Qantas removes Lounge Access for QP members on EK flights from Oct 1

[Princess Fiona]

Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club Lounges | Qantas

It appears there's been another enhancement
From Oct 1st QP members must be travelling on QF code on EK flights for Lounge Access.
A bit nastier than it first looks as there doesn't appear to me to be an obvious way to book QFF Award tickets on EK as a codeshare.
Really stinks for those flying Y out of PER.
Also note that there will be no lounge access in DXB either unless on QF code or to the AC in LHR if on an EK flight.

 

[UP4014]

What, no announcement that EK tie up is not as good now as it looked then.

 

[samh004]

As I mentioned elsewhere, I think this is a reaction to people buying QP and then booking with EK at a cheaper rate, to gain lounge access, and it's probably the only way they could stop it. For most Australians, they should really already be booking the QF-coded flights anyway, and supporting Qantas! As pointed out by Princess Fiona, you can't get QF-coded award flights though, so there's a problem there, but for the most part people are paying cash.

When I first saw this I thought it was the complete removal, in which case I wouldn't be renewing my sisters QP anymore, but as we always make sure she flies Qantas, there's no change and I'm happy to continue paying.

 

[opusman]

When I first saw this I thought it was the complete removal, in which case I wouldn't be renewing my sisters QP anymore, but as we always make sure she flies Qantas, there's no change and I'm happy to continue paying.

Surely you'd renew either way, to support Qantas!

 

[samh004]

Surely you'd renew either way, to support Qantas!

I support Qantas and but QP so it doesn't affect me. But if I wasn't someone who supported Qantas, this change would affect me and I wouldn't renew. For me there's no issue. If they make it an issue and remove access when even flying QF-codes then I'd have a rethink about my support, as they wouldn't be playing fair either.

 

[Princess Fiona]

As I mentioned elsewhere, I think this is a reaction to people buying QP and then booking with EK at a cheaper rate, to gain lounge access, and it's probably the only way they could stop it. For most Australians, they should really already be booking the QF-coded flights anyway, and supporting Qantas! As pointed out by Princess Fiona, you can't get QF-coded award flights though, so there's a problem there, but for the most part people are paying cash.

When I first saw this I thought it was the complete removal, in which case I wouldn't be renewing my sisters QP anymore, but as we always make sure she flies Qantas, there's no change and I'm happy to continue paying.

I'm all for QP members supporting QF, it totally makes sense. I don't think it's very fair to remove lounge access on Y Award tickets particularly for those who can't fly on QF code or metal to their home airport.
Has always been the case of course with BA/CX etc award tickets but the EK Alliance was touted as the best thing since sliced bread last year.
It's starting to look a little stale now IMO. Yet again QF shows disdain for those people prepared to shell out hard cash on QP membership.

If I was a QP member with an existing Y award booked to LHR with sectors on EK post Oct 1st I would be pretty p!ssed at QF right now and want some assurance that the lounge access I was expecting will be honoured.

Rant over

 

[Flying mermaid]

What, no announcement that EK tie up is not as good now as it looked then.

The alliance does seem to be fraying at the edges. Dr FM who has life QC, has been one buying the cheaper emirates flights and enjoying lounge access - not sure whether this will change her policy or not. She does love the lounges, but at this stage in her life money is more of an issue.

 

[samh004]

I'm all for QP members supporting QF, it totally makes sense. I don't think it's very fair to remove lounge access on Y Award tickets particularly for those who can't fly on QF code or metal to their home airport.

Has always been the case of course with BA/CX etc award tickets but the EK Alliance was touted as the best thing since sliced bread last year.
It's starting to look a little stale now IMO. Yet again QF shows disdain for those people prepared to shell out hard cash on QP membership.

If I was a QP member with an existing Y award booked to LHR with sectors on EK post Oct 1st I would be pretty p!ssed at QF right now and want some assurance that the lounge access I was expecting will be honoured.

Rant over

I totally get what you're saying and agree with you on the award tickets front. Perhaps something that has been overlooked. After all, easier to say it needs a QF code than a 081-ticket number (assuming here that QF awards have 081-ticket numbers?).

