[Confirmed Fixed - Maybe Not!] No LHR T5 Galleries access for QP before BA/QF flights

[MEL_Traveller]

I wasn't going to bite at this because my mom always said 'if you can't say something nice...' - but since others have commented I agree that the handling of this could have been better.

At the end of the day, we have a report saying BA has denied access because QF doesn't want to pay. I can probably believe this was a statement by BA to try and make themselves look better, and could be due to other reasons such as overcrowding.

However, I also believe that everything has its price. Overcrowding might be overlooked if QF was willing to fork out GBP25 per entry (or whatever).

So to that end, this could have been resoved with a simple phone call along the lines of 'how much will it cost us to extend the agreement to Galleries Lounges'...

If QF had come back and said we need time for the board to consider the additional expense I could understand... but to i'm not sure I accept it is going to take days (on top of the month or so already) to get a price from BA.

 

[Flying mermaid]

There is a fair bit of resentment among BA executive club people that you can get into the lounge via a paid membership and I can see that point of view. So maybe there is more delicate negotiating going on that just what price to pay. It would be nice to know what, but these things are usually commercial-in-confidence.

 

[Moopere]

This is true - I would definitely not have lodged a complaint with ACCC if there has been any response at all, even a 1 line "we're looking into it".

Perhaps your enquiry is what triggered the response?

Just throwing it out there.

 

[Mal]

Thanks for the update red roo. I'm never a fan of cuts to any ff benefit so look.forward to this being resolved in a positive manner.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[Moopere]

There is a fair bit of resentment among BA executive club people that you can get into the lounge via a paid membership

Its a bit off topic, but I guess the easy way around trying to untangle the twisted path through partners is for QF to open their own lounge for QF PAX. You'd have to imagine LHR to Aus is a quite profitable and heavily utilised route.

 

[amaroo]

Its a bit off topic, but I guess the easy way around trying to untangle the twisted path through partners is for QF to open their own lounge for QF PAX. You'd have to imagine LHR to Aus is a quite profitable and heavily utilised route.

IIRC, the problem is occurring at T5 not T3 - LHR-AUS flights leave from T3.

T5 would be for members who are transferring or starting a flight & going to a multitude of destinations other than the kangaroo route.

 

[Flying mermaid]

IIRC, the problem is occurring at T5 not T3 - LHR-SYD flights leave from T3.

T5 would be for members who are transferring or starting a flight & going to a multitude of destinations other than the kangaroo route.

And this is the problem isn't it - being able to go to the very wonderful Galleries lounge at T5, when flying a discount economy ticket on BA from London to Europe is a fantastic benefit. It is not surprising that BA/QF might want to curtail it. I actually wouldn't have a problem if this happened (in spite of having purchased two QC life for my kids, partly because of the intra Europe lounge benefits), as long as the removal of the benefit was done with courtesy and warning.

 

[amaroo]

And this is the problem isn't it - being able to go to the very wonderful Galleries lounge at T5, when flying a discount economy ticket on BA from London to Europe is a fantastic benefit. It is not surprising that BA/QF might want to curtail it. I actually wouldn't have a problem if this happened (in spite of having purchased two QC life for my kids, partly because of the intra Europe lounge benefits), as long as the removal of the benefit was done with courtesy and warning.

Agreed - someone within QF making the call & then allowing members to find out by rejection is pretty poor all round. I'm sure BA would continue to allow access on the basis they made money out of the deal.

Not a good sign for the remanding benefits

 

[mannej]

Just to clear my confusion. If we are speaking technically it was never a published benefit?

 

[amaroo]

Just to clear my confusion. If we are speaking technically it was never a published benefit?

On the basis that I've never been a QP member and therefore, never looked at the T&C - I'm happy to concede that point.

However, it's pretty clear that it's certainly now a public rejection!

 

[serfty]

Just to clear my confusion. If we are speaking technically it was never a published benefit?

It certainly was a published benefit back when BA had terraces lounges at LHR T4.

QP membership was promoted as having BA lounge access before a BA flight as a benefit. Methinx QP management saw a way to save some $$$ and were hoping few would notice this galleries/terraces difference, and those who did would not have clout to argue it. They might not have anticipated social media promotion to the extent that has occurred.

Given that RR has finally posted the powers that be seem to have decided to revisit the issue.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Agreed - someone within QF making the call & then allowing members to find out by rejection is pretty poor all round.

This is my main disappointment with Qantas. Somewhere/somehow between BA and QF, someone made a decision to stop allowing QC members to access the T5 lounge since 9th Oct. Before that access was granted.

Though at AFF and other social forums, we have become aware of this change in QC benefit, pity the average customer who only finds out from the lounge dragon.

Red Roo's update is appreciated, But QF continue to let their customers walk blindly and for some be humiliated at the lounge entrance. Hiding behind the technical T&Cs is not good enough, where is the communication to the general QC public.....

