Int. Lounge Acess Changes from Nov. 1 2016

[Princess Fiona]

PF by 'Fast Track' security do you mean the alleged 'Express' security where they send you left as you enter Inter Dep but then end up in what is usually the busiest security line?

By 'Fast Track SmartGates' do you mean there are zero designated Smart Gates for Prem Cabin pax? I have never waited longer than like a minute to access Smart Gates at MEL in dozens of deps.

Yes that's what I mean.
15 minute wait to get through smartgates for my QF9 last month. Every man/ woman and his dog in the same queue.
Was much quicker on every other departure when they had the Fast Track/Crew lane on the R hand side open.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

OK - the express security lane is a disgrace - solely the fault of the intellectually challenged Border Force staff who just do not have a clue. I have never seen queues at Smart Gates - when I went through on Oct 14 they still had the 2 far right channels manned - I thought one at least stayed open full time but I might be wrong.

 

[anat0l]

It will be a very poor experience indeed for VA's international status and premium cabin pax.

Except it only affects the VA pax who are flying to NAN.

If you are on a Tasman flight with VA, you get to use the NZ lounge, which is airside.

So the only people "negatively" affected are the Business Class and premium status pax in a 737-800, departing four times a week just after the morning rush. If you care about their experience enough that the arrangement is unsatisfactory, well.... at least you care more about them than VA appear to do so.

Now VA should probably rethink using its domestic lounge for international passengers when or if:

• MEL-LAX comes back online
• MEL-NAN is upgauged or increases in frequency
• More ex-MEL destinations for VA come online, e.g. MEL-DPS or MEL-Asia

 

[Princess Fiona]

Except it only affects the VA pax who are flying to NAN.

If you are on a Tasman flight with VA, you get to use the NZ lounge, which is airside.

So the only people "negatively" affected are the Business Class and premium status pax in a 737-800, departing four times a week just after the morning rush. If you care about their experience enough that the arrangement is unsatisfactory, well.... at least you care more about them than VA appear to do so.

Now VA should probably rethink using its domestic lounge for international passengers when or if:

• MEL-LAX comes back online
• MEL-NAN is upgauged or increases in frequency
• More ex-MEL destinations for VA come online, e.g. MEL-DPS or MEL-Asia

I'm aware of who it affects. VA should re-think it now. It's a total joke even for NAN pax.

 

[Princess Fiona]

OK - the express security lane is a disgrace - solely the fault of the intellectually challenged Border Force staff who just do not have a clue. I have never seen queues at Smart Gates - when I went through on Oct 14 they still had the 2 far right channels manned - I thought one at least stayed open full time but I might be wrong.

They definitely weren't operating when I left. Even the cabin crew and pilots were in the same line up as everyone else. Might have been a one-off ??

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I'm aware of who it affects. VA should re-think it now. It's a total joke even for NAN pax.

It is nothing short of lunacy - how could any carrier think that this concept is acceptable.

They definitely weren't operating when I left. Even the cabin crew and pilots were in the same line up as everyone else. Might have been a one-off ??

TBH it may not be a one off - I don't really know either - when dep now I just veer far left and most times walk straight to Smart Gate with nobody in front me - I have noticed far right Channel being manned on numerous occasions because I always have a giggle cause that channel could never read my passport and I always need to go to desk at rear - 2nd and 3rd channels could read my passport - go figure.

 

[Spook]

This really stinks.

I have spent about $6k on pending family travel only to find out that not only is there no more free booze on the plane but it looks like I cant take the family with me into the lounge?

WTF are they doing?

I recently flew Jetstar to bali and I can tell you the flight was 1000% times more comfortable than Virgin POS planes - I paid for baggage and spent about $50 on food and drinks on the plane and the cost was still less than virgin but stupid me rebooks Virgin for the christmas trip so we can use the Air NZ lounge in Sydney.

Wont be doing that again.

What are the chances of me getting some compensation from Virgin for this?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I recently flew Jetstar to bali and I can tell you the flight was 1000% times more comfortable than Virgin POS planes - I paid for baggage and spent about $50 on food and drinks on the plane and the cost was still less than virgin

Don't spread that news around. Most won't believe you and we don't want those that do, pinching our seats!

What are the chances of me getting some compensation from Virgin for this?

1) buckly's; and
2) none

 

[anat0l]

What are the chances of me getting some compensation from Virgin for this?

What kind of compensation would you be expecting, and for what?

Nothing against you, I'm just confused.

 

[Spook]

What kind of compensation would you be expecting, and for what?

Nothing against you, I'm just confused.

Maybe SQ lounge passes to compensate for the removal of children's access to the lounge?

 

[serfty]

Yes that's what I mean.
15 minute wait to get through smartgates for my QF9 last month. Every man/ woman and his dog in the same queue.
Was much quicker on every other departure when they had the Fast Track/Crew lane on the R hand side open.

