Please play nicely: wabrler mode on: F lounge New Year each year, open?

[AustraliaPoochie]

Edit: er, Warbler...
I have now gone deeper into planning mode, and have made the decision, 80% (now depends only on finances), remind me again, the QFi F lounge in MEL/SYD/BNE, they dont close between/around about after Christmas and past New Years Day? Do they?
It was only the QFd J lounges that QF closes to do reapirs/touch ups, etc, right?
Mercure Auckland is not so bad, New Years Day to 03/01/2016 still asking for Aud$145 or so, per night.
QFd whY 10 SC ADL - MEL 31/12/15
QFi (EK metal) F 120 SC MEL - AKL 01/01/16
QFi (JC) J 120 SC AKL - MEL - ADL 03/01/16
Total 250 SC plus my 80 SC MEL - WLG in J in Oct, meaning I will retain PS = 330SC retain PS dropping from SG later 2016.

 

[RichardMEL]

Sorry but your calculation is incorrect. You will only get 80 SC for QF J AKL-MEL on jetconnect (or EK). So your total is going to be 210 SC.

As far as I know the F lounges do not close for cleaning etc, though of course things could change or there may be an issue. (eg: "Operational Requirements")

Note also that if you fly the QF J AKL-MEL flight you will not get into the EK lounge at AKL, and that is the lounge you want (other than NZ) imho. the QF lounge (both F and J sides) are average to say the least; EK is lavish.

just my 2 cents.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Don't forget, I have to get back from MEL to ADL!
So, another 40 SC in J if I do a linked (all the way PNR), from AKL to MEL to ADL.
If I leave AKL the earliest am flight from AKL, I can give it some time to get out of T2, faff around MEL and get the 15:00pm or later flight back to ADL.
Wished I had the $ to live in MEL though.
Edit: I will try the EK F lounge next time.
For this current one, its just seeing QF F lounge in MEL, and the rest is dog fur that can be er, shedded.
If I do the EK F on the way back, its shorter time in AKL... would have to fly back to MEL on the 02 instead of the 03. So, it would have to be JC 6.xxam on the 03/01/16.
I am a sub contract person, so have to get back to start assignment ASAP 04/01/16.
I could get the first JQ flight MEL to ADL on 04, but that entails an "unnecsary" stay in MEL overnight, not that I don't like the Ibis Budget MEL airport "motel".
Ok, its down now.
So be it if the F lounge turns out to be closed, or the EK MEL - AKL flights gets subbed, (ever very small chance).
Thanks again for your calcuation re: AKL - MEL J class SC though.

 

[Christoo]

Last flight of the day akl to mel is code share EK metal with QF flight number. You don't need F just J for the EK lounge which as previously stated is 1000 times better than the QF J lounge where even the F area is worse than a QP

 

[moa999]

Intl lounges have never closed over hols. Will often put on special menus as well.

 

[smit0847]

Hang on are you SG now? Youll soft land to PS regardless

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I got to SG in end (after Christmas) Dec 14.
Got my SG card about end of Dec 14/Jan 15, thought that my SG would last till Dec 15.
But got my SG to Oct 16!!!
So, got to retain SG for more than 12 months.
After that, I will build up enough SC to retain PS, so don't need a soft landing.
120 SC MEL - AKL F
80 SC AKL MEL J
80 SC already booked and paid MEL - WLG
Thats 280 as it is, plus a bit of other small trips, more than enough to retain PS which I was before.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Thanks everyone.
Will look forward to it.

 

[medhead]

I got to SG in end (after Christmas) Dec 14.
Got my SG card about end of Dec 14/Jan 15, thought that my SG would last till Dec 15.
But got my SG to Oct 16!!!
So, got to retain SG for more than 12 months.
After that, I will build up enough SC to retain PS, so don't need a soft landing.
120 SC MEL - AKL F
80 SC AKL MEL J
80 SC already booked and paid MEL - WLG
Thats 280 as it is, plus a bit of other small trips, more than enough to retain PS which I was before.

The point remains that if the sole aim is to be at PS level for 2016/2017 then doing extra flying isn't required.

 

[Spongbob]

The point remains that if the sole aim is to be at PS level for 2016/2017 then doing extra flying isn't required.

Would not AP's status only change at the end of December, and not in mid-December? S/he would be better off if these flights were all done in the new QFF membership year (or am I misunderstanding something?).

 

[medhead]

Would not AP's status only change at the end of December, and not in mid-December? S/he would be better off if these flights were all done in the new QFF membership year (or am I misunderstanding something?).

They said their gold is valid until October 2016. That suggests their membership year ends in October. The flights that attained gold happened in December/January 2015, which would result in gold until October-2016. They are talking about flights at Christmas/January 2015/2016, which would be in the next/new membership year and count towards status level in the membership year after October 2016.

 

[BD1959]

Would not AP's status only change at the end of December, and not in mid-December? S/he would be better off if these flights were all done in the new QFF membership year (or am I misunderstanding something?).

The way I read this (and who knows ... !!) ...

The Dog's year runs to end of October.

The Dog achieved SG mid December. The Dog used to be a VA flyer so assumed the new status would last 12 months rather than the end of their NEXT membership year. So has SG through to end Oct 2016, although initially thought they needed earn to avoid a hard landing.

Since this thread is supposedly about Lounge Opening over New Year, it's wandered all over the shop since ... standard Dog World.

Regards,

BD

 

[eminere]

The way I read this (and who knows ... !!) ...

...

