Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[Danger]

In Melbourne this morning, no problem walking through the 'outer checkpoint' by showing the Platinum card and same for the 'inner sanctum'. In Canberra, however, the agent scanned my card. Both times I had a my garment bag and rollaboard.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

There was a link in another post (2nd link below) about QF & I thought I'd post a quote by then CEO James Strong in relation to customer service as I feel it's relevant to this thread.

I think the statement which carries the most impact is around 6:27 into the video when James Strong says the following:

"but of all the changes the most important is the focus we're placing on investing in our people. I want to emphasise that we realise this is a two way street, Management must listen to people about the real issues in providing services then invest in resources to support our people to train, take action on problems to monitor performance and follow through on detailed issues which you identify as needing attention.

We can only succeed through our people who run the airline every day dealing with customers, maintaining the aircraft, preparing the food.

Every minute of every day our customers demand world class service, for our people to deliver this, we must not only have the right attitudes, we must also have the the right training, tools and equipment and the right environment to in which to deliver them."

Fast forward 15 years or so and the policies of the current CEO is the complete opposite. Now if only he adopted the above he might have something to be proud of.

YouTube - Qantas


http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ames-strong-right-track-28366.html#post407561

 

[Flashback]

I think it's because while the Roo may be white, when you think of QANTAS you associate it with the colour red, rather than white.

 

[ejb]

Just arrived in Melbourne on my SYD-MEL-PER flight and walked straight through main lounge into J lounge with no carryon and just flashed the card both times.

Seems the rules may not be being enforced.....

Very happy too that my MEL-PER flight has changed from 2-3-2 A332 to 2-2-2 A332.

ejb

 

[bossreggie]

Very happy too that my MEL-PER flight has changed from 2-3-2 A332 to 2-2-2 A332.ejb

WIN ejb!!

 

[ejb]

WIN ejb!!

Turns out that the information was wrong.

2-3-2 in J and it is very tight.

Went to sit in 2A and when I boarded a woman was chatting away in 2A, when I said "excuse me I think you may be in my seat" she replied "NO I AM NOT!", ended up sitting in 3A as I was the last to board and did not really care, both window seats.

Turned out that 3C was Dr Fiona Wood, Australian of the Year and all round hero doctor, who I had a great chat with and could not be happier with the seat change.

ejb

 

[JohnK]

Went to sit in 2A and when I boarded a woman was chatting away in 2A, when I said "excuse me I think you may be in my seat" she replied "NO I AM NOT!", ended up sitting in 3A as I was the last to board and did not really care, both window seats.

Just lovely.

Why bother pre-allocating seats when creeps like this can get away with whatever they want?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Turns out that the information was wrong.

2-3-2 in J and it is very tight.

Went to sit in 2A and when I boarded a woman was chatting away in 2A, when I said "excuse me I think you may be in my seat" she replied "NO I AM NOT!", ended up sitting in 3A as I was the last to board and did not really care, both window seats.

*mental note - when flying on same flight as ejb, sit in his seat if it's a better preallocation*

 

[samh004]

Turns out that the information was wrong.

2-3-2 in J and it is very tight.

Went to sit in 2A and when I boarded a woman was chatting away in 2A, when I said "excuse me I think you may be in my seat" she replied "NO I AM NOT!", ended up sitting in 3A as I was the last to board and did not really care, both window seats.

Turned out that 3C was Dr Fiona Wood, Australian of the Year and all round hero doctor, who I had a great chat with and could not be happier with the seat change.

ejb

While you were rewarded with a good seat buddy, if someone isn’t going to even be polite about changing seats, asking and such, they don’t deserve the satisfaction of getting away with it. I’d have run to the FA and taddled

 

[ejb]

*mental note - when flying on same flight as ejb, sit in his seat if it's a better preallocation*

On that plane 3A has more shoulder room and 3C was a smaller person. As I am large (although shrinking) I felt it was OK to swap and I could use the karma.

While you were rewarded with a good seat buddy, if someone isn’t going to even be polite about changing seats, asking and such, they don’t deserve the satisfaction of getting away with it. I’d have run to the FA and taddled

As above Sam 3A turns out to be a better seat and I was rewarded with meeting and chatting to a great Australian, and a true hero.

ejb

 

[Alanslegal]

What is this "economy" thing you speak of???

Sorry for the delay in reply

I've only recovered from those flights being seated upright for 20hours in the last week.

 

[Tooner]

Just finished a bus trip. Results:

SYD: No particular interest in scanning the card
MEL: Front counter waived, J counter enquired if I needed to check-in and was fine after I said was using the card (no scan)

I was carrying carry-on (If you know what I mean)

 

[medhead]

Well so far it seems only ADL QP is being rigid in enforcement. I was also waved into the SYD J lounge tonight. I might have to try the SYD T2 QP next week to see what they do.

 

[esquire]

Well so far it seems only ADL QP is being rigid in enforcement. I was also waved into the SYD J lounge tonight. I might have to try the SYD T2 QP next week to see what they do.

Was in SYD T2 QP last week (Friday morning) and they were enforcing it quite strictly and turned away a few people/groups trying to get during the 30 minutes I was in there (although not sure if they were WPs or just wanderers...)

 

[Smackbum]

Was in SYD T2 QP last week (Friday morning) and they were enforcing it quite strictly and turned away a few people/groups trying to get during the 30 minutes I was in there (although not sure if they were WPs or just wanderers...)

Sorry esquire, you must be mistaken. Everyone knows that "anytime" lounge access for WP does not contribute to overcrowding - its those pesky QC members who fly Qantas a few times a year who are the real problem.

Sorry. Couldn't resist. Will do better next time.

 

[medhead]

Sorry esquire, you must be mistaken. Everyone knows that "anytime" lounge access for WP does not contribute to overcrowding - its those pesky QC members who fly Qantas a few times a year who are the real problem.

Sorry. Couldn't resist. Will do better next time.

Actually, I think most will agree that it is SG and/or WP travelling with Qantas that cause overcrowding at peak hours.

Anytime access happened so rarely, due to the need for lots of QF flying to even be a WP, that that couldn't be many people at any one time. Similarly paid QC travel so rarely that they couldn't be many people at any one time.

 

[Wannabee]

I was just waved through by me showing platinum card in SYD T3 J lounge

 

[JohnK]

I was just waved through by me showing platinum card in SYD T3 J lounge

I get this funny feeling that Anytime Access will continue in most lounges as staff will turn a blind eye to the revised guidelines.

For the most part Anytme Access to domestic business lounges was an unwritten benefit anyway. I used to go to the Qantas Lounge when not flying and advised by staff to use the business lounge facilities.

 

[nlagalle]

I get this funny feeling that Anytime Access will continue in most lounges as staff will turn a blind eye to the revised guidelines.

For the most part Anytme Access to domestic business lounges was an unwritten benefit anyway. I used to go to the Qantas Lounge when not flying and advised by staff to use the business lounge facilities.

I agree.. I've just flashed my card no questions asked.

 

[farstar]

Syd T3 Business lounge as has been said no scanning of cards but I guess they are less likely to get people trying to use anytime access than Syd T2 would.