Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[TonyHancock]

They have only been around a few years

According to the newsletter quoted by Mal, above, only since late 2007.

I only remember receiving one for the first time a year or so ago. (Mind you my memory is at best unreliable)

 

[toronto]

Are we in for another enhancement? (Has it already arrived?)

I did receive an express card last week when returning to Australia in Y.

Have you asked to provide one? I asked 2 days ago on my flight from Fiji (QF) and was rejected.

 

[TonyHancock]

Have you asked to provide one? I asked 2 days ago on my flight from Fiji (QF) and was rejected.

Certainly for at least the last year I have been offered an express card on all of my Y and Y+ returns to Australia. (About 8 trips)

 

[straitman]

Have you asked to provide one? I asked 2 days ago on my flight from Fiji (QF) and was rejected.

Did they offer an explanation?

 

[dajop]

Have you asked to provide one? I asked 2 days ago on my flight from Fiji (QF) and was rejected.

Hang on a minute. QF don't fly to Fiji. They codeshare on services operated by Air Pacific (& Jetstar?). You don't get onboard QF benefits on codeshares, so I am not surprised.

 

[Archphoto]

They have only been around a few years

Was a short WP life - about 4.5 years.

And I do miss them - SYD is a nightmare to clear at the best of times, let alone when they're filming "Border Security"!:shock:

 

[simongr]

Archphoto - dont you use the smartgates and/or duty free to get express immigration? Quarantine is another matter though...

 

[Archphoto]

Archphoto - dont you use the smartgates and/or duty free to get express immigration? Quarantine is another matter though...

Have used smart gates in the past, but quarantine is the killer!!:evil: Luckily I've got 3 very precious ones left, and this time, I'm connecting with QF81 SYD-ADL, so don't need to use one. ADL INTL isn't that busy.

Funnily enough, I was only ever given an outbound pass once - when the connection for a NRT flight was really tight. Wish I'd known about those before - ADL *never* gave them out, but when I make WP again, I'll know to ask the intl connection gate for one.

 

[toronto]

Did they offer an explanation?

Yes saying have no idea about this sort of passes.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Yes saying have no idea about this sort of passes.

Yes, but which airline was it? It wasn't QF, as QF doesn't fly there, as another poster has pointed out. Were you flying on Air Pacific?

 

[toronto]

Yes, but which airline was it? It wasn't QF, as QF doesn't fly there, as another poster has pointed out. Were you flying on Air Pacific?

Air Pacific

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Air Pacific

That's not QANTAS, so I'm not sure why you expect to get the pass.

on a different note: was in J on QF6 last Friday - no passes for anyone. Thankfully not needed as immigration and quarantine were dead.

To be honest, I find that they help very little at Quarantine. If you get stuck behind a plane from some exotic location, you end up queuing anyway (and maybe jsut avoid the screening bit)

 

[simongr]

I am finding that quarantine hasnt been as bad as it was. Last week coming in from the UK I was sent to the express lane where you just have to put bags on the floor to be sniffed so no Xray - very quick.

 

[TonyHancock]

I am finding that quarantine hasnt been as bad as it was. Last week coming in from the UK I was sent to the express lane where you just have to put bags on the floor to be sniffed so no Xray - very quick.

MEL has been great of late. In Feb, returning from the UK, with just carry on I managed 19 minutes from landing to getting into a taxi.

Last week it was 30 minutes with checked luggage.

The express lane through quarantine has been good to me.

 

[beardoc]

I am finding that quarantine hasnt been as bad as it was. Last week coming in from the UK I was sent to the express lane where you just have to put bags on the floor to be sniffed so no Xray - very quick.

I flew in on QF12 from LAX last week in Y and from the time hitting arriving at the SmartGate entry to clearing customs was only 10 minutes! I was amazed. I had an Express Pass, but didn't use it as I wasn't eligible (I had ticked "Yes" for some of the questions on my arrival card).

But I was amazed. And I have a spare express card now for next time.

 

[bossreggie]

QF30 on Sunday night. About 20 minutes from landing to sitting in my car. That's with checked baggage. No X-Ray or anything. I have probably 50 or so Express Arrival cards. 9 times out of 10 I'm the first off the plane so I hardly ever have to give the pass up.

 

[drewbles]

QF30 on Sunday night. About 20 minutes from landing to sitting in my car. That's with checked baggage. No X-Ray or anything. I have probably 50 or so Express Arrival cards. 9 times out of 10 I'm the first off the plane so I hardly ever have to give the pass up.

I'm with bossreggie here. I've had a stellar run at MEL recently.

Arriving around 2215 the other night on a QR flight (QR30 ironically enough) I was from plane to taxi in less than 20 minutes. That included my friend who had to declare some items. I had a stash of QF Express cards, and there was zero need to use them. Bag was off quickly (which was shocking for MEL), and no queue to exit (QR was the only flight in at that time). I was ushered straight to exit, no x-ray, and friend was 5 minutes behind me.

Even when the queues are long, i've found they move pretty quickly. You have to hide the express cards these days, they have roaming people stamping your customs declaration card that are very willing to relieve you of said card.

 

[burrco]

Even when the queues are long, i've found they move pretty quickly. You have to hide the express cards these days, they have roaming people stamping your customs declaration card that are very willing to relieve you of said card.

Agree with this. I was off QF30 Thursday last week, after a long wait for luggage, was waived through the exit - was basically at the door when a staff member spotted the express pass and took it off me.

So my advice (not sure how it relates to anytime access!) is don't fall for my rookie mistake - unless needed always have the express pass out of sight.

 

[Beulah]

its sound nice. have a try..

 

[Ewing]

Air Pacific

I've only flown FJ a few times, but each time when checking in for my outbound flight I've been given both an outbound and inbound express card.

Like others here, I keep them out of sight anyway and only use them if I need to. I keep a few in my passport wallet