QF Gold & Plat Lounge Access Offer

[pauly7]

I've been flying down to CBR (from SYD) on DJ because the planes aren't crowded and they actually take off on time. Been using the DJ lounge in Sydney (via Priority Pass, since I didn't know of this offer). It's a nice lounge - usually quiet and there's no queue for the "barista service" that QANTAS has been touting as a benefit of its lounges.

Thats lucky for you because on average Qantas are more punctual than DJ - check the on time performance.... and the planes not being busy is not a lucky sign for DJ!

I'm only flying ex Syd so won't be changing terminals just to visit the Lounge lol. Have already seen Melb but did someone mention they had done it up a bit recently? If so will go have a look if I have the time (still a bit of a hike from the CityFlyer terminal)

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Thats lucky for you because on average Qantas are more punctual than DJ - check the on time performance...

Is there an easy way to check OTP for SYD - CBR in the mornings? Or are we talking overall OTP?

Now, my sample size is only 8 SYD-CBR flights over the past few weeks. Five were on QF, of which two left on time. One was 90 minutes late. After that debacle I switched to DJ. Of the three DJ flights to CBR I have taken, one was 20 minutes late (but arrived only 10 minutes late), and the other two were on time.

and the planes not being busy is not a lucky sign for DJ!

No, probably not good at all. But the planes weren't empty. I would say that they were about 50% full.

In any case, my next flight down on Tue will be on QF (to check out the new J lounge in Syd). But if QF can't get the planes away on time, then I'm going back to DJ (until/unless I start arriving late on DJ flights)

Edit: the DJ planes are nice new Embraer jets. They compare quite nicely to the QF-link Dash-8. The seats appear to be a bit more spacious and the whole interior is obviously newer/fresher.

 

[serfty]

Is there an easy way to check OTP for SYD - CBR in the mornings? Or are we talking overall OTP?...

This site may help:

Airline On Time Performance Monthly Reports

 

[JohnK]

Currently sitting in the BNE Virgin Lounge waiting fior the 8:00pm flight to SYD. The lounge is very nice but there are less than 10 people in here at the moment. No hot food but the rest of the food is in line with the food in the QF Lounge. Plenty of beer choices and what looks like a nice selection of wines.

I was in the QF lounge less than 30 minutes ago and there were 100's of people in there.

For anyone that is interested you do not need to be flying Virgin Blue to take advantage of this promotion as long as you are QF Gold or Platinum. In fact you do not need to be flying at all on the day as you do not need to provide a boarding pass as proof.

I asked about status matching but the person at reception did not know anything about it.

I was going to try the SYD Virgin Blue lounge last Sunday but when we got to the airport we were offered to be put on an earlier flight, which I gladly accepted, and no time to visit the lounge. Maybe next time.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Currently sitting in the BNE Virgin Lounge waiting fior the 8:00pm flight to SYD. The lounge is very nice but there are less than 10 people in here at the moment. No hot food but the rest of the food is in line with the food in the QF Lounge. Plenty of beer choices and what looks like a nice selection of wines.

I was in the QF lounge less than 30 minutes ago and there were 100's of people in there.

For anyone that is interested you do not need to be flying Virgin Blue to take advantage of this promotion as long as you are QF Gold or Platinum. In fact you do not need to be flying at all on the day as you do not need to provide a boarding pass as proof.

I asked about status matching but the person at reception did not know anything about it.

I was going to try the SYD Virgin Blue lounge last Sunday but when we got to the airport we were offered to be put on an earlier flight, which I gladly accepted, and no time to visit the lounge. Maybe next time.

Can you take a guest; who is not flying. :?:

Its been a few years since I have seen the Virgin lounge; and that is when things cost money; but the food that I did buy was nice.

 

[ANstar]

I was in the SYD DJ lounge about a week ago.

Very busy (when does the expanded lounge open?)

Hot food was soup & mushroom risotto. Cold food was the usualy salad bar type stuff, cheese, ham, cous cous etc

I think I now have an addiction to their nougat as well....

 

[JohnK]

Can you take a guest; who is not flying. :?:

As far as I am aware it is QF Gold/Platinum and one guest. There is no requirement to be flying on the day.

 

[MD]

As far as I am aware it is QF Gold/Platinum and one guest. There is no requirement to be flying on the day.

There seems to be a variety of entry rules. Last week I went to the SYD lounge after flying on QF. I was declined entry as I did not have a boarding pass. Tonight I was declined entry to MEL as I was not flying DJ. They laughed when I repeated the experiences reported above, and said it was "bullsh*t". Reminds me why I stopped flying DJ.

 

[Mal]

There seems to be a variety of entry rules. Last week I went to the SYD lounge after flying on QF. I was declined entry as I did not have a boarding pass. Tonight I was declined entry to MEL as I was not flying DJ. They laughed when I repeated the experiences reported above, and said it was "bullsh*t". Reminds me why I stopped flying DJ.

