Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[beardoc]

I suspect that they might be getting around to using the scanners finally. I had my boarding pass, but just walked into the BNE lounge without offering it - only my card. Was asked for my boarding pass, and mentioned that I had used OLCI. The desk attendant then mentioned that if I did this again, I should put my card under the scanner at the desk, and she did so. It flashed green, and she let me though.

This was the first time that I had someone suggest I use the scanner, and even went to the effort of providing me with a short tutorial.

In short, I think the anytime access is going to end soon - they're going to start enforcing through the use of the scanners.

 

[samiam]

In short, I think the anytime access is going to end soon - they're going to start enforcing through the use of the scanners.

I think the rate-limiting step to this might be, as mentioned by an earlier poster, the potential for queues at the busier lounges.

Perhaps eventually they will introduce a sliding door similar to CL, and you will swipe your card to enter- naturally the door will have to close with arm-amputating speed in order to prevent you from bringing the tribe in with you, and abusing this privilege.

There will be no need in the future to police the front desk - the QF staffers will be enhanced!

 

[medhead]

Well Adelaide QP was an absolute mess this morning. It is actually better to have a BP here as the QFF card is greeted by blank stares. I scanned it twice and got the green light but the staff were trying to see things on their screens. GREEN LIGHT people! 5 am and I was pretty terse with the staff.

Then when I tried to board it wouldn't accept the card. Apparently I failed to encode. The service desk then printed me a BP. I'm fighting the paranoia to think the lounge dragons had something to do with that.

What a joke. Train your staff qantas.

Imagine if I could just fly?

 

[serfty]

FWIW, AirNZ have installed chip/BP readers at their international and major domestic ports.

All entering must scan and scores of bright green lights flash to allow access (or Red to deny).

 

[simongr]

Two visits to both MEL and SYD last week - no scanning of the card. At MEL I waited to get them to scan the card on Tue evening - as they were about to take my card they said "so you're checking in then?" - when I said I was checked in already they didnt even take the card off me. This was with one guest on Friday as well...

 

[TonyHancock]

MEL today: Just flashed the WP card at the main entranced and carried on walking. Other folk were at the counter being helped so the chap behind the counter just nodded.

In the J lounge the lady behind the counter was on the phone and had a passenger at the desk. Just waived the WP card and she nodded.

 

[whughes3]

You get the distinct impression that the lounge staff have observed with their own eyes that the change has made negligible difference to lounge usage, and just can't be bothered creating a lot of aggro for no purpose.

 

[Danger]

You get the distinct impression that the lounge staff have observed with their own eyes that the change has made negligible difference to lounge usage, and just can't be bothered creating a lot of aggro for no purpose.

That's an interesting observation. Presumably, the change removing anytime lounge access was made by those higher up than lounge staff suggesting, therefore, that if 'lounge overcrowding' is an issue, they've been advised of such by lounge staff. However, if lounge staff are doing as is being reported by many flyers here than overcrowding obviously isn't an issue. If it was surely we'd be seeing a very diligent approach to all entry entitlements (ie. guests, children, arrivals etc.). But we're not.

This is just more evidence that overcrowding was merely a line we were fed by Red Roo.

 

[straitman]

This is just more evidence that overcrowding was merely a line we were fed by Red Roo.

.... and Qantas management as a whole.

 

[JohnPhelan]

This is just more evidence that overcrowding was merely a line we were fed by Red Roo.

I think that's unfair - there is definitely a problem with overcrowding in certain lounges. And I fully support moves to ease that, so people have sufficient room. Whether the change to WP anytime access was a useful way to achieve this, though, is what's in doubt.

I suspect that what is happening is that, if a particular lounge is crowded, the staff on the desk may well then start checking boarding passes or scanning cards. If there aren't many people in the lounge, they probably don't bother.

I also suspect that they are more likely to check your credentials if it looks like you are not flying (or if they see a SQ boarding pass sticking out of your pocket!)

 

[Danger]

I think that's unfair . . .

