QP members diverted from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Complete - "Next Year"

[TomVexille]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Is that "fly" as in physically get onto a plane, or is that "fly" as in do a trip?
In either case that's only really once every 4 to 6 weeks.

10 flights is what I consider my break even point. Yes I don't get $50 of value out of every visit, but at $50 per visit to starts to average out to something reasonable. It muddies the waters a little since I'm now finding ways to fly in J more often these days (and would therefore still get lounge access), but I figure if I do 10 Y flights in a membership year and thus get 10 entries into the QP, it starts to become worth it, every visit beyond that is simply a bonus.

I feel like it's "trips" but it's been a while since I last read the policy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

I can't find any figures in the 2013 annual report, but the 2012 annual report shows QP membership fee revenue of $85m for 2012 and $84m for 2011. In the current climate they can't afford to be screwing with that.

Interesting. Do they list the operating costs of the club as well? Wonder if there is profit in it for them, or if they see it as a write-off but useful to attract fare revenue.

 

[BAM1748]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

There is a complaint letter in todays SMH Travel section on the decline of QP availability.

 

[timster]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

I can't find any figures in the 2013 annual report, but the 2012 annual report shows QP membership fee revenue of $85m for 2012 and $84m for 2011. In the current climate they can't afford to be screwing with that.

Interesting. Do they list the operating costs of the club as well? Wonder if there is profit in it for them, or if they see it as a write-off but useful to attract fare revenue.

The lounges serve several groups. Without publishing relative lounge occupancy by group, and revenue by group, it's not possible to say which group contributes most/least to lounge running costs.

Of course QP pax are unique in that they are effectively paying for only lounge access (an especially good reason not to deny it to them). Premium class pax are also paying for / draining resources on the actual plane. The exact costs of supporting OW status pax seems to be a particularly grey area (eg who pays for their lounge access ?).

But the obvious interpetation of the TBIT lounge debacle is that QF see QP pax as the least value to them, compared to other pax groups with lounge access rights.

So if QF thus see the lounges as effectively being run for the premium class pax and OW status pax, then that $80m or so per year of QP membership revenue they perhaps see more as pure profit. Another way of putting it is that they take QP pax / revenue for granted.

If the last few years' treatment of QP is any guide, I hope it's $80m they can afford to do without.

 

[Himeno]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

The oneworld flights out of TBIT after 7pm
BA268 388 2145
CX883 77W 2355
QF16 744 2345
QF108 744 2350
QF12 388 2205
QF94 388 2330

I would think it might get quite busy in there.

 

[Nizar]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

The oneworld flights out of TBIT after 7pm
BA268 388 2145
CX883 77W 2355
QF16 744 2345
QF108 744 2350
QF12 388 2205
QF94 388 2330

I would think it might get quite busy in there.

So as a QF Qantas Club member or even like QF SG not travelling in J or F (on QF16 or 108) the strategy would be to arrive in the lounge at say 10pm ?
Should still get enough time for a feed and shower before boarding at say 11pm ?
That way the BA flight and QF12 would have departed taking with them a large amount of pax ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

So as a QF Qantas Club member or even like QF SG not travelling in J or F (on QF16 or 108) the strategy would be to arrive in the lounge at say 10pm ?
Should still get enough time for a feed and shower before boarding at say 11pm ?
That way the BA flight and QF12 would have departed taking with them a large amount of pax ?

the lounge should theoretically 'empty' for boarding at 2115 (for BA) and 2135 (for QF). Arrival at the lounge at 2136 seems optimal

 

[Ansett]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Juts out of interest and perhaps I have missed this.

Would this thread represent a good opportunity for one of the Red Roo's to clarify the situation and offer alternatives to potentially affected customers?


Either QP members are being allowed access or they are being temporarily redirected to another lounge, during phase two of the lounge reconstruction. Simples really

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

"First they came for the QP members, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a QP member."*

Look out Red Roo. The natives are getting restless and are indeed 'speaking out'.