You should have taken a printout of Virgin Blue - The Lounge

Quite clearly states:

"Access is available regardless of which carrier the Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum or Gold Member is travelling on the day."

Perhaps they were enforcing capacity control in the lounge. Who knows!

 

[JohnK]

There seems to be a variety of entry rules. Last week I went to the SYD lounge after flying on QF. I was declined entry as I did not have a boarding pass. Tonight I was declined entry to MEL as I was not flying DJ. They laughed when I repeated the experiences reported above, and said it was "bullsh*t". Reminds me why I stopped flying DJ.

I think that is more an indication on the level of training of the front desk staff. As Mal points out you do not need to be flying on DJ and I was also told they do not check boarding passes. They did not check my boarding pass.

 

[chooms]

Got to try out this promotion last night at BNE.

My father and his partner were flying BNE-DRW with DJ and being the kind son, I took them to the airport. Given they had trekked up from Northern NSW to BNE for the flight and they had overestimated ETA by an hour they had a wait at the airport.

Gave dad my WP card and told him of the deal. He has same first initial as me and DJ do not print middle initial on BP.

Both dad and partner got into lounge fine and really enjoyed it. Neither of them had been in an airline lounge before and will be trying the DRW QP on the way back (which is one of my fav QP's).

 

[vt]

Sad to report CBR Virgin lounge turned my wife and I away as we werent flying Virgin.

I felt very dirty and ashamed for asking for Virgin Lounge access.

Turned around with tail between my legs and went back to the QP.

If this is how they want to try and attacted WP and SG, I can say that I will keep paying the *little* extra to fly QF.

 

[crazydave98]

Hi there MD & vt,

I'm very sorry to here of your experiences at The Lounge and particularly disappointed that staff laughed, were dismissive and used terms like bull$#!t . I have taken the matter up with the Manger of The Lounge program and our head of sales. If you can PM me your contact details I'd be happy to arrange some form of no-strings compensation. It would also be helpful if you could give me as much information as possible on time/dates of attempted entry so that we can check who was rostered on duty at the time and ensure they are properly counselled (which will include being made to read this forum).

regards

CrazyDave98

 

[vt]

Hi there MD & vt,

I'm very sorry to here of your experiences at The Lounge and particularly disappointed that staff laughed, were dismissive and used terms like bull$#!t . I have taken the matter up with the Manger of The Lounge program and our head of sales. If you can PM me your contact details I'd be happy to arrange some form of no-strings compensation. It would also be helpful if you could give me as much information as possible on time/dates of attempted entry so that we can check who was rostered on duty at the time and ensure they are properly counselled (which will include being made to read this forum).

regards

CrazyDave98

Thanks for the offer CrazyDave98,

My incident happened at 9am Sunday Morning at CBR 27/07/2008.

I think the attendant was Anita/Angela (no nametag) and she even called someone to verify. :shock:

Anyways, I'll send you a pm. No great loss for me as a WP :mrgreen: and reqaulify yearly quite conformtably. Would have been nice to have a look, but alas was not flying DJ on the day and this incident doesnt make me want to spend with them either.

 

[monojoker]

Bummer I missed seeing any info about this promotion. It's still listed on the Virgin website but obviously has expired. I flew to Sydney last week too on DJ... I will have to keep a closer eye on the forums in future

 

[markis10]

I was lucky to sample both CBR and ADL last week and have to admit the front desk was very casual in Canberra, felt like a virgin doing the entry for the first time with the fake "thats news to us" attitude but got past the lounge entry dragon and enjoyed a few hours in a very empty lounge.

ADL on the other hand was very professional and really made me feel like I was a valued visitor, I was surprised with the attitude of CBR staff given that QF and CBR share different entrances and security screening so you need to make some effort to visit if you are flying QF!

 

[vt]

I was surprised with the attitude of CBR staff given that QF and CBR share different entrances and security screening so you need to make some effort to visit if you are flying QF!

It is exactly this reason that I will not be flying Virgin anytime soon. As a Platinum, I will get QP access even if I am flying Tiger. So no big loss to me.

The last thing I want is to be treated like I was in CBR with wife in tow.

 

[ksthommo]

Took up the offer a few weeks back when I made the unfortunate choice of flying Deathstar back to Cairns (only 3 & 1/2 hours late). First lady at the reception desk stated I had to be flying VB, questioned her about this and she asked a male attendant who set her right.

 

[DoctorSimon]

Has anyone who got into one of the lounges had a follow up from Virgin?

I didn't go in during the month but emailed them to try and get a tier match (QFF Gold) but the offer was only a very slight discount to the normal price.

 

[ksthommo]

Has anyone who got into one of the lounges had a follow up from Virgin?

I didn't go in during the month but emailed them to try and get a tier match (QFF Gold) but the offer was only a very slight discount to the normal price.

No details were taken when I visited