Self-entry machines at The Lounge

[MichaelD]

I just said, 'here is my boarding pass just page me when you are done' and walked off.

Great strategy. I think I'll try this next time I am stuck in a lounge access line.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Agreed, the priority queue at the lounges doesn't seem to work too well unless you're the only one in the queue. No one knows which side is priority and which isn't hence both sides filled with an assortment.

 

[pauly7]

Agreed, the priority queue at the lounges doesn't seem to work too well unless you're the only one in the queue. No one knows which side is priority and which isn't hence both sides filled with an assortment.

Doesn't work at all hence my out of character reaction to the lounge dragon!!

I'm really glad DJ are addressing this cough system they have imposed on their staff. Big thumbs up and looking forward to it being implemented.

 

[Simo]

Would save time at the door in peak periods but I hope there is still a lounge angel if you have a problem so you have someone to help you out and it is not a measure for losing quality customer service and cost cutting measure as well.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Would save time at the door in peak periods but I hope there is still a lounge angel if you have a problem so you have someone to help you out and it is not a measure for losing quality customer service and cost cutting measure as well.

They'd still need the angels to police guest numbers and check other non-elite access I'd imagine. I hope the machine will be able to seat select and print boarding passes as I've grown quite accustomed to doing that in the lounge now rather than at home pre-departure.

I wonder if they'll also be able to handle "fly ahead" requests?

 

[Justinf]

They'd still need the angels to police guest numbers and check other non-elite access I'd imagine. I hope the machine will be able to seat select and print boarding passes as I've grown quite accustomed to doing that in the lounge now rather than at home pre-departure.

I wonder if they'll also be able to handle "fly ahead" requests?

Yep, that's the big question for me as well. You would think they will still need staff in attendance. Kinda like the Safeway self-serve checkout. Every time I ues that I manage to find a way to screw it up and need assistance so I imagine I will be no different with self-serve kiosks in the Lounge. (I'm kinda awkward like that )

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Yep, that's the big question for me as well. You would think they will still need staff in attendance. Kinda like the Safeway self-serve checkout. Every time I ues that I manage to find a way to screw it up and need assistance so I imagine I will be no different with self-serve kiosks in the Lounge. (I'm kinda awkward like that )

Big OT here but on the self serve bit, I used to love the speed you could fill up and get going with the "Pay at the pump" service stations. Now it seems servos are removing them. Must want us to enter to shop to pay so hopefully we buy a chocolate or something!

 

[MichaelD]

Just arrived in the MEL lounge to find this intriguing machine has made an appearance here as well (it definitely wasn't here 2 days ago). It hasn't been turned on yet.

 

[pauly7]

Just arrived in the MEL lounge to find this intriguing machine has made an appearance here as well (it definitely wasn't here 2 days ago). It hasn't been turned on yet.

Great news thanks for sharing!

Look forward to bypassing the scary Melbourne dragons I'm sure the
staff will be CHEERING when it's turned on and they don't have to interact with as many pax.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

OK, so who's going to be first to use one? I'don't next fly for another fortnight so I guess it'll all depend on timing of turn on.

 

[serfty]

OK, so who's going to be first to use one? I'don't next fly for another fortnight so I guess it'll all depend on timing of turn on.

There'll be a few Saturday morning if not before ...

 

[MichaelD]

...and now one of these machines has also appeared in SYD (where, ironically, I am enjoying ATA prior to a delayed regional flight).

 

[drewbles]

Great news thanks for sharing!

Look forward to bypassing the scary Melbourne dragons I'm sure the
staff will be CHEERING when it's turned on and they don't have to interact with as many pax.

The Lounge staff in MEL are great in general. I've always been met with a big smile, and usually a friendly conversation. Sometimes a bit of a joke about things (I recall one conversation about the Virgin-of-old and on-board face painting) and never a bad experience (except an upgrade and then downgrade at gate, but that's another situation which seems to be replicated frequently).

 

[medhead]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I can't find the proper thread, but I've just used the new lounge entry machine at The Lounge in SYD (DJ). Pretty simple, scan the barcode, select number of people (0,1,2,3) off you go.

Actually had fun and games tonight. Flew ahead, then did the rounds of the T2 QP, T3 J Lounge and T3 QP to find the new inky shopping catalog for SWMBO. My mate (on staff) in the J lounge gave me one of the pretzels as I was passing through. He was worried I was flying with DJ since he hadn't seen me for a while (little did he know). Back in the DJ lounge now just getting in my bid for first use of the entry machine.

 

[anat0l]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I can't find the proper thread, but I've just used the new lounge entry machine at The Lounge in SYD (DJ). Pretty simple, scan the barcode, select number of people (0,1,2,3) off you go.

You must mean 'guests' rather than 'people'. What's the point of scanning for entry if 0 people are going to enter the lounge?

How quick is the machine? For example, compared to DJ's kiosk check-in, NZ lounge entry machine, or QF totem pole?

 

[serfty]

There was one installed but not oeprating at MEL last Saturday.

However, there was one operating in BNE and I used it (twice).

It had both a barcode reader (failed) and a magnetic stripe swipe reader - that worked for both arrival entry and departure some hours later.

 

[medhead]

in my defence guests are people too.

How quick is the machine? For example, compared to DJ's kiosk check-in, NZ lounge entry machine, or QF totem pole?

It was pretty quick, ~4 seconds to swipe press the number and you're done.

I should've known Serfty would be first to use one.

Thanks for moving my post.


Sent from the Throne

 

[flyingfan]

There was one installed but not oeprating at MEL last Saturday.

However, there was one operating in BNE and I used it (twice).

It had both a barcode reader (failed) and a magnetic stripe swipe reader - that worked for both arrival entry and departure some hours later.

I tried the machine at MEL this afternoon for arrivals access. Not wanting to take too long I wasn't exactly sure how to scan the barcode and/or touch for proximity, so I thought I'd use the swipe reader - surely even I can't get it wrong... until I swiped it down instead of up which seems to be what to do (It didn't seem to register the first time I swiped the card down, but then again it probably is supposed to be down now that I think about it.)

Machine worked fine, although a nicer and presumably simple touch would be to display say something like "Welcome Mr/Ms..." which I don't think it did, for a personal feel/DYKWIAness. However when pressing how many guests I was bringing in, the screen didn't seem to be registering at first so I tried again with a bit more force - I was almost afraid I'd damage it.

I wonder how the machine signals to the nearby agents that access is granted and in particular what happens if someone ineligible tries to use it and/or someone pretends to use it and then walks through into The Lounge. Perhaps it's linked to speakers that will blare "RELEASE THE HOUNDS"

 

[drron]

Doesn't beat the JAL domestic lounge at Haneda.Place your JMB card or BP over the sensor and it tells you to turn left-Sakura or right-Diamond first lounge.Boarding again just put BP over sensor and it tells you where to go-unfortunately today that was down the back!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Tried OOL this morning. Not on line yet! But it looks good. I'm just wondering how the angels will police No. of guests. As gold, I could enter 1 guest (my allowance), but then parade three in. Unless the angels know me, they wouldn't know if I was gold or plat.