Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[Flashback]

Other than there might be less of a crowd if members decide to jump ship, and they pretty much insist on scanning boarding passes these days.

Not to mention there's been talking of access to lounges being done via tapping your NGCI card...

 

[medhead]

Not to mention there's been talking of access to lounges being done via tapping your NGCI card...

Umm, and so this explains the lose of anytime access. No flight to be checked into, NGCI not programmed to look for status as well as being checked in for an "onward flight on that day". Hence anytime access would require real people to check cards and reduce efficiencies.

Only a theory....

 

[Princess Fiona]

Flash your card to get through checkpoint one and then use that and an old boarding pass to get through checkpoint 2 behind a crowd!!!!!!!

lol! I thought I was the only one to pull that trick. I wonder if they are introducing the evil boarding pass scanners at the Dom J lounge?

 

[harvyk]

Not surprised to see this thread and others have a high lurker count through the day, QF getting the feedback??

I expect QF have factored in the negative feedback from threads such as this into their decision.

I also expect they know they will lose some QFFer's to DJ from all tiers.

I expect QF are reducing the benefits now so they have some legroom to move when DJ get their act together and become a true threat. That way they can re-introduce things only when DJ become a true threat, rather than having to innovate later (which is a lot more expensive).

It's kinda like pre-emptively setting the bar low, knowing that your competitors will one day be able to reach it, so you can move it slightly higher.

 

[hollydavid69]

'' Hello David Enjoy the journey with Qantas As Australia's leading premium airline, Qantas is committed to giving you the best possible travel experience. The exceptional products and services you enjoy throughout your journey are complemented by the rewards you receive as a Qantas Club member. We've made a variety of changes in the last few years to give you a broader, more rewarding Frequent Flyer program. The coming months will see further changes, including enhancements for our most frequent flyers. ''NOTE HOW THE FIRST PART OF THEIR MAIL DOESN'T RELATE TO: :evil::!::shock:

Changes to Qantas Club benefits

Domestic check-in changes

From 1 February 2011, with the introduction of Next Generation Check-in, access to priority check-in counters at domestic airports will no longer be available for Qantas Club members. This privilege will still be available for Qantas international flights.

WHAT A LOAD OF PR BS.

 

[jamesD]

Slightly off topic, but with the new changes, Qantas Club members will not have priority check in at Domestic airports. For people like myself, without further status, this will be a definite minus. :shock:

I second that - I only fly once or twice a year and pay for Qantas Club mostly for the priority check in. I swore I'd never fly Virgin but looks like I will be once my membership expires.

 

[Flashback]

I expect QF have factored in the negative feedback from threads such as this into their decision.

I also expect they know they will lose some QFFer's to DJ from all tiers.

I expect QF are reducing the benefits now so they have some legroom to move when DJ get their act together and become a true threat. That way they can re-introduce things only when DJ become a true threat, rather than having to innovate later (which is a lot more expensive).

It's kinda like pre-emptively setting the bar low, knowing that your competitors will one day be able to reach it, so you can move it slightly higher.

Anyone who does business like that is definitely not someone I'd like to do business with. Taking away only to later add back and then make out like it's a new benefit. Terrible.

 

[Flashback]

I second that - I only fly once or twice a year and pay for Qantas Club mostly for the priority check in. I swore I'd never fly Virgin but looks like I will be once my membership expires.

Why would you switch to DJ? You won't be getting priority check-in there. I'd only foresee a switch to DJ if they turn out to be cheaper, once you add in the $30 each way for The Lounge?

 

[kamchatsky]

Anyone who does business like that is definitely not someone I'd like to do business with. Taking away only to later add back and then make out like it's a new benefit. Terrible.

Actually QF have been doing very well like this over the years. People are still sticking with QF with all the reduction of benefits over many years.

