HKG Lounge Access

[raleyoz]

I think this is my first new thread, so sorry if I do it wrong.
I fly each month into China for work through Hong Kong, I do my best to make sure the A380 is parked waiting for me when I can. I would also like to say that the service I have received from Qantas since returning to frequent flying has been outstanding.

There is one link in the chain which I have experienced is letting the side down, and I feel simple to fix. HKG Lounge access, my last flight ADL-CBR-SYD-HKG-PEK, last sector on Dragonair, all ticketed by Qantas through website, I am PS & QP member. I arrived in HKG and the KA flight was delayed 1hours so I had 2 1/2 hours to kill, off to the lounge, only to be informed that I have no access as my next flight was not Qantas. mmm that sucked. the next guest I happened to see was on my flight and I asked nicely if he would mind guesting me in , Im in so happy camper. However just did not seem fair.

The next event I thought was from Qantas's point of view even more disturbing. Whilst contemplating my next move at the entrance of the Lounge, a chap walked in dressed immaculately clearly working presented his P1 card and requested access, which he was refused. he quite clearly stated that he was connecting on SQ J flight but as P1 wanted access at this lounge. Now my understanding is that a P1 is a serious FF and generally spends some serious coin to fly (or his work does). why would Qantas want him to go across to SQ lounge and experience an alternative, or just generally make him feel unwelcome.

I believe the whole point of Lounges is to keep customers happy with their experience on Qantas, a nice little added gift. I understand rules are there to control abuse of facilities, and can even accept the rule that restricted my own access, (might not like it but). Could they not solve this issue by giving someone the common sense decision making ability to ensure they P1's happy.

Sorry for the length , but I thought maybe QF , might like to consider.
and QF if your listening this is my only concern so far, everything up to and on board has been fantastic!

 

[markis10]

Not sure what the beef is, there is no anytime access for the lounge for P1s etc, so they were right in refusing access to the member flying SQ, as they were in refusing your access as a QP member when the next onward flight is not Qantas. The lounge is there as a benefit when you fly Qantas or in the case of those with status, Qantas and its partners.

 

[simongr]

The next event I thought was from Qantas's point of view even more disturbing. Whilst contemplating my next move at the entrance of the Lounge, a chap walked in dressed immaculately clearly working presented his P1 card and requested access, which he was refused. he quite clearly stated that he was connecting on SQ J flight but as P1 wanted access at this lounge. Now my understanding is that a P1 is a serious FF and generally spends some serious coin to fly (or his work does). why would Qantas want him to go across to SQ lounge and experience an alternative, or just generally make him feel unwelcome.

I believe the whole point of Lounges is to keep customers happy with their experience on Qantas, a nice little added gift. I understand rules are there to control abuse of facilities, and can even accept the rule that restricted my own access, (might not like it but). Could they not solve this issue by giving someone the common sense decision making ability to ensure they P1's happy.

Oh god - not the anytime access debate again!

It used to be that WP got access to any Qantas lounge anytime that they wanted. This stopped a long time ago and led to massive flame wars about the topic. Personally I don't see why QF should give access when flying on another carrier outside of OW. QF have described this as giving a free kick to the other airline.

This thread might get out of hand very quickly...

 

[moa999]

If you fly each month into China, surely you will be QF Gold very shortly, and thus have lounge access....


As for WP1 and anytime access.... The passenger is flying SQ thus zero revenue to Qantas, so why should QF give access... the pax would have SQ lounge access via J Class flight.

 

[raleyoz]

Gawd I hope not, I suppose my concern was , as you say giving a free kick to another airline ,

For my access, I feel I book with qantas as their customer , they offer me flights, QF or partners, so I am their customer. I never feel a KA or CX customer, just QF don't fly to my destination. I completely concure if I booked via a separate airline.

Im not grumpy about it , just thought this might be an oppurtunity

 

[JohnK]

Oh god - not the anytime access debate again!

I am not going to continue the debate but anytime access was important to a lot of people just like priority boarding is to some.

 

[simongr]

I agree JohnK - which is why I dread the topic coming up again.

 

[raleyoz]

Sorry , I'm new , did not know it was such a sore point.

 

[richie9x]

The interesting thing was that if the P1 passenger you observed was instead a Cathay MPC Diamond then he would have been able to access a Cathay business lounge even when flying SQ as this is one benefit Cathay extend to their top tier. It is pretty arbitrary what benefits different airlines extend to their status passengers. They have to weight up a several factors ultimately to determine if that benefit will attract more profits in the long run.

 

[samh004]

Why would you let someone, even the top FF, into your lounge if they're flying the competition? The very fact they're not flying on your metal should be enough of a reason I'd have thought. Never mind the fact Qantas probably doesn't fly the route, but there'd be a good chance a OW partner would. He probably walked into the lounge on autopilot, more so than trying to get anytime access.

As for your lounge access dilemma, as pointed out, if you're flying monthly to China I'm sure you'll be a Gold member (OneWorld Sapphire) soon enough, and get to discover all the other lounges in HKIA maybe with an SC run!

The interesting thing was that if the P1 passenger you observed was instead a Cathay MPC Diamond then he would have been able to access a Cathay business lounge even when flying SQ as this is one benefit Cathay extend to their top tier. It is pretty arbitrary what benefits different airlines extend to their status passengers. They have to weight up a several factors ultimately to determine if that benefit will attract more profits in the long run.

Before we compare Cathay Pacific to Qantas in that regard though, they only have one port at their HQ, and Qantas has many, so it really is apples and cucumbers.

 

[raleyoz]

Yes I am looking forward to returning to gold, 1 more week ,
i suppose we all look after our High dollar customers in different ways.

 

[medhead]

surely the issue isn't ATA, but arrivals access for P1. I'm not sure of the rules for international arrivals access, not going to waste time checking either but the OP does say the P1 was transferring to SQ.

As for the ATA thing. The problem in the past seemed to be acknowledgement that it was important to some people. Pretty sure that importance has been acknowledged in this thread. (I say after paying the QF competitor who was stopped from getting a free kick