the airports I fly from (MEL and PER) it's a little walk from the DJ Lounge to the QF terminal, so with ATA her few flights are likely to be on DJ, without it they go back to a pure price/time basis.

I have to think about whether I direct my flying to DJ again this year to requalify for gold and pay that bit extra (from my pocket) for the flexis rather than saver fares, and ATA will definitely factor into that.

 

[Justinf]

Sorry but if you read the post you'll see that the lounge wasn't used as a creche. I remember the post concerned and the grandparent was with the child and there is nothing in the repetition of the story that says otherwise.

Are you able to show me a link to the post so I can make a more informed opinion of it then? Please. Can anyone? It would be nice to able to read it because the info we have been given makes it sound exactly that.

IIRC, the member said that he explained to the lounge angels what he was doing and asked if it would be okay, each time.

Personally, I'd say that specifically asking each time puts it in a slightly different category. Can easily understand if others disagree though.

Like I said, I am sorry if I read things wrongly.
But I still reserve my right to my express my opinon that the Lounge was not being used for what it was intended for.

 

[virginconvert]

I really do not understand what VA are doing! OK - Status match, a good and necessary idea. But now throwing status to everyone, even those who haven't flown at all, and consequently disillusioning those who have demonstrated consistent loyalty - this is nuts!

And now removing ATA for everyone because the privilege was abused by the same people they want to offer an easy pathway to status again. Crazy!

Going after Plat 1 is gradually become more and more attractive...