Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[trippin_the_rift]

I am absolutely gobsmacked by the comment "Loyalty, btw QF, is a 2 way street". This is exactly what Qantas is now saying - if you are going to sleep with the opposition then don't come around for dinner at my place before/afterwards because that is plain insulting.

This is not entirely correct...

Based on thousands of studies costing billions of dollars conducted worldwide over the past decade on internet companies, mobile companies and banks - we know that loyalty is based on your future commitment and very little weighted on past spend.

To gain future commitment, business needs to invest in their customers the same way customers invest in the business through choice of spend.

Consider this... you've been buying BMWs all your life (loyal customer), then one day you buy an AUDI, simply because BMW does not have a product at the right price and time you need. Chances are your next car will be a BMW.... but if BMW were to stop inviting you to track days, free overnight drives and such... they would lose your respect, build up goodwill and your spend - in a heartbeat, essentially erroding years of marketing $$ aimed at you falling in love with bmws.

Whoever at QFF came up with the idea of destroying goodwill clearly has no practical knowledge of loyalty, business or the real world.

I'm betting my first born on this biting them in the cough 1000 fold the cost savings. Watch this space.

 

[DC3]

.


Whoever at QFF came up with the idea of destroying goodwill clearly has no practical knowledge of loyalty, business or the real world.

Well said!

 

[serfty]

The change was from June 1st 2004 ...

Before that a member was supplied with 10 guest passes per year. You could purchase an annual guest card as well.

 

[straitman]

I wonder if we will ever hear from Red Roo and/or Qantas again? I suspect not!

As a few others have said the benefits of double Gold are suddenly looking more attractive so for what it is worth I have actively started to explore my options with DJ. I knew there would be a reason to keep the majority of my points in Amex MR.

As a self funded traveller I need to get value where possible and at this point I have to say QF have pushed me to and possibly over the edge. I will probably keep Platinum until I reach LTG but I suspect we will run Sue (no problems here with anonymity in the forum) up as DJ gold. I can already get DJ lounge access with my PP issued from Amex.

To answer the obvious (to me anyway) question there is nothing specific just an overall perception that 'the time has come'

Now off to do some more research about DJ and work out the best time to look at a status match :!:

As I mentioned I have made some tentative steps in the direction of Virgin Blue so will have to see how it all pans out.

1. I have done a small 'test' transfer of Amex MR points to DJ and got my 25% bonus. I just need to think about how many more hundreds of thousands I should transfer.
2. I have approached DJ about a status match and
3. I have taken the direct sweep to QF FF off one of my CCs.

That's enough for the first 24hrs.

Whoever at QFF came up with the idea of destroying goodwill clearly has no practical knowledge of loyalty, business or the real world.

I'm betting my first born on this biting them in the cough 1000 fold the cost savings. Watch this space.

trippin_the_rift,

I am in absolute agreement with you on this.

 

[DC3]

I wonder if we will ever hear from Red Roo and/or Qantas again? I suspect not!

You may be right. However, I appreciated Red Roo posting on this forum and hope that there will be more to come.

 

[straitman]

You may be right. However, I appreciated Red Roo posting on this forum and hope that there will be more to come.

Sorry if my last post sounded negative. I agree with you absolutely.

 

[DC3]

Sorry if my last post sounded negative. I agree with you absolutely.

OK. Thanks. I did notice the on that earlier post, so I figured that you would probably be disappointed if Red Roo left us.

 

[Red Roo]

Thanks for the warm reception here on AFF, there's certainly been a healthy amount of discussion over the last few days. It's great to have your feedback and suggestions. Just to respond to a few posts.

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)

It includes arrival date, so in the two situations quoted above, a Platinum would be eligible for lounge access. Note though with international arrivals that international lounges may not be accessible from the arrivals level.

Essentially the main motivation of the latest policy revision is to cover arrival scenarios.

And hopefully the lounge staff will exercise commonsense when travelling PER-MEL/SYD/BNE on the red-eye that, during daylight saving at least, departs PER the day before.

The is one of the main domestic situations where the policy revision provides access.

at least this is an offer on Qantas's part that appears to be a genuine compromise to meet somewhere in the middle, given what they see as their limitations given current lounge sizes, etc.

Our view is that, overall, we have come to a good balance with the latest policy. We feel that it is still a generous lounge access policy by local and global standards and are not aware of any other major airline providing lounge access to their Platinum equivalent tier without any on the day travel requirement.

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) .

Incidentally, we recently announced our domestic refresh, which will include improved menus in Qantas Clubs and Neil Perry designed menus in Domestic Business Lounges.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Red Roo, I like how you hand picked the words from the only 5 posts in this thread that could be mistaken for support of the changes. A more appropriate response would be to address the key issues being raised - none of which you touched on.

Our view is that, overall, we have come to a good balance with the latest policy.

There is no balance in the policy what so ever. Everyone here can see straight through the 1960's type 'marketing' being pulled here. Platinum members arn't low IQ byproducts of QF marketing. They make their own decisions based on what's right for them, and based on the vast majority of feedback - their decisions will not involve QF as often as you might hope moving froward.