 

[PineappleSkip]

How Qantas thinks they can wiggle out of this T&C will be interesting. I can't find the escape hatch they used

3.2 Qantas will use best efforts to advise Members of material changes to these Terms and Conditions and, where such changes will limit Benefits:
(a) where the Benefit is provided by Qantas, to give Members at least 6 months' notice;

Their obvious argument is that, as the benefit is available to only a few, availed of by even fewer, and is peripheral to the main benefits provided - seats on planes - its not a material benefit. And the reference to using best efforts is a pretty lame guarantee.

OTOH, I hope they find the ACCC at the bottom of this escape hatch. Were I to write to them, I'd point out (if it was true) that the benefit that I was losing was material to me the consumer therefore they're behaving inconsistently with their own T&Cs. The reason I think the ACCC would be unimpressed is that QF extensively rewrote its T&Cs several years ago to make them clearer in response to previous complaints of misleading and deceptive comment; see

Frequent flyers take off: ACCC

where Allan Fels commented

"It is important that advertised rewards are available, and that the restrictions imposed ... are made clear to consumers.

They reinforced this point in their last stoush with QF and QFF

ACCC finalises investigation of Qantas frequent flyer program

However, the ACCC is concerned to ensure loyalty schemes are operated transparently so consumers are not mislead as to the benefits to which they are entitled and any limitations on those benefits.

All a bit peripheral, and successfully invoking the clause just buys time. Would be easier to get the changes reversed, or failing that, take your $$$$ elsewhere

Cheers skip

 

[Danger]

Is the dillution providing more incentive to move to AAdvantage after achieving QFF Gold? Doesn't AA Platinum (oneworld Sapphire) give you access to the Qantas J domestic lounges, whereas QFF Gold doesn't?

I'm failing to see the incentive to move beyond QFF Gold, particularly if you don't do much international travel. Fifty thousand QFF points at 2400 SCs is, in my opinion, hardly anything to get excited about and can hardly be considered an enhancement. There's a million ways to earn QFF points these days and if you put your kids' private school fees on there or expenses for a new house or chemical for the farm . . . well, you can easily get 50k.

I wonder how long before the media gets a hold of this.

 

[Flashback]

Is the dillution providing more incentive to move to AAdvantage after achieving QFF Gold? Doesn't AA Platinum (oneworld Sapphire) give you access to the Qantas J domestic lounges, whereas QFF Gold doesn't?

I'm failing to see the incentive to move beyond QFF Gold, particularly if you don't do much international travel. Fifty thousand QFF points at 2400 SCs is, in my opinion, hardly anything to get excited about and can hardly be considered an enhancement. There's a million ways to earn QFF points these days and if you put your kids' private school fees on there or expenses for a new house or chemical for the farm . . . well, you can easily get 50k.

I wonder how long before the media gets a hold of this.

I thought access to the domestic J lounge was only for WP and OWE? I think the confusion for OWS was in regards to the name e.g. it says "business" lounge therefore OWS should get access as they're supposed to get access to a "business" lounge.

 

[taswegian77]

Interesting changes. Let's see, I reckon not many WP's would use any time access. (I am sure to be blasted with that statement!) I will explain. The last time I actually used any time access was in MEL collecting from wife from a w/end away with the ladies. I only used it cause I had my 4yr old son and it helped amuse him with watching planes easier. However it ultimately cost me around $20 in airport parking fees, not attractive when it cost me parking. I find it interesting that QF are removing this benefit as I doubt it cost much at all and probably not used much. The one that kills me is when I fly JQ Asia from SIN, I miss out on lounge access. As I am LTG I might write to QF to find out why I should continue with them when I cannot use lounge when flying JQ Asia as I do a lot of Asia flights and try to stay loyal to QF owned companies. That one sort of peeves me a tad. I wonder is personal negotiation can be achieved just liek you can with banks etc in the future based on your travel pattern, spend, negotiated access etc. It makes sense but would add an overhead with special cards etc but would retain my loyal support of the QF brand.

