QP members diverted from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Complete - "Next Year"

[Princess Fiona]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

The thing is status provides complimentary Qantas club membership. Fundamentally statused people are entering as Qantas club members.

I also thing the extra marginal value for someone flying to Gold with be equal to the cash cost of purchased Qantas club membership.

I am not suggesting they should deny access to statused people. I just don't see how it's correct to deny paid Qantas club only.

What about SG and WP flying Y on CX or BA?

 

[blackcat20]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

The thing is status provides complimentary Qantas club membership. Fundamentally statused people are entering as Qantas club members.

Indeed. But they are also OWS entering a OW lounge....

 

[TomVexille]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

The problem is that QF are actively promoting the LAX lounge as part of a QP membership. If they excluded it, there would be no argument.

 

[harvyk]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

What about SG and WP flying Y on CX or BA?

They should be granted access, the question is should their guest (whom does not have status) be granted access in front of a QP member. IMO no, guests should be the first to go.

Before anyone jumps up and down saying "but you'd be in proxy kicking out WP's" I've done trips in the past where I've had too many people in our group to even attempt to sneak people into lounges. As a result I spent time sitting out in the terminal despite having access for myself and the Mrs (if we had used the lounge, we'd have never heard the end of it, and that would not have been a fun way to spend a week). Wasn't fun, but it was my choice not to enter the lounge. In the case of QP's at TBIT, they are having that choice taken away from them.

 

[blackcat20]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

The problem is that QF are actively promoting the LAX lounge as part of a QP membership. If they excluded it, there would be no argument.

That is true.

Each time you travel on a Qantas or Jetstar flight number you will have access to:

• All Qantas owned and operated lounges^ within Australia and overseas

But if they have to limit it, then QP members are the easiest option?

 

[medhead]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

What about SG and WP flying Y on CX or BA?

Indeed. But they are also OWS entering a OW lounge....

It all depends on the below really. My recollection of the marketing emails and twits was that it is a Qantas lounge. A quick check of the Qantas club information on the website shows a news item that reads:

"Enjoy our new Los Angeles business lounge".

True or not, it creates an impression.

Having status confuses issues a little bit. But I think that can be resolved with the new rule that Qantas club members can only access lounges if on a QF flight number. Assuming an opposite position someone with status on another Oneworld airline would have to be entering via status allowance, I guess.

The problem is that QF are actively promoting the LAX lounge as part of a QP membership. If they excluded it, there would be no argument.

I agree the marketing of the lounge confuses the issue.

 

[janelarm]

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

I was denied access to LAX lounge on Sunday July 13 for same reason. Advised that Club T & C's allow this and was given $100 voucher for 2 people. Obviously I wasn't happy but we managed to drown our sorrows at the Petrossian Champagne and Caviar bar. It appears that until the First lounge is finished that this will be a frequent occurrence as the lounge is very busy. Won't be renewing my membership, this is the last straw as I am back in October and have no expectation of getting into the lounge.

 

[Princess Fiona]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

That is true.


But if they have to limit it, then QP members are the easiest option?

I agree.
Not that I think it's the right thing to do. The best option would be for those QP members to have alternative lounge access arranged by QF.

Restricting guest access will p!ss off a lot more people and be a lot messier for the staff dealing with OW elites than providing alternative arrangements for QP members.

 

[moa999]

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

I was denied access to LAX lounge on Sunday July 13 for same reason. Advised that Club T & C's allow this and was given $100 voucher for 2 people. Obviously I wasn't happy but we managed to drown our sorrows at the Petrossian Champagne and Caviar bar. It appears that until the First lounge is finished that this will be a frequent occurrence as the lounge is very busy. Won't be renewing my membership, this is the last straw as I am back in October and have no expectation of getting into the lounge.

Agree it is poor form - and they certainly should be removing the LAX ads for Qantas Club,
but if the lounge isn't big enough (due to renovations) it is a temporary problem - and what else can they do.

I suspect many would find more value in US$50/pax vouchers than what they get in the lounge anyway

I am assuming they are relying on 10.6 under the "safety or comfort" clause... Note that only guests can be excluded under 10.5 "space availability"

10.5 Entry of Members' guests is subject to space availability. Except where a valid annual guest card is presented, guests may be refused entry if the lounge is full.
10.6 Qantas Club staff have the discretion to refuse entry to any Member or guest at any time if, in their reasonable opinion, the Member has not or will not comply with these Terms and Conditions or the Club Rules, or the refusal is necessary or convenient for the orderly operation of the lounge or other facilities or the safety or comfort of other Members, their guests and staff.

