Qantas, Virgin lounge accesss tops parliamentary gift register

[Milefest]

Found this article interesting:

Access to exclusive Qantas, Virgin lounges tops parliamentary gift register - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

It says that many politicians aren't members of either of the lounges. I wonder if that's a case of not reporting it to the register or MPs declining the invitation? I've read that any MP is invited to the lounges when elected.

Also the article states:

Both lounges are invitation only, employ more staff and are more private than the business class lounges offered by the airlines.​

I find it hard to believe that such a quiet, exclusive lounge has more staff than a QF J lounge or at least the VA lounge, can anyone who's visited either VIP lounge confirm this?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Found this article interesting:

Access to exclusive Qantas, Virgin lounges tops parliamentary gift register - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

It says that many politicians aren't members of either of the lounges. I wonder if that's a case of not reporting it to the register or MPs declining the invitation? I've read that any MP is invited to the lounges when elected.

Also the article states:



I find it hard to believe that such a quiet, exclusive lounge has more staff than a QF J lounge or at least the VA lounge, can anyone who's visited either VIP lounge confirm this?

I've been in the SYD CL and the staff ratio per customer is higher in there.
Never been in The Club at VA but would assume that's similar.

 

[ftm]

I think CL invitations to federal politicians used to be universal, but since it was published in their 'orientation pack' for new MPs as one of their entitlements, not everyone gets one any more. So it's not so much that they turned the invite down... They may not ever of been invited!

 

[Danger]

This topic comes up . . . yearly.

I feel confident in saying every federal parliamentarian has Chairmans Lounge membership; very few chose to declare it.

As for The Club, I know that not every politician was a member when it was first introduced but that may now have changed.

 

[moa999]

I would say every polly is invited to be a CL.
Whether they accept and/or use/declare is another matter

 

[JohnPhelan]

I find it hard to believe that such a quiet, exclusive lounge has more staff than a QF J lounge or at least the VA lounge, can anyone who's visited either VIP lounge confirm this?

As in the number of staff per passenger, not the number of staff overall.

 

[opusman]

Given the amount of travel every pollie would generate QF would be crazy not to invite them.

Much more likely they have "omitted" to declare it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Good to see Lee Rhiannon taking advantage of the Chairman's Lounge. Perhaps she's confusing it with the General Secretary's Lounge?

 

[opusman]

Good to see Lee Rhiannon taking advantage of the Chairman's Lounge. Perhaps she's confusing it with the General Secretary's Lounge?

And Tony's confusing it with the Fuhrer's Lounge I guess!

 

[Melburnian1]

I have been in the CL; it was practically empty mid afternoon on a weekday (of passengers...the staff/ passenger ratio was quite high if I recall, but the staff were discreet, as one might expect). My most recent visit was on a Tuesday or Wednesday so not as busy as a Friday.