Is Qantas Club too popular?

[martynriddle]

Has anyone else noticed just how crowded the domestic Qantas Clubs are in Sydney and Melbourne, despite (or should that read because of..??!!) the extensions? It seems as though just about the whole world and its wife are members these days and as a result, trying to get a seat and bit of piece and quiet before flying is a thing of the past.

A couple of weeks ago, I got stuck in Melbourne for a couple of hours due to weather delays and the place was chaos! In the end, I went to the departure gate where I was able to get a comfortable seat and a bit of peace!

And am I the only person not to be a fan of the refurnished international Qantas lounges? Last week I was lucky enough to fly Cathay. Their lounge at HK is just beautiful. Peaceful, spacious, relaxing. I remember those days.......

 

[Rune]

I agree the domestic QC's in MEL/BNE are very crowded during peak periods and not worth entering. I usually prefer to find a quiet place to have a coffee outside, as it is usually far quieter. With the closure of Ansett, it seems almost everyone is a QC member, or knows someone who can let them in.

I like the new domestic QC in SYD, nice food and much more spacious than before...haven't seen it during peak times though. The international lounges are nice too, particularly First. Much quieter in there...

Given the cheap corporate rates for QC membership, and QF's domestic dominance, I'm not sure there is any light at the end of the tunnel. It'd be nice to have a less congested area set aside for high status flyers (ie Platinum), but unlike Ansett, QF does not recognise high status as valid excuse for entry to its Chairman's Lounges.

If you travel a lot, you need to seek out rich and powerful friends and get them to "introduce" you to the Chairman's Lounge
I wonder if CL members are also complaining of too many "wannabe CEO's" congesting their lounges?? :wink:


-Jamie.

 

[QF WP]

Qantas Club crowded...absolutely

Martyn & Jamie, absolutely they have become crowded, but imagine if the renovations and extensions hadn't been done what it would have been like? Qantas were watching the number of members joining post Ansett and realised to keep up with the growth, they had to renovate and expand. Brisbane has just been finished. Adelaide hasn't changed yet, and I'll see what Perth's is like on Wednesday next week.

I agree - Melbourne and Sydney renovations have my thumbs up Check out the 15 foot TV screen and wide bar-style in the West side in Sydney. Also, more self service areas for drinks have reduced staff input.

Agree that it would be nice to have separate areas - I think about Singapore's BA/QF First Class Lounge which is only for Platinum/Emerald FF's or First Class passengers.

Cathay's Hong Kong lounges ceratainly beats all the others (other than Singapore Airlines, haven't been in there).

 

[dajop]

Travel off peak! Problems are nowhere near as bad. Seriously though, there is only one airport where I consistently have difficulties finding a seat and/or getting peace and quiet - Hobart! I go there have a couple of quick drinks, and then head back out the cafe in the airport. The lounge doesn't even hold half of a 717, so get two flights waiting and it is chaos.

The biggest problem that I find with th extra crowds, particularly in Sydney & Melbourne lounges is the arrogance and downright rudeness of some fellow passengers. Queue jumping, pigging out on the limited amount of hot food when it becomes available and an "I'm more important than you" attitude of some people really gets on my nerve - the plebs outside in the airport are much more pleasant to be around.

 

[shillard]

Has anyone else noticed just how crowded the domestic Qantas Clubs are in Sydney and Melbourne, despite (or should that read because of..??!!) the extensions? It seems as though just about the whole world and its wife are members these days and as a result, trying to get a seat and bit of piece and quiet before flying is a thing of the past.

That's the price you pay for travelling at peak times. It's no different to the crowding aboard the aircraft - travel off-peak and you are much more likely to get 2-3 seats to yourself, even in J. I think QF deserves the thumbs-up for extending the QF clubs in SYD, MEL & BNE, and opening the club facilities in T2. The T2 renovation, adding a proper business centre, will be most welcome next year.

If you find the general lounge areas too crowded, grab a beer and head to the business centre. If I'm travelling alone I always set up there anyway, much quieter than the general lounge area, and you can always walk out there get a drink or some food anyway.

 

[icemann]

Corporate versus Personal

It depends whether or not you're using the 'popularity' poll to mean corporate users or leisure users.

Look at it like this - leisure use only + few business trips (as I have), you'll have to fork out $600 for a joining fee and one year, then $300 for each year after that (on a year to year membership). So, if you're considering people who travel only on leisure, there's not a lot of people who do what I've done, which is to join the airline lounge scheme because it makes it easier at check in - many people would still prefer to waive $300 a year to stand in the queues at check in. Hence, you won't get those people in the QC lounges.

Corporate guys can get reduced rates, so naturally, the price is lower for them and more people will use their 'paid for by the firm' membership for their leisure trips too ; hence, you're more likely to get corporate people on business or leisure, and those with the money to do what I've done (paid for individual membership) in the QC lounge.

But I agree - ADL QC lounge was very peaceful on a night flight to HKG for me last June. SYD QC lounge was busier, and not as good, there were people watching the rugby final and making a lot of racket. HKG QC lounge was great, very peaceful.

 

[thadocta]

Been thinkning seriously about this one, and I think it is probably about time they expanded the number of lounges at some airports. MEL springs to mind.

As you all probably know, they have one lounge perched high and mighty over the main concourse, but it is so far away from all of the gates that you need to leave a couple of hours before the flight boards just to get there before they close it (alright, a *slight* exaggeration, but you get my drift).

Perhaps a lounge around near gate 21 servicing that pier, and bringing the old flight deck lounge near gate 1 back into play for flights leaving from THAT pier would be helpful.

