CBR "the lounge" offer for PS & SG's

[dajop]

Just arrived at CBR in taxi, and noticed (advertised prominently on a billboard as approaching the terminal) that DJ have an offer allowing complementary access to the lounge for Qantas Silver and Gold members. As I now have a firm policy of avoiding the 5:20pm QF flight to MEL, I had booked today on DJ 5:10pm flight, so this was ideal for me.

As well as moving my seat to row 3, I was able to get into the lounge for free using my WP card (noting in that the offer also includes DJ Silver members and QF Platinums). There is a catch - had to share my phone number, and expect a follow up call, but a pretty good deal. As I sit here now it is 4:20pm and the lounge is very empty. No doubt if I was in the QP at the other end of the airport at the moment, I would struggle to find a seat. Big thumbs up!

 

[serfty]

Cool ...

This confirms that posted by crazydave98 here:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...yd-cbr-direct-flights-11997-2.html#post161518

 

[NM]

So lets keep the discussion in the original thread. Thanks for the info and thanks serfty for linking the original thread.

Hmm, on reflection, the original thread was on another topic, so probably better to leave comments specific to this topic.

 

[dajop]

Hmm, on reflection, the original thread was on another topic, so probably better to leave comments specific to this topic.

I did a quick search, but didn't think of looking for it hiding in the 8 page SYD-CBR thread!

 

[NM]

I did a quick search, but didn't think of looking for it hiding in the 8 page SYD-CBR thread!

Its amazing what gets hidden inside some threads

 

[Travel Guru]

Is this offer only valid at CBR Lounge or all all DJ Lounges Aust Wide??

TG

 

[NM]

Is this offer only valid at CBR Lounge or all all DJ Lounges Aust Wide??

TG

Canberra only at this time.

 

[bambbbam2]

DJ Lounges Aust Wide??

TG

Once again, there is no Lounge in perth so <> "Aust Wide"

 

[JohnK]

Not sure why they would advertise QF Silver and not QF Platinum in the promotion. Has someone misinterpreted the levels in each FF program?

Anyway will get to try out the DJ Lounge in CBR for breakfast on Sunday morning. Not hard to guess but is there any chance I can swap the invite for access to the DJ Lounge in SYD on Saturday afternoon?

 

[dajop]

Not sure why they would advertise QF Silver and not QF Platinum in the promotion. Has someone misinterpreted the levels in each FF program?

Probably way way too many Canberra based Platinums ... I thought it odd, but nevertheless asked if they were included, and the answer was definitely silver tier and higher.

 

[Yada Yada]

So lets keep the discussion in the original thread. Thanks for the info and thanks serfty for linking the original thread.

Hmm, on reflection, the original thread was on another topic, so probably better to leave comments specific to this topic.

I did a quick search, but didn't think of looking for it hiding in the 8 page SYD-CBR thread!

If crazydave98 had posted that info as a new thread, it would have been wiped out by admin for being a "commercial" post.

 

[Petch]

Not sure why they would advertise QF Silver and not QF Platinum in the promotion. Has someone misinterpreted the levels in each FF program?

I'll hazard a guess... but 1st, let's focus on which "Card Carrying" Qantas passengers aren't being targeted -

• Chairman’s Lounge
• Platinum
• Qantas Club
• Bronze

And who is being targeted –

• Gold
• Silver

We also know that Virgin Blue wants to grow its business by targeting frequent flying Qantas customers. I can think of two specific market barriers they must break through, to achieve this –

• Qantas Loyalty
• Qantas Corporate Accounts/Discounts/Travel Agency Deals

Therefore, it is completely logical, that they would target Silver & Gold, and specifically not the other 3! (Bronze discounted for not being frequent enough fliers.) Silver & Gold form the weakest part of the Qantas Loyalty base, and thus most likely to change carriers. (Of course they need effective or partial control/input, over choice of carrier).

