Heads up about program changes

[Happy Trails]

I reckon it's only a matter of time before QF start enforcing this clause as part of their 'with us or against us' policy:

^ Lounge access eligibility is based on the class of travel, Qantas club membership or the Frequent Flyer Membership tier for your next onward flight.

 

[Danger]

I reckon it's only a matter of time before QF start enforcing this clause as part of their 'with us or against us' policy:

^ Lounge access eligibility is based on the class of travel, Qantas club membership or the Frequent Flyer Membership tier for your next onward flight.

I think that's the clause that was introduced in about September last year and I also think it's the clause that's been the cause of problems on the last three occasions when agents have had difficulty changing the FF number after I've checked-in.

 

[Austman]

Danger is not referring to the latest changes with QP membership, this occurred last year from memory.

Sorry I was referring to the last part of :

That hincident came within 48 hours of QF issuing a memo to staff about Qantas Club members using their membership to access EK lounges but crediting to EK, rather than QF. And it seems that has now come full circle with the change announced (or actually not really announced at all) in the past couple of days."

Happy to be corrected!

Anyway, I've had few problems getting lounge access over many years with a different status on my BP. But I note that some question the latest OW staus access rules where the position of a comma could mean that both a BP and a card both showing status is required.

Edit: here it is

You must be prepared to show your boarding pass and frequent flyer membership card, with oneworld Emerald or Sapphire tier status, to access a lounge.

 

[rogerkambah]

Anyway, I've had few problems getting lounge access over many years with a different status on my BP. But I note that some question the latest OW staus access rules where the position of a comma could mean that both a BP and a card both showing status is required.

Edit: here it is

Interesting - I guess it depends on how much of a pedant the LD is.

 

[medhead]

Isn't it just a matter of using the FQTV and FQTS fields in the booking?

 

[serfty]

Sorry I was referring to the last part of : Happy to be corrected!

Anyway, I've had few problems getting lounge access over many years with a different status on my BP. But I note that some question the latest OW staus access rules where the position of a comma could mean that both a BP and a card both showing status is required. ...

That certainly has been the way of it - in the past.

I believe Qantas are trying to change this, first EK last year and now *O more. They can do what they want with their own members, but have to tow the oneworld line for members of other *O programs.

i.e. If you are Gold (*O Ruby) with AA and use your QFF SG to access a Qantas lounge but change to your AA number, taking those lounge access policy changes to the conclusion, it would indicate QFF now have the right to ask you to leave.

Isn't it just a matter of using the FQTV and FQTS fields in the booking?

Sure - but many have difficulty with that - and it's possible that is being made harder to do. (Off the top of your head, which of those fields is for status benefits? (Not accrual))

 

[SeatBackForward]

i.e. If you are Gold (*O Ruby) with AA and use your QFF SG to access a Qantas lounge but change to your AA number, taking those lounge access policy changes to the conclusion, it would indicate QFF now have the right to ask you to leave.

Sounds like the answer is to make the change as you are leaving

 

[Mr_Orange]

If I don't, I have to queue in the 'priority' check-in line (the one used for Platinum One, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Business, Qantas Club, oneworld Emerald, oneworld Sapphire, oneworld Ruby 'priority' line) to check-in.

Does make you wonder why they include Silver/OWR in that list. It's pretty much everybody!!

 

[Anna]

the position of a comma could mean that both a BP and a card both showing status is required.

If in future years I'm feeling very pleased with myself and sWanking up to the First lounge entrance brandishing a OW First BP that I have bought with 10,000* Asia Miles, I certainly will not be happy with "sorry madam but your card is only OWS so you can't come in".

*possible exaggeration to underline how much cheaper it is to buy F tickets with points other than QFF points

 

[Austman]

If in future years I'm feeling very pleased with myself and sWanking up to the First lounge entrance brandishing a OW First BP that I have bought with 10,000* Asia Miles, I certainly will not be happy with "sorry madam but your card is only OWS so you can't come in".

Anna, my quote was from current OW lounge access rules based on status, not current OW lounge access rules based on ticket class which are different. But who knows in the future?

 

[hossein_au]

For dom flights it's probably not going to be an issue for lounge access because either they will be red edeals so will credit to QF anyway, or I will have a boarding pass on QF stock and a card and the lounge dragons are unlikely to enquire further than looking cursorily at them.

My first int Y booking is for Oct and shows my current OWE status (which will be my status until end of 2015). I haven't decided yet whether to change to my AM number at the lounge after any op-up chance has been extinguished, or to change it beforehand and to try flashing the OWE card with the Y boarding pass at the Wing F lounge in HKG and see what happens

Most future bookings are likely not to be in Y, at least for long-haul, so I will get class-of-travel benefits

It's all an experimental work-in-progress at this stage. One experiment being, if I'm already in the lounge when I change to my AM number, if they then ask me to leave the lounge :shock:

I was at the J lounge in Canberra last weekend and there was a lady trying to gain access with her status in one airline, but crediting her flight to another (vague recollection: status with Cathay and crediting to Qantas, or vice versa). The lounge lady stood firm that the frequent flyer on the boarding pass HAD TO match the OW status (for lounge access). A supervisor came out and explained the same to the traveller. I later saw the lady inside the lounge, so I presume she did finally agree to have the FF number changed on her boarding pass.

