Chairman’s lounge membership reviews

[sxc]

Saw this article “gossiping” about the Chairman’s Lounge membership list review.

Not quite sure why qantas is getting flak for their communication:

Qantas flyers see red over Chairman’s Lounge snub

Termination letters sent to Qantas Chairman’s Lounge members read like a masterclass in nauseating obsequiousness.

www.smh.com.au

 

[RichardMEL]

Absolutely hilarious the amount of entitlement being shown by these people.

CL has never been earned. QF can do whatever the heck they like with it. If they decide you're no longer worthy.. then that's that. case closed.

In these covid times of all the things to complain about this, in my view, is one of the stupidest ones.

Storm in a teacup half full of Irish Breakfast tea imo.

(full disclosure - I have visited a couple of CL's on invite, but never held the status).

 

[Daver6]

You'll find the folks who were terminated hadn't yet uploaded proof of vaccination so they got the boot

The above is 100% made up and tongue in cheek.

 

[jakeseven7]

My boss survived the cull thankfully so I can continue to ride the coattails of lifestyles of the rich and famous and enjoy the luxury and entitlement as a hanger on-er

 

[Hvr]

Nothing mentioned about a 'soft landing'. When some of them fly again it will be funny to watch them hanging around the Qantas Pub door begging to be guested in.

 

[RichardMEL]

Many of course did have their own status earned from actually flying of course. There were a number of CLPO (Plat One CL's) who obviously were very very popular with QF HQ - and I doubt any of them would have been given the chop.. but yes, I'm sure there were some who had no status of their own.

Really since CL is an invitation level and not earnable per se there's no level to soft land to - I mean it wouldn't be really fair to drop a CL who did 3 trips a year to P1 status or even WP, though I suppose something may have been done quietly to help soothe some bruised egos... maybe.

Probably most were Plat or Gold anyway. It would still be a come down for sure for some.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Nothing mentioned about a 'soft landing'. When some of them fly again it will be funny to watch them hanging around the Qantas Pub door begging to be guested in.

Why should there be a Soft landing? Most are/were comped so never QP members to start with. Half of them are self important politicians leaching off the public and QF purse. But I assume they haven’t been culled.

 

[Big John]

DYKWIA ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Why should there be a Soft landing? Most are/were comped so never QP members to start with. Half of them are self important politicians leaching off the public and QF purse. But I assume they haven’t been culled.

By the same token probably 99% of the current platinums and golds haven't done flying anywhere near the levels required to maintain status, but many of them seem to be demanding status extensions. QF gives them to keep business. Guess it would be the same for CL - 'sorry you didn't make the cut this year but here's P1 for the next couple of years'. Would potentially sweeten the deal and keep business with QF rather than going to VA?

 

[Mattg]

I feel sorry for the call centre staff who have to field the calls that someone invited these entitled people to make.

 

[jakeseven7]

Why should there be a Soft landing? Most are/were comped so never QP members to start with. Half of them are self important politicians leaching off the public and QF purse. But I assume they haven’t been culled.

Pollutes make up far less than half. You just recognise them more because they are in the press.

 

[sxc]

Guess it would be the same for CL - 'sorry you didn't make the cut this year but here's P1 for the next couple of years'. Would potentially sweeten the deal and keep business with QF rather than going to VA?

I would hazard a guess (and it's mentioned in the "article") that those who really lost their CL membership, are those that are truly no longer in a position of influence due to their job changes, or if their company signed a contract with someone other than QF etc.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would hazard a guess (and it's mentioned in the "article") that those who really lost their CL membership, are those that are truly no longer in a position of influence due to their job changes, or if their company signed a contract with someone other than QF etc.

For sure. But they are possibly travel influencers in the wider sense with their family and friends.

 

[sxc]

For sure. But they are possibly travel influencers in the wider sense with their family and friends.

