Business Lounges closed 26 December 2012 to 6 January 2013

[Austman]

At least they provided notice from the QF website and via email (for those who received them - I think that I did) and didn't simply lock the doors.

No email to me - and I was travelling during the closure period. What was the email subject line/date?

And who checks the domestic lounge access rules on the Qantas website when they go there every week?

So, without AFF, it would have been that they simply did close the doors on me!

 

[Simo]

My neighbour is a refrigeration type person and he was telling me that he was doing work for Qantas at BNE Airport.

They where doing some work on some new cold rooms for food preparation.

Was not in the lounges but it would have slowed there staff down with food preparation.

He doesn't do small fridge type jobs he does large volume areas like he has done a supermarkets pallet area coldroom about the size of a few 1000 sq metres.

 

[mannej]

My neighbour is a refrigeration type person and he was telling me that he was doing work for Qantas at BNE Airport.

They where doing some work on some new cold rooms for food preparation.

Was not in the lounges but it would have slowed there staff down with food preparation.

Your Neighbours must be a liar...
Apparently maintenance was just an excuse;-)

 

[simongr]

Man this is a tough crowd. Most Australian businesses close during the Xmas/NY slow time. Qantas dares to do the same and gets blasted from all sides. I flew from Perth on the 29th December and there was about 3 cats and a dog in the QP (ie almost no one), returned from Sydney on Jan 1 and similar so what is the issue. Is it really anyone else's business why they shut down ? I suspect I'll get shot down in flames as seems to be the way of this forum lately.

Hope you don't think I am trying to shoot you down - I just have a different perspective - sure many businesses have different service standards over the holiday period - heck Woolworths had the audacity to be closed on Christmas Day AND Boxing Day. The difference is that QF have a specific product with specific service standards and that provision of services is very time specific. Closing the lounge impacts that service. Using maintenance as a rationale smells a little for people here as they can see little evidence of maintenance - for example the glass counter in the MEL J lounge hasn't been replaced - you would expect that to be the sort of maintenance undertaken.

A lesson for QF for the future - compare to CX. The Wing F is closed. The Wing J is open - CX have cordoned off a section of the Wing J for F/OWE pax. Maybe a little more thought about service provision to more valued pax may be in order.

I think what a lot of people are complaining about here is that the reasoning used for the closure was maintenance and that does not engender confidence in the honesty of management.

 

[samh004]

After all, the QPs in SYD and CBR still have my favourite lounge sitting positions.

I recall someone mentioning their old favourite spot was now a kids area, was that you?

 

[nlagalle]

No email to me - and I was travelling during the closure period. What was the email subject line/date?

And who checks the domestic lounge access rules on the Qantas website when they go there every week?

So, without AFF, it would have been that they simply did close the doors on me!

I'll look for the email too.

Also I travelled on the 22nd dec and there were signs up on entering the lounges that the J lounges would be closed. Not sure when they went up.

 

[lovestotravel]

Plat member here - No email received

I had a flight booked in business during the dates, but I cancelled it

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I had a flight booked in business during the dates, but I cancelled it

Because the lounge was closed???? :?:

 

[lovestotravel]

Because the lounge was closed???? :?:

Played a small part - Yes!

 

[under the radar]

it's now JAN 9th...the world didnt end..the lounges are open..life as we know it, can resume!!

 

[DC3]

it's now JAN 9th...the world didnt end..the lounges are open..life as we know it, can resume!!

Yes, but only until Christmas.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

it's now JAN 9th...the world didnt end..the lounges are open..life as we know it, can resume!!

Indeed the world can recommence spinning now that Frangipane Tart is back on for dessert

 

[awilcockson]

Man this is a tough crowd. Most Australian businesses close during the Xmas/NY slow time. Qantas dares to do the same and gets blasted from all sides. I flew from Perth on the 29th December and there was about 3 cats and a dog in the QP (ie almost no one), returned from Sydney on Jan 1 and similar so what is the issue. Is it really anyone else's business why they shut down ? I suspect I'll get shot down in flames as seems to be the way of this forum lately.

My problem isn't with the closure, it's with the convenient excuse of "maintenance" when it would appear highly unlikely that maintenance requiring a full 2 weeks in all lounges nation wide was carried out.

 

[Flying Fox]

No email to me - and I was travelling during the closure period. What was the email subject line/date?

And who checks the domestic lounge access rules on the Qantas website when they go there every week?

So, without AFF, it would have been that they simply did close the doors on me!

Sorry I must have deleted the email as I can't find it now.

I am pretty sure that it was advertised on the QF website main page in one of the boxes that scroll across the bottom of the screen.

Yes I agree, that its unreasonable to have to check the opening hours of every facility that you plan to use every time before you fly. And I also understand the inconvenience that it caused.

Anyway, my point is that QF made an attempt to advertise the closure of the J lounges.

 

[markis10]

My problem isn't with the closure, it's with the blatantly false reason being given for the closure.

I would probably put the word alleged in there somewhere, I have seen no proof either way and dont expect to see any!

 

[docjames]

I would probably put the word alleged in there somewhere, I have seen no proof either way and dont expect to see any!

Part of the issue being that QF (I would say lie but let's say instead) "are liberal with the truth" so often that everyone is now cynical about their reasons for anything.

 

[Ansett]

At the end of the day does it really matter.

I visited the Lounge on 4 occasions during this period and could definitely see in Sydney atleast, that work had been done. To be honest the only disapointment to me was the food or lack of variety BUT it was better than no lounge. Lets get off of the box and stop making acusations that we can neither prove or disprove and get on with more important things in life. Like Living it

 

[flyingfan]

From memory the notification about the lounge closures may have been included in one of the regular FF points balances emails - pretty sure there was no specific email just on the closure.

 

[UP4014]

My problem isn't with the closure, it's with the blatantly false reason being given for the closure.

False reason?

 

[yo yo ma]

My problem isn't with the closure, it's with the blatantly false reason being given for the closure.

Lets put some facts in here. QF stated: "From 26 December 2012 to 6 January 2013, our Business Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra will be closed for routine maintenance."


Maintenance is defined as: "The work of keeping something in proper condition; the upkeep of property or equipment."

If QF fixed some parts of their lounges, it is maintenance. Your inference that QF "lied" has no basis.

You are disputing the level of maintenance that occured but it is wrong to say they lied.