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

[oz_mark]

Anyone remember the free lounge passes that are supposed to be granted every 100 SC? Could this be related? Are they finally going to implement the lounges passes that could be used for ATA?

While I think DJ have not gone ahead with this, the actual idea of issuing such passes usable for ATA does have some merit, IMHO.

 

[ermen]

I think the folks at Virgin finally found out what Qantas knew - ATA was not sustainable from a financial point of view

 

[pauly7]

I think the folks at Virgin finally found out what Qantas knew - ATA was not sustainable from a financial point of view

I guess....

I didn't care when QF removed ATA and I sure don't care about DJ potentially removing it either. Maybe with the money they save they can upgrade the catering from hot dogs and white rolls do something more healthy

 

[medhead]

I think the folks at Virgin finally found out what Qantas knew - ATA was not sustainable from a financial point of view

That's not what Qantas found out, at all. How long did Qantas have ATA? Many I'd say. Qantas only removed ATA when they realised that people were flying with Virgin and using the qantas lounges, IMO. That is certainly the reason they gave here - to not give the competition a free kick.

 

[Simo]

i don't think anyone would have been going out to the airport and having a few Friday after work drinks every week.

IMHO I don't think the people that it would have been targeted at would have abused it as a free pub.

 

[MandM]

So who are the people abusing ATA? Or is it just all of us using it occasionally that is not sustainable?

 

[richie9x]

Also I don't believe the comment "passengers are using VA lounges when flying QF".
In most airports this would be a massive PITA for the passenger, and considering most were status matched - they'd have QF access anyhow.

I was thinking the same thing.

Although it could be due to the new Gold Coast lounge. If you are a QF gold and flying Jetstar then you have to pay to get into the Jetstar lounge. But if you status matched to Velocity gold then you might as well use any time access to get into the Virgin lounge. Also when you consider international passengers share the same terminal, it is possible half the people in the OOL Virgin lounge aren't flying Virgin.

Or my other theory that Virgin all along only intended to have it for a year to give status matched passengers a taste of their lounge.

 

[pshepvic]

I'm not sure what to think. On one hand I'm annoyed that a benefit we had is gone, yet I'm not going to jump ship with it being taken away, because I know I'm not going to get it elsewhere anyway. I've never actually used it, but my partner did once to drop a friend off and take him into the lounge on a quiet Saturday afternoon. I'd hardly say that is abuse, considering out friend was flying Virgin (we wouldn't have done it if he was flying another airline).

I would be all for a pass system where you get a certain number of ATAs a year - would also be happy if they restricted it to off peak times. It does annoy me that the lounges are getting very busy at peak times, and I do think there are quite a few people flying other airlines in there.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[anat0l]

That's not what Qantas found out, at all. How long did Qantas have ATA? Many I'd say. Qantas only removed ATA when they realised that people were flying with Virgin and using the qantas lounges, IMO. That is certainly the reason they gave here - to not give the competition a free kick.

Qantas also mentioned (or at least so I was told, more so than domestic) a number of international airlines (i.e. WPs using the International J Lounges under ATA) that were also getting "free kicks".

Of course, VA don't operate international lounges so they have no ATA scope there.


Overall, we should probably wait to see what those 'emails' are going to say. I suppose they have to put some sort of reason there as to why the lounge rules are changing.

 

[oz_mark]

So who are the people abusing ATA? Or is it just all of us using it occasionally that is not sustainable?

I think it was there as part of the bigger strategy of getting people to try the Virgin product, and was likely to be phased out at some point regardless.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Overall, we should probably wait to see what those 'emails' are going to say.

Yes true. I'm curious to see if arrivals access has been retained and/or whether or not gold status has lost the benefit altogether. In the big scheme of things, now the OOL and MKY lounges are up and running (with CNS, DRW & HBA soon to be brought on line) even arrivals access is not so important. With my inevitable drift away from VA for probably 50% or so of my flights, I had no intention of using ATA whilst flying a competitor anyway so apart from the very occasional FF meets in the lounge, I guess I won't be overly perturbed by the change regardless.

 

[drewbles]

Also I don't believe the comment "passengers are using VA lounges when flying QF".
In most airports this would be a massive PITA for the passenger, and considering most were status matched - they'd have QF access anyhow.

I'm sure those living/working near airports could take advantage - but why not build in a fair use ATA t&c instead of culling it all together?

It's not difficult at BNE (only a few minutes walk).

Until I get the email in my inbox or it's listed on their website, I'm still not going to believe it

That and they have to provide 30 days notice. 30 days from today takes us to around 21st August at the earliest. That and the fact that no matter how many times i've advised Velocity that their email system is stuffed, I never get any emails from them (except reservations; i've never once had any other notification, including the fact I was eligible for double SC's earlier this year; I learned when all of a sudden all my flights started crediting double and I enquired).

 

[drewbles]

I think the folks at Virgin finally found out what Qantas knew - ATA was not sustainable from a financial point of view

Qantas clearly stated the removal of ATA was to lower crowding in the QP's. The day after it ended, they started a QP sale to try and get more members.

I still don't believe that this removal saves them more than a few dollars, and depletes good will to no end. Nickel and Dime-ing at it's finest IMHO.

 

[dandandan]

ATA should only be for those that hold a ticket and are flying with Virgin or a partner airline that day. If they are going to keep some form of ATA I think it will be that.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

It's not difficult at BNE (only a few minutes walk).

Until I get the email in my inbox or it's listed on their website, I'm still not going to believe it

That and they have to provide 30 days notice. 30 days from today takes us to around 21st August at the earliest.

Didn't QF also have a clause about giving member x-months for changes?
And yes, it was pretty bad for QF to start a QC promo right after the removal of ATA due to crowding.

 

[markis10]

Didn't QF also have a clause about giving member x-months for changes?
And yes, it was pretty bad for QF to start a QC promo right after the removal of ATA due to crowding.

Yes, 6 months for detrimental changes, and the notice was given, allowing time for one last and now somewhat legendary hurrah by AFF members!

Still got a bit of a sour taste in my mouth from the reaction of the MEL Lounge Manager on Sunday afternoon, at least 50% of that group have significant DJ activity from a zero base on their records now which would have been more profitable than the cost of the Crownie that each devoured!

 

[AaronBradford]

ATA should only be for those that hold a ticket and are flying with Virgin or a partner airline that day. If they are going to keep some form of ATA I think it will be that.

But that's not ATA at all, that's just normal lounge access.

 

[anat0l]

But that's not ATA at all, that's just normal lounge access.

I think what danoleary55 is saying reflects the QF WP access policy (or at least I hope I got this right). That is, as long as you have an eligible flight on that day you can access the lounge. The flight does not need to be the next flight you are taking, nor does it have to be the previous flight.

 

[Simo]

I can see a social coming up at some VA lounges

 

[simongr]

Qantas clearly stated the removal of ATA was to lower crowding in the QP's. The day after it ended, they started a QP sale to try and get more members.

And at the lunch they stated the free kick reason.