Gold at the top and not Platinum, would be a conscious decision! Subconsciously, it is saying @ Virgin Blue Golds are number 1, whereas @ Qantas, Golds know they are not number 1.

 

[Yada Yada]

ubconsciously, it is saying @ Virgin Blue Golds are number 1, whereas @ Qantas Golds know they are not number 1.

That's a good point. It's where I'm at with QF.

 

[moa999]

or maybe that most QF Plats would have some o/s travel and therefore increased loyalty to QF

Maybe also, why bother attracting a QF Plat who is suddenly going to get their own dedicated lounge.

The Silvers and Golds are QFs mid-market predom domestic flyers, not on a weekly frequency but regular enough

 

[JohnK]

Gold at the top and not Platinum, would be a conscious decision! Subconsciously, it is saying @ Virgin Blue Golds are number 1, whereas @ Qantas, Golds know they are not number 1.

Good point but let's face it there is a huge difference between DJ Silver and DJ Gold where as not much difference between QF Gold and QF Platinum.

If I am Qantas Gold and doing some international travel but only enough to maintain Qantas Gold each year I would not want to lose Oneworld Sapphire status and therefore access to all Oneworld lounges internationally. It won't be easy to maintain DJ Gold on BFOD policy unless you are someone like Yada Yada who flies SYD-MEL almost every week

I would have thought that QF Platinums would have been the perfect targets as most of them would do more than enough travel, both international and domestic, to maintain QF Platinum. Give them enough incentive and they may well be persuaded to go for DJ Gold as well.

Not sure where QF Silver fits in the mix but I would have thought they would not do enough travel to maintain DJ Silver let alone DJ Gold. So not really an incentive to drop QF Silver for DJ Silver. Now if they included paid Qantas Club members in the promotion that would have been a different story....

 

[Petch]

I see Virgin Blue & Qantas Silver & Gold levels, on par*. In a wholly domestic environment, give or take - about the same amount of flying required for similar rewards.

But, Qantas also has Long Haul International & Business Class, which necessitate it having a Platinum level.

So, if you are a regular East Coast Qantas Economy CityFlyer, Virgin Blue has moved to position itself as a somewhat (balancing pros & cons) attractive alternative.

Although, I think most people @ a Qantas Platinum level would view Virgin Blue as a downgrade. However, an East Coast Qantas Economy CityFlyer, who is a Gold FF, would presumably find a distinct advantage to the pecking order if flying Virgin Blue. And even more specifically, one flying into/out of Canberra!

Looking at a Qantas Silver East Coast Economy CityFlyer, and their pecking position goes up to number 2, if they move to Virgin Blue. Plus, I would imagine, The Lounge team will follow up on the contact details of anyone who visits, with a very special The Lounge offer.

*Upgrades remain @ issue.

 

[StevePER]

I got an email today from Velocity indicating this offer has been extended to Silver Velocity members. Nice offer if you're flying to Canberra, no good if you're in Perth where there is no lounge.

As a Velocity Silver Member, you probably already know your Silver benefits give you a great discount on annual Membership to Virgin Blue's The Lounge.

If you haven't visited The Lounge before, we'd love you to come and be our guest at the latest Virgin Blue lounge in Canberra - on us! We hope you'll accept our invitation and be our guest at The Lounge in Canberra as often as you like until 15 May 2008*.

*The offer is available only until 15 May 2008 and only valid at The Lounge located in Canberra. ... The promotional offer allows all Velocity Silver Members to invite one Guest to accompany them to The Lounge at no extra charge in accordance with The Lounge Terms and Conditions.

Not sure where QF Silver fits in the mix but I would have thought they would not do enough travel to maintain DJ Silver let alone DJ Gold. So not really an incentive to drop QF Silver for DJ Silver.

I don't think there's much difference really. In my case I would need five return PER-SYD trips to retain QF Silver and 4.25 return trips to retain DJ Silver. (Assuming cheap PER-SYD and flexible SYD-PER, and earning 6 Velocity points per dollar based on historical spend)

Steve