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

[oz_mark]

Spot on, it is BA's policy of no discretion that I have trouble accepting
Think it must be time soon for some news from Red Roo ?

...and yet people complain that Qantas is 'inconsistent'.

So, which is preferable - 'consistency' or 'discretion'?

 

[simongr]

...and yet people complain that Qantas is 'inconsistent'.

So, which is preferable - 'consistency' or 'discretion'?

Consistent discretion in my favour.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Consistent discretion in my favour.

Precisely

 

[medhead]

The term Arabia, when used correctly, is only used to describe Pre-Islamic Arabia. See Oxford Bibliographies Online - Pre-Islamic Arabia/The Jahiliyya

Whether people use the term now for travel, or for company companies is redundant. The reality is there is so such place, and anyone in the field of Arabic and Isalmic Studies will confim this. If you insist on using it, perhaps you should educate yourself and Edward Said's great work Orientalism.

As interesting as it may be Arabic and Islamic studies has little bearing on basic geography.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[MrJetset]

As interesting as it may be Arabic and Islamic studies has little bearing on basic geography.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

Really? Perhaps you should tell the world to ignore the geographic discoveries of al-Idrisi, Ibn-Batuta, and Ibn-Khaldun. I always find it most amusing when ignorant people, with little knowledge on a subject, insist that they are correct.

<redacted>

 

[Danger]

Please, please. Let's not get this thread closed by going off-topic. We're all waiting on answer from QF and it should be posted here.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The longer this drags out for the less hopeful I am I think ( purely speculative no insider knowledge) that the likely outcome is BA Lounge access on QF flights and codeshares only. I'm doubtful that QF will bargain really hard for access on BA flights.
I would really love to be totally wrong here of course.

 

[medhead]

Really? Perhaps you should tell the world to ignore the geographic discoveries of al-Idrisi, Ibn-Batuta, and Ibn-Khaldun. I always find it most amusing when ignorant people, with little knowledge on a subject, insist that they are correct.

The geographic feature known as the Arabian Penisula, the largest penisula in the world, is also known as Arabia in the western world. That is a fact that is not changed by geographic discoveries, it is only about geographic nomencature. What is amusing is trying to pretend that the Arabian Penisula, (i.e. Arabia) does not exist.

<redacted>

 

[el_rooto]

Definitely the one on the right

Was the one on the left who got scorned at...

 

[sarvowinner]

Another Friday, another week and no further update from Red Roo.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Another Friday, another week and no further update from Red Roo.

Too busy evaluating the surveys on how Qantas interacts with people via social media :mrgreen:

 

[docjames]

Is it just me, or does this thread reflect (one of the many) issues at QF?

A problem has been clearly identified, that is causing anger, confusion and irritation for their customers, but it seems only a long, evasive, confusion inducing process subsequently ensues, all the while causing brand damage (imagine the non-AFF paid QPers who are booking Qantas, already peeved at having to transit LHR, then finding they cant access the lounge in T5). Imagine those who'd just joined QP prior to travel - mrsdoc did just this back when she was Bronze/Silver prior to some travel to the UK - T5 access being the main driver for joining.

Qantas seem unable to rapidly acknowledge the problem, and when they finally do, get bogged down, with little communication, and seem unable to solve the problem.

If the answer is "bad luck, no T5 access", at least have the decency to make the call, come out quickly and say so, or make the resolution happen in a timely manner.

Please note this ISNT having a dig at Red Roo, but more reflecting on the processes of a large organisation that seems inflexible/incapable of being rapidly responsive to a significant customer issue.

 

[simongr]

Please note this ISNT having a dig at Red Roo, but more reflecting on the processes of a large organisation that seems inflexible/incapable of being rapidly responsive to a significant customer issue.

Significant issue: Planes grounded for 9 hours in Perth, whole airline grounded for two days, newer aircraft fleet delayed twice by 2 - 3 years, global economic collapse looming

Not a significant issue: Ability of small number of infrequent flyers to get a free drink in London

Just thinking a little perspective...

