The Meaning of Anytime access to you

[mickeyc747]

I have used ATA twice (both AFF meets) and don't have a problem with the occasional use.

The cost of parking will prevent abuse. What can you possibly consume in the time you rack up a $6 parking fee.

I parked at OOL on Wednesday for the lounge lauch was there for 3 1/2 hours and only cost me $10 to park. Not that I would abuse ATA as I want it to stay. Annette fron BNE OOL loves having her AFF in for events.

 

[smit0847]

What can you possibly consume in the time you rack up a $6 parking fee.

In the morning - breakfast and 2 x barista coffee.

At night - a light dinner and 2 x beers/wine.

Easily worth $6!

 

[medhead]

I've used ATA to show mum the DJ lounge in ADL when she was flying out on QF. We did a lap, didn't sit down, didn't eat or drink and then left to the QP for her to guest me in there. (as a WP I'm not too proud to be guested by a partner life QP member)

I used ATA when the introduced platinum, and had the great status match drive, to visit a lounge and have my gold membership upgrade to platinum (matched with my QF plat).

In theoretical terms I think use of ATA is reasonable when flying another airline when not able to fly with DJ for whatever reason. Bearing in mind that you will soon lose status and ATA if you keep flying other airlines.

Finally, I'm confused by the multiple references to "departure access". That probably needs clarification because technically departure access has nothing to do with ATA.

BTW I think this thread is extremely provocative considering the other thread turned to cough. I'm sure DJ will monitor usage of ATA and respond accordingly.

Sent from the Throne

 

[lovestotravel]

The cost of parking will prevent abuse. What can you possibly consume in the time you rack up a $6 parking fee.

Ummmmm $6.... That's about 1 coffee and not even a sandwhich combined.........

At RRP... which is what you'll be paying elsewhere...

 

[TirEoghain]

I have used ATA twice (both AFF meets) and don't have a problem with the occasional use.

The cost of parking will prevent abuse. What can you possibly consume in the time you rack up a $6 parking fee.

Depends how many people came in the said car.

 

[kamchatsky]

Used ATA at SYD once to send my wife off to MEL on her trip to MEL-SIN-CAN. The DJ trip was J anyway and she is also DJ G. So technically she guest me in but I did show my Gold card. I did consume some beers and food.

Sydney transport and parking is too expensive to make the whole ATA worth while.

 

[MarkD]

BTW I think this thread is extremely provocative considering the other thread turned to cough. I'm sure DJ will monitor usage of ATA and respond accordingly.

Sent from the Throne

Was never intended to be provocative, the thread was started to gauge the AFF community interpretation of what anytime access meant to them. You can interpret that however you like, however, there is something wrong if someone cannot be asked their personal opinion on what they think it means, without resorting to hostility. There was no pressure in the post, people are free to offer their opinions, or not




Excuse the typos, this was sent from my iPhone using Fat fingers

 

[eastwest101]

...Fair use
1. Obviously departure access
2. Arrivals access (maybe a coffee, freshaen up, Shower after redeye etc)
3. Occasional access, when sending off a Colleague/ Family member,
4. Pre-arranged formal events, ie: Lounge opening, AFF event organised with VA approval

What I consider to be an abuse of the privelige
1. Calling in daily for a free feed and a beer
2. Making the lounge the place of the regular Friday afternoo, end of week watering hole
3. Too lazy to make my own breakfast, so I will just pop into the lounge on the way to work, pay $6 to park, and eat something that would cost me $10 at McDonalds

I agree with your fair use, have used ATA as a VA Silver flying to a destination not served by VA a few times (had to fly Rex), don't have too many VA lounges in my departure city so can't and probably would not expect to to use ATA to guest in family/freinds leaving from anywhere.

My flights mostly paid for work and about 35% DJ, 35% QF, 20% Rex and 10% JQ - often I dont have a choice where, when and whom I fly with so appreciate DJ's ATA that I do get and would encourage everyone not to abuse it.