*With apologies to Martin Niemöller.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

"First they came for the QP members, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a QP member."*

Look out Red Roo. The natives are getting restless and are indeed 'speaking out'.

*With apologies to Martin Niemöller.

The airline representative doesn't seem to have been around much lately? (last post 21 July).

But this is another example of a strategic issue which should be identified and responded to. In the PR field i would have been all over this in a proactive manner asap (what has happened, what we are doing about it, clarification on rules, alternative lounge access or vouchers for food and beverage)

otherwise right now I'm left telling people about to renew their Club membership that I don't really know if they will get lounge access when they go to the airport (LAX today, where next? London? Dubai?)

 

[Travelqueen]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

The oneworld flights out of TBIT after 7pm
BA268 388 2145
CX883 77W 2355
QF16 744 2345
QF108 744 2350
QF12 388 2205
QF94 388 2330

I would think it might get quite busy in there.

what about the seasonal flight over dec, jan from Melbourne to LAX .....QF 100, and 101

its going to be even busier!!

TQ

 

[Magpie10]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Why do I pay for QP membership. One word security, I travel alone for work and have had flights delayed and instead of spending my time in the general public lounge feel much more secure in the QP environment. But if I am going to be denied access, should I now think about Virgin as an alternative for all my travel? Genuine query, any thoughts?

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Why do I pay for QP membership. One word security, I travel alone for work and have had flights delayed and instead of spending my time in the general public lounge feel much more secure in the QP environment. But if I am going to be denied access, should I now think about Virgin as an alternative for all my travel? Genuine query, any thoughts?

I guess it would depend on what lounge access internationally Virgin offer.

Hopefully this is an isolated QC issue, and not one that will spread to domestic lounges. That would cause a stink the likes of which joining EK and removing ATA and mASAs would pale into insignificance.

 

[Kangol]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Of course QP pax are unique in that they are effectively paying for only lounge access (an especially good reason not to deny it to them).

OT, but they also pay for extra baggage allowance and in some cases priority check-in, which for some is just as valuable...

I wonder how much this will cost QF - all those vouchers handed out over the course of many months is surely going to add up. They may save on F&B costs but there would also be a cost to their reputation?

 

[Comoman]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

what about the seasonal flight over dec, jan from Melbourne to LAX .....QF 100, and 101

its going to be even busier!!

TQ

and CX881 that leaves every night approx 1am. I normally take that one.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Like I said before, offer me F&B vouchers any day, lots to choose from in the TBIT.
HMSHost and Westfield open further LAX Tom Bradley F&B outlets | TheMoodieReport.com

I think we'll find this is a temporary issue at QP/OW lounge until the second lounge opens.

I'm there in late August, will let u know my experience.

Cheers
BF

 

[medhead]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Strange mum is flying out of LAX in late August. She seems to think her qantas flight departs from T4 or T6. Are there any Qantas flights that don't depart from TBIT?

 

[Himeno]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Strange mum is flying out of LAX in late August. She seems to think her qantas flight departs from T4 or T6. Are there any Qantas flights that don't depart from TBIT?

Nope, they all go to TBIT now. The last one moved out of T4 a while ago. There are AA and AS operated QF codeshares out of T3 and T4.

 

[Gremlin]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

Juts out of interest and perhaps I have missed this.

Would this thread represent a good opportunity for one of the Red Roo's to clarify the situation and offer alternatives to potentially affected customers?


Either QP members are being allowed access or they are being temporarily redirected to another lounge, during phase two of the lounge reconstruction. Simples really

You'd think so. But the fact that they haven't, across a thread that has gained such intense interest speaks volumes.

In many cases what Red Roo and VFF don't respond to provides as much info as what they do...

 

[moa999]

Re: QP Members Barred from LAX TBIT Lounge until upgrade Completed - Sometime "Next Y

QF has been generous enough to allow QP Members access to the largest lounge in the airport (The Gate Lounge) as well as providing a wide selection of food and beverages (via the USD50 voucher)