This from the poster who almost staged an Occupy Gate 9 movement to get priority boarding working on QF

 

[docjames]

Significant issue: Planes grounded for 9 hours in Perth, whole airline grounded for two days, newer aircraft fleet delayed twice by 2 - 3 years, global economic collapse looming

Not a significant issue: Ability of small number of infrequent flyers to get a free drink in London

Just thinking a little perspective...

This from the poster who almost staged an Occupy Gate 9 movement to get priority boarding working on QF

But in a big company, there's always something going on. You need to respond to all issues.

The T5 issue has preceeds the Perth issue and the grounding issue by some margin, and a nimble response would have wiped it off hte "to do" list almost immediately.

 

[BD1959]

Significant issue: Planes grounded for 9 hours in Perth, whole airline grounded for two days, newer aircraft fleet delayed twice by 2 - 3 years, global economic collapse loomingNot a significant issue: Ability of small number of infrequent flyers to get a free drink in LondonJust thinking a little perspective...This from the poster who almost staged an Occupy Gate 9 movement to get priority boarding working on QF

Then don't commit to respond within a particular timeframe.

Actually, BAEC Golds are given the same kind of treatment. Without much surprise, you can see how hardened some of the stalwarts on the FT BAEC board are in accepting this rule. (Just as much as many of the QF flyers here are great sticklers for upholding the reasons why QF are not quick to give away international upgrades, or why you can't get a difference refund if the fare drops after you buy it).

There are many stories of BAEC Golds who are a family of 3 - spouse and young child in tow - who have been turned away due to the rules (i.e. 1 guest only, and the young child probably wasn't young enough according to the rules). Stories along the lines of, "We've just come off a long flight and we only needed to quickly use the lounge shower to freshen ourselves and especially our child, but the dragon was very adament," are not unusual.

When BAEC Gold still had "open doors" (ATA for the QF familiar), it was always the Gold member only and no guest. Which means the business man on an EasyJet flight had no trouble, but the couple on the same flight had to either flip a coin or go without.

The BA dragons are notoriously strict for all of this. Some of them can be quite methodically draconian:

• You are required to produce your card if they want to see it. No card? Bad luck - no access. No, I don't care that your boarding pass shows your FQTV/FQTS info; it's a card for entry or bust.
• Are you sure you are a oneworld Emerald? Yes that looks like a green oval, but let me double check
  
• Even at T3, I've heard stories where QPNB or QPPS members had to work tooth and nail on the agent to convince them that they were eligible for access. They mustn't be very used to it, but still.
• Many of them reach back for the access manual just to double check you really are eligible to enter. Let's see.... which is the Qantas page.... <3 minutes later> oh here we are, let's see.... Platinum....Platinum.... oh right! OK you're a oneworld Emerald (du'h... that's what the green oval is for).

All in a days life. Many people believe the dragons must be this strict because there was a really bad culture before of people trying to blag entry to the lounge, or blag over their entitlement. I suppose the mid-level execs didn't like the precedent, so they decided to remove discretion and set a different one.

All in all, I still hope QF will restore access to the BA network in due course. There aren't many Terraces lounges left in the world at all. Frankly, I also don't buy the BA side of things (i.e. that QF has stopped payment; I think it's more BA sneakily shifted the goal posts and hoped that QF wouldn't look before they kept on kicking).

IIRC there a was post many moons ago on the BAEC FT Board (if I'll be forgiven referencing another site!) where a BA Staff Member responded to queries regarding the apparent lack of knowledge of the BA Dragons. It was explained that the Lounge Staff are not dedicated to that role - in fact all BA LHR Customer Facing staff are rotated through the various positions.

If this is true (and it was a while ago, so it may have changed - or my memory may be inaccurate!) then it would explain:

1) The frequent reference back to the "cheat sheet"
2) The requirement for strict enforcement - to ensure consistent service among staff with different experience levels


Regards,

BD

 

[markis10]

But in a big company, there's always something going on. You need to respond to all issues.

