Qantas Club disappoints

[VA777]

I have been a QC member since 1988 and have a very low QFF number. Over the last few years I moved my business to VA more due to my disillusionment with QF. I know VA is not perfect.

Whilst in the last month I have had a couple of trips on QF (only option or Rex) the QC lounge in SYD was a good experience (TMW as a regional lounge was good), I have let my QC membership lapse.

Received the follow up letter wanting $510 for 1 year. Whilst I have kept the QC membership for the last couple of years as a "security blanket" for a couple of flights a year, I no longer see the value for me.

What I found interesting in the letter was the following:

"access to Qantas Club, Qantas International Business Lounges, partner airline and associated lounges worldwide for your comfort and convenience"

This sounds very impressive, but not that great in reality.

Also issues with LAX, issues when flying Emirates and access to lounges. Cairns international lounge no longer exists (use to use that a lot travelling to NRT).

 

[JohnK]

Sorry to hear your about your issues waltervp!

Interesting why you chose the JQ international flight CNS-MEL and not the JQ domestic flight CNS-MEL. Both connect to same MEL-DPO flight leaving ~3 hours longer transit in MEL?

 

[tomo69]

The CNS international lounge doesn't give access to JQ unless you have purchased a bundle - it appears its not actually by QF.

Do you need to purchase a bundle if you've paid the extra by booking through the Qantas website?

I've noticed in a recent booking of mine that I can't even select a seat on a JQ flight without logging into Jetstar site and paying extra!

 

[waynemerry]

I've noticed in a recent booking of mine that I can't even select a seat on a JQ flight without logging into Jetstar site and paying extra!

I think the QF site really is quite silly when it comes to JQ flights. Everytime I look, the JQ site is cheaper for a Starter Fare, and then you can't bundle in a Plus. Those things are high margin products, it amazes me that JQ have not yet been able to amaze the amazing QF IT team to get this upselling feature onto the QF booking engine whenever someone is willing to select a JQ flight.

Sometimes, a JQ flight on the QF site is necessary, eg as a connection.

 

[tomo69]

I think the QF site really is quite silly when it comes to JQ flights. Everytime I look, the JQ site is cheaper for a Starter Fare, and then you can't bundle in a Plus. Those things are high margin products, it amazes me that JQ have not yet been able to amaze the amazing QF IT team to get this upselling feature onto the QF booking engine whenever someone is willing to select a JQ flight.

Sometimes, a JQ flight on the QF site is necessary, eg as a connection.

True, and in this case it was convenient time that led me to book. I incorrectly assumed booking on the QF site it would be a code share arrangement and SC's would I be earned and status benefits such as luggage allowance and seat selection would apply.

You live and learn !

 

[medhead]

Do you need to purchase a bundle if you've paid the extra by booking through the Qantas website?

I've noticed in a recent booking of mine that I can't even select a seat on a JQ flight without logging into Jetstar site and paying extra!

Yes you need to purchase the bundle extra. This can be added, in theory, by calling jetstar.

I think the QF site really is quite silly when it comes to JQ flights. Everytime I look, the JQ site is cheaper for a Starter Fare, and then you can't bundle in a Plus. Those things are high margin products, it amazes me that JQ have not yet been able to amaze the amazing QF IT team to get this upselling feature onto the QF booking engine whenever someone is willing to select a JQ flight.

Sometimes, a JQ flight on the QF site is necessary, eg as a connection.

It costs extra on the Qantas website because checked baggage is included. In every example I've seen the price difference between the Qantas website and Jetstar website has been about the cost of checked baggage.

True, and in this case it was convenient time that led me to book. I incorrectly assumed booking on the QF site it would be a code share arrangement and SC's would I be earned and status benefits such as luggage allowance and seat selection would apply.

You live and learn !

You should get luggage.

 

[tomo69]

Yes you need to purchase the bundle extra. This can be added, in theory, by calling jetstar.



It costs extra on the Qantas website because checked baggage is included. In every example I've seen the price difference between the Qantas website and Jetstar website has been about the cost of checked baggage.



You should get luggage.

Sure you get luggage, 1x 20kg. As SG usual allowance is 2x32kg. Not that it is an issue this time. My point is that when booking on a parent airline website I would have thought those rules apply.

If in the case of a connection this could prove difficult for some but now that I'm more educated I'll be aware so I can make a better choice next time.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

If in the case of a connection this could prove difficult for some but now that I'm more educated I'll be aware so I can make a better choice next time.

Whatever you book thru the QF website still needs to fall in the category of what JQ would normally do if it was booked direct with them.

Eg if you booked BNE JQ SYD QF/JQ HNL nil thru check of bags but if it's BNE QF SYD QF/JQ HNL bags will be thru checked if in same booking.

The above refers to whose metal you will be on so BNE/SYD can't be JQ metal booked as a QF codeshare.

 

[waltervp]

Today i was at the singapore T1 Qantas.clb lounge where they told me i would be welcome if they were actually open despite being on a Jetstar ticket/plane. In the past I've been refused on the grounds that international jetstar tickets never have lounge access outside of Australia. My biggest gripe is that i never know if they'll let me in these days. And the disappointment is what gets me upset. Especially given you walk for miles around terminals looking for it and wasting precious transit time. After 22yrs of being a member i hate to give it up even though for me it is clearly not worth it anymore and they frustrate me to no end . Only reason i justify the cost is for my complicated medical situation. ... rant over again. ...

 

[BD1959]

Today i was at the singapore T1 Qantas.clb lounge where they told me i would be welcome if they were actually open despite being on a Jetstar ticket/plane. In the past I've been refused on the grounds that international jetstar tickets never have lounge access outside of Australia. My biggest gripe is that i never know if they'll let me in these days. And the disappointment is what gets me upset.