I just assume that the reasoning behind this move is perhaps deeper than ensuring QP-access is only granted when flying with a QF code... Perhaps they've seen a large increase in members flying cheap EK flights and buying QP membership to gain lounge access.

It does also help QF stay in business if there some revenue sharing going on.

 

[cmon0005]

With the recent addition of BA flights (via LHR) to the QF website booking engine to a lot of destinations in Europe I wonder if they will re-offer BA lounge access to QP members flying BA? Maybe they're trying to become friendly again with BA?

 

[Himeno]

The alliance does seem to be fraying at the edges.

They really should have kept the BA JSA and reinforced it by bringing an Asian based oneworld member (MH, JL or CX) in to it as well. Maybe also extend it to AY.

If IB, BA, AA and AY can have a trans Atlantic JSA, I don't see why QF, BA, AY and at least one Asian oneworld member couldn't have a Kangaroo route JSA.
Also, QF and AA have a transpac JSA. JL and AA also have a transpac JSA. Why not combine the two?

 

[opusman]

QF might get more pax booking QF codes if QF prices were at least competitive...

 

[JohnK]

Not good to lose another benefit but the Qantas/Emirates alliance was not/is not the answer to Qantas' problems.

As I mentioned elsewhere, I think this is a reaction to people buying QP and then booking with EK at a cheaper rate, to gain lounge access, and it's probably the only way they could stop it.

Has this been common advice on the boards? I am not sure I have ever read advice anywhere for people to get Qantas Club membership and to book Emirates but then I have not been following the majority of Emirates threads.

If people think they can get one up on the airline then the airline needs to fight back. Unfortunately the innocent ones will suffer.

 

[samh004]

QF might get more pax booking QF codes if QF prices were at least competitive...

Wasn't the whole point of their agreement to price the same? Sounds like EK might not be doing that

 

[Princess Fiona]

Wasn't the whole point of their agreement to price the same? Sounds like EK might not be doing that

Half the time QF aren't doing it either !!
Quite often the search engine returns cheaper fares on EK metal/code

 

[Wannabee]

I am just about to book a one way EK J flight IST - (DXB) - SYD so does this latest news mean that as a QF WP I will only be able to access the DXB J lounge?

Also, looking at booking on the QF code share on EK metal, purely for the SC (and now would give me F lounge access). This is not possible to book online but went to a travel agent and they can do it for $800 more per person. On Expedia it is $130 more per person. Any other suggestions?

 

[samh004]

I am just about to book a one way EK J flight IST - (DXB) - SYD so does this latest news mean that as a QF WP I will only be able to access the DXB J lounge?

No change to status holders. This news is only for Qantas Club members.

 

[robs12]

Another little change - If you were Platinum or above and passing through Dubai, you could take two children (+ a guest, probably one's wife ... ;-)) into the Emirates First lounge.
Now "all children counted towards guest numbers".


That stinks ...as we will be traveling as a family through DXB in two weeks time...

Or does it - from elsewhere on the Qantas site (Platinum benefits page):



Red Roo...please can you confirm - this seems to be contradictory?

 

[opusman]

Wasn't the whole point of their agreement to price the same? Sounds like EK might not be doing that

I had a MAD-MEL-MAD flight booked in F on QF which cost ~8800EUR in April; on a whim I had a look at the EK site and could get exactly the same flights (even on QF metal) for 5500EUR. It was a no brainer...

Sorry QF, but SCs are not that valuable.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

They really should have kept the BA JSA and reinforced it by bringing an Asian based oneworld member (MH, JL or CX) in to it as well. Maybe also extend it to AY.

If IB, BA, AA and AY can have a trans Atlantic JSA, I don't see why QF, BA, AY and at least one Asian oneworld member couldn't have a Kangaroo route JSA.
Also, QF and AA have a transpac JSA. JL and AA also have a transpac JSA. Why not combine the two?

And what about the above but including Qatar which joined OW at around the same time as the QF EK JV was announced?

 

[dalereardon]

Was this a benefit they had in their promises to the ACCC when regulatory approvl was given for the alliance? Perhaps we should all complain to the ACCC tat they aren't honouring their promises they made.

Dale.
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