The Lounge - Perth

[crazydave98]

Sandgropers and frequent visitors to the west will be pleased to hear that we announced this morning that we will open The Lounge in PER in April next year.

As well as our own guests there will be some arrangements with Skywest for customers on their network.

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[NSWhere]

That is great to hear, good job!

 

[oz_mark]

Good to hear of this development!

 

[StevePER]

Excellent news, I am pleased.

 

[Flashback]

Sandgropers and frequent visitors to the west will be pleased to hear that we announced this morning that we will open The Lounge in PER in April next year.

As well as our own guests there will be some arrangements with Skywest for customers on their network.

cheers

CrazyDave98

CrazyDave98, thanks for the info. I would be interested to see what the Skywest arrangements will be.

Here's a hypothetical situation; a person may be doing FIFO to a site up north, sometimes it will be a commercial flight (XR) but sometimes it will be a chartered flight (still XR).

Would said person get access on both occasions?

 

[crazydave98]

CrazyDave98, thanks for the info. I would be interested to see what the Skywest arrangements will be.

Here's a hypothetical situation; a person may be doing FIFO to a site up north, sometimes it will be a commercial flight (XR) but sometimes it will be a chartered flight (still XR).

Would said person get access on both occasions?

Entirely up to XR and in the case of the chartered flights its arrangements with the mining company - we will accommodate any requests as it's in our interest to ensure decent utilisation of the facility.

 

[Flashback]

Entirely up to XR and in the case of the chartered flights its arrangements with the mining company - we will accommodate any requests as it's in our interest to ensure decent utilisation of the facility.

Thanks. Once I start doing the trips I'll enquire, as it may be worth getting the annual membership (as charter flights won't earn miles ).

 

[Reggie]

Interestingly enough Pilbara Iron (Rio Tinto) have recently changed from National Jet to Skywest for their flights to Hope Downs and West Angelas. So they would probably be looking for lounge access for their exec's and the frequent flyers, as offered by Qantas for the Paraburdoo flights.

 

[Flashback]

Interestingly enough Pilbara Iron (Rio Tinto) have recently changed from National Jet to Skywest for their flights to Hope Downs and West Angelas. So they would probably be looking for lounge access for their exec's and the frequent flyers, as offered by Qantas for the Paraburdoo flights.

That being said though most of those flights are charter flights and thus don't earn any miles... IME anyway.

 

[wallacej]

I would still like to see one in HBA... I know low usage. I mean the QF club there is the size of a shoe box -

Would it be a thought/business proposal that a company sets up their own Frequent Flier lounges that can be shared by QF/DJ, and allow access to those that are entitled, and bill back entry fee to QF/DJ?? They could also charge an admit fee to other non club members that wish to use the facility.

I could see this type of facility working well in smaller airports that don't have enough demand for QF/DJ to have their own lounge, but would still like to look after their members??

Sorry, went a little OT

 

[crazydave98]

I would still like to see one in HBA... I know low usage.

Would it be a thought/business proposal that a company sets up their own Frequent Flier lounges that can be shared by QF/DJ, and allow access to those that are entitled, and bill back entry fee to QF/DJ??
I could see this type of facility working well in smaller airports that don't have enough demand for QF/DJ to have their own lounge, but would still like to look after their members??

I like the concept, and I don't think we would have a problem sharing with QF, but am doubtful of the economics both of individual lounges that would work in Australia and the number of them to make it a decent business. I believe that the model for independently operated lounges does exist in the US and Europe (are any OP members?) but suspect they would be in bigger airports than HBA. As per previous point on scale of the business, I think it would take an international company to make it work.

They could also charge an admit fee to other non club members that wish to use the facility.

A "charge-back" to other airlines could possibly work - would need to pick off the major international carriers into Australia (NZ, SQ, EK, MH, TG, UA, DL etc.). In terms of a business model I think it would also need to allow for pay-per-entry like The Lounge does now as it still makes a meaningful contribution to revenues.

 

[comint]

I don't think we would have a problem sharing with QF.

LOL, presumably they would though.

