QF Platinum Denied Lounge on Arrival with Qantas Sydney Airport

[RichardMEL]

I suspect 99% of WP's (see above 1 in 100 comment) don't actually KNOW arrivals access is* a thing.

I've used it maybe 20% of my trips. Like other's almost exclusively for a quick pit stop, maybe pick up a coffee, or adult bev and the local paper to amuse myself, or maybe a quick snack but usually it's a quick visit. Like a few others I may have planned in an extended stay (for example if a friend flying in later on, or for some other schedule reason) but that's more rare.

And given it *appears* by anecdote to be restored, at least in BNE, that it appears to be potentially restored which is a good thing and the (justified) cynicism for once may be misplaced. Hopefully.

So we need more folks to let us know if it's still being denied or not.

 

[jakeseven7]

I suspect 99% of WP's (see above 1 in 100 comment) don't actually KNOW arrivals access is* a thing.

I've used it maybe 20% of my trips. Like other's almost exclusively for a quick pit stop, maybe pick up a coffee, or adult bev and the local paper to amuse myself, or maybe a quick snack but usually it's a quick visit. Like a few others I may have planned in an extended stay (for example if a friend flying in later on, or for some other schedule reason) but that's more rare.

And given it *appears* by anecdote to be restored, at least in BNE, that it appears to be potentially restored which is a good thing and the (justified) cynicism for once may be misplaced. Hopefully.

So we need more folks to let us know if it's still being denied or not.

Sigh.... well I'm prepared to take one for the team as I'm flying into BNE pretty soon and will ask for you all - as not many people seem to be flying on this forum anymore!

Note if I get it, then this will be my first use of this benefit

 

[AIRwin]

Note if I get it, then this will be my first use of this benefit

Oh you're a virgin...

 

[RichardMEL]

I am going stir crazy enough to book a flight someplace and even try it just because.. how sad is that?! lol

 

[kookaburra75]

As another data point - I'm heading over to Adelaide in a few weeks time, and I'll see how I go there when I arrive

 

[jakeseven7]

Oh you're a virgin...

I have shared this fact before

I am going stir crazy enough to book a flight someplace and even try it just because.. how sad is that?! lol

Just do it! It has honestly been lovely flying all over the place again, I'm thankful (touchwood) I've dodged all the crazy premier border closures so far as well!

One benefit is that the lounges are quieter - not as much time wasted hunting for seats! Well actually BNE was quite busy before the 'outbreak' and everyone locked us out!

 

[Port Power]

And given it *appears* by anecdote to be restored, at least in BNE, that it appears to be potentially restored which is a good thing and the (justified) cynicism for once may be misplaced. Hopefully.

So we need more folks to let us know if it's still being denied or not.

I’m flying to Melbourne on the 31st, so will give it another try.

I have never tried going into the PER J lounge on return home, so must try that one day once quarantine is not mandated.

 

[Danger]

I got a call from Qantas on Friday about the feedback I'd lodged on the website about my situation outlined post 24.

The rep referred to the current situation being “fluid.” She said “the directive from senior management” is that it’s a day-by-day decision as to whether arrivals access is granted. Apparently, management is “trying to stop passengers from other states from co-mingling with people that are leaving … just trying to minimise contact across the broad,” adding that Qantas has “a duty of care to prevent outbreaks ...” (This must be the reason why Qantas is not selling middle seats and has made masks mandatory on all flights. Wait …) When I highlighted that the information isn’t on the website, she again referred to the “fluid” situation. “Given the current climate and how fluid it is, there’ll be times when policy changes have to made on the spot.” She said, more than once, that it was a new policy that in my situation (Sydney on 4 January), had “only coming into effect a few days prior.”

The rep went on to mention how massive an organisation Qantas is, defending the inaction with respect to the website by saying that it can take days for a policy change to bounce from one department to another and through the approvals process. She also highlighted this required “huge additional work”, before referring to the quantity of staff that have been stood down and made redundant.

The rep said it was her understanding that it was “a temporary measure” and “port-by-port”. There was an acknowledgment that arrivals access is a Platinum-earned benefit. When I asked what the status of the benefit was at the moment, she said “it’s my understanding that’s a day-to-day, case-by-case basis.”

 

[ferntree]

Thank you for clarifying.

I still suspect that some of these "reasons" have been retro-fitted to the policy.

For example, if "management is “trying to stop passengers from other states from co-mingling with people that are leaving " then access should also be denied to people trnsiting thru the airport from one flight to another.

