Q Business Lounges (MEL, SYD, BNE)

[thegurio]

Bloody hell - I was campaigning to QANTAS to introduce a barista fulltime in the QP - now I find that it's only going to be for F/J/WP passengers. Given I don't drink, but I enjoy a good coffee any time, I'm disappointed.

Well there always is the option of paying 3 times the price for a decent coffee - now I'm as much as a caffiene addict as the next guy who can't live without their coffee but even i can't justify that, and i can justify most things!

 

[Dave Noble]

Bloody hell - I was campaigning to QANTAS to introduce a barista fulltime in the QP - now I find that it's only going to be for F/J/WP passengers. Given I don't drink, but I enjoy a good coffee any time, I'm disappointed.

Time to get yaself One World Sapphire or QF Platinum

Dave

 

[beardoc]

Time to get yaself One World Sapphire or QF Platinum

Dave

Yes. If only.

 

[Dave Noble]

Yes. If only.

I dunno... a quick candy steal does the trick

Dave

 

[Will]

Time to get yaself One World Sapphire or QF Platinum

Dave

Did you mean OWE? Or is OWS going to get access to the domestic J lounges?

 

[Dave Noble]

Did you mean OWE? Or is OWS going to get access to the domestic J lounges?

Under OW lounge admission rules, Sapphire OW members are entitled to access to the business class lounge of any OW carrier when travelling on any OW carrier

The new BUSINESS lounges are , by definition, business class lounges and so OWS should have access

Dave

 

[Will]

Under OW lounge admission rules, Sapphire OW members are entitled to access to the business class lounge of any OW carrier when travelling on any OW carrier

The new BUSINESS lounges are , by definition, business class lounges and so OWS should have access

Dave

So then QF SG should get access as OWS? The promo material for the lounges seems to indicate that access is restricted to WP/OWE/J though.

Is QF going to take the AA path and disadvantage its own premium members compared to other Oneworld status holders?

 

[JohnK]

I don't believe QF Gold or Oneworld Sapphire will have access to new business lounges in SYD, MEL and BNE. From the email sent by Qantas on 8 October 2007. That is my bolding

From mid 2008 we will also be opening Business Lounges across our domestic network for the exclusive use of Business Class travellers and Platinum members. Business Lounges are currently scheduled for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

 

[Dave Noble]

So then QF SG should get access as OWS? The promo material for the lounges seems to indicate that access is restricted to WP/OWE/J though.

Is QF going to take the AA path and disadvantage its own premium members compared to other Oneworld status holders?

QFF members do not get benefits via OW status, only by their QFF membership. QF can happily restrict access to not allow QF Gold members into the lounge

Under OW benefits as stated in the OW timetable,

"Sapphire Status gives you access (with one guest) to all Business Class/Frequent Flyer lounges regardless of the class you are travelling in"

I cannot see how they can not permit other OW Sapphire members into the lounge.

The fact that they are not advertising this does not suggest to me that they will not permit OWS access, in fact I wouldn't expect them to advertise it an rub their own members noses in it, but I cannot see how they could refuse access under OW agreements, especially since QF are even calling it a Business lounge.

Dave

 

[Mal]

The new BUSINESS lounges are , by definition, business class lounges and so OWS should have access

Perhaps they will mark them as 'private' lounges and thus deny entry, except to those they want in there. Perfectly valid under the oneworld rules. If they then push the members off to the Qantas Club lounge, then I don't know what recourse anyone has.

 

[NM]

Perhaps they will mark them as 'private' lounges and thus deny entry, except to those they want in there. Perfectly valid under the oneworld rules. If they then push the members off to the Qantas Club lounge, then I don't know what recourse anyone has.

Or perhaps they will claim the new lounge is a Business Lounge and not a Business Class Lounge :shock:

 

[Dave Noble]

Perhaps they will mark them as 'private' lounges and thus deny entry, except to those they want in there. Perfectly valid under the oneworld rules. If they then push the members off to the Qantas Club lounge, then I don't know what recourse anyone has.

As it currently stands, they are advertising them as business lounges

Dave

 

[simongr]

The Admirals club is not described as a Business Lounge, Business Class Lounge, Premium Lounge, Special People's Lounge or Snookums Little Hideaway but this does not escape it being used as the Business Class lounge for OWS to access.

I agree that DN is factually correct that QF in theory should provide access to OWS (albeit with a caveat that their own OWS can only access it if travelling Business Class like the AA exceptions for its own OWS) - however I would expect that you will get some BA like dragons who wont know the intricacies of the rules and will unilaterally deny access...

Though the proof of the pubbing is in the drinking...

 

[Groundfeeder]

Seems we've strayed from thread that the "new improved" F/J/WP Lounges etc, BNE in particular, are reducing the existing QP lounge areas up to 50% from QC fee payers to accommodate the chosen ones.

I don't wish to barge into existing fights but to gain and maintain SG/WP one needs to do frequent international flights. Should there be some capacity to widen the INT QP's to accommodate the chosen ones rather than deduct space from those, like me and presumably many others, who fly regular DOM flights.

Those SG/WP who have paid previous QP membership do not need to reply.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I don't wish to barge into existing fights but to gain and maintain SG/WP one needs to do frequent international flights. Should there be some capacity to widen the INT QP's to accommodate the chosen ones rather than deduct space from those, like me and presumably many others, who fly regular DOM flights.

Well, firstly, I think you'll find there's a mix of different SGs/WPs. Certainly you don't need to do "frequent" international flights to maintain SG. SYD/MEL return (40SCs) * 15 trips is enough to maintain SG.

The new lounges are to cater for J class passengers (who, until recently, didn't get lounge access at all) and WPs. SGs will still have to hang out with the QP members.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Perhaps they will mark them as 'private' lounges and thus deny entry, except to those they want in there. Perfectly valid under the oneworld rules. If they then push the members off to the Qantas Club lounge, then I don't know what recourse anyone has.

Yes - I suspect that this is the way it will be: J pax/OWE/WP in the new lounges, and QP/OWS/SG in the QP.

But, you never know. We'll have to wait to see what happens.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Yes, I always love these arguments - everyone thinks that they have the right to be there, but others are either freeloaders or CUBs.

So do I

That said, when someone is paying $150 (tax deductible) or less to get into the QP, then I do begin to wonder if QANTAS is being a bit generous.

I realise that want to keep corporate customers (and cheap QP helps with that), but that sort of pric surely is leading to some overcrowding.

I realise that others are paying significantly more, especially less frequent traveller at companies that don't have big QF spend. At those higher rates, I don't begrudge anyone access to facilities.

 

[Evan]

I am in both camps at the moment. I have status so not so worried, but i do worry a little since i have a lifetime QP membership that i don't want to see the value diluted too much. I guess it matters little since my QP membership was mainly purchased for long haul whY flying (showers etc)

I keep an open mind until i see what changes are planned.

E

 

[Dave Noble]

Yes - I suspect that this is the way it will be: J pax/OWE/WP in the new lounges, and QP/OWS/SG in the QP.

But, you never know. We'll have to wait to see what happens.

Conversely I expect , in order to comply with OW benefits, QF Platinum/OWE/OWS (other than QF Gold) permitted in the new lounges and QF Platinum/QF Gold/QF Qantas Club/AA Admirals Club/OWE/OWS permitted in the Qantas Clubs

Dave

 

[munitalP]

Oh lordy lordy lordy - the sooner QF open the Platinum lounges the better - BNE Friday night, feeding time at the zoo....

Call me a snob, but just for once I wish that QF operated first class domestic flights

Mr! (unhappy again)