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

[ishin]

We used the T5 galleries as QC only in September 2011.... Just before this mess started... The BA lounge reception staff were great and really helpful

 

[Flying mermaid]

I seem to recall a member saying they had contacted the ACCC (was it in late November??) and not long after that Red Roo popped up for the first time on this issue...A) Did the ACCC respond to that communication? andB) Whether yes or no, maybe another email to the ACCC might again get some reaction or update out of QF as little else seems to including fob offs to Parl. Committees???

Sorry haven't been on here much - Christmas, family, holidays etc

Two bits of the reply were relevant

"It should first be noted that, broadly speaking, companies are free to set the terms and conditions of their contracts as long as they do not engage in misleading or deceptive conduct or misrepresent their service.

After careful consideration it appears that the issues you raise are very specific matters of a contractual nature and will depend on the terms and conditions of the contracts you have entered into. While it is not the role of this office to provide legal advice, I would suggest you put your complaint in writing directly to Qantas in an endeavour to raise your concerns over this conduct. Should you still be dissatisfied, you may wish to seek independent legal advice on whether civil action might be appropriate. It is open to an aggrieved party to bring a private action if they believe they have suffered loss or damages as a result of any breach of the terms or conditions of a contract."


Also

"As part of its role the ACCC also monitors emerging trends across consumer and business complaints to determine whether there is a pattern of behaviour by a particular trader or in a particular industry that requires attention. In this regard, your complaint has been recorded and is an important part of our ongoing analysis."

So I think if a large no of people made the same complaint ACCC would probably put more resources into looking at an issue.

I have to admit my sympathies have swung round to Qantas - I suspect it is BA who has stopped access and really Qantas doesn't have the clout to change that. I still think Qantas has no idea how to manage Social media though :shock: Really, just come out and say they can't solve it and the issue dies and most people would be grateful that they tried.

going a bit OT - I was a bit diappointed to see that people aren't impressed with the Concorde room - we will be using it in June and given how great the Galleries are I thought it would be very impressive!

 

[Danger]

. . . So I think if a large no of people made the same complaint ACCC would probably put more resources into looking at an issue.

I'm happy to put in a complaint to the ACCC. Did you do it online? What were the main points you included?

I have to admit my sympathies have swung round to Qantas - I suspect it is BA who has stopped access and really Qantas doesn't have the clout to change that. I still think Qantas has no idea how to manage Social media though :shock: Really, just come out and say they can't solve it and the issue dies and most people would be grateful that they tried.

While it may well be the case that BA has cracked down, it does not justify QF making an appropriate statement addressing the concerns. It doesn't have to be "BA has done the dirty on us" but something that acknowledges there are issues. And while I accept that some of the replies people have received have indicated Qantas is addressing the issue, it really is taking far too long and very much too long without having further comment from Qantas here at least.

I think we all agree that the difference between Galleries and Terraces is a name and a paint job. In the same vain, the appropriate thing for Qantas to do would be to deny BA Club World passengers access to Qantas J lounges.

Fight fire with fire.

 

[simongr]

I think we all agree that the difference between Galleries and Terraces is a name and a paint job. In the same vain, the appropriate thing for Qantas to do would be to deny BA Club World passengers access to Qantas J lounges.

Fight fire with fire.

Appropriate? If that was the reaction I could QF J guests being blocked next and an exit from OW imminently after.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I'm happy to put in a complaint to the ACCC. Did you do it online? What were the main points you included?


.

Yes just went to their site and submitted a complaint online.

Basically that I had purchased 2 Life memberships for my children with an important criteria being access to BA lounges overseas, that a minor name change has now restricted access (when filing the complaint in early Nov, we did not know as much as we do now) and also that the access had been withdrawn without any notification of the change.

 

[Danger]

Appropriate? If that was the reaction I could QF J guests being blocked next and an exit from OW imminently after.

But on what grounds would QF J guests be denied? They are flying Business; BA passengers are flying Club World. The oneworld rule for access to a Business lounge applies to passengers travelling in Business, not Club World:



http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access/

 

[bcworld]

...I noticed Red Roo is posting again...but nothing yet on this thread.