So, how about the concept of - LOUNGElite?


For all population centres (100,000+?) where Virgin blue flies, that don’t have The Lounge.

• Frosted glass sectioning, dividing part of each airport terminal’s departure area. (Some airports may already be able to accommodate a small conjoined room, e.g. Sunshine Coast)
• A Sliding door, restricting entrance via boarding pass bar code scan.
• More comfortable furnishings, than the regular departure area.
• A secluded and quieter space.
• Offering a reduced food & beverage range – e.g. standard The Lounge style tea/coffee & choc chip cookie offer, plus the usual post-mix drink station but with self serve “lounge mix” & kettle crisps.
• No toilet facilities, exit to use standard terminal options.
• WiFi
• No dedicated staff - cleaning/maintaining becomes an additional function for ground services, with check-in and other services only offered in the main terminal hall.

Basically a Qantas Regional Lounge, without the booze or loos.

 

[wallacej]

LOL, presumably they would though.

So, how about the concept of - LOUNGElite?



For all population centres (100,000+?) where Virgin blue flies, that don’t have The Lounge.

• Frosted glass sectioning, dividing part of each airport terminal’s departure area. (Some airports may already be able to accommodate a small conjoined room, e.g. Sunshine Coast)
• A Sliding door, restricting entrance via boarding pass bar code scan.
• More comfortable furnishings, than the regular departure area.
• A secluded and quieter space.
• Offering a reduced food & beverage range – e.g. standard The Lounge style tea/coffee & choc chip cookie offer, plus the usual post-mix drink station but with self serve “lounge mix” & kettle crisps.
• No toilet facilities, exit to use standard terminal options.
• WiFi
• No dedicated staff - cleaning/maintaining becomes an additional function for ground services, with check-in and other services only offered in the main terminal hall.

Basically a Qantas Regional Lounge, without the booze or loos.

Along with a check in kiosk inside. Door entry could be via b/pass scan, or swiping of member card.

This could also generate additional revenue for DJ as they could charge a lesser fee (pre paid only) for access to the "Lite Lounge" or "Little Lounge".

It would be difficult to police how many "friends" permitted passengers would be brought in, but I guess when ground staff do a tidy up they could check b/passes.

 

[Flashback]

Along with a check in kiosk inside. Door entry could be via b/pass scan, or swiping of member card.

This could also generate additional revenue for DJ as they could charge a lesser fee (pre paid only) for access to the "Lite Lounge" or "Little Lounge".

It would be difficult to police how many "friends" permitted passengers would be brought in, but I guess when ground staff do a tidy up they could check b/passes.

I would think that giving the fact everyone is pushing a "Lite" lounge, no free guests should be allowed

 

[wallacej]

I would think that giving the fact everyone is pushing a "Lite" lounge, no free guests should be allowed

Agreed...

Dave, did you just want us to put this together for you in a folio that you can present to the board Should be able to have a few open in the next few months

 

[docjames]

I would think that giving the fact everyone is pushing a "Lite" lounge, no free guests should be allowed

I think you should be allowed one guest - what about someone who flies regularly and has high status with QF or DJ but brings their spouse (who doesnt fly much) on one occasion?

I guess they could sit in the terminal whilst you relax in the lounge

 

[crazydave98]

LOL, presumably they would though.

So, how about the concept of - LOUNGElite?



For all population centres (100,000+?) where Virgin blue flies, that don’t have The Lounge.

• Frosted glass sectioning, dividing part of each airport terminal’s departure area. (Some airports may already be able to accommodate a small conjoined room, e.g. Sunshine Coast)
• A Sliding door, restricting entrance via boarding pass bar code scan.
• More comfortable furnishings, than the regular departure area.
• A secluded and quieter space.
• Offering a reduced food & beverage range – e.g. standard The Lounge style tea/coffee & choc chip cookie offer, plus the usual post-mix drink station but with self serve “lounge mix” & kettle crisps.
• No toilet facilities, exit to use standard terminal options.
• WiFi
• No dedicated staff - cleaning/maintaining becomes an additional function for ground services, with check-in and other services only offered in the main terminal hall.

