Do you think that the F lounge meets are going to F it up for others?

[Oneworldplus2]

Haven't ever done a F Lounge run. WP's still have to earn their SC's each year to get that OWE dot. First time l went into the SYD F Lounge, l was QF Silver and my friend was QF Plat. It sure made an impression on me. Loved it. As they say, it's hard to go back to Y after tasting J or F.

 

[auskiwiflyer]

I think that any exposure to F lounge QF gives people is a good thing for them. The more use the F lounge gets, the more people will work to retain their WP status, as let's face it F lounge is one of WP's major benefits.

 

[codash1099]

I'm a very definite "Don't Care".

You can read that as sour grapes from someone who lives in a city where there is not even a DOM J lounge, and who would have to do contortions to get to use any Australian F lounge.

 

[Lawlass]

Come on mate, how many flew QF or JQ on the way home last time? In fact, how many the time before. I seem to remember it went from a QF F meet to a DJ (back then) The Lounge meet.

For this latest run, I booked 3 QF flights (Mel-Syd, Syd-Bne, Bne-Syd), as well as the JQ flight.

I can sock it away pretty well for a girl, but I don't think even my two breakfasts would've made a dent in QF's profits.

I would hate to see FLounge Runs only available to the in-crowd who know the secret handshake. One of my favourite things about the runs is meeting new people, especially those attending their first AFF social do.

 

[Leumas]

Perfectly said. Infact QF should be encouraging us to do more of these and bring new friends into the world of First class lounges and points collecting. I can't count the number of family members/friends/work colleagues who ask me for advice on flights/hotels/credit cards... and no doubt reading this now most of you giggled a little inside knowing it happends to you too. Collectively, AFF'ers have a large sphere of influence over other customers who would otherwise blindly book flights based on media perception/price.

I would argue that to some degree Qantas needs these fun-run day trips to continue.

I respectfully disagree. If Qantas think like that, we wouldn't have lost ATA. This was the exact argument I heard people raised when ATA was first removed. That didn't fly very far with QF (pardon the pun). How many DJ flyers have these lounge runs converted to QF and become WP as a result? However, QF can most likely show that their lounge guests increase at a much faster rate than their bottom line.

I don't doubt QF agree to a certain extent that giving you perks can help them through word-of-mouth. I suspect they'd think it's much more effective if they give you the perks directly, e.g. lunches, event launches, gifts and the occasional op-ups, than letting you bring some random people into the lounge.

Enjoy the F runs while you can, people.

 

[anat0l]

I'm in the "don't care" box. If the ability disappears, it disappears.

In saying that, I'd like QF to continue allowing WPs on JQ tickets to use the F Lounge, but I view that in the absence of considering the possibility of F Lounge runs. (For example, if I am flying to SIN or NRT on JQ, I'd like to be able to use the F Lounge as a WP beforehand.) Considering that JQi operations will continue to become a non-trivial part of the Qantas group landscape (and the extent of QFi metal is dubious), this is what I'm more concerned about.

I'm concerned that there is a dangerous precedent created here where someone decided F Lounge runs were possible, but now it has evolved to what this board considers almost a "staple right", when it is not. Be thankful and reasonable that the rules and schedules allow something like this to happen.

 

[wilco]

I understand what you are saying but at the moment it is one of the perks of being a WP and having to go through all the cough involved in being on a domestic flight going from a International terminal.

I do envisage that the perk will be dissolved in the next few years.

Dont you mean "all the cough" that you choose to subject yourself to, just so that you can pay an (illegitimate) visit to the F lounge??

lets keep it real.....

 

[simongr]

Dont you mean "all the cough" that you choose to subject yourself to, just so that you can pay an [-](illegitimate)[/-] visit to the F lounge??

lets keep it real.....

Fixed that for you

Just to quote from the QF lounge access rules for the international first lounge for OWE

Next onward flight must be on a Qantas, Jetstar Airlines+ or oneworld flight number.#
One guest allowed and must be travelling with the member.

No mention there of requiring an international flight.

I was determined not to bite...

I might actually choose to fly a DOM leg from Int'l as if I was in J the seat would be heaps better. The lounge experience would be better and for me the inconvenience is pretty minimal.

 

[harvyk]

I'm concerned that there is a dangerous precedent created here where someone decided F Lounge runs were possible, but now it has evolved to what this board considers almost a "staple right", when it is not. Be thankful and reasonable that the rules and schedules allow something like this to happen.

I don't think the board quite sees it as a staple right.

The thing with the F-Lounge runs is it requires at least 50% of the attendees to be WP's. Now with limited exception a WP has contributed significant coin to QF's bottom line. Infact I would say any QFF member beyond a NB (and even some NB's) have contributed significant coin to QF's bottom line.

Every so often we as a group PAY (we're not getting FLounge run flights for free, we're still having to come up with the cash \ points even if price matched) for a set of flights which permit us access to the FLounge. We then take flights for the simple purpose of accessing the FLounge (Is it really any airlines business why someone choses to fly?). We're not sneeking in, we're following the rules of the program to the letter in regards to number of guests and qualifying flights, and really why we chose to fly is none of QF's business.

 

[Lawlass]

The thing with the F-Lounge runs is it requires at least 50% of the attendees to be WP's.

Every one I've been on it's been more like 75-85% are WPs. There's always plenty of guest spots left over.

 

[harvyk]

I might actually choose to fly a DOM leg from Int'l as if I was in J the seat would be heaps better. The lounge experience would be better and for me the inconvenience is pretty minimal.

