Time to end lounge overcrowding!

[dajop]

If you don't like it, try the public facilities out on the concourse which surely must be vacant because everyone is in the F or Business lounge

Domestically this is very close to the truth, in CBR, SYD & BNE I have done exactly that on several occassions. Blissful peace and quiet! And if positioned correctly can still use the free wifi from QP.

 

[jpk]

There's also a lot to be said for just rocking up in time and getting straight onto the plane. So long as you time it right of course...

 

[wandering_fred]

With respect to SIN and HKG, the preponderance of flights from SYD with its curfew and the flight times to / from Europe mean that most of the day, the QF/BA lounges are empty.

If you want lounges with fewer occupants, travel at non-peak times.......

I know - easier said than done. But I wander

Fred

 

[Travel Guru]

Domestically this is very close to the truth, in CBR, SYD & BNE I have done exactly that on several occassions. Blissful peace and quiet! And if positioned correctly can still use the free wifi from QP.

I've done the same thing on more than one occassion.

It's amazing how powerful that free QP Wifi can be

TG

 

[SeatBackForward]

I was quite peeved when I had to share my QF Sedan Chair from the taxi rank to the gate with *another* Qantas Aluminium member.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

With respect to SIN and HKG, the preponderance of flights from SYD with its curfew and the flight times to / from Europe mean that most of the day, the QF/BA lounges are empty.

If you want lounges with fewer occupants, travel at non-peak times.......

Agreed. Too many flights at the same time leads to overcrowding. But QANTAS is still paying for the space whilst it sits empty for most of the day - so I doubt they'll be paying to increase the lounge size :-(

SG FCL is near empty in the mornings that I've caught QF32 back to Sydney.

 

[thadocta]

To get the WP's out of the first class lounge would require a change to the one world access rules.

No it wouldn't, if it was ONLY QF Emeralds which were excluded from the FLounge. AA currently do not implement the lounge access provisions for their own elites domestically, but they honour them for other carriers elites. No reason why QF couldn't do the same thing, restrict WP members whilst allowing other OWE passengers access.

Dave

 

[dragonman]

No it wouldn't, if it was ONLY QF Emeralds which were excluded from the FLounge. AA currently do not implement the lounge access provisions for their own elites domestically, but they honour them for other carriers elites. No reason why QF couldn't do the same thing, restrict WP members whilst allowing other OWE passengers access.

Dave

You know, I hope this never happens, I am yet to see the Sydney F lounge overcrowded. With the exception of Canberra last year, overcrowding for me has not been an issue. In the last week I have been through QP's in SYD (T1 and T2), DRW, PER and all were none too busy. Methinks some doth protest too much.

 

[Rae]

Not sure I like the idea of eliminating WPs from Qantas F Lounges. That would mean if one took a trip SYD/LAX/SYD, that one could access the F lounge at LAX, but not the SYD one. That wouldn't seem fair.

 

[oz_mark]

No it wouldn't, if it was ONLY QF Emeralds which were excluded from the FLounge. AA currently do not implement the lounge access provisions for their own elites domestically, but they honour them for other carriers elites. No reason why QF couldn't do the same thing, restrict WP members whilst allowing other OWE passengers access.

Dave

So there would be even more reason to join the AA program than now.

 

[Evan]

So there would be even more reason to join the AA program than now.

Same reason a lot of Americans join QF, get there SC's for lounge access as well. Maybe a lot less of that now with the 4 segments rule being enforced.
E

 

[thadocta]

So there would be even more reason to join the AA program than now.

Except that as an AA Eilte, you won't get lounge access when flying domestic US flights (except in some VERY milited circumstances).

As for becoming an AA elite, you need to do four sectors on AA to get status, so if you never fly AA, then AA won't help as far as lounge access goes.

Dave

 

[simongr]

As for becoming an AA elite, you need to do four sectors on AA to get status, so if you never fly AA, then AA won't help as far as lounge access goes.

Dave

That rule is not yet enforced.

 

[serfty]

That rule is not yet enforced.

Nor was the QFF 4 segment rule until early last year.

Caused quite some angst among a few US based QFF FTers. They did find the SFO/YVR QF73/QF74 legs an interim solution, but I believe these have now bitten the dust ...

 

[serfty]

I have a feeling that Qantas have settled on lounge access criteria for the time being.

The revised access rules that come into effect tomorrow are likely to be the only changes in the near future.

(That does not mean that it will not become harder to attain WP, although I think Qantas may have reconsidered any other significant changes they may have planned).

 

[simongr]

Nor was the QFF 4 segment rule until early last year.

Caused quite some angst among a few US based QFF FTers. They did find the SFO/YVR QF73/QF74 legs an interim solution, but I believe these have now bitten the dust ...

True but for someone making a short term decision about programs they need to base their decision on accurate information.

My view at the moment is that FF programs are actually short term programs currently. With the number of changes going at the moment basing a long term decision on the current rules is introducing a level of risk.

Personally my short term move to AA has generated some good benefits but I am equally likely to switch back to QFF if my travel profile changes (which I am pretty sure it will - although it will most likely mean more there-and-back journeys than "fun" routings).

 

[serfty]

True.

As I posted about 12 months ago; If I had your travel profile (and under the current programs) then each year I would be endeavoring to attain QFF WP status firstly and then crediting the remainder of my to AAdvantage.

 

[simongr]

That was not really an option for me as I needed to get enough points for the Big Trip. I think I will requal this year for EXP and see what happens post Oct 1 when my new QF year begins and any new job situation arises...

 

[Keith009]

Right now i'm lucky i can have my cake and eat it too - as I'd hit the 100k EQPs with no problems and hence take advantage of the cheap awards as a side benefit. And I do travel enough on AA to make good use of the 'home carrier advantage' aspect of it. I'd only go for WP me thinks when my travel profile contracts significantly and I can no longer gain EXP status. The status benes are slightly more important to me than the miles.

And it's so easy to rig the bmi program if you want some cheap awards anyway. Without actually flying.

Then again EXP might be useful when I do make the big move to LA and do lots more flying on AA.

 

[NM]

Except that as an AA Eilte, you won't get lounge access when flying domestic US flights (except in some VERY milited circumstances).

That is where having status in both QF and AA programs comes in handy . And with one being Lifetime status, no need to meet any renewal criteria (except for not dying during the membership year).