Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[serfty]

...
Another useless WP related observation, the W in WP is well deserved, I do love the people who think that speaking loudly about some high powered deal and splurting out company secrets is a good idea, all rather amusing.

If they are that loud they obviously wish to share the information. Why not go over and join their conversation. :shock:

 

[djfuzz]

Isnt there a QP in the Virgin terminal? For regional flights?

Wouldn't the logical step then be to get rid of this QP (there's certainly not a QP at every Qantaslink port), make it a JQ lounge, or explicitly exclude it from anytime rules? Or, dare I say it, limit anytime access to QF-only terminals/areas?

Once, when meeting a colleague arriving on a Rex flight, I popped into the T2 QP where I was promptly directed back to the T3 QP (I was departing that night, so not anytime). I had to explain what I was doing (only using the bathroom!) before the dragon acquiesced and let me in.

Regardless, if you put aside the crowding issue and focus on the 'free kick for our competitors', there's an assumption here that a punitive measure like this will force WPs who previously benefited from anytime access while using other airlines on QF/OW routes to redirect that spend to QF/OW instead. In the first instance, this ignores all of the other uses of anytime access that did not involve flying with competitors. Secondly, in making that assumption you can't discount the fact that removing a benefit that required a significant spend with QF in the first place may also have some (however in/significant) impact in discouraging some of that loyalty and redirecting some of that spend before it gets to QF, let alone the circumstances that QF is trying to curb.

 

[ReLoad]

If they are that loud they obviously wish to share the information. Why not go over and join their conversation. :shock:

Well my most most memorable piece of information thus far is apparently "John from accounts" is a coughking retard because that joke about taxi driver wasnt offensive at all and that only a moron would have complained to HR.

Shame they just left, i was hoping for more wonderful pearls of wisdom.

Now please return to your non Neil Perry inspired party pies.

 

[markis10]

There seem to be a few groups of Plat flyers here. Some who have been made happy. Some not.

1. People who fly QF only and don't use arrivals - no change.

2. People who fly QF only and use arrivals - now fixed

3. People who preference QF but also use other airlines (whether for schedule, price or routng) - still not happy.

If in the latter bunch Qantas's attitude to you has changed
- It was - you are such a frequent flyer to us that even if you ocassinally use a competitor you can now use our lounge
- To - you are such a frequent flyer with us but we want to ensure you fly with us even more.

Qantas obviously expects this will result in these people flying QF more and thus more revenue.

However pointed out here that if you do 2500 SCs on Qantas and a bunch of flights on NZ/SQ/MH, then you may choose to shift even more of your flights to Star Alliance (or Sky Team) to earn elite status with them as well to ensure you get lounge access when you fly
- thus the decision may actually lose QF revenue

You missed a significant segment of the market in your generalisations:

People who need to take more than one or two pieces of luggage from time to time - not happy at all. Wait to SWMBO finds out! Thats not related to a thread about lounge access obviously, however I suspect over time it will become the No1 hated change. Otherwise its a good summary, although I doubt many see the value in going beyond 1200 SCs.

 

[thewinchester]

Well my most most memorable piece of information thus far is apparently "John from accounts" is a coughking retard because that joke about taxi driver wasnt offensive at all and that only a moron would have complained to HR.

Shame they just left, i was hoping for more wonderful pearls of wisdom.

Some people aren't cognisant of what's going on around them.

Would love to know who they worked for, as I'd be on the phone to their employer in a shot. Guess which people would be looking like "retards" then?

 

[Red Roo]

Folks, just to chime back in.

AFF is a passionate community and there will be times where I’m not in a position to comment on all issues. However, rest assured that we do take on the feedback in our internal discussions, and there is certainly plenty of it here. So if there isn’t a direct response, this doesn’t mean that nothing has been done with it.

We’ve improved the revised policy by also allowing arrivals access, particularly where the general airline convention for lounges is access on departure. We were aware of BA Gold lounge access, however, as noted by others in the thread, BA Gold has additional restrictions compared to anytime access for Platinums. Acknowledge it allows competitor flyer access in some circumstances, however it is not the same as anytime access for Platinums – one must be travelling.

Understand that the adjustment we made to the lounge access policy does not fully satisfy all, however there are many comments here and from our own channels that support the view that it is a reasonable outcome.

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

Thought we ought to add a little more cheer to this thread and signpost some good things on their way! Alas, we’re not quite in a position to reveal full details yet, however closer to launch we will be able to discuss this further. FWIW, I’ve literally tasted some of those items just moments ago

The Neil Perry inspired menus are for International J lounges. I do not believe there is any plan for such menu inspiration for the party pies in domestic lounges.

