Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[dk4]

After a bit of thought, I have to agree with posts from those including PineappleSkip to Australian, that mid-level tier on more than one carrier/alliance would seem to be the way to go.

Previously I had tried this scenario (a year with Priority Pass), but was lured back to concentrate on QFF status, due to "anytime access" to QF's extensive domestic lounge network.

Points really don't interest me, they have been devalued by QFF to the level that I no longer hold a C.C. that earns, and even the 100% bonus isn't enough to thrill me. (I tend to end up with enough for the upgrades that I really want - domestic that I can confirm, and I really should move to travel with International carriers which sell lower cost premium fares, than gamble on QFF International upgrades.) The MEL & SYD F Lounges are nice, but in the end all I want is a quiet place away from the masses; a snack, scotch and wifi for a few minutes before a flight, I don't need a massage, meal & OTT pampering. If a better seat allocation, is only going to mean being 4 rows ahead, then big bloody deal. (I want free upgrades, exits, extra leg room and blocked middle seats.) Priority Boarding doesn't mean I take off any faster than the others also getting onboard. F International check-in is no big deal, I tried the QF OLCI check-in queue* the other month, and could see through to the other side, where the F queue was exactly the same length (i.e. one person already at the counter).

If QF wants to free up more space in their lounges by me not visiting, no problems.

If QF wants to use a stick to make me commit to flying them, when I can't see a carrot in sight, I'm not going to stand around and keep getting whacked!

Who knows what's next... F Lounge access to WPs only when they travel on Full Fare "J" Business Class tickets? (Some airlines are already there!)

 

[Danger]

Some more media - Qantas gear changes for Frequent Flyers - Airline News - etravelblackboard.com

 

[simongr]

Shame about the factual inaccuracies in the article...

Weight limits - significantly increasing for WP
Lounge access - don't need to be flying QF/JQ

Up to 7 million members affected? Maybe 60,000 WPs of which 7 or 8 use the anytime access

 

[JohnK]

Good to see you chip in John! I was wondering why you hadn't posted. I do remember your warnings of downgrading WP benefits with seat selection!

And if people read the email carefully at the end there is a warning there will be further changes. I firmly believe Qantas will be taking away more benefits in the not too distant future.

Any tips for selecting the random guests?

Someone who looks like they would appreciate spending 30 minutes or so relaxing in the lounge before a flight.

I find the extra 50% mileage very real, and its not coupled with a J booking at all, over a year that can be a significant bag of points, in my case 50K plus, as I do a lot of longhaul domestic. Note also the baggage limits, J customers who are not WP are very much constrained now.

The Platinum 100% bonus QFF points is great if you do a lot of international travel. It is useless for the most popular domestic routes such as SYD-MEL, SYD-BNE, SYD-CBR, MEL-CBR, MEL-ADL and most Qantaslink routes. It is only a marginal benefit on less popular routes such as SYD-ADL, MEL-BNE, BNE-CBR.

Up to 7 million members affected? Maybe 60,000 WPs of which 7 or 8 use the anytime access

I think you are totally underestimating the number of people who use anytime access to the lounges.

I have no doubt Qantas has made a huge mistake with the latest changes. Only time will tell just how big a mistake Qantas has really made....

 

[Alanslegal]

Who knows what's next... F Lounge access to WPs only when they travel on Full Fare "J" Business Class tickets? (Some airlines are already there!)

Or even FLounge access only when flying F!

And then WPs who only fly domestic will say "fantastic enhancement, it was costing too much $$$ to operate those fancy lounges and I've never needed it as I fly domestic"

 

[markis10]

The Platinum 100% bonus QFF points is great if you do a lot of international travel. It is useless for the most popular domestic routes such as SYD-MEL, SYD-BNE, SYD-CBR, MEL-CBR, MEL-ADL and most Qantaslink routes. It is only a marginal benefit on less popular routes such as SYD-ADL, MEL-BNE, BNE-CBR.
.

Horses for courses, like I said I do a lot of long haul domestic travel, anything over two hours gets the bonus, a BNE-MEL is a not so marginal 400 pts one way - thats like spending $430 at woolies .

