Qantas Domestic Lounges from 15/06/23 Guests Must be Travelling on Qantas/Partner Airline

[Austman]

I hope it's a change to the International lounges. That probably does need simplifying.

But for the domestic lounges?

Non-flying guests are part of the purchase price of a paid QP membership.

I doubt those members would be happy. They have paid for it!

 

[Princess Fiona]

I hope it's a change to the International lounges. That probably does need simplifying.

But for the domestic lounges?

Non-flying guests are part of the purchase price of a paid QP membership.

I doubt those members would be happy. They have paid for it!

It can’t be a change to the International lounges.
You have to have a boarding pass to get Airside international.

 

[levelnine]

These threads always amuse me. Egoism is the philosophy of the frequent flyer.

Does it negatively affect me? Terrible job, Qantas.

Does it not negatively affect me? Amazing job, Qantas.

Where should the cut-off line for lounge access be? Right behind me.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Ab

If your family and friends are so important to spend that time with you (in an airline lounge...) - buy a ticket for them to fly with you!

Absurd and facetious.

 

[Austman]

It can’t be a change to the International lounges.
You have to have a boarding pass to get Airside international.

Yes I know.

But the International guest access rules are a bit complex. They probably could do with some simplification.

And QF had better update their join Qantas Club page, because it still has no restrictions on domestic guests. Paying for QP membership for a year and then not getting a paid benefit a month later?

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/the-qantas-club/join.html

"^ If you're flying Qantas, QantasLink or Jetstar you may bring one guest to join you in a Qantas Club domestic lounge"

 

[justinbrett]

What is the downside of allowing it? Airports on the whole I suspect generate more revenue from it

And that's why they do - parking, shops, F&B - it's all extra revenue for the airport. Downsides - extra burden on security screening. But obviously the pros are worth the cons to the airport.

There's a couple of airports in the US experimenting with passes for non-pax, like ONT.

Not Flying? These U.S. Airports Let You Pass Through Security as a Visitor

Remember when you could go through security without a boarding pass? At these U.S. airports, you now can.

www.afar.com

It's funny when US media describes our current setup as retro

I used to bring friends/family to the lounge back in the day - when the price of parking was less than the value of the F&B. Those days are long gone.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is this AJ's start of his final round of salvos at his customers before he sails off?
....

Basically too many frequent flyers with lounge access. WP is the new NB

 

[Milefest]

This is a significant weakening of the lounge proposition whether it affects you or not.

This is a benefit is paid for through loyalty or your QC membership fee, if lounge overcrowding is the problem, that's QFs problem to solve. Blaming customers for lounge yield mismanagement is the weakest form PR and will undoubtedly continue to damage QF's CSAT.

 

[Lynda2475]

The one and only time I tried to guest someone (a fellow AFFer) not flying on a QF flight into the J lounge at CBR following the AFF weekend in 2021, I was told they couldn't come in as weren't flying QF or a partner airline. So in practice i don't see how this change makes a difference since lounge dragons already weren't allowing it.

 

[justinbrett]

This is a significant weakening of the lounge proposition whether it affects you or not.

This is a benefit is paid for through loyalty or your QC membership fee, if lounge overcrowding is the problem, that's QFs problem to solve. Blaming customers for lounge yield mismanagement is the weakest form PR and will undoubtedly continue to damage QF's CSAT.

Although it could be worse...

 

[Milefest]

Perhaps we take a step back - why is any point beyond security accessible by non-travellers?

Why create compromise when you don't have to?

 

[Quickstatus]

if lounge overcrowding is the problem, that's QFs problem to solve

Seems like they are, if that is the reason.

 

[ThePW]

Qantas updates access rules for domestic & international lounges - Point Hacks

Domestic lounges will have a tighter guestlist when the changes take effect.

www.pointhacks.com.au

A poll at the bottom of the article shows around 78% of respondents (around 170 so far) don't mind the removal of the domestic lounge access for non-travellers. Also on the PH Facebook page, one of the top-liked comments on this news is positive on the change – "Good, it's too busy"

I guess it shows the 'general' sentiment around the news compared to here on AFF which is a different crowd.

 

[Airbumps]

I'm genuinely amazed that so many people are up in arms about this as, seemingly, they enjoy bringing their family into the lounge for coffee and hugs before a domestic flight. Melbourne is my domestic base and I can't think of a circumstance where my partner would park the car (at absurd cost), go through security, stand in line with a bunch of other travelers (and it appears their non traveling family members) for the benefit of having a free coffee. Maybe I need to find a new partner.....

While I respect your opinion, I don’t think it’s “gaming the system” when you are using a clearly published benefit.

Well, not from June 15 its not. It might be a drop in the ocean but those lounges are so full every little drip helps.

These threads always amuse me. Egoism is the philosophy of the frequent flyer.

Does it negatively affect me? Terrible job, Qantas.

Does it not negatively affect me? Amazing job, Qantas.

Where should the cut-off line for lounge access be? Right behind me.

Exactly - This is, IMHO the ultimate first world problem with the consequential, NIMBY responses.

 

[levelnine]

I'm genuinely amazed that so many people are up in arms about this as, seemingly, they enjoy bringing their family into the lounge for coffee and hugs before a domestic flight. Melbourne is my domestic base and I can't think of a circumstance where my partner would park the car (at absurd cost), go through security, stand in line with a bunch of other travelers (and it appears their non traveling family members) for the benefit of having a free coffee. Maybe I need to find a new partner.....

Actually, your response is the exact type of response I find laughable.

You are amazed that people are up in arms at this change, then base that surprise on your own personal experience, seemingly unable to imagine other people in other circumstances finding the benefit useful.

 

[serfty]

The one and only time I tried to guest someone (a fellow AFFer) not flying on a QF flight into the J lounge at CBR following the AFF weekend in 2021, I was told they couldn't come in as weren't flying QF or a partner airline. So in practice i don't see how this change makes a difference since lounge dragons already weren't allowing it.

That was December during COVID and Qantas were restricting lounge access at that time. Subsequently thay went back to pre covid rules.

I joined the Qantas Club in 1994 and guesting was by way of the 10 passes they provided each year or you could purchase an annual guest card (for $150 IIRC).

Of course, as a contrast to era's, back then QP membership provided arrivals access.

 

[Airbumps]

Actually, your response is the exact type of response I find laughable.

You are amazed that people are up in arms at this change, then base that surprise on your own personal experience, seemingly unable to imagine other people in other circumstances finding the benefit useful.

Correct. I base my surprise on my own personal experience. What really surprises me however is the quantity of people on here who seem to highly value this benefit. So yeah, I'm surprised. But also pleased with the rule change. As it appears are the majority of people (according to the PH poll anyway).

 

[Lynda2475]

Well ive only guested family and friends flying on the same flight since and the QF lounge dragons have insisted on seeing and scanning boarding passes of everyone - so if they went back to pre-covid rules why do they need to scan guest boarding passes?

And I took had a paid Qantas Club membership (still have 23 months left on it) before becoming Gold then Platinum.

Anyway Im fine with limiting guess access to people actually flying QF or partner airlines.

 

[pauly7]

Isn't that what happens now?

I thought same! Didn’t even know this was a thing. Never used, never would use, had no idea even existed.

 

[33kft]

Never used, never would use, had no idea even existed

My thought too, but I also think that anyone with lifetime status ought to get a little nervous whenever these sorts of things change. It's a slippery slope.