 

[justinbrett]

Apparently, management is “trying to stop passengers from other states from co-mingling with people that are leaving … just trying to minimise contact across the broad,”

That is just the stupidest comment and smacks of someone trying to MSU on the fly.

There's obviously no basis to it, it's not like you're separating the Victorians from the NSWelsh from the Queenslanders. Whilst you are sitting there waiting to depart you're already mixing with people from around the country, some of which could be returning after a weekend trip, well inside the incubation period so they're no more or less risky than the locals.

Most lounges wouldn't exceed the 1 per 2sqm rule anyway especially with the current level of flying - it's probably more to do with the staff required to serve and clean. Again, arrivals access would probably make up less than 1% of people in the lounge, does it really buy them anything?

 

[jakeseven7]

Sigh.... well I'm prepared to take one for the team as I'm flying into BNE pretty soon and will ask for you all - as not many people seem to be flying on this forum anymore!

Note if I get it, then this will be my first use of this benefit

Well I hope you are all happy I have lost my arrivals access virginity My way of giving back to the forum that has given me so much

BNE was allowed in. I didn’t really want to go in, but walked in, did a lap, got a bottle of water and walked back out.

“That was quick!” from the friendly lounge angel and that was it. So there is a data point for you.

I have more travel end of this week but it’s regional so I’m not sure how much people on this thread care about arrivals in Tassie . Will prob be in MEL/SYD soon too.

I feel like I’m the only one on this thread travelling at the moment

 

[Port Power]

I feel like I’m the only one on this thread travelling at the moment

There are a few of us. MEL will be tested next Sunday.

But thanks for doing your bit for the benefit of all!

 

[DC3]

... I have more travel end of this week but it’s regional so I’m not sure how much people on this thread care about arrivals in Tassie ...

Possibly one.

 

[sudoer]

No issue getting into SYD on arrival yesterday at approx 5:30pm.

They were scanning all BPs and a roaming staff member moved along the queue asking everyone to check in with the ServiceNSW app. Must have been about 25 people trying to enter, the queue stretched almost to the top of the escalator.

On reaching the desk I flashed my Qantas app BP and said "arrivals access". They mustn't have heard clearly through my mask and their perspex panel as they gestured for me to scan the BP, then said "no that's your boarding pass from Melbourne, scan the BP for your onward flight". Said arrivals access again, a little louder, and they asked to sight my Service NSW app check-in and let me in.

It was quite difficult to find a seat, the only open spaces were the stools right around the back. The lounge was full enough that declining arrivals access based on capacity would have been fair.

 

[justinbrett]

No issue getting into SYD on arrival yesterday at approx 5:30pm.

They were scanning all BPs and a roaming staff member moved along the queue asking everyone to check in with the ServiceNSW app. Must have been about 25 people trying to enter, the queue stretched almost to the top of the escalator.

On reaching the desk I flashed my Qantas app BP and said "arrivals access". They mustn't have heard clearly through my mask and their perspex panel as they gestured for me to scan the BP, then said "no that's your boarding pass from Melbourne, scan the BP for your onward flight". Said arrivals access again, a little louder, and they asked to sight my Service NSW app check-in and let me in.

It was quite difficult to find a seat, the only open spaces were the stools right around the back. The lounge was full enough that declining arrivals access based on capacity would have been fair.

So it was boarding pass + sNSW for departing pax and just sNSW for arrivals access?

 

[sudoer]

So it was boarding pass + sNSW for departing pax and just sNSW for arrivals access?

Correct.

 

[beardoc]

Was allowed Platinum arrivals entry today at SYD T3. They've closed the QP and are directing everyone to the Business Lounge, which had me worried they would be over capacity, but when I asked at the front desk of the Lounge about whether arrivals access would be allowed, they insisted I check in with the Service NSW app and didn't even want to see my arrivals boarding pass!

I really hope this continues. I've been refused on my last three arrivals into SYD (in November/early December).

 

[DC3]

Was allowed Platinum arrivals entry today at SYD T3 ... I really hope this continues. I've been refused on my last three arrivals into SYD (in November/early December).

Jennifer can’t be there every day.

 

[justinbrett]

Correct.

Being a NSW resident I’ve only ever used the app with an account (which I have my licence / rego loaded etc)

What is the overhead for an interstate user? Can they just QR code and fill out a web form like most pubs when they had their own system?

Probably would have made sense for the NSW system to be built into the national COVIDSafe app and have a national system.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Jennifer can’t be there every day.

Maybe it’s the same Jennifer handing out Q bag tags/earrings. Being nasty and nice.....