 

[Heleigh]

Sorry haven't been on here much - Christmas, family, holidays etc

going a bit OT - I was a bit diappointed to see that people aren't impressed with the Concorde room - we will be using it in June and given how great the Galleries are I thought it would be very impressive!

IMO I don't think you'll be disappointed - I enjoy ever minute there. I will also be making good use of it in June.

 

[amaroo]

IMO I don't think you'll be disappointed - I enjoy ever minute there. I will also be making good use of it in June.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a good experience at the CCR in Dec....letter of complaint sent. First letter of complaint I've sent in my 25+ years of flying and 6 of them as a Plat.

The room is nice, similar to a private club style....the service was disgraceful. The attitude from the staff wouldn't feel out of place in a Eastern European labour camp - which appears to be where they hire their staff from:shock:

IMO, it falls a long way short of the QF & CX home Flounges.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

oh! I like that idea! British airways club world passengers should be excluded from qantas business class lounges because the BA passengers are not flying 'business class' they are flying 'club world'.

the link given above does not grant access to club world

 

[Flying mermaid]

IMO I don't think you'll be disappointed - I enjoy ever minute there. I will also be making good use of it in June.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a good experience at the CCR in Dec....letter of complaint sent. First letter of complaint I've sent in my 25+ years of flying and 6 of them as a Plat.

The room is nice, similar to a private club style....the service was disgraceful. The attitude from the staff wouldn't feel out of place in a Eastern European labour camp - which appears to be where they hire their staff from:shock:

IMO, it falls a long way short of the QF & CX home Flounges.

Hmm - well I hope I get the former experience not the latter. I tend to be a bit of a " see things through rose coloured spectacles" person, so I am hopeful.

 

[elbarto]

The room is nice, similar to a private club style....the service was disgraceful. The attitude from the staff wouldn't feel out of place in a Eastern European labour camp - which appears to be where they hire their staff from:shock:

Most of the service based industries in the UK hire from eastern europe. Poland seems to be a particular favourite and Croatia well become the next big cheap labour pool with its recent acceptance into the EU.

 

[Red Roo]

Hi All,

Really sorry for all the inconvenience that the BA lounge access issue has caused. I would have liked to have been able to update you sooner but we have been working to get a resolution.

So, I can now (very happily) report that access to BA lounges including Galleries, Terraces and Executive Club lounges has been reinstated for Qantas Club members. This will be effective from Tuesday 31 January.

For further details on lounge access visit qantas.com/loungeaccess

Cheers,
Red Roo

 

[nlagalle]

Hi All,

Really sorry for all the inconvenience that the BA lounge access issue has caused. I would have liked to have been able to update you sooner but we have been working to get a resolution.

So, I can now (very happily) report that access to BA lounges including Galleries, Terraces and Executive Club lounges has been reinstated for Qantas Club members. This will be effective from Tuesday 31 January.

For further details on lounge access visit qantas.com/loungeaccess

Cheers,
Red Roo

Well done Red Roo,

An excellent outcome. I'm sure worth the wait too!

 

[docjames]

Congrats for finally sorting this out. Shame it created such angst and took so long. Note that Terraces and Galleries are both specifically included in the updated web link.

 

[simongr]

Just going to lead to more overcrowding

Overall a good result for QP members. I do hope though that QF have learned some lessons on communicating (or not) during the negotiations. I appreciate that you have commercial sensitivities but a little more dialog might have kept a few people quiet on this topic.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Hi All,

Really sorry for all the inconvenience that the BA lounge access issue has caused. I would have liked to have been able to update you sooner but we have been working to get a resolution.

So, I can now (very happily) report that access to BA lounges including Galleries, Terraces and Executive Club lounges has been reinstated for Qantas Club members. This will be effective from Tuesday 31 January.

For further details on lounge access visit qantas.com/loungeaccess

Cheers,
Red Roo

Yay - Dr FM and Master FM will be very happy

Thank-you Qantas and Red Roo

 

[N860CR]

Good result, however hopefully communication will be a little better in the future.

I wonder how many battles people will have with the BA dragons over the coming weeks/months as this is (re)implemented!

 

[Kangol]

A favourable outcome, however how will those affected in the previous few months be compensated (if at all)?

 

[Danger]

Thank you, Red Roo.

And congratulations AFF!