 

[anat0l]

Is the dillution providing more incentive to move to AAdvantage after achieving QFF Gold? Doesn't AA Platinum (oneworld Sapphire) give you access to the Qantas J domestic lounges, whereas QFF Gold doesn't?

No, OWS does not give you access to the Domestic J Lounges. You need OWE.

There was a very extensive argument, spearheaded by Dave Noble, in another thread discussing this discrepancy.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

You know what, I think people who are seriously aggrieved by these changes should consider using this escape clause.

If there's some Lifetime or regular QP members who've achieved LTS or LTG, then I'd use this clause to cancel the membership and make QF cough up a prorata refund.

Might be good for scoring at least $1k out of QF for the life members, which they'd be none too pleased handing back, plus it would hit them where it right where it hurts (the balance sheet, not to mention the paperwork they'll have to do in arranging the refund).

Great, so how do I get a refund for LTS?

 

[drewbles]

Actually QF have been doing very well like this over the years. People are still sticking with QF with all the reduction of benefits over many years.

Thank the demise of Ansett for that one.

IMHO, until DJ join an alliance or can imitate one for 'seamless global travel', QF can do whatever the hell they want. They have a captive audience: Australia.

If DJ get their act together and bring in what QF have wiped out since around the time AN went belly up, I'll be swapping. And even if QF bring back things they took away, I call tough cough. You don't give, take away, and then give back like a petulant child.

For now, I have no choice but to stick with QF. I do around 30-35 segments a year on QF domestic, with the rest of my travel mainly on AA. My CC spend is only around 20-30% of my points earning, making it a nice supplement to my earn. The DJ FF program is really coughpy still. Enhance it, and QF will wake up (and I mean enhance it, not QF's version of enhancing).

 

[Australian]

Enhance it . . . (and I mean enhance it, not QF's version of enhancing).

so glad u clarified that - or you might've regretted what u wished for!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Interesting changes. Let's see, I reckon not many WP's would use any time access. (I am sure to be blasted with that statement!) I will explain. The last time I actually used any time access was in MEL collecting from wife from a w/end away with the ladies. I only used it cause I had my 4yr old son and it helped amuse him with watching planes easier. However it ultimately cost me around $20 in airport parking fees, not attractive when it cost me parking. I find it interesting that QF are removing this benefit as I doubt it cost much at all and probably not used much. The one that kills me is when I fly JQ Asia from SIN, I miss out on lounge access. As I am LTG I might write to QF to find out why I should continue with them when I cannot use lounge when flying JQ Asia as I do a lot of Asia flights and try to stay loyal to QF owned companies. That one sort of peeves me a tad. I wonder is personal negotiation can be achieved just liek you can with banks etc in the future based on your travel pattern, spend, negotiated access etc. It makes sense but would add an overhead with special cards etc but would retain my loyal support of the QF brand.

I think there are quite a few WP's using anytime access in the broadest sense of the term. They are probably mugs like me whose airport was abandoned long ago by QF, but who continue to fly them when possible and use partner airlines to connect to home. Thanks to the rule changes we no longer have any QP access when waiting for connecting flights home. The only solution apart from jumping ship seems to be flying to an airport with a JQ connecting flight home which is of course useless if you have none! ( I do). Nice work by QF in shafting the small partner airlines.

 

[cjg]

I'm also one who is very disappointed at the removal of the 'access anytime' benefit. I've only used it a handful of times domestically when either dropping a friend off at the airport or waiting to collect someone, and a couple of times as an arrivals lounge. But knowing that it was available should I need it was a great benefit of being platinum, compared to gold.

If Virgin Blue unveil a decent domestic business class product soon I would give serious consideration to doing more flying with them. Qantas doesn't seem to be trying particularly hard to keep my business and loyalty.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have, on the very odd occasion, used the lounge on arrivals, and once had a business meeting.

It is not a huge loss, but it was nice to think that I could use the lounge if I needed to.

It seems to me Qantas enhancements worsen my travel experiences and benefits.