 

[ozmille]

Only used ATA twice with DJ as in not flying them that day. One was to pick up a friend whose DJ flight got delayed and I suddenly had an hour to kill and the second time was a couple of weeks ago for the MEL AFF day. Usually I try not to go to an airport if it is not necessary, also in SYD it is quite expensive as the train costs about 25 return and parking charges are just pure extortion (I know I could take a couple of buses but I don't like sitting on a bus for close to an hour to get some free drinks). I am sure DJ monitor who and when uses the lounge. If it becomes obvious that too many people misuse the lounge, enhancements are bound to follow.

 

[medhead]

Was never intended to be provocative, the thread was started to gauge the AFF community interpretation of what anytime access meant to them. You can interpret that however you like, however, there is something wrong if someone cannot be asked their personal opinion on what they think it means, without resorting to hostility. There was no pressure in the post, people are free to offer their opinions, or not

I'm just expressing my opinion that the 3 things you nominated as not ATA were very pointed. Along with the acknowledgement of hostility in the other thread that seems provocative, IMO. I would also note that people in the other thread were also just offering their opinion about when they would use ATA. Is there something wrong with other opinions that they can pay $6 for parking and use ATA? Such those opinions be denied because they don't match your opinion.


Sent from the Throne

 

[MarkD]

You and Lovestotravel can have your opinions too, thats why I started this thread, FOR OTHER OPINIONS, not for critique of mine or others. MOST people get that, some never will.

I'm just expressing my opinion that the 3 things you nominated as not ATA were very pointed. Along with the acknowledgement of hostility in the other thread that seems provocative, IMO. I would also note that people in the other thread were also just offering their opinion about when they would use ATA. Is there something wrong with other opinions that they can pay $6 for parking and use ATA? Such those opinions be denied because they don't match your opinion.


Sent from the Throne

 

[medhead]

You and Lovestotravel can have your opinions too, thats why I started this thread, FOR OTHER OPINIONS, not for critique of mine or others. MOST people get that, some never will.

It is a shame that you started this thread by critiquing the views of others. That kind of undermines what you're writing now. Besides I find you're previous reply and now the yelling in this reply to be rather hostile. I'm just offering an opinion, which is supposedly what you are seeking.


Sent from the Throne

 

[SteveJohnson]

What is your interpretation of a fair use of ATA
I will start off
1. Obviously departure access
2. Arrivals access (maybe a coffee, freshaen up, Shower after redeye etc)
3. Occasional access, when sending off a Colleague/ Family member,
4. Pre-arranged formal events, ie: Lounge opening, AFF event organised with VA approval

Totally agree on those, especially 1-2-3. People who abuse anytime access are the reasons it got canned. I recall hearing about a guy who used to use one of the lounges as his office, instead of working from home he could enjoy free internet (well it wasn't much chop for the last few years until Optus took it over at Qantas), food throughout the day, plus coffee, a few drinks in the arvo or evening, printing and faxing... even have a shower and shave. Really that's just a joke, as is treating it like a private pub for a booze-up with mates.

Qantas was well within its rights to ditch anytime access and I just hope that Virgin doesn't have this privilege abused at its lounges or it will do the same. The way everybody here is going on about the Gold Coast lounge for example, if this lounge is over-used on an anytime access basis the people using it will only have themselves to blame for anytime access being taken away.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This might draw the crabs, but i use it every now and then at CBR on a Saturday afternoon to take my kids to watch the planes. I always ring first, and only go when the lounge is quiet (not many flights mid arvo on a Saturday). We always sit in the corner with the windows at the far end. Kids love plane watching, i can have a coffee and read the paper.

I make the point on entry to the host to let me know if they would like me to leave. Has not happened yet

Whoa up there Boris! Where do you get off pal?

