Q Business Lounges (MEL, SYD, BNE)

[beardoc]

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)

Again, I think everyone wants as much as they can for as little as possible, and doesn't want to share with anyone else. It's like everyone treats the QP as their "binky".

I think again, as Groundfeeder mentioned earlier - the issue is that QANTAS are essentially improving the experience for QF Plat/Business Class, but doing it AT THE EXPENSE of other people (QF Gold and below, and paying QP members). I am in the latter group (no surprise) and I'm not overly worried that there is a new Business lounge, but I am worried that the will be no new improvements to the standard QP lounges, and as evidenced by the MEL and BNE lounges. That's what's frustrating.

 

[munitalP]

I wasn't taking a shot at anyone in particular - I was using a scatter gun!

I guess I am a snob - I fly a lot and as a platinum flyer I expect service - seeing a line 45 people long waiting for warm food is a disgrace and as my previous post mentioned - I can't wait for my lounge to open

Mr!

 

[beardoc]

I wasn't taking a shot at anyone in particular - I was using a scatter gun!

I guess I am a snob - I fly a lot and as a platinum flyer I expect service - seeing a line 45 people long waiting for warm food is a disgrace and as my previous post mentioned - I can't wait for my lounge to open

Mr!

Yes, and QANTAS would be quite happy with you feeling that way, as it makes you feel special when there's a new lounge you can access.

But isn't the problem that QANTAS has not upgraded the food/facilities sufficiently as their membership has burgeoned, rather than blaming the people that have either purchased membership or paid for it through their flights (i.e. status members). Remember that QANTAS isn't doing us a favour in providing a lounge - it's a business technique for encouraging people to bring all their flights to QANTAS, as they provide something extra that you want. If you were to consider just "trying out" DJ on a flight, you'd have second thoughts, as you have QP access and you know that if you fly, then you won't have the lounge access when you fly, or you'll have to pay extra. Consequently, QANTAS gets ALL your travel, rather than having to compete on price alone.

I guess what I'm getting to is that we often whinge on here, but how many of us actually write to QANTAS and let them know how we feel about this? I already have. It will be interesting to see what response I get from them about it.

 

[aus_flyer]

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

They could of course ignore OW standards and exclude OWS..... BA kind of go against OW standards with the Concorde Room.
.

 

[Dave Noble]

They could of course ignore OW standards and exclude OWS..... BA kind of go against OW standards with the Concorde Room.
.

I doubt that they will

The Concorde Rooms are an anachronism but historically they were different since, when Concordes were being flown twice daily, 1st class passengers were not permitted to use the Concorde Rooms and did have to use the First Lounges. The rules subsequently changed but the lounge anomoly stayed

QF is starting with them being called Business Lounges and they will allow Business passengers, so I don;t see how they would justify prohibiting access to sapphire members of OW carriers

Dave

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Yes, and QANTAS would be quite happy with you feeling that way, as it makes you feel special when there's a new lounge you can access.

But isn't the problem that QANTAS has not upgraded the food/facilities sufficiently as their membership has burgeoned, rather than blaming the people that have either purchased membership or paid for it through their flights (i.e. status members).

I agree 100% here. Other than a few people who knows the ins/out and manage to make SG cheaply, I suspect the vast bulk of SG membership to have made QANTAS a decent amount of money via flexible Y or J flying on QANTAS. As well, other than the very cheap corporate memberships available to large purchasers, I suspect that there are quite a few QP memberships that were fully (or near to full) price.

Surely QANTAS should be upping the service, rather than creating new, more privileged lounges.

Alternatively, we shouldn't be falling for the trap.

I guess what I'm getting to is that we often whinge on here, but how many of us actually write to QANTAS and let them know how we feel about this? I already have. It will be interesting to see what response I get from them about it.

You make a good point. I'm going to send them a letter on Monday. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[serfty]

As a Qantas FF Gold, my Emerald status enabled me to access what became the T4 "Concorde Room" in 1998 (and 1997). Back then it was merely the "F" lounge.

 

[serfty]

I often smile when people refer to "Upgraded" facilities in QPs. The only situation that would make this happen would be for some real competition. ("The Lounge" won't be competition unless DJ can stitch up a lot more corporate deals)

FWIW, the catering these days is not a patch on what was available in the QP's and Golden Wings 'ere Ansett's demise.:-|

On the other hand it is certainly better than the catering circa 2002.

As a WP, I'll employ the "Business Lounges" and appreciate it. When I drop back to SG (as I expect to do sometime in the future) I'll employ the QP's and appreciate it.

 

[Chucksta]

If you have flown AA domestic in the USA and used the Admiral's Club, you will really appreciate how much better the QP are in Australia. (with the exception of the flagship lounges)

There is no food or free alcoholic drinks in the Admiral's Club. You also have to have a special password for WiFi access. All you get is pretzels and coffee/tea. You do however get drinks vouchers if you are from QFF, but you end up having to tip the bartender anyway.

All the above are provided free of charge by QF in their QPs.

