Greetings / CBR QP Overcrowding

[serfty]

You should learn not to ask 'phone agents too much, or at least take their answers with a grain of salt (or value of the paper thay are written on).

The actual answer is here:

• Access to Partner airline lounges

Access to Partner airline lounges

In addition to Qantas Club lounges, you can relax in British Airways lounges (Terraces and Executive Club lounges) and American Airlines® Admirals Club lounges.

To access a partner airline lounge, simply present your Qantas Club card or Platinum or Gold Frequent Flyer card at check-in and again with your boarding pass at the lounge reception. You may also invite a guest. Note: both you and your guest must be travelling together and have onward travel that day on a flight marketed and operated by the partner airline whose lounge you wish to visit.***

*** Marketed and operated means a flight operated by the same airline whose flight number appears on your ticket. Includes American Airlines® or British Airways operated flights with a 'QF' flight number on your ticket.

 

[Dave Noble]

Oh? I recently looked into buying my mother (UK based) a QC membership to get her into BA lounges when travelling BA, QF etc overseas (ie not Australia). I was told by QF membership services that a QC membership does NOT grant her access to any OVERSEAS (QF, BA or other OneWorld) lounges overseas ONLY domestic QF lounges...is that correct or incorrect??? :shock:

No issue at all; a QC membership is an easy way to get BA lounge access and is the only paid membership entry method to the BA lounges

if she is departing on BA or Qantas , she could use the BA lounge
if she is departing on AA , she can use the AA lounge

Dave

 

[Platy]

No issue at all; a QC membership is an easy way to get BA lounge access and is the only paid membership entry method to the BA lounges

if she is departing on BA or Qantas , she could use the BA lounge
if she is departing on AA , she can use the AA lounge

Dave

Cheers, Dave (and Serfty),

Well that at least fixes the worry of her (Mum's) next birthday present!!!

I guess the average Uk based BA traveller wouldn't realise an investment in a QC membership might be worthwhile!

 

[medhead]

Good work, changing it back to something relevent.

Was starting to think to my self "Stop feeding the TROLL!!!!"

If I was trolling that be a good idea. Trouble was I wasn't trolling.

QC overcrowding was raised. Someone continued the usually line that appears in many threads here that paid QC members should be F...ked over. I stated an alternative position that conflicts with the world view of many WP and SG on here (you and I know who you are) that paid QC members are lesser beings. (Quiet Frankly Who Do You Think You Are - WDYTYA!)

I stopped responding because I stated my position and rebutted a few of the counter agruments. Sorry mate but responding OT and putting an alternative view is not trolling.

There is no need for me to say anymore because obviously people who use something like DYKWIA able not are to cope when their world view is challenged.

So we have to agree to disagree.

 

[medhead]

medhead,

This is all just a windup isn't it :?:

No!

I can not believe that people who get a free membership, aren't happy when they use it and they can't accept their place in the QC.

Where in the QC t&c does it say anything about status in the FFP? It doesn't. What you get for your STATUS is the membership You don't get the right to kick out paid members.

As I said QC was a lot better before they let in status-ed business travellers. A lot more exclusive!

 

[JohnK]

There is an airline that understands it's time to do something better in Canberra...maybe it's time y'all tried them, they're called Virgin Blue Home

I think it will take a while for this to catch on although it may not succeed.

I flew SYD-CBR on Sat 09 Feb in the afternoon and returned Mon 11 feb 08 on the early morning flight. I think the E170 is an 80 seater? Anyway around 50 passengers on the flight down and only 25 passengers on return flight. The SYD bag drop was a zoo but CBR was much better and I almost had a great choice of seats both ways.

 

[straitman]

If I was trolling that be a good idea. Trouble was I wasn't trolling.

QC overcrowding was raised. Someone continued the usually line that appears in many threads here that paid QC members should be F...ked over. I stated an alternative position that conflicts with the world view of many WP and SG on here (you and I know who you are) that paid QC members are lesser beings. (Quiet Frankly Who Do You Think You Are - WDYTYA!)

