New Domestic Biz Lounges

[Chucksta]

Does anyone know when the new QF dom biz lounges are due to open?

QF news release says they are for domestic biz class pax and top tier QFF members (i'm guessing WP?).

I finally might be able to use a PC workstation!

It's funny that biz class pax were not even allowed to access the domestic QC a year ago! You had to be QC member!..:shock:

 

[justinbrett]

Does anyone know when the new QF dom biz lounges are due to open?

QF news release says they are for domestic biz class pax and top tier QFF members (i'm guessing WP?).

I finally might be able to use a PC workstation!

It's funny that biz class pax were not even allowed to access the domestic QC a year ago! You had to be QC member!..:shock:

I'm not sure how they are going to approach this, but if they go by the oneworld model - it wll be both gold and platinum.

I guess it depends on how elite they want to make it.

QF said it was mid 2008 for SYD/BNE/MEL.

 

[Gazza]

Hopefully its just Plats (or a new higher teir yet to be introduced) and people on paid J.

Otherwise its just going to be as crowded as the QP now.

Gaz

 

[Shano]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was just J pax and WP's.

Would probably depend on ratio of WP:SGAID QP however I suspect that there would be too many SG's for them to gain access to the new BIZ lounges.

 

[d15.in.oz]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was just J pax and WP's...

I wonder how that would effect the OneWorld ethos... that where Business class passengers go on the ground, so to do Sapphires flying Y... maybe "domestic business" needs a name upgrade to "domestic first"? LOL

 

[NM]

Hopefully its just Plats (or a new higher teir yet to be introduced) and people on paid J.

Why paid J? Why not award J and upgrades? There is nothing printed on a QF domestic boarding pass that distinguishes paid J from awards and upgrades.

And what about OneWorld Emerald?

 

[NM]

I wonder how that would effect the OneWorld ethos... that where Business class passengers go on the ground, so to do Sapphires flying Y... maybe "domestic business" needs a name upgrade to "domestic first"? LOL

I supose they could limit to QF Platinum in the same way as AA does not permit AA Exec Platinum or Platinum AAdvantage members access to their domestic lounges. But they may find it difficult to restrict non-QF OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald members from having access.

However, I doubt the number of non-QF OneWorld Sapphire members flying on QF domestic flights is going to make a huge difference to the number of people in lounges - even with the candy thieves.

 

[d15.in.oz]

However, I doubt the number of non-QF OneWorld Sapphire members flying on QF domestic flights is going to make a huge difference to the number of people in lounges - even with the candy thieves.

I think Candy Theft* would increase massively in your scenario! LOL But I don't think you would like something along the lines of WP & J access to CL, excluding AA EXPs!

*People choosing AAdvantage (instead of Qantas FF), and using a “challenge” to gain high status quickly/easily.

Two other things with renaming, aside from "any" prestige –

• a reduction in the obviously problem of passengers from Ruby/Silver and up - being allowed QF domestic business class check-in access (i.e. Ruby/Sapphire/Qantas Club in one queue, WP/CL/First in the other.) At ADL check-in the other day, I noticed someone had repositioned the “Business Class” sign to point to the Qantas Club queue. Of course what remained was a roped off queue lane (obviously for business class) with no sign AND no people in it… guess which I decided to use. LOL
• Better earn, worse burn from QFF (and OOthers!)

 

[Shano]

Just received the QF newsletter which states:

New dedicated domestic Business Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be introduced for customers travelling in Business class as well as Platinum and oneworld™ Emerald Frequent Flyers, by mid 2008.

This is also posted on the QF website here

 

[NM]

I think Candy Theft* would increase massively in your scenario! LOL But I don't think you would like something along the lines of WP & J access to CL, excluding AA EXPs!

QF could do that similar to how BA use the Concorde Room for F passengers while maintaining a F Lounge for OneWorld Emerald passengers. But at least the BA F lounge has decent scotch on offer to those not qualifying for the Concorde Room.

And with the new rules for the Lack Of Challenge, its not as available as it once was.

*People choosing AAdvantage (instead of Qantas FF), and using a “challenge” to gain high status quickly/easily.

But requalification is not so easy. Even though I attained AA Plat status on a single flight (MEL-LHR), I continue to use my QF Platinum status for lounge access. And have qualified two years in a row for AA Platinum through attaining the required 50,000 points. So the only real benefit in the challenge for me was earning the 100% bonus miles for flights prior to reaching the 50K points in my first year, and that was for less than 2 weeks before I qualified by reaching the 50K points for status without the challenge. And of course now I take aadvantage of the better earn/burn rates .