I guess they have taken the decision that it is better to hurt the once a year Qantas Club international flyer rather than the status members.

On alternate lounges - I don't think the Emirates one has opened yet (this would be the obvious alternative), and I think its only the AirNZ Star lounge.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

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

Tough to work out compensation for that sort of thing... might be the one overseas trip in the year, which might have been a major driver for buying QP membership in the first place.

I understand what you're saying about priorities, but it really shouldn't have been allowed to happen at all (if it indeed did).

Quite right - I have a client who just purchased QP membership for his big USA trip this year , that's the main reason he wants it. IF he was to be refused it would be absolutely terrible

 

[moa999]

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

Quite right - I have a client who just purchased QP membership for his big USA trip this year , that's the main reason he wants it. IF he was to be refused it would be absolutely terrible

But he will gain access in SYD/MEL, and at other AA lounges throughout the US network (depending on where he is traveliing) and US$50 to boot.

 

[Princess Fiona]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

They should be granted access, the question is should their guest (whom does not have status) be granted access in front of a QP member. IMO no, guests should be the first to go.

Before anyone jumps up and down saying "but you'd be in proxy kicking out WP's" I've done trips in the past where I've had too many people in our group to even attempt to sneak people into lounges. As a result I spent time sitting out in the terminal despite having access for myself and the Mrs (if we had used the lounge, we'd have never heard the end of it, and that would not have been a fun way to spend a week). Wasn't fun, but it was my choice not to enter the lounge. In the case of QP's at TBIT, they are having that choice taken away from them.

With respect I don't think the two situations are quite the same.
In your situation you had guest access for one and too many guests.
What you appear to be advocating is the removal of guest access for everyone.
It would quickly get very messy, very long queues at the entry and even worse bad publicity for QF IMO.
Besides as the lounge is a jointly operated OW lounge QF would need the agreement of BA and CX (neither of whom have paid lounge access) to implement this change other than unilaterally towards QFF.
To be frank that's not going to happen.

 

[TomVexille]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

Would it be more fair to allow everyone with access in until reaching capacity, at which point it becomes a "1 in 1 out" scenario?

 

[Princess Fiona]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

Would it be more fair to allow everyone with access in until reaching capacity, at which point it becomes a "1 in 1 out" scenario?

I don't think so.
Pretty sure the F passengers lined up outside at the velvet rope beside the bouncers would agree with me :mrgreen:

 

[TomVexille]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

I don't think so.
Pretty sure the F passengers lined up outside at the velvet rope beside the bouncers would agree with me :mrgreen:

But that's where the VIP list comes in

 

[drron]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

Interesting isn't it.Pay for QP and in LAX not honoured by QF but is by AA.
Frankly any QP refused admission who has a couple of hours should take the $50 voucher,use it then walk to T4 and use the AC getting the bus back to TBIT before boarding.

 

[Princess Fiona]

re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Year"

Another option which QF could have pursued proactively would have been to get some access to the Priority Pass KAL Lounge at TBIT.

How they could be getting this so messed up is a complete mystery to me. When the lounges were being renovated etc in SIN there were IIRC some quite complex temporary arrangements depending on status and COS for lounge access.
The same thing could and should be taking place at LAX up until the F lounge re-opens.

 

[TomVexille]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Another option which QF could have pursued proactively would have been to get some access to the Priority Pass KAL Lounge at TBIT.

How they could be getting this so messed up is a complete mystery to me. When the lounges were being renovated etc in SIN there were IIRC some quite complex temporary arrangements depending on status and COS for lounge access.
The same thing could and should be taking place at LAX up until the F lounge re-opens.

Correct. However they seem to have tried to take the easy road out by pissing on the people that pay for QC.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

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

But he will gain access in SYD/MEL, and at other AA lounges throughout the US network (depending on where he is traveliing) and US$50 to boot.

So what? He is paying for Qantas lounge access, it is not cheap you know.

RED ROO - this is simply not good enough. It is disgraceful

 

[harvyk]

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

So what? He is paying for Qantas lounge access, it is not cheap you know.

RED ROO - this is simply not good enough. It is disgraceful

You can say that again, QP is by far the most expensive club I belong to...