Qantas Loyalty; [QP@EK] lounge rules change [after booking] - Tough luck

[dfcatch]

I think it's totally reasonable to get what you expected to get when you bought the ticket- especially as you paid extra for the QF code.

I don't agree with the post that said - oh well - you still get lounge access in ADL.

I personally consider lounge access AT ALL THE PORTS ON MY ROUTE as a deliberate consideration when purchasing flights.

I would send a polite PM to Red Roo and ask if they could escalate the matter to customer care on your behalf.

I wouldn't expect anything. But they may kick you a couple of QP passes. Better than nothing.

 

[roomer]

I think it's totally reasonable to get what you expected to get when you bought the ticket- especially as you paid extra for the QF code.

I don't agree with the post that said - oh well - you still get lounge access in ADL.

I personally consider lounge access AT ALL THE PORTS ON MY ROUTE as a deliberate consideration when purchasing flights.

I would send a polite PM to Red Roo and ask if they could escalate the matter to customer care on your behalf.

I wouldn't expect anything. But they may kick you a couple of QP passes. Better than nothing.

thanks dfcatch, can't hurt to PM Red Roo - wonder if they might sling a couple of Emirates lounge passes instead , if there is such a thing

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I would send a polite PM to Red Roo and ask if they could escalate the matter to customer care on your behalf.

I already did this...

Here is the question...

Hi Red Roo,
Was looking at flying to Budapest. (SYD-BUD).
I've dropped to Qantas Club status now.

The flights look something like this
SYD-DXB (QF8413)
DXB-BUD (EK111)

Great timing, but there is no QF codeshare, which means no lounge access in Dubai.

And the reply...

Thanks for getting in touch.

There are many benefits to having a Qantas Club membership, however I understand your disappointment in not having lounge access for the proposed itinerary.

Your comments have been noted with the relevant teams for their reference.

Regards,

(Red Roo)

Basically - stiff s**t mate.

 

[roomer]

I already did this...

Here is the question...



And the reply...



Basically - stiff s**t mate.

I share your annoyance but in my case when I made the booking there WAS lounge access if you flew Emirates but now they have changed it without honouring the arrangements that I specifcally had confirmed with my travel agent ie lounge access was available. Now its just tough luck.

I have however PMd Red Roo and will let you all know of my outcome

 

[katiebell]

QF has a serious attitude problem: no respect for FF or other pax who do/will spend up big on premium fares or pay OTT for QC. It really is getting a LCC attitude to pax. Or perhaps a feudal attitude to loyalty (pax loyal to QF overlord, QF does what it wants)...

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I think it's totally reasonable to get what you expected to get when you bought the ticket- especially as you paid extra for the QF code.

I don't agree with the post that said - oh well - you still get lounge access in ADL.

I personally consider lounge access AT ALL THE PORTS ON MY ROUTE as a deliberate consideration when purchasing flights.

I would send a polite PM to Red Roo and ask if they could escalate the matter to customer care on your behalf.

I wouldn't expect anything. But they may kick you a couple of QP passes. Better than nothing.

Agree agree agree. DF-LoyaltyExpert-Catch hits the nail on the head again.

In fact I would view lounge access as the only reason for booking a QF#, and as the rules are changed your consideration for flying QF might change also.
If you're not on a super-cheap fare - perhaps cancel the reservation, rebook another airline and pocket the difference in savings to use towards a paid lounge in those ports. You'd probably still come out ahead - AND- earn more value in FF points through another program in the process. For example the difference between an EK# and QF# can be up to $1000 difference return. That's one heck of a price for lounge access and a few points...

 

[Oneworldplus2]

What trippin said above.

Maybe try 'Priority Pass' (small fee) or even a credit card which gets 2 yearly pass visits (Citibank Signature Card Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Signature - Citi Australia)

 

[hutch]

I already did this...

Here is the question...



And the reply...



Basically - stiff s**t mate.

Dont see the issue with Red Roos response. The OPs issue (QF changed access rules on him) is understandable, but in your case you think QF should provide something which is not provided to QP members. Not sure what response you expect.

 

[Claudius]

Why would anyone want to stopover DXB is beyond me, my attitude to it has always been "get me out of this horrible desert asap please".
My way to get around Europe: QF9 all the way to LHR, go where I need from there. Costs almost the same, does take a little longer but I get to fly with QF 90% of the way instead of waiting a second longer than I have to in DXB.

 

[knasty]

Even if you have to change terminals at LHR?

 

[roomer]

I have however PMd Red Roo and will let you all know of my outcome

Red Roo has been in contact asking me for a copy the email the travel agent sent me after I asked for confirmation in writing that access would be permitted to the Emirates lounge if I flew Emirates rather than Qantas on the DXB - CDG LEG.

I have asked him for an email address to do so as I can't see how you can upload an attachment via these posts. Again ill keep you all updated

 

[maninblack]

Dont see the issue with Red Roos response. The OPs issue (QF changed access rules on him) is understandable, but in your case you think QF should provide something which is not provided to QP members. Not sure what response you expect.

It's probably just the "your comments have been noted with the relevant teams for their reference" type line which means your complaint has been logged and then thrown in the trash!