Okay. You've raised some good points. Call me a cynic but I still can't help but feel as though we've been fed a line though.

 

[medhead]

Okay. You've raised some good points. Call me a cynic but I still can't help but feel as though we've been fed a line though.

Probably have been given a line on the overcrowding. But that seems to be the management way. It is probably more fair to say that they (QF management) want to "stop giving a free kick" to the competition. That was even stated to be the case early on. The overcrowding thing was probably a minor additional point that has been given primary focus as it looks like management is trying to help, rather than like they are calling all WPs freeloaders.

 

[straitman]

It is probably more fair to say that they (QF management) want to "stop giving a free kick" to the competition. That was even stated to be the case early on.

From where I'm sitting it appears to have done exactly the opposite in that some people have become annoyed at QF and have started flying the opposition more. ie QF management have given a free kick to the opposition by implementing this policy.

 

[TonyHancock]

I suspect that what is happening is that, if a particular lounge is crowded, the staff on the desk may well then start checking boarding passes or scanning cards. If there aren't many people in the lounge, they probably don't bother.

The peak periods would be a nightmare for lounge staff. Are members really going to wait in line.......or are they more likely to just flash the card and walk through when staff are busy scanning and checking?

 

[simongr]

I think also you have to consider that a lot of the comments re flash the card are from SYD and MEL where flying DJ and using the QP is just bloody hard work so it is less likely to be the "free kickers" that are the problem and the overcrowding is a fact of life so enforcement may not be optimal.

Conversely the dragons at ADL probably see more DJers given shared terminals (is that correct - just a guess on my part).

 

[medhead]

Conversely the dragons at ADL probably see more DJers given shared terminals (is that correct - just a guess on my part).

That's probably a fair assessment for ADL. I've only used ATA there once and they were very sensitive to the virgin word. That came up as I had only just become a WP and didn't have a card. The other place is SYD T2 and I recall one report that the lounge was checking there as well.

 

[Princess Fiona]

That's probably a fair assessment for ADL. I've only used ATA there once and they were very sensitive to the virgin word. That came up as I had only just become a WP and didn't have a card. The other place is SYD T2 and I recall one report that the lounge was checking there as well.

I would agree with you on T2 they breed a different type of dragon there. Always have done even prior to removal of anytime access. Never seen anyone waved past them with their card ( QP/ SG)

 

[JohnK]

From where I'm sitting it appears to have done exactly the opposite in that some people have become annoyed at QF and have started flying the opposition more. ie QF management have given a free kick to the opposition by implementing this policy.

Totally agree. QF thought they could save $1 but ended up losing more than they bargained.

In my experience, for what it is worth, the lounges have been eerily empty for the past 5-6 months. Anyone wonder why there are 1-2 domestic sales every week?

I think also you have to consider that a lot of the comments re flash the card are from SYD and MEL where flying DJ and using the QP is just bloody hard work so it is less likely to be the "free kickers" that are the problem and the overcrowding is a fact of life so enforcement may not be optimal.

To be fair BNE is just as easy if not easier than SYD and DJ and QF are not that far away in BNE.

My observation, have not been to ADL recently, has been that the staff are turning a blind eye to it.

Need to remember that the staff are not always on management's side.

 

[medhead]

From where I'm sitting it appears to have done exactly the opposite in that some people have become annoyed at QF and have started flying the opposition more. ie QF management have given a free kick to the opposition by implementing this policy.

I agree that there is a big difference between what management wanted and what they have achieved.

I would agree with you on T2 they breed a different type of dragon there. Always have done even prior to removal of anytime access. Never seen anyone waved past them with their card ( QP/ SG)

I must have lucky as they have waved me in on a WP card flash ATA existed. In fact, they were even rather nice about looking up my status when I was flying TT once.

 

[ajw373]

...

In my experience, for what it is worth, the lounges have been eerily empty for the past 5-6 months. Anyone wonder why there are 1-2 domestic sales every week?
...

Their recently announced financial performance figures would seem to counter what you are trying to infer. Domestic is 1 arm of Qantas that is actually doing really well.