The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access)

[connieguy]

Re: Priority Pass and the New Melbourne Lounge

Maybe someone pointed out that using PP was not part of the lounge access section in the first place so why advertise its removal? Its a third party arrangement where the particular third party only advertises the loss of things after the event in a lot of cases, as it affects future sales, having one lounge in Australia and one in NZ is not going to invoke a membership spike.

Interesting the Lounge Access:

Entry & Access | Virgin Australia

T & C link is not working as it is not in the proper form for net access:

file:///C:/Documents and Settings/taylorje/Local Settings/Personal/Services/TheLounge/Join/TermsandConditions/index.htm

As the PP Card Lounge access is a legal agreement between DJ and PP, I would expect it to be at least shown in the DJ Lounge Access T & Cs as otherwise PP Card could be in legal trouble as they claim to have the Lounge access and DJ did not show the PP Card has Lounge access. PP Card can't sell what they do not have the right to sell.

DJ need to fix the bad T&C link on the web page. I found it here:

http://www.virginaustralia.com/Personal/Services/TheLounge/Join/TermsandConditions/index.htm

No mention of Priority Pass.

I have emailed DJ directly to ask what is the status with the PP Card.

 

[LiamR]

Re: Priority Pass and the New Melbourne Lounge

Interesting the Lounge Access:

Entry & Access | Virgin Australia

T & C link is not working as it is not in the proper form for net access:

file:///C:/Documents and Settings/taylorje/Local Settings/Personal/Services/TheLounge/Join/TermsandConditions/index.htm

Ahahaha. Some poor web developer is going to be in trouble for this.... I guess this shows they don't do as much testing as QF do before launching something on the web site.

 

[markis10]

Re: Priority Pass and the New Melbourne Lounge

As the PP Card Lounge access is a legal agreement between DJ and PP, I would expect it to be at least shown in the DJ Lounge Access T & Cs as otherwise PP Card could be in legal trouble as they claim to have the Lounge access and DJ did not show the PP Card has Lounge access. PP Card can't sell what they do not have the right to sell.

You mean contractual agreement, access to the Lounge under a priority pass membership has nothing to do with membership of "the lounge" and its access rights so there is no need for it to be shown on "the lounge" program/membership page, which is why there is no mention of PP for lounge access in the case of UA's Red carpet or Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounge Access pages either, to name but a few of the other lounges that PP has "contractual" access to.

 

[samiam]

Re: Priority Pass and the New Melbourne Lounge

So why then did DJ post it on their Lounge Access web page one day and then remove it the next...

...I have PMed VR to ask for clarification.

As I will not disclose what I learn from VR on this forum, I will encourage him / DJ to make the situation clear to all via the DJ web site.

I thought it had been explained elsewhere that the VA reps on here are not directly responsible for website content?

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Priority Pass and the New Melbourne Lounge

Ahahaha. Some poor web developer is going to be in trouble for this.... I guess this shows they don't do as much testing as QF do before launching something on the web site.

Depends if a web developer had anything to do with it. Not all content changes need be done by a developer:!:

 

[connieguy]

Re: Priority Pass and the New Melbourne Lounge

You mean contractual agreement, access to the Lounge under a priority pass membership has nothing to do with membership of "the lounge" and its access rights so there is no need for it to be shown on "the lounge" program/membership page, which is why there is no mention of PP for lounge access in the case of UA's Red carpet or Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounge Access pages either, to name but a few of the other lounges that PP has "contractual" access to.

Emailed: [email protected] with my PP Card DJ Lounge access question.

And just got a auto responder that my email would be replied to with-in 2 working days.

I just find it strange that DJ at one time thought it important enough to tell us, both via the DJ reps here and on their web site, that PP Card holders would no longer have DJ Lounger access from 14 July 2011 and now they apparently see no reason to continue to do so (I suppose to leave it up to PP to remove the DJ Lounge access from the PP Card web site) and have pulled the announcement from their web site. Sorry but becoming less transparent (with what some may see as negative news) is not how I would do the business. This also will create a potential problem for PP Cards, whose money they did enjoy receiving during the term of their engagement, being left holding the bag and needing to tell their PP Card holders the bad news.

To me this says DJ needs to grow up a bit and THINK about their decisions before they go public with them. Putting statements on their web site and then removing them a few days later is not, to me, showing maturity but it is suggesting decisions are being made on the run and in haste.

 

[markis10]

Re: Priority Pass and the New Melbourne Lounge

The mention was probably pulled because it could be seen as a conflict of interest, perhaps they were reminded that it was up to the owner of the scheme to inform its customers, not a third party who has a competing product.