I stopped responding because I stated my position and rebutted a few of the counter agruments. Sorry mate but responding OT and putting an alternative view is not trolling.

There is no need for me to say anymore because obviously people who use something like DYKWIA able not are to cope when their world view is challenged.

So we have to agree to disagree.

medhead,

My windup comment came because you seemed determined to wind a few people up no matter what they said. It certainly looked and sounded like you were 'Trolling'

You are more than welcome to your opinion and please present it openly and clearly. Some of your logic has lost me though until I've reread your posts several times and I am basically a methodical and logical person.

As you said in the end though, with some of these things some of us have to learn to agree to disagree.

Time to calm down now team and all go and have a G & T :!:

 

[medhead]

You seem to be refusing to acknowledge that status and the benefits associated are paid for as part of the ticket price.

No actually my membership of QC is not paid for by the price of a ticket.

You seem to refuse to acknowledge that the benefit status gets in the price of the ticket is free membership. Status doesn't get a benefit to kick me out of my club.

I take it thats what you meant by paid QC should have some lower level prior lounge and leave the QC for status-ed FF.

 

[medhead]

Some of your logic has lost me though until I've reread your posts several times and I am basically a methodical and logical person.

Time to calm down now team and all go and have a G & T :!:

I think my logic was deliberately the same as the logic that says "I want something that those people (paid QC) have so I can also feel exclusive, I get it, now that I have it I want to kick out the people who where here and did get it the same way I got it."

Plus I gather there are a fair number of accountants on here. Accountant logic ain't that same as Physicist logic. Although I can do my own tax as good as any accountant I've meet.

Wheres the bombay.....

 

[JohnK]

My point is that if overcrowding is a problem then the answer is not to attack paid QC members. The answer is to review the basis for inviting members of other programs like the FFP to enjoy the benefits of the QC.

I know people who pay <$200/year to be Qantas Club members, It has also been mentioned that some people got life membership in the 90's for ~$1000.

Just because Gold and Platinum get other benefits from the QFF program does not mean that they do not deserve complimentary membership of the Qantas Lounge. Some of these people spend tens of thousands of dollars a year with Qantas which is considerably more than paid Qantas Club membership.

If it wasn't for paid QC members there would be no free QC membership for your so called elites.

Do note that many airlines do not offer paid lounge membership. To be able to visit the lounge requires top tier status or purchasing business class/first class airfares.

 

[simongr]

Just so that we dont let facts get in the way of a barbed comment:

1 - Reduce the number of paid QP memberships through increasing the price of membership

2 - Restrict access - not really an option without renegotiating the OW deal - even to build an AA style model where other program's members can get in but not QF's own.

Note that I present two options - 1 to increase price and 2 to reduce access for status members. I qualified the second option with reference to the OW deal to indicate this related to status rather than paid.

Next in relation to me rating either group lower or higher:

I dont see either set of members as better or worse. I would happily restrict numbers by raising qualification levels or the price

I actually think on some levels QF have done their QP members a disservice with providing domestic access to J pax and then "elevating" the J pax to the new lounges.

Given I started my QF flying in 2001 after the collapse of Ansett I did not want access because of what I saw someone else having (paid membership) and wanted it for free. I wanted access and the funding method was irrelevant.

My criticisms are about the business model - I really don't care how other people got in. Apologies for repitition but I am lucky that I have access through three methods and all were for me personally relatively easy to procure. As such if there is a problem with over-crowding (which I havent experienced really - even at 7PM in MEL - although I long ago gave up on hot food) then I would advocate raising the qualification levels through price or SCs.

It is actually you medhed who is rating status members as lower than paid members - so I would return back to you WDYTYA - are you better than someone who gets access through their loyalty to the QFF scheme?

