Would you guest a total stranger into the Qantas Lounge?

[Joshua]

I share the 'if circumstances present themselves' situation. Was deplaning at TSV recently and found myself in a small discussion with a fellow passenger. He mentioned he had a several hour wait until a Rex flight and would probably wait it out at the bar. I thought bugger that and took him back into the QP. He was hesitant at first but thankful and mentioned he had been considering getting a membership. The TSV-SYD flight was boarding so the lounge went from quite full to virtually empty.

I think if done occasionally it certain is a nice gesture. Especially for the types that are completely foreign to lounges.

 

[Flashback]

Interesting thread with many and varied interesting responses.

Having said that I have taken as my guest a relative stranger - we were the only two pax in J, BNE/SIN into the SIN Flounge. An elderly nervous flyer was most grateful.

Now, think about your response if a complete random came up to you in an Airport and invited you into an airline lounge? Irrespective of gender , age or disparity in age, how would you react?

No judgement.

I commend those who have helped a traveller in distress by exercising a right that they had - to take a guest into the lounge - to assist another.

To be honest I'd probably feel a bit nervous, and obliged to sit there and have a chat with them........

 

[Flashback]

I share the 'if circumstances present themselves' situation. Was deplaning at TSV recently and found myself in a small discussion with a fellow passenger. He mentioned he had a several hour wait until a Rex flight and would probably wait it out at the bar. I thought bugger that and took him back into the QP. He was hesitant at first but thankful and mentioned he had been considering getting a membership. The TSV-SYD flight was boarding so the lounge went from quite full to virtually empty.

I think if done occasionally it certain is a nice gesture. Especially for the types that are completely foreign to lounges.

I remember my first flight in J was SIN-PER back in 2004. I knew nothing of the lounge, and it wasn't mentioned at check-in. When I joined AFF 2 years later and found out about lounges...... I was very upset!

 

[BVT]

To be honest I'd probably feel a bit nervous, and obliged to sit there and have a chat with them........

That is a good point. Having been bought up with olde world manners, I would feel obliged to sit and chat. How long for is the crucial question?

I seem to recall a similar issue raised here about being guested by a fellow member and the minimum together time required as a result of the invitation.

Common sense should always prevail. Never be afraid to say, " thanks for the invitation, I have enjoyed our chat - even if you haven't - I need to check my email/go wash my hands etc" and move to another seat.

 

[QF029]

I saw a young-ish girl in my last HKG transit who looked completely lost and I offered to guest her. Maybe my wording sounded a bit dodgy because she looked at me like I had invited her to my hotel room. It was a bit awkward and I won't be in a rush to do it again!

 

[straitman]

An interesting thread.

I had this thought exactly when I was at ADL a few months ago. I wandered around the airport for a while and did not find anyone who fitted the the fairly loose criteria that I had set. ie someone who would really appreciate the experience or might benefit from the time out of the main zoo.

Eventually I just wandered into the lounge and spent the time on the computers.

 

[JohnK]

I don't specifically look for people to guest, as I tend go straight to the lounge after security. Even if I do it, she better be cute.

I don't either but sometimes I feel the urge to help someone out.

Just like that other time a couple were inside the doors of the BNE Qantas Lounge (as I was leaving) and she was frantically going through her bags. I asked them if they wanted guesting and they said it was OK. I insisted and took them into the Qantas Lounge, When they got inside they were just stood there for a few minutes and looked around. I suspect they did not actually have membership but tried to somehow get into the Lounge.

Am hoping someone will be warm and fuzzy enough to guest my niece when I fly BKK-MEL later this month, as I will be guesting her mother. Does anyone know if they are ever amenable to pleading to get one more guest in?

Staff at the BKK Qantas Business Lounge are normally OK. I don't know your status but start the sentence with something like "I know I am only allowed 1 guest but is there any chance my niece can come inside with us as she will be lonely outtside". May work, may not. It worked for me when I was flying Singapore and my friend was flying Thai and we both got into the QF Business Lounge.

To be honest I'd probably feel a bit nervous, and obliged to sit there and have a chat with them........

I made it easy for the bloke when I said "Enjoy!" and walked off. I did not expect him to sit and talk to me but when he came over to thank me was more than enough in return.

I still never forget the day I was guested into the BNE F lounge by Lindsay Wilson on 26 December 2005 after only being on AFF for 9 months. I don't think we had met before this time.

 

[straitman]

I still never forget the day I was guested into the BNE F lounge by Lindsay Wilson on 26 December 2005 after only being on AFF for 9 months. I don't think we had met before this time.

... and now we all have to guest LW into the 'J' lounge when ever we are around him :!: :shock:

 

[JohnK]

... and now we all have to guest LW into the 'J' lounge when ever we are around him :!: :shock:

Isn't it funny how life has twists and turns.

When Lindsay Wilson guested me back then I could only dream about having access to lounges....

 

[kpc]

...and JohnK has kindly guested me into the QF F lounge in Syd and Mel....so far my only visits to each of these lounges...this is about to change shortly, tho

 

[Katie]

Mr Katie and I guested a fellow traveller into the Istanbul BA lounge in 2005. We'd been on an overnight trip to Gallipoli for Anzac day, bus from Istanbul down on the 24th, on the beach overnight, and another 6 hrs bus back to Istanbul, arriving at our hotel at about midnight. We had to leave at 6am, and I can't remember if we shared a cab to the airport with this lady, or ran into her at the airport, but when we took her with us to the lounge. Felt nice to guest her, as it had been a less than comfortable night for all, and then a very short few hours in the hotel before leaving for the airpport. We'd also had an elderly gent give us a handy spot on the bleachers waiting for the dawn service, so I think we were paying it forward.
The lady may have chatted to us whike we were there, but we were all pretty brain dead after the previous 48hrs. Only time I've guested someone I didn't know.