So if they rule that QF Gold and other OneWorld Sapphire members continue to use the existing lounge then I will not be concerned. It works for me now, so why would it not work for me then? And its been a long time since I was not in J on a QF domestic flight.

 

[d15.in.oz]

...at least the BA F lounge has decent scotch on offer ...

...perhaps the new QF lounges could be called "Blue Rooms".

 

[NM]

Confirmation via email that QF plan these new lounges to be for Business Class passengers, as well as Platinum and OneWorld Emerald FFs.

 

[simongr]

It may be easy getting to plat but it isn't easy being green This is very intriguing for me - I had to read it a couple of times to really understand what it was - so basically QF have gone from giving nothing to J domestic pax to giving them their own lounge - I like this a lot Mind you I do only have about 4 domestic flights a year

 

[NM]

It may be easy getting to plat but it isn't easy being green This is very intriguing for me - I had to read it a couple of times to really understand what it was - so basically QF have gone from giving nothing to J domestic pax to giving them their own lounge - I like this a lot Mind you I do only have about 4 domestic flights a year

Only 4? I would have expected you to have 4 domestic flights per DONE4.

 

[chooms]

They are also re-doing the interiors and changing colours of the J seats as well:

Qantas also today revealed a new look interior for its fleet of B767-300, B737-800 and B737-400 aircraft operating domestic services in Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Borghetti said a fresh colour scheme had been selected for the domestic fleet - grey and blue for Business and deep purple for Economy - along with new seat fabrics, curtains and carpets, all specially designed for Qantas by Marc Newson.
"Qantas has been working with Marc since he created the award-winning international Skybed sleeper seat in 2003 but this is the first time we have introduced any of his designs to our domestic fleet."
"Marc has created a contemporary look in keeping with Qantas' position as Australia's premium full-service airline.
"New pillows, blankets, headrest covers, and tableware in all cabins will complement the interiors, with extra cushioning in Business seats ensuring the most comfortable flight of any domestic carrier in the world."

Mr Borghetti said the first of the refitted Qantas' B767 aircraft was already in the air with the remainder of the fleet to be completed by April 2008 and Qantas' B737 aircraft to be completed by June 2008.

 

[pauly7]

...perhaps the new QF lounges could be called "Blue Rooms".

I think these lounges will have more than 2 ppl in them

I think its a great idea, QF are absolutely rolling out all the improvements now... long time coming IMHO but completely welcome!!

 

[NM]

...perhaps the new QF lounges could be called "Blue Rooms".

Of how about "Roo Roms"

 

[Yada Yada]

Just reading some of the blurb put out by QF today...

New dedicated domestic Business Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be introduced for customers travelling in Business class as well as Platinum and oneworld™ Emerald Frequent Flyers, by mid 2008.

These lounges will be unmatched in the domestic market offering spacious layouts, more private seating arrangements, hot meals and enhanced business services including wireless internet.

Qantas is proud to introduce a new domestic lounge experience. Qantas Business lounges will offer Business, Platinum and oneworld Emerald guests a new sanctuary in which to work, socialise and relax prior to flight. In addition to, and complementing, our Qantas Club facilities, the Business lounges will feature shower amenities, quiet work suites, social facilities and a signature food offering. The lounges open in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane domestic terminals May 2008.

Other inflight and ground enhancements include:
• New purpose built conference facilities for business travellers at Melbourne and Sydney (T3) domestic terminals.
• Planned upgrades to existing Qantas Clubs.

Did the you see the word "enhancements" above? :shock: As an SG, I am wondering if this means that the existing lounges will reduce in size (to make way for the new "spacious" biz lounges), which may mean a loss of certain QP facilities such as showers, etc?

Not looking good for us scum golds. Perhaps I should stop accruing QF status credits now, let my SG lapse, and ensure that I have top level status on Virgin Blue.

 

[NM]

Did the you see the word "enhancements" above? :shock: As an SG, I am wondering if this means that the existing lounges will reduce in size (to make way for the new "spacious" biz lounges), which may mean a loss of certain QP facilities such as showers, etc?

Not looking good for us scum golds. Perhaps I should stop accruing QF status credits now, let my SG lapse, and ensure that I have top level status on Virgin Blue.

I noted the specific mention of hot food. So wondering if the pleb lounge will lose the food now? I thinks its always god to attain top tier status in one program if you can.

 

[d15.in.oz]

Did the you see the word "enhancements" above? :shock: As an SG, I am wondering if this means that the existing lounges will reduce in size (to make way for the new "spacious" biz lounges...

There is a "spot" i like to sit in at T3 SYD QP (that is nearly always available)... anyway it is near the "other" escalators to the terminal... and with both being "going down" escalators, I have always found it strange to have an unoccupied "welcome" desk at the apex of descent?