As for DJ showing maturity, with the suggestion of decisions being made on the run and in haste, then its competitors are just as immature in that regard with far more examples to show for it, maybe they need to do more growing than DJ.

DJ are showing they want us to be informed, and are also acting on feedback, perhaps too quickly some times, with resultant retractions etc,

I will take the flexible junior with such an attitude to its customers over the stodgy senior anyday!

 

[yohy?!]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

This thread has gotten slightly out of control me thinks

 

[markis10]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

This thread has gotten slightly out of control me thinks

Whys that, there is healthy discussion about the lounge changes, and the change of the lounge change announcements, its more OT than many .

 

[connieguy]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

This thread has gotten slightly out of control me thinks

I'm confused and have asked:

1) VR

2) DJ Lounge

3) PP

for the real facts about PP Cards and DJ Lounge access. I do not think it is correct to be told by another forum member that I should not do this and I should rely on a statement made here by a DJ rep that is no longer reflected on the DJ web site.

Sorry but that same guy told me DJ SCs would be earned on a per flight basis by journeys that had different flight numbers on the same ticket. If it was not for some business I had to do, I would have spent about A$3.5k in DJ SC runs, positioning flights and hotel rooms that would not have earned the 500+ SCs that the DJ we site said they would do.

I think I have every right to be cautious with what DJ reps and their here one day and gone tomorrow web site says.

Don't get me wrong. I welcome the fresh DJ change but as a real FFer, I do need stability in any airlines FFer offer so I can plan how I will arrange my travel with them. Even more so if I don't have top tier status and need to figure out how to obtain what I would normally get if I paid my flight money to QF and OW. Changing FFer camps is not so easy as some would think and not being a fan of Status Matches, you need to understand the FFer system very well to do the camp swap without losing the FFer privileges offered by the other camp.

 

[connieguy]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

Just found a nice Priority Pass app for my Blackberry. Gives real time PP lounge location based on the GPS position of the phone.

New BlackBerry app finds nearest Priority Pass airport lounge via GPS - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Just downloaded it from the BB App Store. Anybody used it?

 

[connieguy]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

PP Card web site has just been updated.

DJ Lounges are NOT a part of the PP program.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

I haven't tried the BlackBerry version (don't have a BB lol), but I have the same thing on my iPhone, and I imagine it would be quite similar... It's much quicker to find lounges via the app then it is on their website. I usually plan lounge access ahead of time, so I don't really use the GPS feature - although I imagine it would come in handy if a flight was ever diverted and there was a long wait in an unfamiliar airport!

And to the PP update - their offering in Aus/NZ is really quite poor now! ... Hopefully they can sign on a lounge in BNE and SYD int'l terminals so that their presence here doesn't completely disappear, and so that I won't have to fly through MEL for lounge access if I don't reach DJ Gold again mid next year...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

So if I get the "gist" of the PP topic, PP is now confirmed as being no longer accepted for complementary accress into DJ lounges by both a DJ auth. rep here on AFF, the lack of acknowledgement through the DJ lounge access page (they notify how lounge access can be achieved as opposed to notifying which access passes they do not allow) and lastly by PP themselves withdrawing the DJ lounges from their partner lists.

Secondly, PP is not worth it for predominently domestic use.

 

[Misha]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

Just sporadically poking my hea in today - during work stuff - so I'm a bit behind. Glad to see all parties now agree on the answer (no).

I'm confused and have asked:

Sorry but that same guy told me DJ SCs would be earned on a per flight basis by journeys that had different flight numbers on the same ticket. If it was not for some business I had to do, I would have spent about A$3.5k in DJ SC runs, positioning flights and hotel rooms that would not have earned the 500+ SCs that the DJ we site said they would do.

- In all fairness you still would have - based on their comments. Okay this facility it now gone - but had you spent the money - they would have offered it - shows great spunk from an airline if you ask me.


//


While DJ has made some blunders - we see people talking about going 'back' or 'over' to QF. What strikes me is that QF also do things without consultation (everyone has the right to - just deal with consequences) and people just assume that if DJ make one or two errors, they must then be the worst of the lot. I am with Markis- they are learning from the errors - but are in the processing of improvement overall - I'd still rather be on their side than with an old stuck-in-the-mud alternative.

Cheers,

 

[JRT]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

Here we go again with the kid debate... If parents don't control their kids then ask them to leave..And why should you have to be traveling on business to be in the lounge???

