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

[AIRwin]

DJ (do we still call it that?)

VA unless you mean DJ = Discounted J?

 

[levelnine]

You're not alone. There was a disgruntled letter to the editor in the AFR this week: Letters: What’s happened to Qantas

 

[stm1sydney]

Sounds about right.

 

[leon_rex]

Bad joke isn’t it?
Sacking everyone, pinching the cash, golden handshakes. Gross.

 

[encryptededdy]

Curiously the Qantas Club T&Cs on the website have not been updated (as of today anyway): https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/the-qantas-club/terms-conditions.html

10.3 Guests in international Qantas Club lounges must be accompanied by the Member and must be travelling with the Member that day. Guests in Australian domestic Qantas Club lounges must be accompanied by the Member but need not be travelling.

emphasis mine.

You'd think they'd make sure they update the main T&C page on their website for the lounge membership product with such a large change...

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Hmm, had an interesting one at the SYD Domestic Business Lounge last weekend.

Me, Platinum, arrived from BNE. My guest, Bronze, arrived from MEL at the same time. On entering, the host explained that the rules had just changed. She said that while access for the actual Platinum member is available on departure and on arrival, guests of the member are only allowed if they have a departing flight boarding pass (rather than having arrived on a same-day flight).

She was kind enough to let us in anyway after explaining the new rules (and we were only stopping by for a quick coffee before heading into the city anyway), but I thought it was odd. Even if we'd been on the same flight, it would basically mean that access on arrival for Platinum is now with 0 guests rather than 2 - unless your guest happens to have another flight the same day. (Because, while somebody may have qualified as your guest before departure - say, if travelling together - they wouldn't then qualify as your guest on landing, if they don't have a second flight.)

Interestingly, the Qantas website says this of Platinum access to Domestic Business Lounges: "Two accompanying guests permitted and must be travelling on QF, JQ or oneworld®# marketed and operated flight on the same day."

On the one hand, in my scenario, my guest had a same-day Qantas boarding pass (having just arrived themselves). On the other hand, technically, they would have 'travelled' on such a flight (past tense), rather than 'be travelling' (present tense) per that clause.

Has anybody else run into this? I'm curious if this is the norm (arrivals access basically useless unless flying solo), or if there are varying implementations of the rule across the network?

 

[Mattg]

Hmm, had an interesting one at the SYD Domestic Business Lounge last weekend.

Me, Platinum, arrived from BNE. My guest, Bronze, arrived from MEL at the same time. On entering, the host explained that the rules had just changed. She said that while access for the actual Platinum member is available on departure and on arrival, guests of the member are only allowed if they have a departing flight boarding pass (rather than having arrived on a same-day flight).

She was kind enough to let us in anyway after explaining the new rules (and we were only stopping by for a quick coffee before heading into the city anyway), but I thought it was odd. Even if we'd been on the same flight, it would basically mean that access on arrival for Platinum is now with 0 guests rather than 2 - unless your guest happens to have another flight the same day. (Because, while somebody may have qualified as your guest before departure - say, if travelling together - they wouldn't then qualify as your guest on landing, if they don't have a second flight.)

Interestingly, the Qantas website says this of Platinum access to Domestic Business Lounges: "Two accompanying guests permitted and must be travelling on QF, JQ or oneworld®# marketed and operated flight on the same day."

On the one hand, in my scenario, my guest had a same-day Qantas boarding pass (having just arrived themselves). On the other hand, technically, they would have 'travelled' on such a flight (past tense), rather than 'be travelling' (present tense) per that clause.

Has anybody else run into this? I'm curious if this is the norm (arrivals access basically useless unless flying solo), or if there are varying implementations of the rule across the network?

I wasn't aware that QF Platinum members could guest people into the lounge on arrival at all? (Not saying it's never been possible, but I don't think I've seen this specifically advertised anywhere and haven't tried it before.)

I know VA lets you do this.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Hmm, had an interesting one at the SYD Domestic Business Lounge last weekend.

Me, Platinum, arrived from BNE. My guest, Bronze, arrived from MEL at the same time. On entering, the host explained that the rules had just changed. She said that while access for the actual Platinum member is available on departure and on arrival, guests of the member are only allowed if they have a departing flight boarding pass (rather than having arrived on a same-day flight).

She was kind enough to let us in anyway after explaining the new rules (and we were only stopping by for a quick coffee before heading into the city anyway), but I thought it was odd. Even if we'd been on the same flight, it would basically mean that access on arrival for Platinum is now with 0 guests rather than 2 - unless your guest happens to have another flight the same day. (Because, while somebody may have qualified as your guest before departure - say, if travelling together - they wouldn't then qualify as your guest on landing, if they don't have a second flight.)

Interestingly, the Qantas website says this of Platinum access to Domestic Business Lounges: "Two accompanying guests permitted and must be travelling on QF, JQ or oneworld®# marketed and operated flight on the same day."

On the one hand, in my scenario, my guest had a same-day Qantas boarding pass (having just arrived themselves). On the other hand, technically, they would have 'travelled' on such a flight (past tense), rather than 'be travelling' (present tense) per that clause.

Has anybody else run into this? I'm curious if this is the norm (arrivals access basically useless unless flying solo), or if there are varying implementations of the rule across the network?

This is concerning. Would love to get some clarification from Qantas.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I wasn't aware that QF Platinum members could guest people into the lounge on arrival at all? (Not saying it's never been possible, but I don't think I've seen this specifically advertised anywhere and haven't tried it before.)

I know VA lets you do this.

I was first Plat about 10 years ago and regularly brought in guests on arrival that weren't travelling same day, or had just arrived on other flights. (That was also in the days where you could largely just flash the Plat card and wander on through.) Never had a prob, although I only got back up to Plat recently and it was the first time I'd tried arrivals access since then.

