QF Cost Cutting or Inconsistency

[Ansett]

Just arrived at the First Lounge for the Domestic leg of QF 9 to Perth and asked about a spa treatment and was advised that Qantas Does not offer this service to Domestic legs and as such I was refused.

I questioned how come I was allowed 2 weeks earlier and advised that it was not possible.

Has Qantas enhanced this experience?

Has anyone else experienced this recently.

Or is just the lounge host being difficult and inconsistent?

 

[AIRwin]

Not my experience a few weeks ago but guess I'll find out again tomorrow...

 

[Ansett]

It is the first time I have ever been refused outright.

I appreciate that its intention was for International flights originally however Qantas has consistently over the years allowed this so seems strange that they are now changing tact. Me thinks it is more the attitude of the lounge host. I will add it is not the usual host or staff that I have dealt with over many many years.

 

[Austman]

But is the spa even open?

If there are no F-class flights at the time (the A380s to SIN or LAX).

 

[Simo]

QF is consistently inconsistent.

I got on my flight this morning congrats on achieving SG!!! I have had 6 flights as SG and just been recognised today!!!

 

[Austman]

But is the spa even open?

If there are no F-class flights at the time (the A380s to SIN or LAX).

And here's the answer (I think):

~ Operating hours for the Melbourne Spa are 08:00 to 11:30 and 20:00 to 23:30 daily.

Lounge Location | Australia | Melbourne International | International First​

AFAIK the spa has not been open when there are no F-class flights departing.

 

[Ansett]

Yes the Spa is open with one attendant in play.

Interesting the First Host just came up and offered me a treatment as there are no QF International Passengers currently in the Lounge. Go Figure LOL

Consistency at its best

 

[Ansett]

Thanks Austman however that is not current. I did the exact same flight less than 2 weeks ago and offered the Spa treatment as soon as I walked in to the lounge, for a change I enjoyed the back massage

 

[Austman]

I noticed even that the F-class check-in now closes until 14:00 on some (most?) days. It opens 3 hours before QF9's 17:05 daily departure. Followed by QF37's 17:15 departure.

It seems to be a quiet time for QFi just after noon.

You must be HLO or a transit pax on QF9?

 

[Ansett]

I am HLO on QF9 Checked in online and had boarding passed issued with D Stamp at airport.

Interestingly I was also told that this was also not allowed as they couldn't check me in until 3 hours before and that I shouldn't really be in the lounge anyway.

Whilst I am ok with that and was prepared to head to the domestic J lounge for an hour or two its again the issue of consistency and customer interaction by QF Staff. The first host in the Check in suite was very accommodating when I asked if it was ok to get a boarding pass on D Stamp it was no problem what so ever. I had already advised that I was happy to plant myself in the domestic J lounge if it was an issue.
.

 

[Austman]

The first host in the Check in suite

Was the dedicated F-class check-in even open?? You perhaps made it before QF35 was closed?

At 14:00 the other day it was closed completely. Lights out, doors locked. At 14:05 it was open.

 

[Ansett]

Yep Just made it LOL

 

[calmelb]

I can say they got a little confused when I got airside (HLO) connecting from CBR to MEL through to LHR (QF9), unsure how I managed that when the check in wasn’t open. I can also confirm the spa is open for the QF9, they moved the times (in a thread discussed on here) and made it so the F flights and the 9 could have a spa

 

[Austman]

unsure how I managed that when the check in wasn’t open

HLO or checked through transit to QFi is fine. You'll get your international BP so you're good to go without any MEL desk check-in needed. It's getting a "D" sticker that is the trouble.

The F-class spa AFAIK has always operated different hours to the F-class lounge. So good to see that QF have opened it for non F-class flights too!

That's actually an "enhancement" isn't it?

 

[Ansett]

HLO or checked through transit on QFi is fine. You'll get your international BP so you're good to go without any MEL desk check-in needed. It's getting a "D" sticker that is the trouble.

The F-class spa AFAIK has always operated different hours to the F-class lounge. So good to see that QF have opened it for non F-class flights too!

That's actually an "enhancement" isn't it?

Yes and a positive one for a change

 

[RooFlyer]

That's actually an "enhancement" isn't it?

A shambles of miscommunication maybe?

 

[Austman]

A shambles of miscommunication maybe?

"Discussions" with lounge staff over access etc are rarely fun. My last one being at PEK trying to access the Emirates lounge when flying QF as a Qantas WP in J-class. QF publish that I can. But EK said no.

Not fun.

 

[calmelb]

HLO or checked through transit to QFi is fine. You'll get your international BP so you're good to go without any MEL desk check-in needed. It's getting a "D" sticker that is the trouble.

The F-class spa AFAIK has always operated different hours to the F-class lounge. So good to see that QF have opened it for non F-class flights too!

That's actually an "enhancement" isn't it?

The difference was they couldn’t see my CBR flight on their systems. Was more mentioning that they get confused if anyone comes through without being checked in at the F check in

 

[calmelb]

Also speaking of entering the lounge. I gave one of my friends and his girlfriend my P1 passes to the F lounge and without even scanning the BP the MEL lounge staff just said “You’re in the wrong place. There’s no lounge passes for this lounge”. My friend had to force them to scan the BPs upon which the beeped green and showed access (QF code and flight and was linked properly too)

Now my friend is quite pushy but if it was anyone else (even his girlfriend) they would’ve accepted it and gone down to the J lounge. That was a little while ago but I wonder if the training has gotten better

 

[serfty]

I don't understand why you were denied an opportunity to access the Spa.

In my experience, if accessing an international lounge when travelling on a domestic segment, international rules have applied.

I remember some years ago before a JQi segment from Melbourne to Sydney with the orange D sticker on our BP's, we were proactively offerred Spa treaments.