 

[Princess Fiona]

Originally linked on FT by BD1959, quoted by Danger earlier in the thread and linked in full below, is the 2010 document spouting the benefit of QF codeshares on BA, in particular access to lounges for QP members on BA codeshares. QF management would do well to reacquaint themselves with it:
http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/usqf/qantas_british_airways_codeshare_expansion_FAQs_31MAY10.pdf



does contain the inaccuracy of access to Oneworld lounges for QP members but the spirit of the document is that BA lounge access is a benefit for QP members on BA codeshares

 

[amaroo]

Originally linked on FT by BD1959, quoted by Danger earlier in the thread and linked in full below, is the 2010 document spouting the benefit of QF codeshares on BA, in particular access to lounges for QP members on BA codeshares. QF management would do well to reacquaint themselves with it:
http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/usqf/qantas_british_airways_codeshare_expansion_FAQs_31MAY10.pdf



does contain the inaccuracy of access to Oneworld lounges for QP members but the spirit of the document is that BA lounge access is a benefit for QP members on BA codeshares

Damning evidence - who really cares if BA have contracted a third party or whatever they decided to call the thing - it's a BA lounge plain & simple.

Qantas Club cardholders (in BA or oneworld carrier owned and operated lounges)

Allowing members to suffer the indignation of rejection is pathetic & indefensible.

 

[tuapekastar]

On the basis that I've never been a QP member and therefore, never looked at the T&C - I'm happy to concede that point.

However, it's pretty clear that it's certainly now a public rejection!

Ah but you have been and still are a QP member...you've been given complimentary membership! (you just get a few other extra things being SG/WP)

Thanks Red Roo for an update, and I hope this ends with a situation that is no worse than previously for paid QP members. The emphasis lately in this thread has been on LHR T5 Galleries lounges whereas in fact there are Galleries Lounges (though not that many) dotted in various locations around the world so I hope any (positive for members) solution includes all Galleries lounges.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Just to clear my confusion. If we are speaking technically it was never a published benefit?

In technical terms, it was never a published benefit as such. However, it is an assumed benefit which access was previously allowed and used (apart from a few cases from time to time to the contrary). The information on the website is also unclear in the sense that, I believe most common persons reading it would think that all BA lounges can be accessed, rather than just ones with specific names.

 

[sarvowinner]

Indeed, this is not just a T5 issue. Lounges formerly known as Terraces lounges are being "refreshed" and relabelled as Galleries Lounges. Rome is currently an Executive Lounge and Malpensa is a Terraces Lounge which according to the T& C QP can access. This is on the BA site:
[h=4]We are refreshing our lounge at Rome Fiumiucino and Milan Malpensa[/h]We are improving the British Airways lounges at Rome Fiumiucino and Milan Malpensa airports.

Work on the lounge at Rome Fiumiucino airport is planned to start beginning September as a phased project until end October 2011. The lounge will not close during refurbishment works.

Work on the lounge at Milan Malpensa airport is planned to start beginning September and due to be completed by mid November 2011.
The lounge will not close during refurbishment works.

When the work is complete, the new Galleries Lounges will provide a more contemporary and comfortable space for you to work or relax in and will reflect the luxury and style of our other Galleries Lounges worldwide. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience that the temporary lounge closure may cause you.

 

[amaroo]

Ah but you have been and still are a QP member...you've been given complimentary membership! (you just get a few other extra things being SG/WP)

Thanks Red Roo for an update, and I hope this ends with a situation that is no worse than previously for paid QP members. The emphasis lately in this thread has been on LHR T5 Galleries lounges whereas in fact there are Galleries Lounges (though not that many) dotted in various locations around the world so I hope any (positive for members) solution includes all Galleries lounges.

Correct, but given no requirement to read up on the T & C I'm a little lost for words on the matter - however, I'm inclined to add my voice in the aim to support all QP members

 

[Vinny]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I have not responded on this thread earlier. I wanted to be able to come back to you with something concrete as opposed to 'we're working on it.'

We are well aware of the issue with regards to lounge access at T5 for Qantas Club members and really sorry that it has caused so much confusion and frustration. I was hoping to get back to you on Friday with a resolution but it is going to take a few more days. We are actively working to resolve the issue with BA and I'll get back to you next week with an update.

Not a resolution yet but I promise we are talking to BA and will resolve ASAP.

Cheers,
Red Roo

A month since the initial post and QF is working on it. Very reassuring.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I flew BA last Monday and asked the check in staff member about the change in the rules, it wasn't so much a change but Qantas always had the agreement in place for BA Terrace lounges for Qantas Club members but when those Terraces became Galleries there was never any update to the rules and BA lounge staff decided to still allow Qantas Club members to use the lounge. Obviously something happened in BA just recently and enforce the rule that Qantas Club members weren't entitled to use the BA Galleries lounges, importantly for most of us the one in T5.

Glad to hear that Red Roo replied.

I have another question about baggage which I might add to new thread, when flying BA when tickets were purchased on Qantas as part of a Aus-UK itinerary.