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

[Flashback]

At least you have a lounge option. Those QP flying traveller from LHR to, say, Prague hove none.

I've just checked, too and there's only Priority Pass lounges in T1/T3, so you've got absolutely nothing for T5 unless you have status.

 

[JohnK]

I finished the call with a comment that such a quibble over naming of lounges in relation make Qantas Club membership virtually useless for BA flights to Europe and represented a severe reduction in value.

Extremely disappointing that one can rebrand a lounge and then not allow access to those who are paying yearly membership for access to those lounges.

Still no "official" response from Qantas on this thread.

 

[Flashback]

Extremely disappointing that one can rebrand a lounge and then not allow access to those who are paying yearly membership for access to those lounges.

Still no "official" response from Qantas on this thread.

They'll most likely just quote the T&C and say "it doesn't say access to Galleries is included". What they will definitely glaze over is the fact that most of the lounges when the T&C were written were actually Terraces and they've since been renamed to Galleries.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: [Confirmed] No QP lounge access BA LHR T5 before BA flights - No "galleries" righ

Nice to see Qantas are becoming even less relevant.

I wonder how much extra BA wanted to amend the agreement to include Galleries, despite Galleries effectively being a renaming of the former lounges.

What sad companies they both are. I’d almost like the competition to step up their attacks and make them fail now. No sense to their customers at all.

Hmmm, I suspect that, when we get to the bottom of this, it will be a BA issue, rather than a QF one.

BA has long endured some very loud whining from its Executive Club members about QF members "buying their way in" (in the BA system, you can't buy lounge access, you have to earn it by status). Quite a number of BA members have had a real bee in their bonnet about this for a while (I'm a member of the Business Traveller site which is UK-based and where this is a topic of angst for BA members).

I would be putting money on the fact that the problem here will be that BA has simply told QF that it is no longer prepared to have carte blanche for QP members, end of story.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I'm still holding out for official confirmation from Qantas, but if what is being reported is true this has really got me fired up.
I usually turn the other cheek at some of the negative sentiments about Qantas, but this is inexcusable.

I've sent off an email on the website requesting clarification on the lounge access policy at LHR T5.

On the matter of Terraces v Galleries technicality, I pointed out in the email the JFK BA lounge is listed as a Galleries lounge on the BA website, but is still referred to as a Terraces lounges on the Qantas site as the Associated lounge used in JFK for QF108.

I feel for the poor customer consultant that has to respond my very technical email.

 

[dk4]

Qantas respond required

So the question to Qantas-

Is Qantas in the process of removing a key benefit from Qantas Club members, of access to British Airways Business Class Lounges when flying British Airways?

If so, when are they going to inform members and what is the timeline for the withdrawl of this benefit?

If not, why are Qantas Club members now being denied access to British Airways Business Class Lounges at London Heathrow Airport when departing on British Airways flights?

 

[JetLagged]

Given the nature of this concern - and concern it is for MANY Qantas flyers - I am amazed, disturbed and frustrated that there has not been any response at all from the official Qantas represnetative: Red Roo, where r u?

 

[JohnM]

If you're going to make glib jabs at nationalities I would point out that the CEO of IAG (BA parent company) is Irish much like a certain Australian carrier.

Apologies, Simongr, if the "Trust the Poms." caused offence - it was meant as a joke in the sense of the usual rivalry. I have trouble inserting emoticons while composing a message as it causes IE to freeze and I lose everything I've typed (does anyone else have the same problem?). Hence the ... after the phrase.

If I don't anticipate what I want to emphasise or jest about by inserting an emoticon before I start typing, I have to do without those useful little critters!

Anyone able to offer a solution to this problem?

 

[el_rooto]

Apologies, Simongr, if the "Trust the Poms." caused offence - it was meant as a joke in the sense of the usual rivalry. I have trouble inserting emoticons while composing a message as it causes IE to freeze and I lose everything I've typed (does anyone else have the same problem?). Hence the ... after the phrase.

If I don't anticipate what I want to emphasise or jest about by inserting an emoticon before I start typing, I have to do without those useful little critters!

Anyone able to offer a solution to this problem?

Don't use IE.

 

[sarvowinner]

My husband & I make at least two trips to Italy each year. We pay a premium to travel Qantas and also endure an extra 4-8 hours travel time. Part of our rationale is that if we are delayed we at least have access to lounges at LHR T5 and the Italian BA lounges. I am unsure that I can maintain Gold this year. This latest news means that if I drop back to Silver, we will move our flights to another airline perhaps Emirates which requires only one stop.
This change is very important to so many Qantas passengers, it is appalling that the management hasn't been upfront with their customers. When Qantas drops its BKK & HKG legs to Europe, we will lose so many benefits we currently enjoy if we have to use those cities en route to Europe, this is the final straw. I just don't get Qantas management's rationale.

 

[JohnM]

Don't use IE.

Trying Safari . It works! .