Basically a Qantas Regional Lounge, without the booze or loos.

Thanks comint - I like that idea a lot - keeps costs down while providing most of the regular Lounge benefits. I will pass that on to our product development team. Happy to hear more suggestions from OPs on the concept.
cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[crazydave98]

Along with a check in kiosk inside. Door entry could be via b/pass scan, or swiping of member card.

This could also generate additional revenue for DJ as they could charge a lesser fee (pre paid only) for access to the "Lite Lounge" or "Little Lounge".

It would be difficult to police how many "friends" permitted passengers would be brought in, but I guess when ground staff do a tidy up they could check b/passes.

Not sure about the kiosk from point of view that they need fairly high utilisation to pay for installation of comms, the equipment itself and need to have staff members nearby. Slight flaw with having the kiosk inside if we're proposing automating entry via scanning of b/pass (unless using webcheck), but maybe scan of PNR. I think having just the member card swipe would be most simple technically (don't Rex do something like that?).

As you suggest I think a sweep by ground staff to check on the state of the mini Lounge is practical to keep an eye on number of "friends".

The single biggest and fixed cost of the mini Lounge would be rent for the space (and airports would charge a hefty rent to also cover lost revenue from the concessions in the main terminal) - the cleaning and supplies would be relatively small and vary in proportion to patronage. But the rent aspect would still mean that to make the model work a reasonable usage would be required. I think the test case could be OOL as it is biggest airport where we don't have a Lounge, followed by HBA, LST, CNS & TSV. Thoughts?

 

[notzac]

Thoughts?

Not speaking as someone who would have access - but when I'm at an airport, I like having lounges to go to as somewhere away from the main terminal with wifi and comfy couches. Next on the list is customer service staff, after that a well-stocked bar and some food options, after that shower facilities. Anything else is candy

I wrote a bunch of stuff and then realised I was just rehashing what comint had already written - but yeah, neat idea If DJ were to entertain an idea such as this, would it make sense to consider expanding the mini lounges in to full lounges if traffic would support it?

 

[comint]

I think the test case could be OOL

OMG… yes phuleez… Since Jetstar ditched its lounge there, I have discovered just how unpleasant the departure areas can become.

where we don't have a Lounge, followed by HBA, LST, CNS & TSV

I can think of four key airport “types” –

• Airports with a Qantas Club branded service.
• Airports with a Qantas Regional Lounge service.
• Larger airports where Jetstar replaces all Qantas brand, no competitor’s lounge offer.
• DJ E-jet focus airports, no competitor’s lounge offer.

I think all four airport types offer different opportunities for Virgin Blue to attract new business. Importantly, as the only Australian airline group offering a fleet/destination-wide, premium, in-air product; I think a larger network of lounges is a complementary necessity.

and airports would charge a hefty rent to also cover lost revenue from the concessions in the main terminal

As a new concept, I would argue that airport operators can’t apply old formulae to a new idea –

• Premium Economy passengers should be excluded from calculations, as (now) many travelling PE would probably wait until onboard for a coffee, if faced with paying for it on the ground.
• The reduced F&B offer may actually stimulate demand for other items from terminal concessions. (I have been known to purchase hot chips or even a subway roll before entering a Qantas lounge, so I actually have something substantial to munch on while I have a drink.)
• Noisy Food Court - No Way!-Types, may be more incline to purchase something, if it is able to be dragged back to a secluded lair for consumption.
• The lack of alcohol service in the lounge may also drive new business to terminal concessions. Many people are use to relaxing and having a drink in a lounge, and moving them out of the congested “get-me-outa-here-style” departure area, may actually motivate their concessional demand! (Lic law compliant of course.)
• External toilets, generates further traffic potential for concessions.
• Passenger traffic at some airports, i.e. those that fall within the greater catchment area of competing major urban airports could increase! This due to frequent travellers becoming more incline with the improved local airport offer. (The cannibalisation of any of DJ’s own passengers (from the metro-airport) would be more than highly offset by the Qantas Group premium passengers made available for conversion.)