QF Platinum Denied Lounge on Arrival with Qantas Sydney Airport

[drmatthewsmith]

QF Platinum FF.
I travelled from Brisbane to Sydney yesterday. We arrived at the lounge and were greeted by the staff who advised " Platinum Frequent Flyer access to lounge on arrival is " at their discretion due to the pandemic". We questioned if this is qantas policy and have they received anything in writing. The staff avoided the question and denied us access. The lounge was quiet so there were no social distancing issues. We were really disappointed as this was our first return flight since February and really had been looking forward to using the lounge on arrival perk of my platinum status. The staff were really unhelpful and obstructive and appeared to be making up the rules as they went along. I have written to qantas. Has anyone else experienced these issues?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Same happened to me as a P1 at CBR. I just wanted to go to the bathroom. Advised that due to COVID-19 restrictions for contact tracing they would only accept an onwards boarding pass. They were perfectly apologetic about it, I didn’t query and left.
I can see some kind of logic here. They know who is in the lounge at what exact times from scanning the BP until flight boarding. It’s also allows them to keep fairly precise and accurate info on COVIDSAFE capacity. Can’t do that for arrivals access and now that SYD is back to one person per 4 square metres the capacity will be reduced.

 

[dylarr]

Same happened to me as a P1 at CBR. I just wanted to go to the bathroom. Advised that due to COVID-19 restrictions for contact tracing they would only accept an onwards boarding pass. They were perfectly apologetic about it, I didn’t query and left.
I can see some kind of logic here. They know who is in the lounge at what exact times from scanning the BP until flight boarding. It’s also allows them to keep fairly precise and accurate info on COVIDSAFE capacity. Can’t do that for arrivals access and now that SYD is back to one person per 4 square metres the capacity will be reduced.

I don't think it has anything to do with being able to scan the BP for contact tracing purposes as I've been to SYD lounge with a JQ boarding pass that they can't scan and they just type your details and frequent flyer number into some system for contact tracing. In the CNS lounge they have a QR code for JQ pax to check-in which just asks for a name and phone number - they don't take any details from the BP at all.

There must be another reason for denying lounge access on arrival.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

... as I've been to SYD lounge with a JQ boarding pass that they can't scan and they just type your details and frequent flyer number into some system for contact tracing.

possibly this is part of the answer? Do they really want to be entering all those details manually for however many guests wish to use the benefit?

 

[astrosly]

Just over 3 weeks ago I entered the lounge on arrival at SYD from a QLink flight in the evening. My BP was scanned and it beeped and I was told that even though arrivals access is a published WP benefit, there "will be an announcement soon as they are looking to suspend it from tomorrow" and I was let into the lounge this time but it was going to close in about 20mins.

I haven't seen or heard anything since about it and the person couldn't say why this would happen.

 

[astrosly]

... I don't think it has anything to do with being able to scan the BP for contact tracing purposes as I've been to SYD lounge with a JQ boarding pass that they can't scan and they just type your details and frequent flyer number into some system for contact tracing.

I hope they do this for my next week as I will be transiting to a JQ flight and have some time between flights and want to use the lounge. I would be annoyed if I am denied the stated eligible access because my BP doesn't scan.

 

[UP4014]

I guess while only one lounge open they want to minimize the number of people that hanging around. Sure it will some some money but I wouldn't think much.

 

[Mattg]

Just over 3 weeks ago I entered the lounge on arrival at SYD from a QLink flight in the evening. My BP was scanned and it beeped and I was told that even though arrivals access is a published WP benefit, there "will be an announcement soon as they are looking to suspend it from tomorrow" and I was let into the lounge this time but it was going to close in about 20mins.

This may well be the case, but has there actually been an announcement? I couldn't find anything on the Qantas website about arrivals access not being permitted.

If QF is going to change the rules, they should at least inform those affected!

 

[astrosly]

This may well be the case, but has there actually been an announcement? I couldn't find anything on the Qantas website about arrivals access not being permitted.

If QF is going to change the rules, they should at least inform those affected!

I haven't seen any announcement either and have been checking the lounge rules on the Service Updates page and haven't seen anything that backs up what I was told.

If capacity were an issue then there may be an excuse to suspend the benefit but the lounge was almost empty so she may have said that to make it sound like she was doing me a favour letting me in as she had no valid reason to deny me entry at that time.

 

[ChrisMars]

Can t remember seeing an annoucement. I got denied arrival access back in August already, lounge was empty of course, CBR.

 

[astrosly]

I guess while only one lounge open they want to minimize the number of people that hanging around. Sure it will some some money but I wouldn't think much.

I went through end Nov. With SYD Qantas Club and a bunch of others open since 2 December there is even less of a reason to deny arrival access to WPs.

 

[Daver6]

There must be another reason for denying lounge access on arrival.

Oh I know the answer to this. Cost cutting!

From Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Status Credits and Tier Benefits - Tier Benefits



No little caveats to suggest any reason why lounge access could be denied.

Additionally no mention of arrival access being restricted here either Service updates | Qantas

 

[Danger]

I don't like where this is heading.

 

[Happy Dude]

I don't like where this is heading.

Straight to the VA lounges of course!

Mmm? What's that? Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot about that....

 

[DC3]

... Advised that due to COVID-19 restrictions for contact tracing they would only accept an onwards boarding pass ...

Hmmmm. Sounds a bit iffy. Why can’t they do what other businesses have done. QR code scan.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Data point, I was allowed arrival access at SYD on Friday 11/12 as a WP, around 14:30 if I remember correctly. No mention of there being any changes coming up.

 

[NSun]

I was not allowed arrival access at CBR last month around 7pm as a WP. Wasn't given a reason at the desk so rang up later and they said it was restricted due to COVID.

 

[Vic]

Had this in Brisbane a few weeks back. Moved on and used the public toilet.

Sounds like a capacity restriction, which has been announced.

Service updates | Qantas

The latest updates to Qantas network, inflight and airport services.

www.qantas.com

 

[DC3]

OOL seems to be rather proactive with restricting access to all-comers:

Unable to access QP at OOL [Closed April 2021 for Renovations]

Currently at Coolangatta Airport about to fly QF J to Melbourne. Went to access Qantas lounge prior to departure only to be told we can’t gain access because the door won’t open!! I understand some things are beyond anyone’s control, but seriously in this day and age, they can’t open the door...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[offshore171]

I guess while only one lounge open they want to minimize the number of people that hanging around.

I think it's this. They don't want people lingering and mingling if they don't actually have a plane to catch. Understandable in the circumstances.