Speculation: QF to axe MEL First lounge?

[katiebell]

QF have made a habit of closing Flounges (eg BNE, HKG & SIN) and not installing them (LHR). LAX is the exception. Given the loss of F seats on QF9 it does rais econcerns the MEL Flounge which I find to be the best lounge I use. As LTG there would be far less benefit in retaining WP if the MEL Flounge closes.
QF do talk a lot about SYD but rarely about other Australian cities. If MEL's growth continues it will be Australia's largest city in a few years. QF are losing pax ex MEL because they do not fly to many cities ex MEL and it is usually far better to wither fly direct with another carrier or take 2 internaional sectors and transfer at an airport where this is simple and convenient rather than QF dom to/from SYD and put up with the shoddy transfers and poorer dom offering

 

[nlagalle]

QF have made a habit of closing Flounges (eg BNE, HKG & SIN) and not installing them (LHR). LAX is the exception. Given the loss of F seats on QF9 it does rais econcerns the MEL Flounge which I find to be the best lounge I use. As LTG there would be far less benefit in retaining WP if the MEL Flounge closes.
QF do talk a lot about SYD but rarely about other Australian cities. If MEL's growth continues it will be Australia's largest city in a few years. QF are losing pax ex MEL because they do not fly to many cities ex MEL and it is usually far better to wither fly direct with another carrier or take 2 internaional sectors and transfer at an airport where this is simple and convenient rather than QF dom to/from SYD and put up with the shoddy transfers and poorer dom offering

As I already pointed out SIN and HKG were joint lounges with BA.. Why oh why would you be investing in 2 lounges in what are really outposts?? Tell me did BA put an F lounge in HKG? They wouldn't because look at CX's offerings. As for BNE well what they have now is better than the broom closet..

 

[JessicaTam]

I am not convinced they will clsoe the F lounge but never say never. One option as stated could be to combine the F and J lounge removing the J from the Dungeon. Does any one know what is happening tho the space that was the EK lounge. Maybe and just maybe they could build a combined J/F Lounge using all that space and give up the Dungeon.

Just putting it out there.

My understanding is that the old EK lounge is going to be converted to a pay-per-visit lounge

 

[BD1959]

Let's examine a few pieces of the puzzle:

1. QF has axed the A380 from MEL to DXB, leaving only one flight from MEL with First (QF93).

QF metal, true.

How many EK flights have QF code-share in F?

How many EK-ticketed F pax make use of the QF Flounge (surely this is additional revenue stream for QF).

I don't have the figures - could it be argued that there are actually more "QF" F pax departing MEL these days than when the MEL Flounge was first opened?

Regards,

BD

 

[OzEire]

Until the next 'enhancement' from NSWAS.

Or is that QANTA/SYD ?

 

[cmon0005]

Don't forget as well that QF's MEL lounges are contracted to MH and QR for their flights, and although CX has their own mel lounge checkin staff have always directed OWE to goto QF first anyway in my experience rather than cx own. There are other partners who use QF's lounges, too.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think access to the F lounge needs to be revisited. When you're dropping ~25K for a family of three to the USA in business class the current Qantas club at MEL is not really up to standard. It would be nice for full(ish) fare non-status pax to enter the F lounge.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I Can't see the MEL F lounge closing permanently whilst a QF F product still exists to LAX. However I suspect we may see the F lounge go back to closing in the early evening, as QF 133 & QF 151 are the only QF flights to depart after 5pm, which are likely to be very "status light" flights considering their OMG flight times. I would love to proven wrong though.

 

[cmon0005]

I Can't see the MEL F lounge closing permanently whilst a QF F product still exists to LAX. However I suspect we may see the F lounge go back to closing in the early evening, as QF 133 & QF 151 are the only QF flights to depart after 5pm, which are likely to be very "status light" flights considering their OMG flight times. I would love to proven wrong though.

See my post above, there are still contracted airlines that will keep the lounges open late, QR and MH, FJ. Etc

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

See my post above, there are still contracted airlines that will keep the lounges open late, QR and MH, FJ. Etc

You may well be correct ( and holding out that is the case)
However prior to QF 9 being rescheduled a few years to a 11:30pm departure, the QF lounge closed at 6:30pm and a host of JQ, CX, QR and MH flights had no F lounge access, with the QF J lounge being the only option. Let's hope QF don't return to those days.

 

[NZflygirl]

My understanding is that the old EK lounge is going to be converted to a pay-per-visit lounge

Cool! I've always thought MEL needed one.