 

[katiebell]

Why would anyone want to stopover DXB is beyond me, my attitude to it has always been "get me out of this horrible desert asap please".
My way to get around Europe: QF9 all the way to LHR, go where I need from there. Costs almost the same, does take a little longer but I get to fly with QF 90% of the way instead of waiting a second longer than I have to in DXB.

Even better to fly CX all the way or CX/QF to SIN/HKG and then BA or AY: that way the transit ports are great and no DXB to be suffered.. Even transfer at LHR is preferable (& at least free for everyone unlike SYD)

 

[roomer]

It's probably just the "your comments have been noted with the relevant teams for their reference" type line which means your complaint has been logged and then thrown in the trash!

Well I was asked to send my travels agent email that confirmed access to the lounge when flying via Emirates, to an email address provided by Red Roo. Although I asked for an email confirming receipt of same, I have yet to have acknowledgement of its receipt. In a private PM, I also let Red Roo know I had sent the email to the address he had provided.

So I not being familiar with Red Roos time frames on these sorts of things, I have to hope that mine hasnt been logged as had been suggested by maininblack

 

[Princess Fiona]

Well I was asked to send my travels agent email that confirmed access to the lounge when flying via Emirates, to an email address provided by Red Roo. Although I asked for an email confirming receipt of same, I have yet to have acknowledgement of its receipt. In a private PM, I also let Red Roo know I had sent the email to the address he had provided.

So I not being familiar with Red Roos time frames on these sorts of things, I have to hope that mine hasnt been logged as had been suggested by maininblack

If Red Roo is corresponding with you I'd be pretty reassured that the emails won't disappear.
You may not get the answer your hoping for but that's another issue.
Good luck

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Well I was asked to send my travels agent email that confirmed access to the lounge when flying via Emirates, to an email address provided by Red Roo. Although I asked for an email confirming receipt of same, I have yet to have acknowledgement of its receipt. In a private PM, I also let Red Roo know I had sent the email to the address he had provided.

So I not being familiar with Red Roos time frames on these sorts of things, I have to hope that mine hasnt been logged as had been suggested by maininblack

Perhaps so Qantas can go back and penalize the agent for giving the wrong advice. Heck - in some industries they could 'fine' the agent and make a few bucks from it too.

Make no mistake this doesn't help you in any way though.

Of course I might be entirely wrong.

I do hope you get the outcome you want because it sounds like you're getting the raw end of the deal here.

 

[roomer]

Perhaps so Qantas can go back and penalize the agent for giving the wrong advice. Heck - in some industries they could 'fine' the agent and make a few bucks from it too.

Make no mistake this doesn't help you in any way though.

Of course I might be entirely wrong.

I do hope you get the outcome you want because it sounds like you're getting the raw end of the deal here.

Thanks trippin the rift, for your support but, no ,it was not the agents fault, she checked on the qantas website and it clearly showed that access would be provided to the Emirates lounge, her cut and paste of this fact in an email to me, is the evidence i am providing to Red Roo to prove that i did not make payment for the tickets until this was confirmed in writing to me.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Not sure I understand Qantas' customer handling system......Surely it would be easier and cheaper to organise access to the lounge for the one or two people who contact them saying "I booked prior to the changes" rather than spending staff time fighting them! A quick check would show the booking was made prior to the changes and then just demonstrate and build good will and let them in. It is a problem that has a short life surely! (Well I suppose a year, but how many people are actually going to be in this situation?)

 

[roomer]

Not sure I understand Qantas' customer handling system......Surely it would be easier and cheaper to organise access to the lounge for the one or two people who contact them saying "I booked prior to the changes" rather than spending staff time fighting them! A quick check would show the booking was made prior to the changes and then just demonstrate and build good will and let them in. It is a problem that has a short life surely! (Well I suppose a year, but how many people are actually going to be in this situation?)

Couldn't agree more, have a two year QC membership in anticipation of future o/s travels, so indeed, why not build some good will to go with it, rather than having the feeling of battling to just get what was paid for but being told politely tough luck!

 

[por930]

Not sure I understand Qantas' customer handling system......Surely it would be easier and cheaper to organise access to the lounge for the one or two people who contact them saying "I booked prior to the changes" rather than spending staff time fighting them! A quick check would show the booking was made prior to the changes and then just demonstrate and build good will and let them in. It is a problem that has a short life surely! (Well I suppose a year, but how many people are actually going to be in this situation?)

Agree FM, You would think Qantas would have done a simple sweep of all pax booked through Dubai before the rule change date and advise these pax how the changes may affect them...BUT...Qantas could also say in the interests of fair play, exceptions will be made for this booking only. Please be aware in future. Pax maybe not happy for the future, but at least they are getting what they paid for, and can make a further decision about booking armed with this knowledge.

I would like to see a simple?? table showing the relevant rules about flights, (e.g. QF/EK) as well as other airlines, referencing code share, stopovers, lounge entry, Status Credits, FF Miles, FF Status and of course Qantas Club membership(which these days really is becoming a domestic club)

I recently went though a similar exercise regarding how to book tickets to Paris out of Brisbane though Dubai while retaining status credits, miles, lounge access and if possible a Dubai stopover.(Sadly, this later was not possible) A bit easier? for us as while Qantas Club Members, we are also Gold QANTAS FF and the flights were Business out and First back.