QFF may think with 'balance' and 'global standards' in mind, however I can assure you that I think with my wallet. I'm young, influential and cashed up with 50years of premium cabin flying ahead of me. You do the math on how much this policy is now worth to you...

We feel that it is still a generous lounge access policy by local and global standards and are not aware of any other major airline providing lounge access to their Platinum equivalent tier without any on the day travel requirement.

I'm not aware of any other major airline with such a great reputation in the market as QF. Perhaps I'm wrong and need to start exploring these other airlines...

Incidentally, we recently announced our domestic refresh, which will include improved menus in Qantas Clubs and Neil Perry designed menus in Domestic Business Lounges.

How is Neil Perry relivant to anyone that gives a **** about premium cabin flying anyway?

Qantas continues to ask for candid feedback and you're getting it here. Time to man up and listen to your customers. By doing so, QFF would suddenly prove they are in touch with customers, able to adapt to with the market and in turn you'd get the most awesome PR from reverting back to unrestricted unlimited anytime access. It's a win-win scenario.....

 

[kpc]

Thanks for the warm reception here on AFF, there's certainly been a healthy amount of discussion over the last few days. It's great to have your feedback and suggestions. Just to respond to a few posts.

Good to see you are still here!

Our view is that, overall, we have come to a good balance with the latest policy. We feel that it is still a generous lounge access policy by local and global standards and are not aware of any other major airline providing lounge access to their Platinum equivalent tier without any on the day travel requirement.

It has been mentioned (somewhere in this thread) that your OW partner, BA, allows their top tier FF members ie BA Gold (equivalent of QF plat) anytime lounge access! I'm sure someone will post the link...

Incidentally, we recently announced our domestic refresh, which will include improved menus in Qantas Clubs and Neil Perry designed menus in Domestic Business Lounges.

I hope this includes more HOT food choices! Red Roo, just out of curiosity, have you visited some of the other airline lounges eg SQ in Sin, Cx in Hkg, BA in LHR etc etc (I'm sure others will chime in!) - you will then realise how the food options in QF lounges esp the International J lounges, compare very poorly!!

I assume you have deliberately not commented about some of the more thorny issues raised in this thread such as my statement that "loyalty is a 2 way street", in that having directed $30K+ in travel to QF in the last membership year, QF have now removed a significant platinum benefit (to me anyway)...nevertheless, I'm glad you are still with us! I'm still drafting my sternly worded letter to QF, and I will still be looking for greener pastures with regards to my future travel.....!:mrgreen:

 

[TonyHancock]

It has been mentioned (somewhere in this thread) that your OW partner, BA, allows their top tier FF members ie BA Gold (equivalent of QF plat) anytime lounge access! I'm sure someone will post the link...

http://http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ecbenftgold/public/en_gb

"As a Gold member, you and one guest¹ can enjoy access and the facilities of over 250 lounges worldwide² whenever you fly with British Airways and our oneworld partner airlines - whatever cabin you are flying in. You can also enjoy the lounges even when not flying with British Airways.³"

"³Available for the Gold card holder only. Excludes access to lounges owned by third parties. The other carrier must depart from the same terminal as the British Airways flight."

Not commenting, just providing a service.

 

[ReLoad]

Thanks for the warm reception here on AFF, there's certainly been a healthy amount of discussion over the last few days. It's great to have your feedback and suggestions. Just to respond to a few posts.

Firstly again thank you for at least responding and acknowledging your customer base on a forum such as this, and also please do not be put off by our abrupt and direct communication on the topic at hand, everyone loves an emotional topic

The adjustment to allowing arrivals access is a good step in the right direction, and something that I personally am happy with, however with that, the untangibles such as Neil Perry designed menus mean very little in the way of an actual benefit coming back the other way, sure they keep up with your branding and the image you are portraying, but when I need to drop the wife and kids off at the airport, id love to sit down with them and show them where I spend a large portion of my life, and reward them for the times I am away with some plane spotting and a cuppa.

Back in the olden days of Golden wing, when they first opened it there was 7000 taxi drivers that bought memberships and were all drunk within a week of it opening, but times are different, we have EARNED the right to be a WP, we've spent money time and effort into being your Elite Status, we are your best customers? (thats just an assumption) please love us.

I can totally dig your upping to 2400 SC the other benefits, even raise the bar on being a WP if you must, but the benefits is what counts, that is what has grabbed my attention in this exercise, and all i've seen is that your taking away, with nothing in return.

I look forward to my flight tomorrow and seeing just what Neil Perry has in store for me.

 

[oz_mark]

"As a Gold member, you and one guest¹ can enjoy access and the facilities of over 250 lounges worldwide² whenever you fly with British Airways and our oneworld partner airlines - whatever cabin you are flying in. You can also enjoy the lounges even when not flying with British Airways.³"

"³Available for the Gold card holder only. Excludes access to lounges owned by third parties. The other carrier must depart from the same terminal as the British Airways flight."

Not commenting, just providing a service.

