Finally crossed over 1400 status credits to earn Qantas Platinum - Questions...

[MEL_Traveller]

I arrived at the Qantas First lounge at approximately 6:45 PM. If I requested a shower in advance, then yes you are quite right maybe I would have a had a spot. But I wanted to enjoy my meal first before taking the shower and didn't want that to be interrupted when a shower were to become available. At the same time, I figured the lounge would have enough capacity to host shower requests without there being a huge backlog.

If there is any disorganization, respectfully it is from Qantas. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect that a shower would be made available to their First Class guests in a timely manner. In terms of cutting in front of people at the lounge, well ask yourself this, who would be entering that lounge? People in business or are Sapphire, well if everything is based on priority then I'm at the head of the queue. It's no different with Flagship First check-in with AA where you are escorted to the very front of the security queue. Some may find that rude and inconsiderate, but it's a perk for travelling so much. Now if there were other World Platinums entering the lounge to use said shower, well then maybe an argument could be made there that this was a bit inconsiderate. Then again, I would be expecting World Platinums to be doing the same thing.

There was no queue at TSA pre-check at TBIT when I arrived at 6:40 PM. It took maybe 2 minutes to go through that.

There is an escalator you can take on the left hand side that leads to TSA pre-check.

I agree. First Class passengers *should* be accommodated as a priority. They are given priority for spa treatments at the QF F lounges for example. It is actually ‘their’ lounge. Platinums are granted access as a benefit.

AA values class of service over status, as evidenced by access to Flagship Dining. It was traditionally only available to F pax, although that will be changing as they discontinue that cabin. (Same for United, Polaris Lounge access is only for business class and Star Alliance F pax. Status won’t get you in. Same with Air Canadia’s Siganture Lounge.)

YMMV on the operations of Flagship check-in. As an F passenger I’m about 50/50 - worldwide - for an escort through security. CX offered it without request at Chicago. Thai used to do it for F. Lufthansa and Swiss in selected ports. AA has never offered it to me at JFK, despite what their literature might say. At JFK they direct you to a separate lane which then joins the main one, albeit towards the front. Saves you maybe 20 seconds. I would be surprised if they offered it for every emerald at JFK, LAX and ORD.

 

[downgraded]

To be fair, a WP must shower.

No amount of showering would have the desired effect on this one.

 

[marki]

There’s no F on a Dreamliner so you won’t get F baggage tags on a flight that doesn’t have F

Not sure why you felt that you could cut in front of everyone for a shower.
It may have been better to prioritize the shower when you arrived in the F lounge.
You seemed to have ample time for multiple courses.

Often, cutting in line comes at a significant cost. To the person doing the cutting. Like in all queues, it often will only make a slight difference in the overall time. Many nowadays feel entitlement is a virtue.

 

[RooFlyer]

Surely this has to be a troll (in which case, well played, you've got the response you were probably seeking).

My earlier comment, which I think was the right call.

I'm guessing your 'cut the line' and other silly stuff was intended to get some sort of reaction?

 

[RooFlyer]

Some may find that rude and inconsiderate, but it's a perk for travelling so much.

You cut in front of me.



Back of the line, buddy.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Even if I'm hungry, I still prefer to eat after showering

In my case I did not have so much as a bite to eat that day as I had meetings out the wazoo in LA so for me having a proper meal before the long trek to Sydney was important.

To be fair, a WP must shower.

My argument is why can't Qantas do a better job providing shower facilities to its F customers. I understand that the F and J lounges are separate but other lounges I have been to (i.e. LH) centralize the location of showers so customers in either lounge could use the showers. This is particularly important at outstations like LAX where you don't have the luxury of building an expansive Flounge as is the case in say SYD or MEL. When I visited the J lounge there were showers readily available with no waiting list. I was not given a buzzer and didn't need to "cut" the queue here. The agent I spoke to said, let me check the shower situation and like 10 seconds later said, yes we have a shower available here you go.

Not that I intend to use this information, but how does one actually cut the queue for the showers? I thought it was some kind of “buzzer” arrangement rather than a physical queue you could jump in front of?

I never said I cut the queue for showers. In my case on the entry I saw there was a huge line snaking all the way out of the door for the J lounge. I simply walked to the side of the queue, explained the situation to the lounge attendant - "I'm a Platinum member and was in the F lounge and was told there is a 40 minute waiting list to get a shower. My flight departs in 30 minutes, can I pop in for a quick shower?"

-RooFlyer88

 

[dylarr]

I never said I cut the queue for showers.

Do you not remember what you wrote just a couple of pages back? Bolding mine.

Indeed, when I tried securing a shower ahead of my flight, I was told it was not possible as there was a 40 minute waiting list for it. Frustrated, I headed to the OneWorld Business lounge, cut in front of everyone and explained my situation (yes this was justified as I'm Platinum and therefore have higher priority over all of them). Within 5 minutes I had a shower. Whilst the water pressure wasn't ideal, the temperature control was good.