Just to clarify, Neil Perry changes will be coming to the Domestic J lounges.

 

[medhead]

so, sitting here in the Syd J domestic lounge due to flight delays (allegedly bad weather in Melbourne, like that ever happened?) and id like to wonder if the party pies are Neil Perry designed?

Are you still in the lounge. I've just sat down?

 

[KitKat]

Welcome back Red Roo. Hope we have not chased you away!

 

[ReLoad]

Are you still in the lounge. I've just sat down?

Just sitting on 459, but been on it for a while the lightning stopped us loading.

 

[Austman]

There seem to be a few groups of Plat flyers here. Some who have been made happy. Some not.

1. People who fly QF only and don't use arrivals - no change.

2. People who fly QF only and use arrivals - now fixed

3. People who preference QF but also use other airlines (whether for schedule, price or routng) - still not happy.

+1 more?

4. People, not travelling themselves, but who are accompanying friends/family/clients who are travelling or have travelled on QF - still not happy.

 

[medhead]

Just sitting on 459, but been on it for a while the lightning stopped us loading.

Ah. Close but no cigar. At least they moved me onto 743, so leaving soon anyway.

 

[samh004]

+1 more?

4. People, not travelling themselves, but who are accompanying friends/family/clients who are travelling or have travelled on QF - still not happy.

I don't see that as a reason that QF should give access. After all, that should be an incentive for them to earn or pay for access, regardless of how it was before. Such arguments just reinforce why access was changed, IMO.

 

[DC3]

For those who have never had anytime access, it's removal is something that they'll never miss.

 

[djfuzz]

I don't see that as a reason that QF should give access. After all, that should be an incentive for them to earn or pay for access, regardless of how it was before. Such arguments just reinforce why access was changed, IMO.

Sorry samh004, I feel like a broken record - this situation more realistically represents a way to extract value from the WP, not the guest. Chances are, if the guest is being dropped off by a WP who brings them to the QP, they're unlikely to be flying enough to reach the status / pay for access themselves, or have any incentive to do so. This incentivises the WP, who is flying a lot anyway, to fly more on QF in order to be entitled to provide such access, not the guest (though there may be some peripheral halo effects).

From Red Roo's third post (thank you, by the way), it does seem that QFF are pretty happy with their decision and unlikely to action any further feedback. What happens next, time will tell.

 

[JohnK]

There seem to be a few groups of Plat flyers here. Some who have been made happy. Some not.

Good summary although I would add one more group to the list and that is the Platinums that visit the Qantas Lounges occasionally when not flying at all on the day - still not happy.

If in the latter bunch Qantas's attitude to you has changed
- It was - you are such a frequent flyer to us that even if you ocassinally use a competitor you can now use our lounge
- To - you are such a frequent flyer with us but we want to ensure you fly with us even more.

Qantas obviously expects this will result in these people flying QF more and thus more revenue.

However pointed out here that if you do 2500 SCs on Qantas and a bunch of flights on NZ/SQ/MH, then you may choose to shift even more of your flights to Star Alliance (or Sky Team) to earn elite status with them as well to ensure you get lounge access when you fly
- thus the decision may actually lose QF revenue

I would be surprised if this decision is going to make Platinums fly QF more often. I feel this is a poor decision by QF, without much thought, and may backfire on them considering the benefits that have been taken away regularly over the last 5 years.

It wasn't that long ago we were discussing loss of being able to pre-allocate exit rows for Platinums.

Personally I am unhappy and extremely disappointed with the decision by QF to take away anytime lounge access and I will definitely not be sending more business QF's way. I will try to get exactly 1200 SC's each year to re-qualify QF Platinum and when ever there is an opportunity to save money on a trip I would not hesitate to book flights with the opposition and do without lounge access.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

WP's and SG's are, no offence, 'leeches' to the QC's as a profit centre. They don't directly contribute a cent to QC's, only paying members do.

Quite the opposite (putting aside sheer volumes of airfares for a second).

99% of SG and WP members mass more QFF Points faster than any other status tier. Through flying, these points directly contribute to QFF bottom line with Qantas essentially 'buying' points for the FF account. Also most higher end flyers spend more money in general for business and pleasure. More spend = more points on credit card.

So while I see where you're going with the `leeching` comment - it's simply not true because these members SPEND more (direct and indirectly through flights). If that wasn't enough - they also generate more $$ from flights for the Qantas Group as a whole than anyone else.

Thought we ought to add a little more cheer to this thread and signpost some good things on their way! Alas, we’re not quite in a position to reveal full details yet, however closer to launch we will be able to discuss this further.