I'm pretty sure that CL membership is not for gaining business via word of mouth

 

[UP4014]

If only to have been in a such a position to receive this letter in the first place, all good things come to an end. People of "influence" can buy a business or first class ticket like the rest of us.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm pretty sure that CL membership is not for gaining business via word of mouth

No. But it doesn't hurt

 

[Happy Dude]

Absolutely hilarious the amount of entitlement being shown by these people.

CL has never been earned. QF can do whatever the heck they like with it. If they decide you're no longer worthy.. then that's that. case closed.

In these covid times of all the things to complain about this, in my view, is one of the stupidest ones.

Storm in a teacup half full of Irish Breakfast tea imo.

(full disclosure - I have visited a couple of CL's on invite, but never held the status).

What people? The article merely assumes anger by some and that may even be the case, but the Dear John letter also invites the cuckolded to call up and discuss the matter further. I'd be doing so, the article also assumes so and I'm sure everyone here would too, to try to persuade QF to reconsider. In fact, if unsuccessful, the advice from this forum would probably be to HUACA.

Whilst this is absolutely a "first world problem", I'm struggling to see why "these people" should be viewed as entitled for taking up the offer of further discussion. Good way for QF to get some insight into potential travel info of some of it's most important customers.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Nothing mentioned about a 'soft landing'. When some of them fly again it will be funny to watch them hanging around the Qantas Pub door begging to be guested in.

I've known CL members who barely flew once or twice a year. Its not a Frequent Flyer scheme, that's to be remembered.

 

[SeatBackForward]

By the same token probably 99% of the current platinums and golds haven't done flying anywhere near the levels required to maintain status, but many of them seem to be demanding status extensions. QF gives them to keep business. Guess it would be the same for CL - 'sorry you didn't make the cut this year but here's P1 for the next couple of years'. Would potentially sweeten the deal and keep business with QF rather than going to VA?

I'll put my hand up as one of those Platinum's who has done ZERO flying since March last year. Although I don't feel entitled to any form of status extension, and haven't request it, but been offered it automatically by QF. I highly doubt I'll maintain WP levels once borders open anyhow, but by stroke of luck hit Lifetime Gold at the end of 2019 so really am not likely to be chasing status credits anymore anyhow.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes, I noticed the "have a discussion with us" bit to the letter - which may or may not have been a platitude. It may have even been an opportunity for the (ex)member to feel appreciated or there's an option, or even for QF to say look we'll give you X status as you actually flew Y prior to covid as compensation or a good will gesture etc. For many who do fly and earn their own no real change. It seems unlikely QF would change their minds based on a phone call, but possibly an opportunity for the member to vent with a human - or maybe in a rare instance of a stuff up say "Well actually I'm now the manager of corporate travel for [ASX 200 firm] ....' and QF could reassess.

As a few have pointed out about CL was never a FF status per se and its granting was never based on an level one could earn so to me the notion of a "soft landing" is not really relevant. By the same token comparing with Plats Golds etc wanting status extensions is a bit of Apples and Lemons for mine. In the case of a FF member who had earned status but could not hold it due to reasons beyond their control - covid, borders, and all the rest where they likely would have continued some sort of pattern of flying then sure, extensions or StatusKeeper is appropriate (and QF has done all this, like just about every other loyalty program). CL is a totally different beast though because membership is not earned in the same manner.

I imagine QF sees this time as a good one to "cull the herd" as it were because they may have had numbers of hangers on that they knew had moved on, or they did not deem to be as valuable as corporate travel influencers etc as they once were...

Whenever I am given something I didn't earn or pay for etc by a company or even a friend, I don't automatically expect it to continue (even things like the P1 Christmas Gift - should that return in the future). I accept it as is and every renewal is valued.

And of course the majority of CL's who have been sent these letters (obviously this may only be a small number of people - we don't really know) may not be angry and may be accepting of it (and again during these times a perk they can't use when there are so many other real world issues to worry about ) and move on. This could really just be a disgruntled few who reached out to the media.. a bit like those celebrities caught out by the dress policy at the QP (remember those heady days?! ) and coughing on insta.