 

[samh004]

Someone who looks like they would appreciate spending 30 minutes or so relaxing in the lounge before a flight.

If you want to stick it to them, surely you should find a guy at a bar and offer him free drinks in the lounge, he’ll drink them under faster than the guy that relaxes

Who knows what's next... F Lounge access to WPs only when they travel on Full Fare "J" Business Class tickets? (Some airlines are already there!)

Haha. I think if such a decision was made they’d haemorrhage elites so fast they’d immediately change it back.

And anyway, they probably have a fair number of OWE’s that aren’t with QF in there most days that are sucking up the money.

 

[Red Roo]

Hi Everyone,

I’m from Qantas Marketing and wanted to make a few points in regards to the latest changes to Qantas Frequent Flyer and specifically for our Platinum Frequent Flyers.

It’s probably not too much of a surprise for you that we often monitor the frequent flyer forums and in the light of the changes we announced this week, we’d like to clarify a few points here on AFF.

Firstly I’d like to thank you all for your honest and candid feedback. The collective knowledge here on loyalty programs here is arguably worth at least a few PhDs You might be interested to know that online feedback is also provided in regular updates to senior management at Qantas.

On balance, we’ve received good feedback on the changes overall, however it’s fair to say that there has been some vigorous discussion on the change in Platinum lounge access policy. The challenge we face is striking a balance between offering reasonable lounge access, whilst not overcrowding the lounges.

One issue we see is when Members use Qantas lounge facilities and then fly with competitors on the same day. This increases crowding for Members who are flying with us on the day and also gives our competitors a free kick. As you know, anytime lounge access is a particularly unique feature within our program.

However, we have taken your feedback onboard and are happy to make adjustments to this policy and we’re also pleased to let you know about it first!

From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum Members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows on a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply. See Qantas Club Terms and Conditions.
​

In doing so, Platinum Frequent Flyers will continue to be welcome to use our lounges to freshen up or whilst waiting for colleagues or friends arriving on other flights. We have also specifically noted Jetstar Asia (3K) and Valuair (VF) as included carriers in the definition.

We believe this is a good outcome for our Platinum Frequent Flyers. I understand that this may not fully satisfy all, however we feel this is fair and reasonable overall. Qantas.com will be updated later today with the revised policy.

Thanks for flying with us.

Red Roo.

 

[serfty]

Hi Everyone,

I’m from Qantas Marketing and wanted to make a few points in regards to the latest changes to Qantas Frequent Flyer and specifically for our Platinum Frequent Flyers. ...

Welcome to AFF Red Roo.

It is good to have input from someone from the organisation.

I appreciate that use of the lounges by members when travelling with competitors would be aproblem and do understand your efforts to restrict this.

Thank you for those variations to the changes (tautology ?). Does "Same Day" relate to scheduled departure date or does it include those flights arriving in the early hours of the morning that departed one or two days earlier(e.g. QF10 into Melbourne arriving the day after it departs Singapore or QF94 which arrives into Melbourne "2 Days" after deparating Los Angeles)


[Moderator Note]
As a moderator of this forum, I have checked the IP address of the previous post and it is indeed registered to Qantas Airways.
[/Moderator Note]

 

[docjames]

Welcome Red Roo, and thanks for the update.

I'm sure you'll not please everyone but it seems a reasonable compromise between lounge usage vs genuine benefit for your most frequent travellers.

I might also add that some WPs are "forced" to use JQ/3K/VF where QF flights no longer run, and are showing loyalty to QF. A big potential asset to me (I'm only Gold, but one day!) is arrivals usage so cheers for seeing sense and reinstating arrivals access for your WPs.

 

[oz_mark]

From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum Members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows on a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply. See Qantas Club Terms and Conditions.

Seems like a reasonable adjustment to me.

I hope the 3K/VF access can be extended to others who may be flying on those airlines. The Plaza Premium lounges are not quite the same

 

[Danger]

Red Roo, I will add my warm welcome.