It's strange how there is more competition in the USA, but the US airlines offer so much less than QF. I would have thought it would have been the opposite. The more competition, the more the airlines should be trying to out do each other.

Chucksta

 

[AnonymousCoward]

If you have flown AA domestic in the USA and used the Admiral's Club, you will really appreciate how much better the QP are in Australia. (with the exception of the flagship lounges)

There is no food or free alcoholic drinks in the Admiral's Club. You also have to have a special password for WiFi access. All you get is pretzels and coffee/tea.

It's strange how there is more competition in the USA, but the US airlines offer so much less than QF. I would have thought it would have been the opposite. The more competition, the more the airlines should be trying to out do each other.

Certainly true. but there are other airlines (I fly AS fairly regularly) that do offer drinks and some food, and free internet in some of their lounges.

I think the situation in the US is pretty much you get what you pay for. There are no cross-subsidies anymore. If you want anything extra of a legacy carrier in the US, you pay for it.

 

[markh]

I got told by the manager of Emporio (the jewellery retail store outside the BNE QP) that they are being kicked out of there because Qantas are taking over that area to expand the QP.

 

[NM]

If you have flown AA domestic in the USA and used the Admiral's Club, you will really appreciate how much better the QP are in Australia. (with the exception of the flagship lounges)

but the AAdmirals Club lounges are rarely crowded (with the exception of LAX T4 which is full of QF passengers).

(posted from DFW Termine C Admirals Club lounge using T-Mobile wifi via corporate global deal and drinking Perrier that was exchanged for a free drink voucher and no tip). At least I don't have to queue up at the toilets in the AC, and nobody sitting within 20 feet of the 9 chairs I have to myself.

 

[beardoc]

but the AAdmirals Club lounges are rarely crowded (with the exception of LAX T4 which is full of QF passengers).

(posted from DFW Termine C Admirals Club lounge using T-Mobile wifi via corporate global deal and drinking Perrier that was exchanged for a free drink voucher and no tip). At least I don't have to queue up at the toilets in the AC, and nobody sitting within 20 feet of the 9 chairs I have to myself.

I had a similar experience with the UA Mileage Plus International Lounge at SFO. Although I've never had to queue for toilets in a QP, although that might be because men don't spent as much time in there!

 

[coyote25]

Well it sounds like they might be expanding in BNE with some additional space but I think we all would benefit when the business lounge is open by getting back the total space we had before they started these works.

The smaller space in MEL, SYD and BNE has definitely been pushed with the fogged in planes over the past few weeks. The counter in BNE on Friday afternoon was totally overrun once there was more than 5 people (there were 20+ at one point) in the line and it was difficult to get to the entrance at one point.

By reducing space during these works newer QP members will think they have it better when the new business lounge is open as all those WP leave but really it's just back to 'normal' space (except maybe BNE). We'll see what happens with catering in the standard lounge.

By the way will we have a new way to describe the dom business lounge ie WQP

 

[AnonymousCoward]

but the AAdmirals Club lounges are rarely crowded (with the exception of LAX T4 which is full of QF passengers).

AAdmirals can certainly get crowded - especially the small ones (like Boston and SFO). I popped by the ORD AA club during peak hour and it was fairly busy too (but then told I could go around to the F lounge, which was empty but not very convenient to my gat).

DFW has large clubs, as befits a major AA hub. Are you there at a peak time?

 

[NM]

DFW has large clubs, as befits a major AA hub. Are you there at a peak time?

I was there from around 9:30am until 11am on Saturday morning, so not peak time. But never seen the DFW lounges busy.

Have spend several hours at LAX T4 lounge this afternoon. Most of the time you could count the guests on one hand. But its now 7:30pm and its starting to liven up a little.

 

[Febs]

I was there from around 9:30am until 11am on Saturday morning, so not peak time. But never seen the DFW lounges busy.

Likewise. I've been to each of the DFW AC's several times over the last 2 years, and never really found them to be busy. Helps that they're so big.

Ditto with the ORD Flounge...been a few times recently and found it to be practically empty.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[serfty]

... Ditto with the ORD Flounge...been a few times recently and found it to be practically empty. ...

Back in Nov, I arrive in ORD around 3pm, had until six so used the A/C showers etc before heading to the F/L. Arrived ~4pm and it was quite empty.

By 5pm it became rather crowded (leading up to the AA Europe flights).

 

[Groundfeeder]

Well it sounds like they might be expanding in BNE with some additional space but I think we all would benefit when the business lounge is open by getting back the total space we had before they started these works.

You think we're going to get something back in BNE???

Even if the Jewellers are disappeared, it will probably be in favour of the J/F lounge - they need bathrooms somewhere.

I can't really see large numbers of J/F/WP utilising the current blocked-off space that would relieve in any demonstrable fashion the crowded conditions that currently exist in the QP.

 

[simongr]

Hmm - this is a ll a little depressing. What started off as a great new lounge thing has now become a story of what QF are taking from some pax. I guess this comes down to QF's allocation of resources. The only silver lining is that for once the -ve impact is only one group and at least someone is actually benefiting from the enhancement - not just QF...