In my case on the entry I saw there was a huge line snaking all the way out of the door for the J lounge. I simply walked to the side of the queue, explained the situation to the lounge attendant - "I'm a Platinum member and was in the F lounge and was told there is a 40 minute waiting list to get a shower. My flight departs in 30 minutes, can I pop in for a quick shower?"

There was a queue. You went to the front of everyone else. By any definition that is cutting the queue.

 

[downgraded]

Do you not remember what you wrote just a couple of pages back? Bolding mine.


There was a queue. You went to the front of everyone else. By any definition that is cutting the queue.

But he didn't go to the front of the queue, he went to the side

 

[Lynda2475]

I arrived at the Qantas First lounge at approximately 6:45 PM. If I requested a shower in advance, then yes you are quite right maybe I would have a had a spot. But I wanted to enjoy my meal first before taking the shower and didn't want that to be interrupted when a shower were to become available. At the same time, I figured the lounge would have enough capacity to host shower requests without there being a huge backlog.

If at 6:45pm you had requested a shower booking between 8:15pm and 8:45pm, you likely would have not only got your preferred time but had 90mins + to dine before heading to the showers. You would not be approached to interrupt your meal to go to the shower.

You asked for F Lounge tips days before you attended, I told you in the evenings showers are in high demand and that attendants advise you to book one in on arrival (not shower on arrival), you chose not to follow this advice which was based on recent experience and then act surprised when you couldn't get a shower exactly when you wanted. with no notice So I stand by my comment, it was your disorganization not Qantas'.

Also you keep referring to yourself as a First customer, yet the flight you were on didn't offer first. Of those in the lounge at the same time as you, some would actually have been flying in F on the later QF SYD A380 flight (or other OW flights offering F), and everyone else would also have been a WP/OWE (or their guest) with most also likely flying J or above.

People in business or are Sapphire, well if everything is based on priority then I'm at the head of the queue.

You cant assume that. There could have been other OWE/WPs there if travelling with more family members then they could guest into the F lounge. A good portion of those J passengers would have paid cash for their tickets so might actually be more valuable than you from a spend perspective.

 

[Airbumps]

Frustrated, I headed to the OneWorld Business lounge, cut in front of everyone and explained my situation (yes this was justified as I'm Platinum and therefore have higher priority over all of them).
View attachment 351994
Nevertheless, I cut in front of everyone as again, I'm a Platinum so top priority and boarded early without having to deal with the stupid biometric e-gates at US airports.

-RooFlyer88

You Sir have definitely put the W back in WP - But in your case the W isn't Wonderful or World...its something altogether more appropriate for somebody with your "I'm better than everybody else because I'm platinum" attitude.

Oh, not too mention you're "I don't tip in the USA" comment.

If you use an Australian passport I'm embarrassed to be associated with you.

 

[Lynda2475]

If you use an Australian passport I'm embarrassed to be associated with you.

Uses a Canadian one and is always bragging about having TSA pre-check, something an Aussie passport is ineligible for. So no one would be mistaking for an Aussie. Aussies in general are more egalitarian.

 

[serfty]

Surely this has to be a troll

Or we've all been jazzed up for fun on a Sunday arvo.

No, this is a personal reality.

 

[serfty]

My argument is why can't Qantas do a better job providing shower facilities to its F customers.

There are people herein with much experience in things. I myself have attended the (relatively new) Qantas First Lounge at LAX on over 40 separate occasions.

My experiences go Back two decades to the lounges available to Qantas at LAX in that time. (Back then Qantas shared facilies with AA at T4)

Qantas have more than enough showers at their TBIT First lounge. There are better showers at the T4 Flagship which you had access too.

As for Qantas boarding at LAX it is rather eclectic these days.

Generally facial recognition (no scan of BPs) with two queues.

The queues are comprised of those who queue up in the priority queue and those who don't.

Queue eligibilty is not questioned.

 

[oz_mark]

Putting the W back in to WP.

Dedinite.demonstration that W does not stand for World.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The queues are comprised of those who queue up in the priority queue and those who don't.

Queue eligibilty is not questioned.

We had two queues for my flight a couple weeks ago, although once they started they channeled the priority queue through all available kiosks to get them processed as quickly as possible, before general boarding.

While they said ‘no boarding passes’ a particularly officious young chap *was* checking boarding passes for anyone he *thought* didn’t belong in the priority queue. He didn’t turn a single passenger back, suggesting he was somewhat over zealous.

Reflecting back, it was actually fairly rude.

It was more than made up for by the crew on board however

 

[RichardMEL]

I arrived at the Qantas First lounge at approximately 6:45 PM. If I requested a shower in advance, then yes you are quite right maybe I would have a had a spot. But I wanted to enjoy my meal first before taking the shower and didn't want that to be interrupted when a shower were to become available. At the same time, I figured the lounge would have enough capacity to host shower requests without there being a huge backlog.

Your assumptions and time management are not the lounge's fault.