It's not really providing the same open slather anytime access. As you do need to be flying someone leaving from the same terminal.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Back in the olden days of Golden wing, when they first opened it there was 7000 taxi drivers that bought memberships and were all drunk within a week of it opening, but times are different, we have EARNED the right to be a WP, we've spent money time and effort into being your Elite Status, we are your best customers? (thats just an assumption) please love us.

Ahh, the AN GW $50.00 introductory lifetime membership which would have been the bargain of the century!

Just one question though, if the cabbies were all drunk who did they call to drive them home?

 

[ReLoad]

Just one question though, if the cabbies were all drunk who did they call to drive them home?

You don't reckon being drunk stopped them do you? :shock:

I just wish I could have seen the AN GW head honcho's face when he heard there were hundreds of cabbies in his lounge, a definite unwanted side effect.

A couple of positives, as a pax I could have found a cabbie easy enough, on the downside his sobriety could have been an issue.

Anyways back to the usual QF taking away our goodies

 

[NM]

Ahh, the AN GW $50.00 introductory lifetime membership which would have been the bargain of the century!

Pretty much useless now, however.

 

[medhead]

Thanks for the warm reception here on AFF, there's certainly been a healthy amount of discussion over the last few days. It's great to have your feedback and suggestions. Just to respond to a few posts.

Thank you for coming back and continuing to talk to us.

Incidentally, we recently announced our domestic refresh, which will include improved menus in Qantas Clubs and Neil Perry designed menus in Domestic Business Lounges.

I hope this means that a decent breakfast option will return to the Qantas Clubs.

Of course, I'm not holding my breath on that one, as I can still remember getting a decent breakfast on a Shorts aircraft flying the Queensland coast in the mid-1990s that was of about the standard of a business class breakfast today. :shock: :-|

 

[proskyneo]

Pretty much useless now, however.

Bargain of the last century.

 

[djfuzz]

Thanks for the warm reception here on AFF, there's certainly been a healthy amount of discussion over the last few days. It's great to have your feedback and suggestions. Just to respond to a few posts.

You're most welcome Red Roo, but I think you may have missed the sarcasm of the quote you took of my earlier post.

Our view is that, overall, we have come to a good balance with the latest policy. We feel that it is still a generous lounge access policy by local and global standards and are not aware of any other major airline providing lounge access to their Platinum equivalent tier without any on the day travel requirement.

I did a bit of legwork for you in this other thread...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....program/anytime-access-how-did-you-25869.html

...in which you can see the value that many of your Platinum Frequent Flyers get out of this benefit on the very few occasions they use it, the great majority of which has nothing to do with flying on or otherwise giving money to your competitors.

Notwithstanding the BA Gold counter example provided above, the generosity of the scheme falls down a little when distinguishing features like this are removed - and there's no way to dress up the fact that this does amount to the removal of a benefit for your highest tier members, no matter how significant, how often, or in what manner it is used.

So I'm sure you can understand that as your loyal members try to strike their own balance, the proposed change may have the collateral effect of doing the very thing you are trying to avoid - driving part of their spend to your competitors because they feel less valued by you (or even more valued by the others).

Incidentally, we recently announced our domestic refresh, which will include improved menus in Qantas Clubs and Neil Perry designed menus in Domestic Business Lounges.

With respect, I'd suggest you might want to do some more on the ground research there, rather than continuing with the assumption that a Neil Perry-designed menu can solve everything - for example, this thread alone suggests that the simple provision of a barista service (ie training your bartenders in the three step process of operating an espresso machine) beyond weekday morning peak would be a great service that would provide real value to many of your members / guests, as not everyone only drinks coffee until 9.30am (on weekdays) and alcohol after 2pm.

And cakes with dinner rather than only for afternoon tea (sometimes but not always) ... and the international business lounges? Well, I really could go on and on...

 

[pauly7]

Red Roo, I like how you hand picked the words from the only 5 posts in this thread that could be mistaken for support of the changes. A more appropriate response would be to address the key issues being raised - none of which you touched on.



There is no balance in the policy what so ever. Everyone here can see straight through the 1960's type 'marketing' being pulled here. Platinum members arn't low IQ byproducts of QF marketing. They make their own decisions based on what's right for them, and based on the vast majority of feedback - their decisions will not involve QF as often as you might hope moving froward.

QFF may think with 'balance' and 'global standards' in mind, however I can assure you that I think with my wallet. I'm young, influential and cashed up with 50years of premium cabin flying ahead of me. You do the math on how much this policy is now worth to you...



I'm not aware of any other major airline with such a great reputation in the market as QF. Perhaps I'm wrong and need to start exploring these other airlines...



How is Neil Perry relivant to anyone that gives a **** about premium cabin flying anyway?

Qantas continues to ask for candid feedback and you're getting it here. Time to man up and listen to your customers. By doing so, QFF would suddenly prove they are in touch with customers, able to adapt to with the market and in turn you'd get the most awesome PR from reverting back to unrestricted unlimited anytime access. It's a win-win scenario.....

I think some members need to calm down before they post.

I understand you are still upset but let's not scare away the first regular QF contact on here for a while.

I don't think there is any need for swearing (yes **** does count) at anyone, least of all a contact that will hopefully assist communication with QF.