Galleries access... NOT quite 'reinstated'?

[tuapekastar]

Steps in the right direction, and access would appear to still be a work in progress...

We are currently working with British Airways on the recent changes to their lounge access policy.

 

[Flying mermaid]

She'll be able to use it before the flight back to Oz, of course.


Sent from the Throne

yes - I think she would cut her lifetime QF card into little bits if she couldn't On her last visit to us she was muttering to me about how she couldn't wait until she could afford to fly something other than Y. I of course gave her my best maternal lecture about having to buy her own home and save before she wasted money on frivolous things like premium travel

 

[Interlude]

Although with Wing F shut until the end of the year, Qantas F is probably on par with Wing J for low gate numbered departures (ie all qantas flights)

Was there at the Wing the other day, and they have a separate designated seating area upstairs for Flounge-eligible customers, and lots of serving staff standing around to bring food/drinks from the J section (recently renovated?). You can of course wander through to the J section yourself, and check out the Noodle Bar, Long Bar, Coffee alcove etc. I had a fantastic seafood laksa ordered from the menu, and overall the J facilities and food service are pretty good. Can't compare with the HKG QF F lounge as haven't been there, but the CX J lounge at HKG is a very substantial step up from the QF Flounge at SIN.

Are we still hearing QF talk about new Flounges at SIN and HKG, as once announced with great fanfare? A staff member at spa at MEL Flounge mentioned that there had been some early activity about getting them to advise on spa layout and facilities for these two locations, but it had all gone rather quiet.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Good: A small step in the right direction with the latest website update on QC lounge access, and a reference to ongoing discussions with BA. Most importantly, BA lounge access is no longer promoted as a benefit of QC membership.

Bad: There is still no upfront transparent communication that access to BA lounges has
1. Changed
2. Changed for the worse.
It's all implied, for customers to read the fine print.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I of course gave her my best maternal lecture about having to buy her own home and save before she wasted money on frivolous things like premium travel

eeeek! Wash your mouth out with Elemis toiletries from the BA Galleries Lounges! Premium travel is not frivolous!!!! :shock:

 

[JessicaTam]

I have only found this thread (and the one preceding it), however as I have just returned from 3 weeks in Europe, you may find this interesting:

I flew BA the following:

HKG-xLHR-FRA
FRA-xLHR-ABZ
LHR-MUC
FRA-xLHR-HKG

The first flight was the only one I thought I would have to argue (what I thought was) the point. I had only shown my onward boarding pass and QP card. The LD said if I was transiting from Asia I would have access. I produced my HKG-LHR BP and all was good.

On other occasions production of the QP card and ongoing BP was enough. In one case (LHR-MUC) I had enough time to visit both North and South lounges without trouble.

I made gold/sapphire before my last leg home which was reflected on the BP, but I don't think it would have made any difference.

Just my 2c

 

[mickey68]

I am confused (it doesn't take much though....) after reading through all of these responses. If I am traveling in Business on a BA operated flight but with a QF flight number, will I have access to the Galleries lounges in London and continental Europe?

 

[simongr]

In business yes.

 

[mickey68]

Thanks simongr. I had been wondering as I am a QC member, but both the BA and QC websites are confusing in their wording.

 

[Flashback]

Thanks simongr. I had been wondering as I am a QC member, but both the BA and QC websites are confusing in their wording.

If you're travelling business it doesn't matter, you have access via class of service....

 

[simongr]

The only caveat to that is if it is a third party provided lounge. So if flying ex-CDG there is the risk that you might be knocked by on the basis of the QF BP who don't contract with the lounge.

What airports are you flying from?

 

[mickey68]

Hi simongr...so if I am flying BA Business on a QF flight number I should be able to access Galleries lounge based on class of travel? I will be using London Heathrow Terminal 5 to Amsterdam as well as Munich to London and on to Bangkok then back on QF to Sydney

 

[serfty]

Hi simongr...so if I am flying BA Business on a QF flight number I should be able to access Galleries lounge based on class of travel? I will be using London Heathrow Terminal 5 to Amsterdam as well as Munich to London and on to Bangkok then back on QF to Sydney

FWIW, to be travelling between Continental Europe and the UK on a QF flight numbers you generally need to be inbound/outbound on Qantas as part of your itinerary.

Being in club, you will almost certainly have access to whatever lounges BA provide - it will show the BA flight number on your BP.

 

[pagingjoan]

Hi simongr...so if I am flying BA Business on a QF flight number I should be able to access Galleries lounge based on class of travel? I will be using London Heathrow Terminal 5 to Amsterdam as well as Munich to London and on to Bangkok then back on QF to Sydney

Adding a note to Serfty's post:
On BA flight out of Munich, don't get your expectations too high of the lounge. It's adequate - once you find it - but fairly basic.
On the plus side, you should have a quick check in, and security is usuallly polite and painless.
Happy travels.

 

[Danger]

I'm not sure if this is a development or not but this page has no mention whatsoever of British Airways lounges of any description.

Does this mean that Qantas Club members no longer have access to BA lounges, of any description, in any port? If so, isn't this a significant change, far and above the LHR situation?

 

[markis10]

I'm not sure if this is a development or not but this page has no mention whatsoever of British Airways lounges of any description.

Does this mean that Qantas Club members no longer have access to BA lounges, of any description, in any port? If so, isn't this a significant change, far and above the LHR situation?

No change under the access rules area:

Qantas Club Members travelling between Australia and the UK via Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong on Qantas or British Airways services, or travelling on other British Airways flights connecting with these services, can access the British Airways Terrace, Executive and Galleries Lounges. Access to the British Airways Lounge in New York is also available for Qantas Club Members travelling on the QF108. We are currently working with British Airways on the recent changes to their lounge access policy.

Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club lounges

 

[eastwest101]

... We are currently working with British Airways on the recent changes to their lounge access policy.

Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club lounges

Thanks for the link markis10

Hmmm - "recent changes". Really? Goes back to Oct 2011 from what I can tell as I dug up the original thread. At this rate it looks like this topic will be celebrating its 1st birthday.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Hmmm - "recent changes". Really? Goes back to Oct 2011 from what I can tell as I dug up the original thread. At this rate it looks like this topic will be celebrating its 1st birthday.

The time has well and truly passed to give QF the benefit of the doubt that they are actively working on a resolution for their QC members. 1 year come on... Pick up your game if you want to customer loyalty.

 

[The Rok]

I read an article the other day in the Wall Street Journal that said QF may be about to ditch it's exclusive arrangement with BA altogether in favour of EK.

 

[Danger]

I contacted Qantas yesterday to see if they could mail me a brochure outlining the benefits of the Qantas Club. Apparently, Qantas no longer prints them.

No doubt, it's a cost-cutting measure (and, in my opinion, a perfectly reasonable one considering everything is available online). However, the flipside is Qantas couldn't afford to print them knowing the uncertain situation with BA.

Further, I believe that the changes I referred to in post 235 above are new. If I remember correctly the lounge access page on the QF website previously mentioned British Airways Terraces and Executive Club lounges. That has since disappeared entirely. The removal of all BA lounges is a massive devaluation in the benefits of membership. Has the price of membership dropped? I don't believe so.