 

[Flashback]

Apologies, Simongr, if the "Trust the Poms." caused offence - it was meant as a joke in the sense of the usual rivalry. I have trouble inserting emoticons while composing a message as it causes IE to freeze and I lose everything I've typed (does anyone else have the same problem?). Hence the ... after the phrase.

If I don't anticipate what I want to emphasise or jest about by inserting an emoticon before I start typing, I have to do without those useful little critters!

Anyone able to offer a solution to this problem?

Don't use IE.

Happens in Firefox too (has only started happening in recent times.. hasn't always been like that). Possibly the new WYSIWYG editor?

 

[medhead]

Anyone able to offer a solution to this problem?

Manually type them (hope this works, remove spaces and +s if it does)

= ; + )
= : + )
= : + rolleyes + :
= : + p
= : + oops + :

There is a selection.

 

[ajw373]

It doesn't affect me either.... But I agree. Oneworld really needs to sort out what "Oneworld" means. Petty spats between QF and BA (Who are codeshare partners, so supposedly neutral friends) are only one issue within the branding.

QF - SORT THIS OUT ASAP. The T5 lounges are nice, but (even though BA says otherwise) are nothing extraordinary. Sort it out for the sake of your QF codeshare customers into Europe who have just arrived into LHR after a 24 hour flight.

BA... Thanks, once again, for the proof that you are a numpty airline run by someone who has no clue.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment that OneWorld needs to sort it's abnormalities out, the fact remains in this case OneWorld agreements have nothing to do with lounge access for paid Qantas Club members. Lounge access based on OneWorld status is straight forward and is not effected in this case.

This issue seems to be wholly between Qantas and BA, and if I were a betting man I would be directing frustration the way of BA more than the Qantas way as many are doing. Afterall they are BA owned lounges not Qantas.

 

[serfty]

So the question to Qantas-

Is Qantas in the process of removing a key benefit from Qantas Club members, of access to British Airways Business Class Lounges when flying British Airways?

If so, when are they going to inform members and what is the timeline for the withdrawl of this benefit?

If not, why are Qantas Club members now being denied access to British Airways Business Class Lounges at London Heathrow Airport when departing on British Airways flights?

I received a call from the CS desk yesterday from a different person.

It was stressed the "Galleries" access at T5 has NEVER [officially] available on the basis of Qantas Club membership before a BA flight. Any such access gained to a T5 galleries was due to error.

I noted that was rather glib since most QP advertising promotes partner lounge access including BA (aside from footnoteand brackets specifics)and to not have access to BA's T5 lounges before most BA flights could be considered false advertising. I also advised this was extremely disappointing and I know of people who are unlikly to renew QP membership because of it.

 

[Flashback]

I received a call from the CS desk yesterday from a different person.

It was stressed the "Galleries" access at T5 has NEVER [officially] available on the basis of Qantas Club membership before a BA flight. Any such access gained to a T5 galleries was due to error.

I noted that was rather glib since most QP advertising promotes partner lounge access including BA (aside from footnoteand brackets specifics)and to not have access to BA's T5 lounges before most BA flights could be considered false advertising. I also advised this was extremely disappointing and I know of people who are unlikly to renew QP membership because of it.

Will be interesting to see if anything more comes of it...

 

[Timba-Jet]

Lounge access based on OneWorld status is straight forward and is not effected in this case.

This issue seems to be wholly between Qantas and BA, and if I were a betting man I would be directing frustration the way of BA more than the Qantas way as many are doing. Afterall they are BA owned lounges not Qantas.

Good point about not confusing OW into this specific QC QF-BA issue.

However the lounge access in dispute is part of the QC T&Cs in this it is only Qantas that we can deal with, BA will simply tell us to take it up with QF.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ok I've sent my email off to Customer Care, not holding my breath on length of time previous enquiries have taken to answer
I have to say it seems as though this story might actually have some legs.
It will be interesting to see how QF can put any positive spin on this if it is indeed true.

 

[el_rooto]

I assume its something along the lines of: BA doesn't want QP members in lounges, can't break existing contractual agreements, charges QF a lot to access lounges not currently covered in agreement, QF says no....

 

[Princess Fiona]

I assume its something along the lines of: BA doesn't want QP members in lounges, can't break existing contractual agreements, charges QF a lot to access lounges not currently covered in agreement, QF says no....

Pretty much spot on. In record breaking speed I've just had a phone call from Customer Care, about 10 mins after sending my email.
Gist of the conversation:
Qantas didn't know anything of the recent refusals in T5 until members started contacting them. ( I know serfty's agent said different)
They understand that T5 only has Galleries Lounges, and soon there will be no Terraces lounges anywhere and that if the problem isn't resolved they are in deep cough.
Every time a member complains they are escalating it to QF Senior Management.
There is no timeframe for resolution yet but QF are talking to BA to try to resolve the problems as soon as possible, they will then be able to update the website.