WP and anytime lounge access

[TimB]

As I mentioned in another thread recently, I've just made it to WP. (And thanks to everyone who's already congratulated me -- unexpected but appreciated!) I'd like to thank everyone here who first of all put the idea in my head that I could aim that high, and then provided all the status run tips which helped me achieve it.

My WP kit arrived yesterday; I received the standard card, not the new chipped one. (That's not surprising, given I haven't flown Qantas to Perth in recent years.)

But the booklet also enclosed has caused me to question just what "anytime lounge access" really means.

The booklet says in a table on page 6:

Lounge: The Qantas Club
Access Privileges: Can access lounge at any time*
* Must be travelling, not necessarily on Qantas, British Airways or Jetstar to access the lounge.​

(Interestingly, the same asterisk is applied to the Qantas International Business Lounge, where of course you do need to be travelling to get to the lounge since it's international airside.)

Similarly, Access to The Qantas Club lounges says this:

When you arrive at a lounge, show your Qantas Club card, or your Platinum or Gold Frequent Flyer card with your ticket or boarding pass. (my emphasis)
​

And then when describing access to the Qantas Club for Platinum members, says:

Member and two guests can access lounge any time. Guests do not need to be travelling.​

So it seems that the current stated policy is that you need to be at least flying (any airline) to get access.

A bit of searching here shows that this topic was discussed in 2007:
QF Platinum FF - QF Club Access. In that thread, Mal wrote:

My understanding is that the "Plat access any time" is still active, but not widely advertised by Qantas. Kind of an "in the know, wink, wink" type thing methinks.

There used to be a page on the Qantas site which spelt it out completely, but that has now been removed. So of course the right to enter could also be removed as well when it suits the entry staff.

Is that still the state of affairs? I'm looking forward to "smiling and flashing my WP card" to get in for drinks with a friend or two sometime soon.

Cheers (literally!),

Tim.

 

[markis10]

Anytime access to a QP is true and current, however be aware that is not the case for associated lounges, which include the QF link ones domestically, which do require an onward QF group flight for access.

 

[whughes3]

The website says quite clearly:

Member and two guests can access lounge any time. Guests do not need to be travelling.

 

[Danger]

TimB, I agree with you. I have argued on AFF before that lounge access rules are incredibly complicated but in this example I think it's simply a case of Qantas getting out of control with the ^, *, # etc.

The excerpt from page six of the booklet that you pointed out was also featured on an A4 'ready reckoner' of lounge access that was displayed at the reception desk of the Perth domestic lounge a couple of weeks ago. I pointed out the contradiction and two lounge staff couldn't explain it. They removed the sign from display and one said he'd follow it up with "corporate".

In reality, there is no reason why you should not have access to domestic Qantas Clubs at anytime (travelling or not), with two guests (travelling or not). It gets more complicated with regional or associated lounges but it seems the answer there is no access.

 

[NM]

Of course they do not define "travelling". I assume you have travelled to the airport by some means of transport, be it a car, taxi, train, aircraft, horse etc.

 

[dajop]

Of course they do not define "travelling". I assume you have travelled to the airport by some means of transport, be it a car, taxi, train, aircraft, horse etc.

My thoughts exactly, no specificity as to air travel.

Although note for international travel the single time I tried to access a QF J lounge on arrival, at the lounge they pointed out that access is for onward travel not for access upon arrival after a flight ... but hey they let me in anyway ...

 

[anat0l]

Are they still issuing the "tall" booklets to new members?

The last tall booklet that I got as a first time WP qualifier states:

Lounge: The Qantas Club
Access Privileges: Can access lounge at any time*

Lounge: Qantas International Business Lounge
Access Privileges: Can access lounge at any time

* When not travelling on Qantas, Jetstar or a oneworld flight

Needless to say, there's enough confusion within there to boggle the mind.

The "short" booklets (incidentally, with the lounge access rules also on "page 6") which was issued to me as a requalifying WP member is a whole lot simpler:

Lounge: The Qantas Club
Access Privileges: Access lounge at any time

Lounge: Qantas International Business Lounge
Access Privileges: Access lounge at any time as long as you have a flight that day

The online lounge access rules (here) are also fairly unambiguous, as far as your access privileges as a WP are concerned. (The only exception is the F Lounge rules, which we have debated ad nauseum on this board. The "tall" and "short" booklets in the member kits are a whole lot more clearer on this).

Anytime access is otherwise pretty simple to understand, but you have to remember it only applies to QF operated lounges. So you can't get anytime access at a BA Terraces/Galleries lounge. Domestically, Regional Lounges are not covered in anytime access.

 

[markis10]

Anytime access is otherwise pretty simple to understand, but you have to remember it only applies to QF operated lounges. So you can't get anytime access at a BA Terraces/Galleries lounge. Domestically, Regional Lounges are not covered in anytime access.

And if you are flying the regional "associated lounges" have a two hour time limit

 

[JohnK]

I don't know what the booklet says but I have had anytime lounge access in SYD, BNE and ROK recently without any hassles.

I use theese lounges both as departure and arrivals lounges as well as somewhere to go for a drink when I am not flying and bored.

 

[markis10]

I don't know what the booklet says but I have had anytime lounge access in SYD, BNE and ROK recently without any hassles.

I use theese lounges both as departure and arrivals lounges as well as somewhere to go for a drink when I am not flying and bored.

Ditto for me in ROK where boredom comes easily, I even told the CSO my flight was 5 hours away and he was not fussed, it was a pleasant experience compared to the one reported by another FF member when they attempted to get into the new CFS lounge while flying DJ.

 

[Worldtraveller8888]

Can anyone tell me, do they still scan your boarding pass or just sight your Platinum card if you are utilising anytime access when travelling on another carrier?

 

[straitman]

Can anyone tell me, do they still scan your boarding pass or just sight your Platinum card if you are utilising anytime access when travelling on another carrier?

Domestic they just sight your Platinum Card. ie no need to be flying.

International they always scan the boarding pass from my experience.

 

[NM]

Domestic they just sight your boarding pass. ie no need to be flying.

International they always scan the boarding pass from my experience.

Matches my experiences exactly.

 

[dajop]

International they always scan the boarding pass from my experience.

Unless flying on a carrier that uses supermarket docket style boarding passes, or more accurately boarding passes that are incompatable with QF's system, such as flying out of Singapore T1 on Air Asia, and IIRC Jetstar Asia as well.

 

[Worldtraveller8888]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Much appreciated.

WT

 

[djfuzz]

Confusing things even further is anytime access to the Dom J lounges for WPs and the same number of guests.

To check if it's still there, these days I only use my WP card at the J lounge desk and it seems to do the trick (mind you, I'm almost always lugging bags, so it's obvious I'm travelling). The benefits are marginal, but will be interesting to see when / if they pull this unofficial benefit back to WPs with same-day flights only. I can't imagine doing so would affect capacity that drastically, but who knows.

 

[JohnK]

Domestic they just sight your boarding pass. ie no need to be flying.

Would you have a boarding pass if not flying?

 

[straitman]

Would you have a boarding pass if not flying?

Good pickup John. Thanks.