If there is any disorganization, respectfully it is from Qantas. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect that a shower would be made available to their First Class guests in a timely manner. In terms of cutting in front of people at the lounge, well ask yourself this, who would be entering that lounge? People in business or are Sapphire, well if everything is based on priority then I'm at the head of the queue. It's no different with Flagship First check-in with AA where you are escorted to the very front of the security queue. Some may find that rude and inconsiderate, but it's a perk for travelling so much. Now if there were other World Platinums entering the lounge to use said shower, well then maybe an argument could be made there that this was a bit inconsiderate. Then again, I would be expecting World Platinums to be doing the same thing.

Wow so much DYKWIA in this, and inappropriately so. By your logic, Actual First Class passengers, and CL and P1's should be entitled to bowl you and the other Platinums aside because they're "more worthy of priority"? Far out. Although I'm sure after reading of your own hehaviour and justification of such, a few might want to give similar treatment.....

I don't see AA giving any priority at flagship lounges for showers, never had it at UA Polaris Lounge as a paid J pax *AND* 1K.

First Come, First Served. Simples. Or you book it, as you were advised earlier.

Your need (and your time management) doesn't give you priority over others in that regard. Really poor form. Really.

Oh and you were disappointed with the dedicated F check in desk as opposed to AA Flagship check in at T4. Hmm let me think. LAX is an outstation for QF, and in terms of actual F pax they are minimal due to the minimal actual F seats available. Does SQ have a separate F area like at SIN? No. Does JL? For that matter do AA at SYD? No. It's a ridiculous complaint to have. Yes, the flagship checkin at T4 is very nice with the perks - AA have reasons to have it at their various hubs, just like QF have adedicated F check in at SYD and MEL - home port hubs.

I'd be interested if anyone can point out a dedicated F check in experience like AA's flagship or QF F @SYD/MEL at a NON carrier hub airport? I can't think of any off the top of my head... doesn't mean there aren't any of course.

 

[RichardMEL]

Uses a Canadian one and is always bragging about having TSA pre-check, something an Aussie passport is ineligible for. So no one would be mistaking for an Aussie. Aussies in general are more egalitarian.

I reckon most Canadians, who are generally very polite people, would be embarrassed (but probably apologise anyway )

Unfortunately there are people who have common sense and good manners, and a particular citizenship doesn't guarantee either.

 

[tdimdad]

I don't think it is unreasonable to expect that a shower would be made available to their First Class guests in a timely manner.

Yes for the F passengers. But overall, any capacity would always be measured for the average use, not the short peaks (perhaps 10-20% of the elapsed time, at max). Adding more shower space in the lounge would reduce the seating capacity and be poor use of capital funds. It's much better to aim at the good average and let the occasional queue to form. There's a process for handling the queue, so all is good for everyone, including the potential prioritisation of F.

It's exactly similar to roads, trains, etc: you know to leave early at peak hour if you need to guarantee a specific arrival time.

Then again, I would be expecting World Platinums to be doing the same thing.

A cultural hint (from a fellow migrant). The DYKWIA attitude sure can create cringeworthy stories coming from the US. However, Australia is a much more egalitarian society. Cutting in line does not earn you brownie points or "he's a great bloke" comments here. Nor would acting important just because. Perhaps adding some nuance and situational awareness would be useful, including here.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Yes for the F passengers. But overall, any capacity would always be measured for the average use, not the short peaks (perhaps 10-20% of the elapsed time, at max). Adding more shower space in the lounge would reduce the seating capacity and be poor use of capital funds. It's much better to aim at the good average and let the occasional queue to form. There's a process for handling the queue, so all is good for everyone, including the potential prioritisation of F.

But there is a very simple solution to the problem given the QF J and F lounges are adjacent to each other: make the shower rooms be a shared space between the two lounges with priority going to those holding F tickets/OWE status. This is precisely what Lufthansa does in their lounges, especially at outstations like IAD and LHR.

A cultural hint (from a fellow migrant). The DYKWIA attitude sure can create cringeworthy stories coming from the US. However, Australia is a much more egalitarian society. Cutting in line does not earn you brownie points or "he's a great bloke" comments here. Nor would acting important just because. Perhaps adding some nuance and situational awareness would be useful, including here.

My argument is that if you don't have systems in place to enforce things like priority and status you run into issues. The whole boarding process at LAX was a mess simply because it was unclear who was boarding and how. A similar thing for the business lounge. There is one single queue for everyone rather than separate queues for those in F/OWE and everyone else. I suppose what I am saying here is that if QF put the same effort into separating the travel classes in lounges and during boarding as they do during check-in, there would be order in the system and less queue cutting which I concede is wrong when systems have been set up correctly. You don't see my cutting the queue on United or Lufthansa simply because they make it crystal clear who is boarding when, and they punish those who don't follow the rules.

-RooFlyer88

 

[sudoer]

there would be order in the system and less queue cutting which I concede is wrong when systems have been set up correctly.

Stop shirking responsibility for your actions. Queue cutting is always wrong - regardless of whether or not you agree with how the system works.

Personally, I would prefer separate J and F showers. The F showers are usually larger and have better amenities.