Article: Free Chairman’s Lounge for Politicians: A Conflict of Interest?

[Princess Fiona]

Well they do get F lounge access by default on International, so it's not exactly like they are sitting out with the great unwashed.

No but they could cosy on up with us in the SYD J Lounge ?

 

[Melburnian1]

Agree. When it comes to things like giving away repatriation flights for a profit an airline membership like CL would highlight QF’s ‘spirit of australia’ and well run airline that is very capable.

a far cry from what the rest of us experience.

I have been in these Cls multiple times, though not for a few years.

I found them uninspiring as they felt devoid of atmosphere, but politicians would love that. No mixing with unpredictable Jill and Joe Public.

"How to get sozzled" away from the community's eye. No iPhones recording embarrassing moments that later show up on social media.

 

[Rugby]

No but they could cosy on up with us in the SYD J Lounge ?

Much prefer “out of sight, out of mind“

 

[Ade]

they do get F lounge access by default on International

Is that because they are entitled to F class when travelling international?

 

[Ade]

encourage 'last minute travel'

Murrays encourages me to do 'last minute' trips to SYD. A few times, I have showed up at Jolimont and asked if there were any seats on the next service to Sydney. Never disappointed.

Sometimes the traffic after entering Sydney is an issue when on a bus, which I don't think would happen if there was HSR between Canberra and Sydney. Another incentive to have HSR between these 2 cities,

 

[Franky]

We will never see high speed rail on the eastern seaboard while Qantas is lavishing benefits on politicians...

I reckon we will never see HSR on the Eastern seaboard...

 

[Happy Trails]

ISTR that Qantas used to sell bus tickets on a certain route, but I probably shouldn't have mentioned that.

 

[dairyfloss]

Is that because they are entitled to F class when travelling international?

No, in fact I think they are obligated to decline F upgrades… It’s the CL membership that gets them in. It’s QFF top tier, so also has the perks of WP/P1 and OWE

 

[kpc]

It is a bribe by Qf....period. I like Albanese making his MPs divest their share holdings in private companies removing any potential conflicts of interest. Having CL membership presents a conflict of interest for the MP. How much did Qf get from tax payers during Covid?!...aka as job keeper.

 

[Forg]

I reckon we will never see HSR on the Eastern seaboard...

Only because of the ludicrously massive cost.
If the airlines had to pay the true cost of flying, as in the environmental cost, it would be different. But building HSR for about $50k per head of population that have access to it will be, ahem, problematic until then.

If public servants aren’t allowed frequent flyer points then politicians can slum it in the J lounge with the rest of the upper echelons of the travelling public …

 

[Princess Fiona]

Is that because they are entitled to F class when travelling international?

Absolutely not

 

[Princess Fiona]

It is a bribe by Qf....period. I like Albanese making his MPs divest their share holdings in private companies removing any potential conflicts of interest. Having CL membership presents a conflict of interest for the MP. How much did Qf get from tax payers during Covid?!...aka as job keeper.

Not just QF
VA does exactly the same

 

[drron]

I'm not sure that there isn't an International equivalent to a CL lounge. At SYD I was passed by Charlize Theron accompanied by a QF staff member heading down the corridor and past the F lounge where we were headed. I doubt that they were taking her to the QP.

 

[Forg]

I'm not sure that there isn't an International equivalent to a CL lounge. At SYD I was passed by Charlize Theron accompanied by a QF staff member heading down the corridor and past the F lounge where we were headed. I doubt that they were taking her to the QP.

I'd expect that if a member of any group of people would know about it, that member would be in THIS group of people.

They do offer private & meeting rooms that are catered by the F lounge, though, don't they?

 

[harvyk]

I'd expect that if a member of any group of people would know about it, that member would be in THIS group of people.

They do offer private & meeting rooms that are catered by the F lounge, though, don't they?

They certainly do, at least in SYD, there is a couple of rooms between the entrance and library in the FLounge which have a desk, some couches a coffee table, and F Lounge staff will happily bring both food and booze to them

Furthermore I love that I'm speaking from experience.

 

[Travel_Mate]

It is certainly correct that there is the potential for a conflict of interest, but as noted in the article it is small and able to be addressed if it occurs.

Of more concern is the issue of politicians receiving frequent flyer points and not required to use them for official travel.
It could even be argued that they shouldn't receive status credits for official flights noting they already have CL whilst in office.

Nobody who travels on a federal government ticket gets FF points, SC I believe is still fair as the value is to getting LTS and LTG, as I assume their CL will be revoked when they leave office (with possible exceptions of former PM's etc)

 

[Travel_Mate]

Are you sure, on the receiving of points? Provided they book through the right channels, then I don't believe they earn points when travelling on duty; only SCs. Their contracts and rate access with QF/VA and others would cover this. Same applies to hotel stays (if booked on the right rates - harder to control). Government rates generally get the nights or stays to accumulate towards status, but not the points.

Cheers,
Matt.

Absolutely they dont, govt discounts with QF/VA are in the order of 20% for domestic and up to 40% for international, in exchange Qantas doesnt award FF points to the traveller, only SC

 

[Forg]

Absolutely they dont, govt discounts with QF/VA are in the order of 20% for domestic and up to 40% for international, in exchange Qantas doesnt award FF points to the traveller, only SC

My better-half is federal government … her budget gets charged full undiscounted retail, she’s forced to buy tickets through a specific travel agency (I presume so that the Creative Accounting can be managed which charges her budget full retail while paying QF or VA a 20%-40% discount off an already-discounted unflexible fare), and yeah she gets no FF points. They haven’t worked out a way to assign value to SC, unlike FF you can’t buy widgets/items with SC that have a $ value, which is why those are still allowed.

 

[Travel_Mate]

My better-half is federal government … her budget gets charged full undiscounted retail, she’s forced to buy tickets through a specific travel agency (I presume so that the Creative Accounting can be managed which charges her budget full retail while paying QF or VA a 20%-40% discount off an already-discounted unflexible fare), and yeah she gets no FF points. They haven’t worked out a way to assign value to SC, unlike FF you can’t buy widgets/items with SC that have a $ value, which is why those are still allowed.

That's surprising, I do work with a federal department and the invoices I see which are charged to the department are the discounted prices. The fee paid to the said travel agency is miniscule compared to the invoiced fare vs full retail price.

 

[dairyfloss]

I'd expect that if a member of any group of people would know about it, that member would be in THIS group of people.

They do offer private & meeting rooms that are catered by the F lounge, though, don't they?

Yes - there is no CL at international. They just use the F Lounge and private rooms within. I believe CLs can access the F lounge at any time, even when not flying QF/OW.

There are also other generic arrangements at SYD for VIPs - special rooms & catering that can be applied [and paid] for - but the QF F Lounge in SYD is tough to beat, so understandable they would use that

Cheers,
Matt.