Fancy describing that as ATA.......it's nothing of the sort. That's mandatory education of a whole new generation worthy of a tax deduction for any parking and other "out of pocket" expenses. Julia most certainly will supply you a tax-payer funded iPad for documenting any sightings of the wounded QF species almost destroyed by a foreign imported Irish predator!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

1. Obviously departure access
2. Arrivals access (maybe a coffee, freshaen up, Shower after redeye etc)
3. Occasional access, when sending off a Colleague/ Family member,
4. Pre-arranged formal events, ie: Lounge opening, AFF event organised with VA approval

What I consider to be an abuse of the privelige
1. Calling in daily for a free feed and a beer
2. Making the lounge the place of the regular Friday afternoo, end of week watering hole
3. Too lazy to make my own breakfast, so I will just pop into the lounge on the way to work, pay $6 to park, and eat something that would cost me $10 at McDonalds

Without getting into semantics, I agree totally with MarkD.

ATA is a wonderful gesture by DJ (which I appreciate) and one which actually offers a tangible benefit to me (yes, I'm very self centred....my family tells me that constantly).

Even although OOL makes it very possible to abuse, I also feel the seemingly ordinary DJ computer system must be good enough to track (and warn) of habitual abusers.

It seems (from others comment) that DJ ATA, like ALL good competition, has also restored partial QF ATA so it's not just DJ flyers who stand to lose here. Condemnation should not be directed at those who see problem, rather to those that cause problem.

I stated elsewhere, ATA is important to me, but not so much for ATA, rather FTA (flying time access). Having said that, I'd hate for the ever delightful, but level headed Annette to have to refuse AFF events in the lounge simply because of overt ATA abuse stomped on from above!

+ ++ to common sense.

- - - to greedy abuse.

 

[Solid]

I have used ATA access a couple of times when transiting through Sydney onto a Rex flight.

Each time they haven't swiped my card, just looked at it, so if they are tracking they are not doing a good job of it.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I have used ATA access a couple of times when transiting through Sydney onto a Rex flight.

Each time they haven't swiped my card, just looked at it, so if they are tracking they are not doing a good job of it.

Intersting observation!

Everytime I've gone within cooee of a lounge angel they've swiped my card........maybe they just want my telephone number?

(either that or I look like a problem child)

 

[DC3]

... Qantas was well within its rights to ditch anytime access and I just hope that Virgin doesn't have this privilege abused at its lounges or it will do the same. The way everybody here is going on about the Gold Coast lounge for example, if this lounge is over-used on an anytime access basis the people using it will only have themselves to blame for anytime access being taken away...

This opens up a few old wounds.

Most of us never even used the Qantas ATA, or used it rarely. I think that I used it twice in 2 years. But it was good to know that it was there if needed. Also, I don't remember Qantas saying that abuse was the reason for ceasing it.

I was lucky enough to get the Platinum status match from DJ last September (and will maintain it by the end of this month, in part thanks to the DSC). I haven't yet used DJ ATA, but I appreciate it being there.

Rather than to dump the ATA, it would be better if ATA was monitored for any over-use/abuse by individuals, wouldn't it? It would be pretty easy to monitor.

 

[Solid]

Intersting observation!

Everytime I've gone within cooee of a lounge angel they've swiped my card........maybe they just want my telephone number?

(either that or I look like a problem child)

Ha ha ha, the former could be the case. A colleague was slipped a phone number by a check in agent after an op-up once. He never rang, apart from being married the check in agent was "on the same team."

As for me and ATA, never been swiped, just said that I was wanting ATA and I flashed the card and straight through. Maybe I need to smarten myself up a bit!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

A colleague was slipped a phone number by a check in agent after an op-up once. He never rang, apart from being married the check in agent was "on the same team."

Hey, "same team" or not, I'd be pretty chuffed that someone at DJ saw me as something other than a stepping stone in the mud puddle! (Note for those out of the loop, or more importantly to those in JBs right hand pocket....I'm peeved at the consistant lack of recognition re: double SC offers.....but mind you, I'm not one to complain! :mrgreen