I'll take a wild guess at why there's no cheer in this thread - no matter how you look at it, anytime access was the single remaining benefit for platinums flying domestically. You're taking the toy away from a kid who has enjoyed it all his life. Don't worry though - one day he'll grow up and smack you down where it hurts - in your pocket. People don't forget.

.... I am unhappy and extremely disappointed with the decision by QF to take away anytime lounge access and I will definitely not be sending more business QF's way.

We all are and it's a big shame to see the slow death of a giant.

Red-Roo, I vowed to cut spend on QF after removing confirmed upgrades in 2005 (which practically every airline still offers BTW) - I did cut my spend with Qantas and now I promise you it will be cut even further. This will extend to my employees also.

Platinums are not seeing any love from QF at all - despite extremely significant spend; yet it seems you're enjoying the fruits of our love tasting new menu's which benefit the most in-frequent and non-loyal flyer.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

From Red Roo's third post (thank you, by the way), it does seem that QFF are pretty happy with their decision and unlikely to action any further feedback. What happens next, time will tell.

Biggest problem is that the people who are in a position of power to make these changes have performance KPI's linked directly to the bottom line. A cut in costs is a chunk of change in their pockets next Quarter.

The real losers are long term investors (customers and shareholders).

Moral judgement is soo 1996.

 

[dfcatch]

I don't see that as a reason that QF should give access. After all, that should be an incentive for them to earn or pay for access, regardless of how it was before. Such arguments just reinforce why access was changed, IMO.

Sorry sam, don't agree with you here.

I fit into category 4 - only fly QF, (except if QF doesn't offer the route I need, and even then I still try and route via QF).

I use anytime access when I take my parents to the airport. They fly maybe 2 or 3 times a year max. Maybe only once. It's nice to be able to take them into the lounge when dropping them at the airport. They are not ever going to be elite status flyers, but it's a nice benefit to be able use given all the flights and money that I've spent with QF.

So is it the end of the world for me - no.

But I am disappointed with the removal of benefits and worry about the next dilution of benefits.

 

[simongr]

I'll take a wild guess at why there's no cheer in this thread - no matter how you look at it, anytime access was the single remaining benefit for platinums flying domestically. You're taking the toy away from a kid who has enjoyed it all his life. Don't worry though - one day he'll grow up and smack you down where it hurts - in your pocket. People don't forget.

Umm firstly it wasnt the "only remaining benefit" and secondly many platinums never used and many never even knew it existed. Please don't project your views and petulance to others.

We all are and it's a big shame to see the slow death of a giant.

Actually we ALL arent upset by this.

Red-Roo, I vowed to cut spend on QF after removing confirmed upgrades in 2005 (which practically every airline still offers BTW)

I think you need to look at the package of benefits rather than cherry picking the ones you want if you plan to realistically compare programs.

Platinums are not seeing any love from QF at all - despite extremely significant spend; yet it seems you're enjoying the fruits of our love tasting new menu's which benefit the most in-frequent and non-loyal flyer.

Firstly cheap shot. Secondly how does a new menu that I might taste 30 times this year benefit the most infrequent flyer? An infrequent flyer would benefit maybe once or twice a year. Colour me confused...

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Umm firstly it wasnt the "only remaining benefit" and secondly many platinums never used and many never even knew it existed.

Just for fun, here's a list to refresh your memory of the domestic benefitss:-

Your Platinum privledges:

- 100% points bonus (most flights in .AU are under 1000 miles therefore this is useless).
- Complimenary Qantas Club membership (Gold gets this, therefore not a Plat benefit).
- On Departure Upgrades (QC, Gold get this also - therefore not plat benefit).
- Business check in (QC, Silver, Gold get this also - therefore not plat benefit).
- Extra baggage (Qc, Silver, Gold get this also - therefore not a plat benefit).
- Preferred seating (Plat only gets to choose a few rows ahead of the rest, however at -24hours it's a free for all - therefore not a plat benefit)
- Priority Economy seat purchase (my uncle - as a nobody bronze - used this last year - sure it cost him $600 1 way bne-syd, but he got it - same price as plat would pay - therefore not a plat benefit)
- Priority Baggage (QC/Silv/Gold/Biz get this also - therefore not plat benefit).
- Platinum membership tags, tick! Platinum benefit #1
- Priority phone support, tick! Platinum benefit #2
- Anytime lounge access, tick! Platinum benefit #3 ....oh wait
- Priority Boarding, no such thing

Firstly cheap shot.

There's nothing cheap about loyalty ;-)


All joking aside... seriously, how is Platinum and different to Gold when you fly domestically?