 

[Petch]

I flew SYD-CBR on Sat 09 Feb in the afternoon and returned Mon 11 feb 08 on the early morning flight. I think the E170 is an 80 seater? Anyway around 50 passengers on the flight down and only 25 passengers on return flight. The SYD bag drop was a zoo but CBR was much better and I almost had a great choice of seats both ways.

I seem to have missed the trip report for this momentous event?!!

 

[QuikSmart]

I tend to agree with Medhead.

About 2 years ago, when we knew we would be travelling every few months for work with the family, we went and got a QP membership. And paid what I thought was a fair price.

At the end of the day we need to remember that QC members have bought a product/service from Qantas and they have a right to that product/service as per the conditions of the program. Just as if we bought any other product.

WP's and SG's have also bought (through the ongoing procurement of QF tickets) a product/service from Qantas and have a right to all the benefits of that product/service.

Perhaps the introduction of the new Business Lounges down the East Coast will provide a more exclusive haven for WP's and J travellers. I imagine it will also drive many SG's to try and get up to Platinum. I know I will be.

 

[simongr]

You wnat overcrowding - currently sat in the NRT QP - only two flights out of here (A330 and 763) and there is not a free seat in the house...

My seat is next to a fam feeding a small child - think of me and consider how desperate I was for a seat

 

[chooms]

I take it thats what you meant by paid QC should have some lower level prior lounge and leave the QC for status-ed FF.

I believe paid QP members are already only entitled to a 'lower level lounge' ie the QP domestic and the J lounge internationally.

WP's have access to F lounge and soon the new J lounges domestically.

Just for the record - I paid QP membership initially. As I moved up the work food chain I started flying more and more and now I am WP and re-qualified for another year not 5 months into my initial WP earned status.

Medhead - without WP's and SG's flying lots with QF I doubt there would be a QP anymore. Qantas do not make money out of paid QP memberships - they make money from the bums on seats in their aircraft.

Hence the requirement for an 'exclusive' area for corporates etc who's businesses spend hundreds of thousands if not millions on Qantas travel anually - the Chairman's Lounge.

If people think the QP in Canberra gets overcrowded at certain times you should see the CL on a thursday arvo/evening after a parliamentary sitting week!!!

 

[medhead]

I believe paid QP members are already only entitled to a 'lower level lounge' ie the QP domestic and the J lounge internationally.

WP's have access to F lounge and soon the new J lounges domestically.

Medhead - without WP's and SG's flying lots with QF I doubt there would be a QP anymore. Qantas do not make money out of paid QP memberships - they make money from the bums on seats in their aircraft.

Actualy, paid QC members are entitled to the same lounge as SG and WP are entitled to by virtue of their QC membership. However, there has been the suggestion (in the forum) to let status QC members use the current lounge and give paid QC members a lower level lounge to address overcrowding

Yes WP get access to those other lounges via the OW status. Good on 'em. Hopefully the crowd will move to the new lounges with the SG and WP.

That's a big call to claim that QC doesn't make money. Perhaps you can point ou the relevant sections of the finanicial report, because I can't find any basis for your claim.

I note that part of the recent takover deal was to sell off the FFP (presumably including QC) as a separate business (iirc $2 -$3 billion value). On the assumption that only flying makes money the FFP can't be making money either. So how could they think they can sell off a business? Who would buy a business that doesn't make money? (besides from flying which would have stayed with the separate flying business under that takeover proposal)

Not sure how CL is relevant to SG and WP. By most accounts thats about the people who control the corporate travel budget not the people flying on that budget. Yes, a limited number of SG and WP would be CL, but not enough to be relevant.

 

[chooms]

Actualy, paid QC members are entitled to the same lounge as SG and WP are entitled to by virtue of their QC membership. However, there has been the suggestion (in the forum) to let status QC members use the current lounge and give paid QC members a lower level lounge to address overcrowding

For the time being. WP and paid J/D customers will have the new Domestic Business lounge to use once they open in the middle of this year.