Of course, it would be a PITA for two people travelling on different flights leaving from different piers to have a drink together prior to departure, but who knows (or cares, for that matter).

As for SYD, not sure what they can do there. T3 lounge is plenty big enough, and with the opening of the new Western entrance, is reasonably accessible to all gates. T2 needs a bit of a revamp though, but still, it is close enough to all QF gates.

BNE, have not been in there for about 6 months, so can't say what should happen there.

ALl of my other regular lounges - CBR, ADL and OOL - are all slated for upgrades in the immediate future.

Now, about that lounge at NTL......

Dave

 

[shillard]

Now, about that lounge at NTL......

Dave

I've got a meeting scheduled with the General Manager of NTL, after I questioned his performance in an email just before Christmas. I'll mention the need for a lounge upgrade (show me the grog!) when I shout him a beer after he returns from holidays.

Remind me to forward you the email.

 

[thadocta]

Remind me to forward you the email.

Forward me the email.

(Does that count?)

Dave

 

[QF WP]

BNE, have not been in there for about 6 months, so can't say what should happen there.

Brisbane is now similar to SYD or MEL, walk in and turn left (to the bar), beyond which they have extended significantly, similar to new layout in West SYD. No new whopper plasma TV though :?

They have also extended the Business area. Didn't count the number of sections, etc but certainly about double what it used to be (which was 16, but of those only 2 desktop computers).

 

[shillard]

They have also extended the Business area. Didn't count the number of sections, etc but certainly about double what it used to be (which was 16, but of those only 2 desktop computers).

I thought it was 4 desktops? I used to hijack the printers when I needed to churn out some documents whilst running meetings at the lounge in BNE.

 

[QF WP]

You're right...I must have only dreaming....it always seemed like two when you wanted to get on one!! :?

I haven't been into the Business Centre since the re-opening, have never been there with enough time.

 

[shillard]

You're right...I must have only dreaming....it always seemed like two when you wanted to get on one!! :?

I haven't been into the Business Centre since the re-opening, have never been there with enough time.

Still only 4 terminals, but loads more workstations. Sat there for 4 hours waiting for my wife to arrive for the weekend, her inbound from NTL was delayed. Still, got some flyertalk done and some serious gunsurfing underway.

The new passionfruit biscuits are the gear.

 

[QF WP]

Sorry, was just in FT lloking at the threads there when my email twanged.

How was the weekend? Find any decent BNE restaurants?

Off to MEL tomorrow (Tues) PM for a week, so will have 2 opportunities to see the new Business Lounge (if I get there early enough). Thanks for the tips on the bikkies...

 

[icemann]

What would people consider are the peak hours for the QC, both international and domestic ? If you're looking for peace and quiet, that would be between which hours ?

If we make an assumption - (this may or may not be correct), but if we assume the biggest users are those flying on company business, then these times would surely be in-line with when they're flying.

I could guess that 6-9am domestic is hectic (because of the morning business flights), what about 6-9pm (e.g. fly back somewhere after a day's interstate business meeting ?) ? I mostly fly on leisure and some business, so I'm not travelling all the time as part of my job.

Does anyone know of a QC staff member who could shed some light on this (are there any in this forum ?) , or a staff member of any airline lounge club ; even the cleaners or the bar staff would be able to tell you when the busy times are. It would be interesting to know when these times are.

If there's a peak time that the lounges are busy (and this seems a silly point) - why not fly slightly outside those times if people are after a 'peaceful' time instead of sharing it with a hundred other people and complaining it's too noisy / crowded ? :?

BTW, some people have also remarked that at different times of the day, the standard of the food in some lounges changes, and some people will fly at particular times with particular airlines so that they can enjoy the food in some lounges ; e.g. Thai Airways used to have a good breakfast in HK, but in the afternoon, you were better going with another lounge.

 

[thadocta]

Now, about that lounge at NTL......

Dave

I've got a meeting scheduled with the General Manager of NTL, after I questioned his performance in an email just before Christmas. I'll mention the need for a lounge upgrade (show me the grog!) when I shout him a beer after he returns from holidays.

Remind me to forward you the email.

Still waiting Scott.

Dave

 

[thadocta]

icemann - I think it is all relative as far as "peace and quiet" goes. Some times of the day may be relatively hectic in the QC lounges, but compared to what is happening on the main concourse, they are still a haven of peace and tranquility, and well worth popping in to.

Dave

 

[icemann]

icemann - I think it is all relative as far as "peace and quiet" goes. Some times of the day may be relatively hectic in the QC lounges, but compared to what is happening on the main concourse, they are still a haven of peace and tranquility, and well worth popping in to.

Dave

I fully agree.

 

[Rick93]

Qantas Clubs in NZ

I was recently in all capital cities in NZ....

Most of the time, my family group were the ONLY patrons in the Club! There was a 'flurry' of activity outside, and yet there were no other Club users inside!

For once, I felt quite privileged to be there!

 

[shillard]

Re: Qantas Clubs in NZ

I was recently in all capital cities in NZ....
Most of the time, my family group were the ONLY patrons in the Club! There was a 'flurry' of activity outside, and yet there were no other Club users inside!
For once, I felt quite privileged to be there!

You'll find that consistently in NZ, I've never seen any of the clubs there more than 50% full, except the international J lounges at AKL and WEL. The F lounge at AKL is one of the best little units around, great business centre and outstanding biscuit selection.

The lounge you get access to at Hamilton Island is also outstanding, but can fill up quite a lot in peak times.