With you completely - not all my flying is for work, actually much of it is to visit family who are everywhere but BNE. So, being able to take both my OH and son into lounge on the weekend without extra cost is a benefit. If we get a tired cranky tantrum we leave.
Also interesting to note QF Club are also becoming more family friendly - some great stuff in their "dedicated family zones" in Sydney and Brisbane.

 

[connieguy]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

While DJ has made some blunders - we see people talking about going 'back' or 'over' to QF. What strikes me is that QF also do things without consultation (everyone has the right to - just deal with consequences) and people just assume that if DJ make one or two errors, they must then be the worst of the lot. I am with Markis- they are learning from the errors - but are in the processing of improvement overall - I'd still rather be on their side than with an old stuck-in-the-mud alternative

Just to be clear here, airline FFer programs do not GIVE away anything to their FFers. There are there to make money. We pay for flights and if we fly enough / spend enough, the airlines GIVE us back some of what we spent to encourage us to keep on spending our travel money with them.

Sure companies do make mistakes and we all know and accept that. But as we pay for the FFer benefits we receive, we have every right to question how they spend our money on the benefits they provide for us. If we want good value in the services the FFer programs provide, then we need to be vocal and speak up if we think what they are delivering is not up to par or does not meet their stated benefits.

I have been very vocal with QF and have stated many times they are not delivering the benefits they state they do. IE they do not deliver benefits such as Priority Boarding, when then dilute / remove benefits such as Any Time Lounge Access for WPs and have a Clayton's approach to points upgrades.

In the end, we get the FFer benefits programs we deserve and if we are not vocal, then what we deserve is reduced until the wheel starts to squeak or they start to lose members in their FFer program.

I for one have never been backward in asking questions and if I do not like the answers, in barking more questions back and if necessary in altering the MONEY I spend with that airline.

Now as DJ have axed the PP Card Lounge access and the low cost and quick Gold SC runs are not there, I really do need to re-access if I want to do a LOT of Adl/Syd/Adl or Adl/Mel/Adl DJ low cost flights to gain DJ Gold and have no Lounge access or just stay with low cost JQ and QF on the same sectors and get the QF Lounge access?

BTW I can get Adl/Lax/Adl in J for ~$3.1k with Air Pacific, earning 590 QF SCs (A$5.25 / SC) and say retaining QF Gold. Then do a YUP with AA to the East Coast in AA F and I retain WP. My other main long haul Adl/Bkk/Adl via Mel I do for ~A$2k and earn 260 QF SCs (A$7.70 / SC). Also for each Oz departure I get to visit the QF F Lounge.

 

[LiamR]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

Interesting to see that US will no longer be part of PP in Australia from 1st October 2011. Meaning that Priority Pass has absoutley no presence in Australia anymore!

[h=3]Lounge: UNITED RED CARPET CLUB[/h]Location: Airside - Level 1, Satellite Area. The Lounge is not available to passengers arriving on flights to the same terminal.
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 13:00 daily. Hours vary according to United Airlines scheduled flight departures.
Conditions: International (T2) flights only - All immediate family members can enter a Red Carpet Club with a cardholder, but the number of persons who are not immediate family will be limited to two at any one visit - Cardholder must be 18 years of age or older - Complimentary house beer, wine and spirits available; premium selections are subject to payment - Non-smoking.
Note: Members holding a Priority Pass Select membership card will not be allowed access to this Lounge effective 01OCT2011.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

Interesting to see that US will no longer be part of PP in Australia from 1st October 2011. Meaning that Priority Pass has absoutley no presence in Australia anymore!

It's not much, but my readind is that it is only Priority Pass Select holders that won't get access. That is a specific type of membership.

 

[pshepvic]

Really?
Last I checked Virgin Australia Gold Velocity members get access to:

Etihad Lounges
Delta Lounges
Singapore Airlines lounges (soon!)
Air New Zealand lounges
Virgin America Lounges
Virgin Atlantic Lounges
and obviously Virgin Australia Domestic Lounges

FYI - just a minor point, but Virgin America don't have lounges. Where there is a Virgin Atlantic lounge in the same terminal (SFO, JFK and IAD) guests flying VX in F, MCS or Elevate members can pay a $35 fee to use it.

http://www.virginamerica.com/travel/airport-lounge.html

Velocity Gold members only get access to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses when flying Virgin Atlantic, not Virgin America:

http://velocityrewards.com.au/content/Status/GoldStatus/GoldLoungeAccess/index.htm