Personally it would open up options of flying Scoot to SIN and also for partner to depart on EK. Hoping for AMEX/priority pass, more so priority pass. I like opening up options.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I think access to the F lounge needs to be revisited. When you're dropping ~25K for a family of three to the USA in business class the current Qantas club at MEL is not really up to standard. It would be nice for full(ish) fare non-status pax to enter the F lounge.

I completely disagree with this. Anyone flying in J without status should be in the J lounge
If anything the access rules should be tightened. The lounge is frequently at capacity and adding in J pax would take it to ridiculous over crowding levels.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I completely disagree with this. Anyone flying in J without status should be in the J lounge
If anything the access rules should be tightened. The lounge is frequently at capacity and adding in J pax would take it to ridiculous over crowding levels.

The flip side is that the premium lounge should be reserved for premium fare passengers. It could be removed from the OW lounge network (similar to CCR) but with entry for F and QF J only. If QF needs to provide an upgraded lounge for economy pax they could improve the existing facilities.

I guess alternatively they could 're-divide' the QF business class lounge back into the old F/J sections and upgrade the J side.

 

[nlagalle]

The flip side is that the premium lounge should be reserved for premium fare passengers. It could be removed from the OW lounge network (similar to CCR) but with entry for F and QF J only. If QF needs to provide an upgraded lounge for economy pax they could improve the existing facilities.

I guess alternatively they could 're-divide' the QF business class lounge back into the old F/J sections and upgrade the J side.

Or they could simply leave it as is (which I think is a ok). And just upgrade the current J lounge. Letting full fare J pax into the F lounge is laughable, and its not even April Fools...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Or they could simply leave it as is (which I think is a ok). And just upgrade the current J lounge. Letting full fare J pax into the F lounge is laughable, and its not even April Fools...

Is upgrading the current J lounge sustainable? Economy fares are cheaper than ever, packed with passengers and guests (including jetstar) spending a few dollars on QC memberships which probably don't cover the costs of running the lounge.

We've seen downgrades in the service offerings at the SIN QC... started out great but now limiting the supply of alcohol. Presumably to cut costs.

I think there's an argument that full fare J pax spending 8x an economy fare should have priority over a platinum with their family spending a few hundred dollars.

 

[serfty]

I Can't see the MEL F lounge closing permanently whilst a QF F product still exists to LAX. However I suspect we may see the F lounge go back to closing in the early evening, as QF 133 & QF 151 are the only QF flights to depart after 5pm, which are likely to be very "status light" flights considering their OMG flight times. I would love to proven wrong though.

Errm ... there is QF95 taking the QF10 equipment and departing to LAX ~10pm.

 

[Pleb Status]

QF are currently 'upgrading' the current PER T1 QP, even though no QF group services (QF/JQ/3K) will be using the T1 terminal twelve months from now.

If QF are willing to spend money on a lounge they are not even going to use, I do not think they will close an existing F lounge at a port where F services still operate.

As an aside, the suggestion that any non-WP J pax should be able to use the F lounge is a non starter IMHO.

 

[nlagalle]

Is upgrading the current J lounge sustainable? Economy fares are cheaper than ever, packed with passengers and guests (including jetstar) spending a few dollars on QC memberships which probably don't cover the costs of running the lounge.

We've seen downgrades in the service offerings at the SIN QC... started out great but now limiting the supply of alcohol. Presumably to cut costs.

I think there's an argument that full fare J pax spending 8x an economy fare should have priority over a platinum with their family spending a few hundred dollars.

Given they are doing lounge refreshes it certainly would be sustainable.. don't forget QF gets paid when other airlines even JQ use the lounge.

I haven't been to SIN for a while but I have never had issues with restriction of alcohol.

And there is zero argument about a once a year J flyer versus a platinum who spends thousands more over the year. You value a pax not on one trip alone.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And there is zero argument about a once a year J flyer versus a platinum who spends thousands more over the year. You value a pax not on one trip alone.

They may or they may not. Introducing $$ spend thresholds for status levels would be a step in the right direction. Min 15, 20, or 25K for platinum (or whatever), half those levels for gold. One business class ticket to the USA can be the equivalent of 27 SYD-MEL flights. Which one gives more profit to the airline?

 

[moa999]

I suspect it's not a substantial percentage not meeting those levels, although probably over represented on these forums.

Heck even doing 120x 10SC Disc Y Domestic is at least $15k