I have chosen a Dom leg from Int'l as really getting through customs at either end with D stickers is not really an issue, and of course the lounges are better (eg J Lounge access even if only a QP), the seats \ planes are usually better (eg skybeds in J \ Y in PE seats and AVOD). Only downside is LAG restrictions, but I rarely take LAG's over 100ml with me on Dom anyway... So not really an issue.

 

[amaroo]

I have chosen a Dom leg from Int'l as really getting through customs at either end with D stickers is not really an issue, and of course the lounges are better (eg J Lounge access even if only a QP), the seats \ planes are usually better (eg skybeds in J \ Y in PE seats and AVOD). Only downside is LAG restrictions, but I rarely take LAG's over 100ml with me on Dom anyway... So not really an issue.

They like to try & fill QF8, BNE-SYD, most searches this option comes up very frequently - I suppose they have zero concerns about overcrowding this delightful F lounge with AFF lounge runners........

 

[harvyk]

They like to try & fill QF8, BNE-SYD, most searches this option comes up very frequently - I suppose they have zero concerns about overcrowding this delightful F lounge with AFF lounge runners........

Yes, QF8 was the specific flight I was thinking about that I'd deliberately taken from an Int even though a technically better from timing point of view flight was departing Dom at the same time...

 

[wilco]

Now with limited exception a WP has contributed significant coin to QF's bottom line.

We're not sneeking in, we're following the rules of the program to the letter in regards to number of guests and qualifying flights, and really why we chose to fly is none of QF's business.

I dont think being WP necessarily means you have contributed significant coin to QF's bottom line. There is a pretty minor requirement to fly 4 sectors on QF metal or codeshare. The rest can be accumulated across OW. Not to mention all of the loopholes and schemes posted on this website of cheap status runs and YUPP fares. Im not saying they are wrong, but I dont believe QF envisioned what people would get up to in order to attain a certain status.

I disagree with the second part of your post because I think its very much Qantas's business if members are not using the program as they intended. Sure, you are following the program to the letter, but all it means is that they will close the loopholes that it seems many rely on to attain WP and then abuse the privileges. F lounges are strictly International and so I feel that the expectation is there that it would only be used for international passengers. The fact that some use an international service domestically was never factored into the access policy, but given the number of people doing this, just for the hell of it, dont be surprised if Qantas are unhappy at being burdened with the cost of a lounge visit for little to no revenue and so remove the benefit. You will only have yourselves to blame for this enhancement.

 

[wilco]

The more use the F lounge gets, the more people will work to retain their WP status, as let's face it F lounge is one of WP's major benefits.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I dont think the passengers that have to work for their WP status are the ones that are valuable to QF. They are the ones who find every trick in the book to maintain their WP on the cheap and probably cost QF in the longrun. If you have to "work" to retain a status, i dont think its really for you, as you clearly have no need to be flying so much, except of course to get that status that you covet so greatly.

God help you all when/if QF bite the bullet and say that F lounges are for F passengers only or at the very least international passengers.

 

[awilcockson]

Dont you mean "all the cough" that you choose to subject yourself to, just so that you can pay an (illegitimate) visit to the F lounge??

lets keep it real.....

Why is it illegitimate?

It is completely within the rules.

fwiw, 11 AFF members in the lounge on Saturday, 9 of them WP.

 

[notzac]

Re: oRe: Do you think that the F lounge meets are going to F it up for others?

Lol at pepole being 'inspired' by an airport lounge.

Laugh all you want, but being guested in to the SYD FLounge by the AFF'er that first replied to your post is what "inspired" me to aim for QF WP. It truly is an outstanding facility, and really showcases QF as one of the best airlines going. After several other let downs and disappointments I've come to the conclusion that loyalty is a two way street and found another airline that better suits my needs, but yes - there really are people that are inspired to fly more to get FLounge access.

As for the topic ... I'm in the "don't care" group. I'll be blunt and say that on one of the AFF JQ35 trips in the last year or so I was frankly embarrassed by the behaviour of certain members that could have shown more restraint and decorum in a public place, and would be more worried about such behaviour having an effect on continued access to the FLounge for AFF gatherings than the occasional group of people travelling on JQ35 etc. to use the facilities in the lounge. Big picture, it doesn't happen that often - nor do most AFF'ers really consume all that much in the lounge.

If there was a gathering every weekend, there would probably be grounds for concern over at QF HQ.

 

[serfty]

I dont think being WP necessarily means you have contributed significant coin to QF's bottom line. There is a pretty minor requirement to fly 4 sectors on QF metal or codeshare. The rest can be accumulated across OW. ...

Note that those "across OW" carriers pay Qantas for the points/SC's a member earns when travelling with them. It's not like Qantas get 'nothing' for that travel. Moreover, the travel required to get those 1200 SC's is not insignificant, even with instant upgrade fares.

 

[amaroo]

Why is it illegitimate?

It is completely within the rules.

fwiw, 11 AFF members in the lounge on Saturday, 9 of them WP.

Not a number that is going to bother any QF bean counter.

Next Week, I'll be in there and as mentioned before our group can guess 5 therefore, 10 in total.....we're not travelling any brand of QF therefore, the revenue from ticket sales generated by the recent AFF runners is 100% more than what I'm leaving on the table.

 

[wilco]

Why is it illegitimate?

It is completely within the rules.

fwiw, 11 AFF members in the lounge on Saturday, 9 of them WP.

Illegitimate in that it seems that certain flyers dont really have a genuine need to be flying, or on a domestic sector of an international service, other than to get access to the F lounge. I never suggested it is outside of the rules, but it is IMO, taking the pi$$ and I would not be surprised to see this benefit enhanced away.

Another thing, do you guys take a taxi or bus somewhere, just for the hell of it? It all seems very strange to me that a F lounge visit is the highlight of you day/month/year.