Since this thread is supposedly about Lounge Opening over New Year, it's wandered all over the shop since ... standard Dog World.

:mrgreen: ..........

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

End of Jul each year is my end of QF relevant year.
Read somewhere that QF gives a grace period of 3 months at the end of QF relevant year, so that maybe why its from end of Jul to end of Oct.
But who knows anyroad.
Will be enjoying the benefits of SG.
This QF relevant year, up to end of Jul 2015, I will have 810 SC. Not enough for WP.
All my flying after that, will from Aug 15, so it will be in the next QF relevant year.
I did say I was a warbler, like that noisy magpie that appears once in a while on a power line outside your house.
Edit: Snap: Medhead got it.
Ok, case closed, question re: lounge answered.
Now, on to read new post, not related to mine.

 

[BD1959]

Hi Pooch,

There may be an unofficial grace period - although 3 months sounds excessive and I don't ever recall this being "endorsed" through this issuing of a FF Card beyond the end of the Membership Year.
I would certainly not be counting on that, but if you have the card then I'd say you're being looked after by QF.

A word of advice - and please take this in the form of friendly advice - try to keep your posts to one topic. That way people can hone in on the core issue and address that. If you have additional questions, wait until your first question has been answered or open a new thread.

This way, we can all help you help yourself. And, afterall, that's what this forum is all about.

Regards,

BD

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Thanks.
Noted.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Last flight of the day akl to mel is code share EK metal with QF flight number. You don't need F just J for the EK lounge which as previously stated is 1000 times better than the QF J lounge where even the F area is worse than a QP

That's a bit harsh, tho I agree they seem a bit poor compared to SYD Int J and F. The AKL lounges are older style and the F is quite small but quite comfortable.

Cheers

 

[RichardMEL]

That's a bit harsh, tho I agree they seem a bit poor compared to SYD Int J and F. The AKL lounges are older style and the F is quite small but quite comfortable.

Cheers

The AKL lounge (QF), given the amount of QF flying - even if it is JC - ex-AKL, a semi important(you would think ) spot is not up to par imho. "older style" is being generous IMHO. Yes, the F section is "comfortable" in terms of chairs and if you want a party pie and a soft drink or semi-decent wine, but premium pax have moved on. I am not saying AKL needs to be up to the standards set by SYD/MEL/LAX - of course not, but compared to the EK lounge it's a "sloppy seconds" offering (sorry I couldn't think of a less offensive phrase! ). IMHO anyway. Now NZ in their home port you expect a good lounge, and actually I find the NZ lounge good, but not great given crowding at key times and I am sure they are crying out for more space if they could get it (but that's NZ's problem and not really relevant here). A better example, or comparision may be NZ at MEL. they have a number of flights a day- most on narrowbody a/c but a few wides (I note there's now a 772 service on some days in addition to the 773) - it's significant for NZ I'd say, but it's not a focus city or anythiing.. similar to how I see AKL for QF. The NZ lounge at MEL is really very nice. It's not over the top crazy, but it's a really nice lounge for a spoke city for that airline. The QF lounge in AKL isn't even up to that standard IMHO.

I think the thing that gets me the most about the QF lounge at AKL is how downscale the F&B offering is. The furniture etc is fine, wifi decent, etc but the real let down is the food offerings. I guess it's in line with the cost cutting to JC on trans-tasman flights, but even so I was mildly surprised by the onboard offering (better than I expected tbh) but the lounge? Not great. Now EK is OTT imho with an endless supply of dishes and cakes and everything - enough to feed a small village in Africa for a week, but it's also setup to cater for those 380's out of there every day. I don't expect that scale from QF, but as noted the QF lounge isn't up to a domestic J lounge standard, and you'd think QF would be embarassed by that.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[RichardMEL]

End of Jul each year is my end of QF relevant year.
Read somewhere that QF gives a grace period of 3 months at the end of QF relevant year, so that maybe why its from end of Jul to end of Oct.
But who knows anyroad.
Will be enjoying the benefits of SG.
This QF relevant year, up to end of Jul 2015, I will have 810 SC. Not enough for WP.
All my flying after that, will from Aug 15, so it will be in the next QF relevant year.

I think you need to be very careful here and double check. You say your card says your status is valid through to the end of October 16. That suggests, as others have pointed out, that your QF membership anniversary is November 1. I have no idea where you get July from or this "grace period" but it may be well worth your time to make a quick call to QFF to verify exactly when your membership year is.

I suppose you could wait till Aug 1, and if your SC's expire then you know, but it seems not.

The only case I have seen of a card expiry showing as different to one's QFF membership year/anniversary date is the case where I have gifted Gold status (and i presume the same goes for Partner Plat etc) to someone else. In the case of a gifted Gold to a friend, they informed me their anniversary date was usually end of July, but their gifted status had become aligned to mine, so they got till end of Aug 16 (lucky them! ).

If you have travel booked between Aug 1 and October 31, you may well have a vested interested in sorted this out, as those SC's may not fall in the membership year you expect, and you may find yourself short of points to requalify for the 2016/2017 membership year.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[kermatu]

I largely agree with RichardMEL's 2 cents. But I do understand why QF don't bother too much with the F Lounge in AKL. I can't see it being upgraded. So if it comes down to leave as is or closure, I'm happier if it remains. It is a quiet sanctuary at least. I have (and will again twice in the next month, flying QF ex-Akl) use the Emirates lounge for a meal when it opens, then retire to the QF for some quiet when EK gets busy.