OK - the express security lane is a disgrace - solely the fault of the intellectually challenged Border Force staff who just do not have a clue. I have never seen queues at Smart Gates - when I went through on Oct 14 they still had the 2 far right channels manned - I thought one at least stayed open full time but I might be wrong.

No problem whatsoever on Sunday night for QF9 ~ 8:15pm

Even though I had an express pass, I put it away and went though the e-gates - using a vacant lane.

I did not have to wait at all.

FWIW, after last time I had decided to be like Ryan Bingham's and 'profile' ... but no need.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Maybe SQ lounge passes to compensate for the removal of children's access to the lounge?

Can you please elaborate on 'removal of children's access to the lounge'?

 

[CJEMNMAC]

This really stinks.

I have spent about $6k on pending family travel only to find out that not only is there no more free booze on the plane but it looks like I cant take the family with me into the lounge?

WTF are they doing?

I recently flew Jetstar to bali and I can tell you the flight was 1000% times more comfortable than Virgin POS planes - I paid for baggage and spent about $50 on food and drinks on the plane and the cost was still less than virgin but stupid me rebooks Virgin for the christmas trip so we can use the Air NZ lounge in Sydney.

Wont be doing that again.

What are the chances of me getting some compensation from Virgin for this?

Maybe a little more info can assist here....

Why can't you take your children into the lounge ?

Do you have Gold or Plat Status with VA ?

Are you traveling in J or Y ? and where are you travelling to ?

 

[Spook]

I'm flying Virgin economy to Denpasar with my wife and 3 kids under 12.

I am VA gold and the rest of the family have no status.

The Air NZ lounge policy is that kids under 12 can access the lounge with an eligible parent without impacting on the guest allowance.

The SQ lounge policy is kids are treated no differently than any other guests so if I take my wife in as the guest the kids can not join us in the lounge .

 

[Princess Fiona]

Maybe a little more info can assist here....

Why can't you take your children into the lounge ?

Do you have Gold or Plat Status with VA ?

Are you traveling in J or Y ? and where are you travelling to ?

A* policy is one guest with children over the age of two counting as a guest. The NZ Lounge policy was much more generous for VA Plats as they permitted kids under twelve in addition to the guest entitlement.

It's possible that the SQ staff will use discretion with young children

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The SQ lounge policy is kids are treated no differently than any other guests so if I take my wife in as the guest the kids can not join us in the lounge .

There was recently another thread where OP asked question re lounge access for children into SQ Gold lounge in SIN - I sought out SKL Mgmt in SIN to clarify - the response was that SQ will never refuse entry to children of eligible pax if said children are too young to look after themselves in terminal general. If I was you I would just front up with the kids and would be very confident you would be treated favourably. In fact I would suggest that is a way better bet than any chaff burner going around at headquarters today!

 

[CJEMNMAC]

A* policy is one guest with children over the age of two counting as a guest. The NZ Lounge policy was much more generous for VA Plats as they permitted kids under twelve in addition to the guest entitlement.

It's possible that the SQ staff will use discretion with young children

Yes understand re star alliance policy.. I guessed this is where the comments over access were coming from..

Another case of the T&C's saying one thing and flyers relying on the discretion of lounge staff...

 

[Princess Fiona]

There was recently another thread where OP asked question re lounge access for children into SQ Gold lounge in SIN - I sought out SKL Mgmt in SIN to clarify - the response was that SQ will never refuse entry to children of eligible pax if said children are too young to look after themselves in terminal general. If I was you I would just front up with the kids and would be very confident you would be treated favourably. In fact I would suggest that is a way better bet than any chaff burner going around at headquarters today!

Yes understand re star alliance policy.. I guessed this is where the comments over access were coming from..

Another case of the T&C's saying one thing and flyers relying on the discretion of lounge staff...

I had a friend ask this question (kids plus adult guest) to the SQ lounge staff in BNE yesterday and they advised that kids do count as guests.
It will end up being a YMMV thing and those with older primary school aged kids/ flying Y etc will lose out when they previously had lounge access with NZ.

 

[Quickstatus]

Ok so what is the collective suggestion for MEL security gates?

 

[anat0l]

Maybe SQ lounge passes to compensate for the removal of children's access to the lounge?

I didn't know SQ changed their policy on this recently. From what I could guess, with SQ, children always counted as guests (except if they were 2 years or under), though several were able to get in anyway without issue (whether or not it was in the rules).

the response was that SQ will never refuse entry to children of eligible pax if said children are too young to look after themselves in terminal general.

One way that could backfire is that then the lounge will insist that one parent then cannot access the lounge whilst the other can bring themselves and up to their entitlement with children. Then, that avoids the children being left in the terminal alone.

It would be more understandable if both parents have access by themselves, i.e. then the extra child who may be over the guesting limits of both parents can be let in.

In any case, those are two somewhat obtuse cases and I'd say your approach is worth a try.