 

[ksthommo]

Used one of the old QP passes in Sydney once upon a time when a lady
who was flying business class couldn't bring her partner in. Wish I never
did as there wasn't much of a thankyou. Think she was more peeved off
at the rules at that stage.
Also did the same after flying the ochre Australian Airlines from Cairns to
Sydney, lady sitting next door had quite a few hours to kill before flying to
London, I was off to Jakarta, so no dramas.

 

[JohnK]

...and JohnK has kindly guested me into the QF F lounge in Syd and Mel....so far my only visits to each of these lounges...

There was another. But you weren't a stranger though were you?

this is about to change shortly, tho

You must be really looking forward to that day.

 

[tuapekastar]

I wouldn't go out of my way to guest a stranger (don't believe I ever have) but in the right circumstances I would have no hesitation, as it happened once to me. And no obligation to sit and talk to me.

Probably posted already somewhere here... when overseas in 2004 domestic QP guest rules (for paid QP membership) changed from allowing multiple guests, with guest 'cards', to allowing one guest only, but guest cards no longer required.

NRT-SYD-MEL. At SYD, tried to get 2 friends in as guests and the lady at the desk almost took pleasure in advising me the rules had changed (I can accept the rule change, which I wasn't aware of, but not the attitude). I turned to my friends to say sorry, but then a guy who had wandered up to the desk mid-conversation said to me "I'll take one in". The lady said, through a clenched smile, to the guy, "Friends of yours?" He replied, deadpan, "Best Mates" and in we all went.

So I'd happily guest someone in in the right circumstances, but not actively seek out someone to guest.

 

[Flashback]

I wouldn't go out of my way to guest a stranger (don't believe I ever have) but in the right circumstances I would have no hesitation, as it happened once to me. And no obligation to sit and talk to me.

Probably posted already somewhere here... when overseas in 2004 domestic QP guest rules (for paid QP membership) changed from allowing multiple guests, with guest 'cards', to allowing one guest only, but guest cards no longer required.

NRT-SYD-MEL. At SYD, tried to get 2 friends in as guests and the lady at the desk almost took pleasure in advising me the rules had changed (I can accept the rule change, which I wasn't aware of, but not the attitude). I turned to my friends to say sorry, but then a guy who had wandered up to the desk mid-conversation said to me "I'll take one in". The lady said, through a clenched smile, to the guy, "Friends of yours?" He replied, deadpan, "Best Mates" and in we all went.

So I'd happily guest someone in in the right circumstances, but not actively seek out someone to guest.

Great story, love it!

 

[SFSC]

One time back in 2007, Mrs SFSC and I had a flight SYD-LHR in J on QF31. In the lift up to platform 23 at central station we got talking to another couple who had been across from us in the carriage on the way to Sydney and found out they were also going out on QF31.

We were in the international J lounge when it was announced that the flight departure would be delayed 4 hours so I went down to the gate lounge, found them and brought them up to the lounge. I was QPNB at the time and Mrs SFSC was NB so I wondered if access might be a problem. Possibly because of the delay, things were quite chaotic at the dragon desk when I brought them up so I smiled at the dragon who had admitted us earlier and just waltzed them right by and in. It felt good

 

[Hvr]

A while ago I went through the metal detector at CBR and timing my run properly to avoid the bomb fragrance swiper was carrying my shoes up the escalator. I sat down to put my shoes on and there was a lady who looked tired etc.

So I invited her into the lounge, turned out she was on the same flight to SYD as me. We talked a bit and she was actually a consul for a small country returning to their Asian base after coming here on the biannual trip to look after their citizens.

She advised that her country was too poor to spend money on business class fares so she was flying Y to SYD then the Asian country.

We had a pleasant conversation and meal and then boarded and went on our separate way.

Yes, I would guest some one if I thought it appropriate and like others here have been guested into the J lounge.

Something, I hope to be able to reciprocate by the end of November.

 

[Skoogle]

I once guested a stranger into the LAX F-Lounge.

She was a player with the Sydney Swifts and we spent the next 10 hours chatting. She was a little unsure to start, but quickly got into utilising the facilities, menu & bar. It was alot of fun.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Of course there's always the flirting aspect as well, but i'm not the kind of person to openly invite someone to a QP due to a willingness to flirt with them

I first hit QF WP just after turning 21. Those were some fun FLounge times....

There is no shortage of backpackers needing a hot shower and some free booze....

 

[JohnK]

The lady said, through a clenched smile, to the guy, "Friends of yours?" He replied, deadpan, "Best Mates" and in we all went.

I just love it when "these" type of staff are put in their place.

In order to guest no need to be a friend or even someone you know.

So I'd happily guest someone in in the right circumstances, but not actively seek out someone to guest.

I don't actively seek someone out either but sometimes I think stuff it.

She was a player with the Sydney Swifts and we spent the next 10 hours chatting.

Sydney Swifts? Just chatting?