 

[serfty]

I was at the J lounge in Canberra last weekend and there was a lady trying to gain access with her status in one airline, but crediting her flight to another (vague recollection: status with Cathay and crediting to Qantas, or vice versa). The lounge lady stood firm that the frequent flyer on the boarding pass HAD TO match the OW status (for lounge access). A supervisor came out and explained the same to the traveller. I later saw the lady inside the lounge, so I presume she did finally agree to have the FF number changed on her boarding pass.

If status was with Cathay then this would by wrong if it happened. If the status was with Qantas it would be correct.

The Qantas Club | Lounge Locations | Australia | Canberra Domestic

Qantas do restrict their own and EK Skywards members, lets look at QFF/Skywards Gold: (Note the ^) footnote.

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 2"]Eligible Qantas Members[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"].
.
.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]Gold Frequent Flyer[/TH]
[TD]Next onward flight must be on a Qantas^, Emirates^, Jetstar Airlines+ or oneworld marketed and operated flight.#
One guest allowed and does not need to be travelling.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"].
.
.[/TD]
[/TR][TR]
[TH="colspan: 2"]Eligible Emirates Members[/TH]
[/TR][TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"].
.
.[/TD]
[/TR][TR]
[TR][TR]
[TH]Emirates Gold Skyward Members[/TH]
[TD]Next onward flight must be on a Qantas^, Emirates^, Jetstar Airlines+ or oneworld marketed and operated flight.#
One guest allowed and does not need to be travelling.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"].
.
.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]^ Lounge access eligibility is based on the class of travel, Qantas club membership or the Frequent Flyer Membership tier for your next onward flight.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


But they don't (can't?) so restrict non QFF *O members (Sapphire): (Note the lack of the ^)

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 2"]Eligible oneworld Status[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"].
.
.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TH]Sapphire[/TH]
[TD]Next onward flight that day must be on a oneworld operated and marketed flight.#
One guest allowed and does not need to be travelling.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[medhead]

Sure - but many have difficulty with that - and it's possible that is being made harder to do. (Off the top of your head, which of those fields is for status benefits? (Not accrual))

FQTS - for status, IIRC.

I did frame it as a question as I've never used both fields but have looked into their use a few times. Mostly recently for MH flights that did not earn with QF. I visited the Adelaide MH office a couple of times. The first person told me only one FF number. But on the second visit I asked if MH have an FQTS field and the guy knew exactly about the term. His advice was that they have the field, but the status information isn't visible to the airport. As I wanted to test MH OWE status recognition I just left the booking as is, with my QF number.

 

[Anna]

agents have had difficulty changing the FF number after I've checked-in.

Sounds like the answer is to make the change as you are leaving

Or maybe - make the booking using status FF number, and select seat. Change booking to non status FF number. Check in, rock up to lounge and say "can you please change my booking to my status FF number" - maybe they will then let you in based on status FF number, but the change won't stick so the points will still go to the non status account

Another thing to test for my experiment

 

[hossein_au]

Or maybe - make the booking using status FF number, and select seat. Change booking to non status FF number. Check in, rock up to lounge and say "can you please change my booking to my status FF number" - maybe they will then let you in based on status FF number, but the change won't stick so the points will still go to the non status account

Another thing to test for my experiment

Could work... but how do you "Change booking to non status FF number" before (presumably online) "Check in"?

 

[mannej]

Could work... but how do you "Change booking to non status FF number" before (presumably online) "Check in"?

There are other OW sites where you can do this for QF bookings.

 

[serfty]

FQTS - for status, IIRC.

I did frame it as a question as I've never used both fields but have looked into their use a few times. Mostly recently for MH flights that did not earn with QF. I visited the Adelaide MH office a couple of times. The first person told me only one FF number. But on the second visit I asked if MH have an FQTS field and the guy knew exactly about the term. His advice was that they have the field, but the status information isn't visible to the airport. As I wanted to test MH OWE status recognition I just left the booking as is, with my QF number.

Yep - it's very hard to get an airline Agent to do this let alone do it properly (I presume requests are rare, although a good private TA should have no problem).

FWIW, any FQTV (for miles accrual) and FQTS (service [status] tier) entries must be associated with each segment.

 

[Danger]

Isn't it just a matter of using the FQTV and FQTS fields in the booking?

My experience reflects what serfty has posted. I've come across only one agent who knows how to do it properly. As I mentioned earlier, even when I specifically say "Could you please completely remove my QF number and insert only my AA number", seven in 10 times I end up with both numbers in there, and the flight credits to QF.

Sounds like the answer is to make the change as you are leaving

Unfortunately, as noted, this appears to becoming increasingly more difficult.

I was at the J lounge in Canberra last weekend and there was a lady trying to gain access with her status in one airline, but crediting her flight to another (vague recollection: status with Cathay and crediting to Qantas, or vice versa). The lounge lady stood firm that the frequent flyer on the boarding pass HAD TO match the OW status (for lounge access). A supervisor came out and explained the same to the traveller. I later saw the lady inside the lounge, so I presume she did finally agree to have the FF number changed on her boarding pass.

I don't suppose the lounge lady was a youngish blonde girl, say mid-to-late 20s? And the supervisor a - and I say this meaning no disrespect, purely to identify him - slightly odd looking man with gingerish hair, maybe late 30s? That was the duo that caused me to run afoul of the system.

 

[medhead]

Another website change.

Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Flights Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas & Partner Airlines

The page looks all different to me.

 

[Flashback]

Another website change.

Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Flights Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas & Partner Airlines

The page looks all different to me.

Notice that it says take off to more destinations (partners) as opposed to be rewarded (QF/JQ)