I do notice on VA that arrivals access is very easy via those self scan machines, and you can choose how many guests you have (up to 3 for Plat).

I don't recall the Qantas site ever specifically quoting the arrivals clause together with the guest clauses. It's usually just a question of whether or not you qualify for access - and then if you do, how many guests you can bring.

 

[exceladdict]

I wasn't aware that QF Platinum members could guest people into the lounge on arrival at all? (Not saying it's never been possible, but I don't think I've seen this specifically advertised anywhere and haven't tried it before.)

Went into MEL J a few weeks before the change, arriving from PER in J as WP, and was able to guest Mrs Excel who arrived on the same flight.

 

[CaptJCool]

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/platinum.html

Unwind with increased privacy or access business services before or after your eligible flightsΩΩ in the following lounges:

• Qantas Business lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra
• Qantas Club lounges around Australia

When accessing the domestic lounges, you may bring two guests and up to two children aged 4-17 years. Guests need to be travelling on a Qantas, Jetstar, oneworld or eligible partner marketed and operated flight that same day.

seems self-explanatory

 

[Danger]

I wasn't aware that QF Platinum members could guest people into the lounge on arrival at all? (Not saying it's never been possible, but I don't think I've seen this specifically advertised anywhere and haven't tried it before.)

I know VA lets you do this.

I've guested non-travellers on arrival multiple times in the past without issue.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/platinum.html

Unwind with increased privacy or access business services before or after your eligible flightsΩΩ in the following lounges:

• Qantas Business lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra
• Qantas Club lounges around Australia

When accessing the domestic lounges, you may bring two guests and up to two children aged 4-17 years. Guests need to be travelling on a Qantas, Jetstar, oneworld or eligible partner marketed and operated flight that same day.

seems self-explanatory

I'd like to know if this has been updated because it certainly seems as though, now, platinums' guests must also be travelling when using arrivals access.

 

[serfty]

Has anybody else run into this? I'm curious if this is the norm (arrivals access basically useless unless flying solo), or if there are varying implementations of the rule across the network?

I suspect the Agent was wrong, especially since the updated website working confirms they were incorrect.

(Often when they permit access on a "this time" basis, they are really unsure of the relevant rule OR they realise they were incorrect but won't admit it.)

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Update on Platinum arrivals access with guests who have also just arrived (and don't have an onward boarding pass).

I escalated this to a senior contact at Qantas HQ, and they've confirmed that as with the Platinum (or Platinum One) member themselves, accompanying guest(s) merely need an eligible same-day boarding pass, including when the Plat/Plat One member is visiting on arrival. In other words, the scenario I posted earlier was A-OK for access (where the guest's same-day boarding pass was also one from an arriving flight), and shouldn't have been framed as a 'one time' exception.

I'm told that clarification is being sent out to lounge staff to avoid the same thing happening again. Nice to know that this isn't an actual change (which would have severely reduced the utility of access on arrival for many), just a misunderstanding on the agent's part around how the new rules apply to arrivals and guests. Happy days.

 

[Danger]

Update on Platinum arrivals access with guests who have also just arrived (and don't have an onward boarding pass).

I escalated this to a senior contact at Qantas HQ, and they've confirmed that as with the Platinum (or Platinum One) member themselves, accompanying guest(s) merely need an eligible same-day boarding pass, including when the Plat/Plat One member is visiting on arrival. In other words, the scenario I posted earlier was A-OK for access (where the guest's same-day boarding pass was also one from an arriving flight), and shouldn't have been framed as a 'one time' exception.

I'm told that clarification is being sent out to lounge staff to avoid the same thing happening again. Nice to know that this isn't an actual change (which would have severely reduced the utility of access on arrival for many), just a misunderstanding on the agent's part around how the new rules apply to arrivals and guests. Happy days.

This is a change though. Previously, platinum arrival guests didn't need to be travelling at all.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

This is a change though. Previously, platinum arrival guests didn't need to be travelling at all.

I should have clarified in my comment, not an 'additional' change, beyond the recent blanket change where guests had to be travelling (as opposed to being able to bring anybody in, as before).

 

[Danger]

I should have clarified in my comment, not an 'additional' change, beyond the recent blanket change where guests had to be travelling (as opposed to being able to bring anybody in, as before).

So we do indeed have a disappointing change to platinum benefits, over and above the general diminution.

When this change was announced five or six weeks ago, did anyone think it was intended to reduce the platinum benefit? I seem to recall one or two posts in this thread saying there would be no impact.

 

[dairyfloss]

When this change was announced five or six weeks ago, did anyone think it was intended to reduce the platinum benefit? I seem to recall one or two posts in this thread saying there would be no impact.

Yes - I assumed the change altered eligibility for members guests who were not travelling on a QF or partner airline that day, regardless of whether they were a guest before, or after the member’s flight.

 

[exceladdict]

So we do indeed have a disappointing change to platinum benefits, over and above the general diminution.

When this change was announced five or six weeks ago, did anyone think it was intended to reduce the platinum benefit? I seem to recall one or two posts in this thread saying there would be no impact.

My perception was that guests who had travelled with the WP/1 would still be eligible for post-flight guesting, but that they wouldn't need an onwards boarding pass.

 

[Danger]

My perception was that guests who had travelled with the WP/1 would still be eligible for post-flight guesting, but that they wouldn't need an onwards boarding pass.

That's an interesting interpretation. While it may well be the case in practice, that doesn't appear to be what the new rules say.

It occurred to me last night that under this apparent change, that wouldn't be the case. A platinum who'd guested two people in at the port of departure then couldn't guest those two people in on arrival.