MEL Dom. lounges refurb Completed October 2018

[Dannyism]

I think this is a lesson learned from the renovations at Brisbane. That place was truely awful and overcrowded for a while.

 

[kermatu]

Let’s hope 12 months isn’t a prelude to permanent restrictions across lounges.

 

[mviy]

Let’s hope 12 months isn’t a prelude to permanent restrictions across lounges.

I doubt it.

It's likely that similar restrictions could be in place for other lounges while they are being renovated (e.g. when they renovate the SYD Domestic lounges).

 

[Simo]

I have seen these restrictions many times and once Lounge is back to full capacity the guesting rule is back as per normal QF policy

 

[cwphoto]

Well that wasn’t (totally) my intention. Standard for this forum anyway

Everyone will be affected while the construction occurs. I don’t think it is a big deal.

It's no big deal, everyone should stop their whingeing - 1st world problems FFS.

 

[Mattg]

I wonder if the restrictions would still apply on a Saturday between 3-7pm? Saturday evenings are always very quiet. (The same could be said about Sunday mornings.)

 

[kermatu]

Perhaps staff will take a pragmatic approach and let guests in when it is quiet. That said, it would probably make for even greater frustrations for pax if there were some inconsistencies - and therefore make life for the staff tougher in the long run.

 

[RichardMEL]

Agree BNE was definitely a lesson for QF. It was hot, stuffy and mega crowded up there (of course local weather has some bearing on that situation, but MEL in summer can be no picnic either).

And remember it's at Peak times.. where the current lounges are usually super crowded as it is, so will be even worse during the renovations so it's a reasonable policy in that respect as there'd be very little space.

One thing they *could* do during these peak times is push P1's to the CL (as they have done previously on huge weather delay days) and that may free some space from the J lounge.

(yeah I'm P1 but I avoid the peak flights like the plague, so this isn't a self serving comment... though if they did it I might book one )

Really QF are caught between a rock and a hard place here... they know it will be bedlam and the best way to deal with it is have some sort of policy that they are advertising to everyone in advance.. which is what they are doing.. people can't complain that they didn't know or it's an arbitary sort of decision.

I'd also think if it's quiet (like Saturday evening) they'd let everyone in. It would be silly not to IMHO.

 

[kermatu]

Agree Qantas deserves some credit for specifying the change up front.

I was in the lounges today, around midday. Going in the QP was pretty crowded, but had emptied a fair bit by the time I departed. The J lounge was blissfully quiet.

In both lounges there were displays of other company’s products. Weber barbecues in the regular lounge, and (I think) Samsung tv displays in J, including a person who presumably would give you a demo. Nobody seemed to take up the invitation and the area was deserted. Seemed a complete waste of space to me. Never seen this before in a QF lounge. A weekend thing? Only hope it is removed when the renovations happen.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

In both lounges there were displays of other company’s products. Weber barbecues in the regular lounge, and (I think) Samsung tv displays in J, including a person who presumably would give you a demo.

Ugh, really? This has been (still is?) a feature of BA LHR T5 GF, and even the Concorde Room I believe at one point.

 

[Daver6]

In both lounges there were displays of other company’s products. Weber barbecues in the regular lounge, and (I think) Samsung tv displays in J, including a person who presumably would give you a demo. Nobody seemed to take up the invitation and the area was deserted. Seemed a complete waste of space to me. Never seen this before in a QF lounge. A weekend thing? Only hope it is removed when the renovations happen.

Reminded me of seeing a Samsung display area in the BA J lounge at LHR T5. This was just after the exploding phone issue. A waste of space in a full lounge and there was zero interest from people.

 

[kermatu]

Ugh, really? This has been (still is?) a feature of BA LHR T5 GF, and even the Concorde Room I believe at one point.

Wow, would not expect such a thing in the Concorde room.

Who goes into a lounge wanting info on barbecues and TVs???

 

[Kentm1]

It's good that Qantas give the warning in advance. It highlights the fact they knew exactly when and for how long the restrictions will apply and begs the question why they accepted FULL payment recently for my and my wife's QC membership renewal . Why wouldn't they offer a discounted rate given we are not receiving full benefits for 12 months?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's good that Qantas give the warning in advance. It highlights the fact they knew exactly when and for how long the restrictions will apply and begs the question why they accepted FULL payment recently for my and my wife's QC membership renewal . Why wouldn't they offer a discounted rate given we are not receiving full benefits for 12 months?

Qantas is required to give notification under the membership agreement for matters in their control which can restrict member benefits.

If this impacts on you, you should be able to seek an appropriate refund. But that probably means stumping up for the joining fee next year.

 

[RichardMEL]

Remember though that QC Members are not impacted - as in they will still be allowed in - it's the guest right that will be impacted. Now sure, you want to bring friends in at 5pm on a Friday it's going to be unpleasant (so pretty much like it is now ) but paid QC membershiips will still be allowed access.

I could see an argument for some sort of compensation though in the case where guests are denied though, but it would be on a case by case basis.

Remember of course any QF lounge can, at any time, refuse guests rights on the basis of capacity, so they are just formalising this policy because they KNOW peak times will be bedlam in confined spaces. In that case the situation of capacity controls being in place is probably covered in the T&C somewhere.

 

[kermatu]

Big Weber barbecues displayed in the SYD J lounge couple of nights ago. Definitely cost half a dozen seats.

 

[justinbrett]

Maybe they should allow immediate family members travelling on the same booking?

 

[RooFlyer]

It's no big deal, everyone should stop their whingeing - 1st world problems FFS.

Well, thanks for that observation and instruction. You don't mind if I decline? If you look around, this is quite a common type of topic/discussion here on AFF. Those who like to participate - do. Those who don't - usually don't.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Maybe they should allow immediate family members travelling on the same booking?

It's not necessarily easy to prove someone is an immediate family member. You can't do it by surname.

 

[mattm199]

Big Weber barbecues displayed in the SYD J lounge couple of nights ago. Definitely cost half a dozen seats.

I liked the sign on the Weber saying "This is for display only". In case someone thought of making a really fancy toasted sandwich perhaps?