Hi waltervp,

There should be no doubt as to your access rights at Singapore when flying Jetstar. The Access Rules are quite explicit on the QF Website.

How are you looking to access the Lounge: status or QC membership?

Regards,

BD

 

[Ausbt]

And what is the benefit of being a frequent flier, when even when I was Silver a few years ago and flying with 6 other family members from London to Bangkok all of my family got (mostly Bronze) upgraded to business class but not me! This caused lots of bad feelings.

Seriously that would be annoying, I feel your pain over that one. Recall a while back I got upgraded on Q to PE and my wife wasn't (at check in, anyway). The following two hours was a little strained, but the gate agent saved me when her upgrade finally appeared. Anyway, hope you are on speaking terms with family now!

 

[waltervp]

Yes, very explicit correct. But once when flying frm cairns to devonport on a qantas ticket i was routed on an international jetstar segment from cairns int. to mel despite me being fully domestic. I was not allowed into the cairns int. Airport Qantas club lounge. That really got my knickers in the knot, plus i had to pay fire a meal on the jetstar segment and juggle my luggage from melb. Intermarriage to recheck into domestic. Being diabetic amongst one if my issues that was my worst experience ... Anyways; i am a paying QC member and not status. In fact i have been flying emirates, and etihad and been super happy.

 

[SpudOz]

Today i was at the singapore T1 Qantas.clb lounge where they told me i would be welcome if they were actually open despite being on a Jetstar ticket/plane. In the past I've been refused on the grounds that international jetstar tickets never have lounge access outside of Australia. My biggest gripe is that i never know if they'll let me in these days. And the disappointment is what gets me upset. Especially given you walk for miles around terminals looking for it and wasting precious transit time. After 22yrs of being a member i hate to give it up even though for me it is clearly not worth it anymore and they frustrate me to no end . Only reason i justify the cost is for my complicated medical situation. ... rant over again. ...

I regularly fly JQi in and out of Singapore and have never been denied access to QP, even when I was a lowly PS with paid membership. In fact, I plan the flights based on the QP opening at 14:30.

 

[BD1959]

Yes, very explicit correct.

So I suggest the next time you're flying any of the listed Jetstar franchises out of SIN, I suggest that you take along a printed copy of the QF website so that you can have an informed discussion and hopefully avoid disappointment - though others don't appear to be having access issues.

But once when flying frm cairns to devonport on a qantas ticket i was routed on an international jetstar segment from cairns int. to mel despite me being fully domestic. I was not allowed into the cairns int. Airport Qantas club lounge. That really got my knickers in the knot

I haven't used the International Terminal at Cairns but I thought there was no QC in the International Terminal; that the Domestic Terminal QC served both? Regardless, again you should have had access based upon QC membership - in much the same way as you would at ADL.

plus i had to pay fire a meal on the jetstar segment and juggle my luggage from melb. Intermarriage to recheck into domestic.

...which is all pretty standard when flying JQ. When you say you were "routed": was this the ticketed route or were you accommodated as a result of QF IRROPS?

Anyways; i am a paying QC member and not status. In fact i have been flying emirates, and etihad and been super happy.

What Lounge access do you get flying Etihad? ... or Emirates ex Australia?

Regards,

BD

 

[mannej]

Hi waltervp,

There should be no doubt as to your access rights at Singapore when flying Jetstar. The Access Rules are quite explicit on the QF Website.

How are you looking to access the Lounge: status or QC membership?

Regards,

BD

I think the issue was the opening time of the SIN Lounge (Yes I am reading between the lines), not the eligibility of the member.

 

[waltervp]

It just annoys me that status access is so different from paid membership lounge access. I always seem to misread and misinterpret and end up bwing disappointed. I used to be platinum for a decade plus but now just pay - which makes lounge acess denial even more annoying. ...

 

[medhead]

I was not allowed into the cairns int. Airport Qantas club lounge.

I haven't used the International Terminal at Cairns but I thought there was no QC in the International Terminal; that the Domestic Terminal QC served both? Regardless, again you should have had access based upon QC membership - in much the same way as you would at ADL.

the international lounge in Cairns is not a Qantass Club, but used to be one. It's called the reef lounge or something like that, and is used by JQ, CX and a few others. If you buy a JQ bundle giving lounge access then you can use that lounge. Qantas status and Club is completely irrelevant.

The Domestic Qantas club should be available in Cairns. But there is a bit of a walk between terminals. Unlike Adl. Basically to use it would require check in 2-3 hours before the JQ flight, wlak to domestic, do security, go to lounge, walk back to international, do security. The cairns qantas club was pretty average last time I used it, I'd rather spend time at a coffee shop on the esplanade, myself.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I used to be platinum for a decade plus but now just pay - which makes lounge access denial even more annoying. ...

If you were QF Platinum for a decade you should have almost enough SCs for Lifetime Gold status??

Cheers skip

 

[Limewood]

"I'd rather spend time at a coffee shop on the esplanade, myself"

I'd be at Mondo's myself

The CX lounge is old and very ordinary...

 

[waltervp]

Let me rephrase that... i was complimentary QC for a decade or more but not platinum. ..

I only really need lounge access for clean barhroom shower access where i need to do medicine like inhaling meds into my lungs for 20 minutes and inject etc.... just not lossible in piblic loos Plus diabetes requirements are.perfectly.matched in lounge and hard to meet in cafes... just convenient.... and not sure how SCs work but now i only have 20... almost even avoiding qantas. Before I'd pay extra to fly woth them but the disappointments frustrate me so much.