The T5 issue has preceeds the Perth issue and the grounding issue by some margin, and a nimble response would have wiped it off hte "to do" list almost immediately.

Perhaps this is the response you might be looking for

At least from the airline that has the lounges, after all the Perth issue and groudning issues are solely QF, negotiating with another party does add complications to the mix!

 

[sarvowinner]

Significant issue: Planes grounded for 9 hours in Perth, whole airline grounded for two days, newer aircraft fleet delayed twice by 2 - 3 years, global economic collapse looming

Not a significant issue: Ability of small number of infrequent flyers to get a free drink in London

Just thinking a little perspective...

This from the poster who almost staged an Occupy Gate 9 movement to get priority boarding working on QF

I think if you check back on this thread, we all backed away during the grounding of the airline. While you may not regard it as a significant issue, my husband and I are seriously trying to find a reason to stay with Qantas, despite it not providing the most convenient routing. He is PS and flew with Qantas or Jet* 21 times over the last twelve months including three international trips. All of this was self funded, as is his QP membership. I don't think this rates him as an "infrequent" flyer.

It is obvious that more and more flyers are deserting Qantas for the competitors. Over the last year, Qantas has cut all flights to Europe except for those via Singapore. It is pushing its special relationship with BA, yet as infrequent or frequent flyers we are continually rebuffed when looking for comparable benefits or service when we codeshare. I cannot even choose my seats on BA as SG.

From my perspective, it is a significant issue as it impacts the amentity of the journey for us as individuals as well as the viability of Qantas as an international carrier for the general populous. It will not survive solely transporting J and F passengers.

 

[JohnPhelan]

The T5 issue has preceeds the Perth issue and the grounding issue by some margin, and a nimble response would have wiped it off hte "to do" list almost immediately.

Yes, but before QF can respond to us, they need to get a 'nimble response' from BA ....... and therein lies the problem ...... (especially if it's something BA really doesn't want to do).

 

[JohnPhelan]

It is pushing its special relationship with BA, yet as infrequent or frequent flyers we are continually rebuffed when looking for comparable benefits or service when we codeshare. I cannot even choose my seats on BA as SG.

Yes you can, as a QF Gold/oneworld Sapphire. Who told you that you could not? Go into Manage My Booking on the BA website. Provided your QF status has been listed in the booking, you can then choose your seats.

Also as a QF Gold/oneworld Sapphire, you do get access to BA's T5 Galleries Lounge (and you can take a guest, so your husband gets in as well, provided he is with you!)

 

[sarvowinner]

Yes you can, as a QF Gold/oneworld Sapphire. Who told you that you could not? Go into Manage My Booking on the BA website. Provided your QF status has been listed in the booking, you can then choose your seats.

Also as a QF Gold/oneworld Sapphire, you do get access to BA's T5 Galleries Lounge (and you can take a guest, so your husband gets in as well, provided he is with you!)

We fly at least 4 times a year between LHR and Milan, Pisa or Rome on BA after QF flights to/from LHR - all on the same PNR. Some have BA and others have QF tickets. Each time I choose our seats at the time of booking and check regularly on the Qantas and BA websites. Everytime, when we check in (on line or at the airport), the requested seats disapppear and we are allocated cough seats. Each time I ask at check in why this has happened and I get ridiculous comments like the plane has changed (it hasn't) or they don't know why. I always have a print out of my original itinerary to show but it means nothing when it comes to the actual seat allocation. (as an aside, last June the BA rep in PSA told us we could only book our bags to HKG as the flight would take over 24 hours in total. No amount of discussion would convince him otherwise. The QF rep in the T3 lounge was astounded.)

Yes, I am fully aware that I have access as OW Sapphire,however we don't always travel together which is why he pays for QP. That is why I outlined the number of flights he has taken and took exception to the comment that only unfrequent flyers were having an issue with T5 Galleries access.

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