Its still unclear to me how OW status take precedence when flying on your home airline FFP. Sure OW benefits have to be given to FF from other OW airlines when flying with QF. But why does QF have to give its FF the OW benefits. Maybe some will join AA but if Australian resident will still fly QF.

Its called rewarding loyatly and looking after your customers. I doubt Qantas would be building a new separate lounge for WP and Business customers if Virgin Blue wasnt posing a significant threat to QF's profit-making business travel.

Surely for QF to build this new lounge they must really want to keep their high-status customers.

That's a big call to claim that QC doesn't make money. Perhaps you can point ou the relevant sections of the finanicial report, because I can't find any basis for your claim.

I note that part of the recent takover deal was to sell off the FFP (presumably including QC) as a separate business (iirc $2 -$3 billion value). On the assumption that only flying makes money the FFP can't be making money either. So how could they think they can sell off a business? Who would buy a business that doesn't make money? (besides from flying which would have stayed with the separate flying business under that takeover proposal)

I think a simple assumption is enough to point out the fact that they arent making money with the Qantas Club - same if not downgraded food, plently of free-alcohol served.

Again, if QF are building yet ANOTHER separate club for WP/Business customers which you cannot buy membership for must indicate that QF are making a lot of money out of these people and want to keep their business.

On the matter of the QFF program, it is my understanding that parters to this program pay a significant amount of money to 'cash in' on the Qantas loyalty ie get those same QF customers - there is also a joining fee but I doubt that makes them the bulk of their monies.

Not sure how CL is relevant to SG and WP. By most accounts thats about the people who control the corporate travel budget not the people flying on that budget. Yes, a limited number of SG and WP would be CL, but not enough to be relevant.

For the record CL membership comes with automatic WP status - when I travelled it was with a CL member. I have to say that I havent spent much time the QP of late because I have been mostly in the CL.

 

[medhead]

I think a simple assumption is enough to point out the fact that they arent making money with the Qantas Club - same if not downgraded food, plently of free-alcohol served.

On the matter of the QFF program, it is my understanding that parters to this program pay a significant amount of money to 'cash in' on the Qantas loyalty ie get those same QF customers - there is also a joining fee but I doubt that makes them the bulk of their monies.

A typical problem is that many here seem to focus on the benefit they get not the source of them gaining that benefit.

e.g. this J/business lounge is only available because of OW. OW is not about rewarding status FF, its about giving QF international travellers options around the world.. Its also a separate matter to the QC members

FFP gives WP and SG members a free QC membership. So IF overcrowding is a problem and if they are lossing money then the first step is not to downgrade the paid QC members.

I'm sure that if QF wasn't giving out booze to unpaid QC members there wouldn't be any suggestion that they don't make money.

However, your assumption that they are not making money is no basis to discuss anything. It only makes and cough out of u and me.

 

[medhead]

My seat is next to a fam feeding a small child -

What small chilren aren't allowed to eat

You should be thankful the kid is eating, usually they sleep after eating. (like when they get on your flight)

Reminds me of SIN-FRA sitting behinds parents who feed their kid ONCE . The rest of the time they put him in the basset and tried either covering his head with a blanket or put on the face mask. And the father did nothing to look after the kid either, it was all the mother.

 

[chooms]

However, your assumption that they are not making money is no basis to discuss anything. It only makes and cough out of u and me.

I think the fact that they are building a specific new lounge for WP/J and NO PAID MEMBERS says enough that QF are making their money from bums in seats rather than PAID MEMBERSHIPS.

Qantas already - through the status quo of QP's + the J & F lounges - is in sync with OW reqiurements.

They arent building the new lounges because of OW - it is to hang onto the business market that Virgin Blue is slowly eating away at.

Can I just ask, you carry on as to why do WP's and SG's look down on paid QP members (remember... that is how I started using QP's) when you yourself in previous posts look down on WP's and claim that paid members are the bees knees?

Just a little bit of hipocrasy if not maybe a little bit of jealousy me thinks.