While I am still very disappointed with the change to anytime access I am nonetheless very cognisant of the fact that Qantas appears to have listened to feedback and has offered a compromise. As I said, I'm still disappointed, but I am grateful for the middleground.

 

[oz_mark]

Looks like the Qantas web site has already been updated

Access to The Qantas Club lounges

+ From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi Everyone,

I’m from Qantas Marketing and wanted to make a few points in regards to the latest changes to Qantas Frequent Flyer and specifically for our Platinum Frequent Flyers.

It’s probably not too much of a surprise for you that we often monitor the frequent flyer forums and in the light of the changes we announced this week, we’d like to clarify a few points here on AFF.

Firstly I’d like to thank you all for your honest and candid feedback. The collective knowledge here on loyalty programs here is arguably worth at least a few PhDs You might be interested to know that online feedback is also provided in regular updates to senior management at Qantas.

On balance, we’ve received good feedback on the changes overall, however it’s fair to say that there has been some vigorous discussion on the change in Platinum lounge access policy. The challenge we face is striking a balance between offering reasonable lounge access, whilst not overcrowding the lounges.

One issue we see is when Members use Qantas lounge facilities and then fly with competitors on the same day. This increases crowding for Members who are flying with us on the day and also gives our competitors a free kick. As you know, anytime lounge access is a particularly unique feature within our program.

However, we have taken your feedback onboard and are happy to make adjustments to this policy and we’re also pleased to let you know about it first!

From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum Members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows on a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply. See Qantas Club Terms and Conditions.
​

In doing so, Platinum Frequent Flyers will continue to be welcome to use our lounges to freshen up or whilst waiting for colleagues or friends arriving on other flights. We have also specifically noted Jetstar Asia (3K) and Valuair (VF) as included carriers in the definition.

We believe this is a good outcome for our Platinum Frequent Flyers. I understand that this may not fully satisfy all, however we feel this is fair and reasonable overall. Qantas.com will be updated later today with the revised policy.

Thanks for flying with us.

Red Roo.

Great news, and thankyou for posting

 

[djfuzz]

Good on you Red Roo.

Not the perfect outcome for us, but certainly a reasonable course to take if overcrowding is a genuine issue. Great to see that some of the feedback gets through.

If the trade off for this is improved food and amenities in the J lounges / QPs, then that starts to look almost like a fair trade (or 'enhancement', if you will) .

 

[Voyages]

From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum Members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows on a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply. See Qantas Club Terms and Conditions.

In doing so, Platinum Frequent Flyers will continue to be welcome to use our lounges to freshen up or whilst waiting for colleagues or friends arriving on other flights. We have also specifically noted Jetstar Asia (3K) and Valuair (VF) as included carriers in the definition.

A reasonable compromise. I have been wondering about lounge access when travelling on 3K and VF flights.

And welcome to AFF, Red Roo.

 

[serfty]

+ From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply. See Qantas Club Terms and Conditions.

I Guess "travelling the same day" can easily mean departing OR arriving that day.

Still, it's somewhat ambiguous.

 

[samh004]

Very cool, it’s nice to know concerns have been noted and for some time probably. Though the wording is a bit ambiguous, I hope it does mean the lounge can be used as an arrivals lounge per se.

 

[TonyHancock]

A reasonable compromise for me. Thanks for listening.

 

[Leumas]

Hi Everyone,

From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum Members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows on a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply. See Qantas Club Terms and Conditions.
​

Welcome Red Roo, and thank you for finally making an appearance.

From what I read from the above, this means the member must be travelling that day, this means:

- The member can enter the lounge if (s)he is about the travel that day (on a flight with the right flight number)
- The member can enter the lounge if (s)he HAS ALREADY travelled that day (on a flight with the right flight number)
- The member cannot enter the lounge if (s)he is not travelling that day.

That means the member cannot, for example, go to the airport and see someone off, etc., and use the lounge.

Therefore, the only change (I'm assuming this is official) is that the member can go to the lounge AFTER the flight.

Thank you for acknowledging and changing the conditions based on feedback. Personally, I still don't feel any-time access adds that much stress to the system. I'm sure QF have numbers that justify their change of policy in the first place.