Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[Princess Fiona]

Sent my complaint email to QF and I encourage all others to do the same. It's not a benefit that many of us use often but, as others have said, it's really the only thing that sets platinum apart.

By the way (not sure if this has already been covered as it's such a looooong thread already) but what's the so-called priority boarding for platinum members (only) for domestic flights that appears on the QF web site? I've never seen a priority lane for domestic flights...

My email has gone off also. Sent it to simonhickey (shickey bounced back from QF server). No reply yet but will post if and when I receive one.

 

[Lendav Orav]

On many busier Cityflyer flights, there is usually a nominal call for pax with children, who require assistance, and who are J and WP.

ahh, that's what I suspected. But because many (most?) WPs are coming from the lounge, there is actually no benefit here, as, by the time you get to the gate, the general boarding call has already been made. It would only be a real benefit if there was an actual priority boarding lane.

 

[Flashback]

I know by the sounds of thing people use the anytime access rarely but if there's really a time you think you will need to use it eg after arriving off a long international flight, seeing oldies off etc there's always a way around it.

Why not purchase a JetFlex fare out of your home town then change it to the day you know you'll need access so you legitimately do have an onward booking that day in this case on JQ.

You could either refund the ticket straight away that night after leaving the QP or change the ticket to the next date you will need "anytime access". I realise you shouldn't have to do this but just an idea for those that do use this 'privilege' as they put it.

The abolition of this WP benefit seems like a classic example of "penny wise, pounds foolish" and whilst not every WP uses anytime access, QF will still lose business from WP's in principle, because QF are moving the goal posts & no customer likes to be taken for granted or played for a fool. What other 'enchancements' do QF have in the pipeline I wonder?

JB at DJ must be having a quiet chuckle to himself as it's not so much a case of DJ trying to entice business away from QF, more a case of QF chasing it away & giving it to DJ on a platter.

If the numbers are true & QF get 80% of the business from 20% of their pax (plenty of WP's in that equation) why bite the hand that feeds you?

It's a really convoluted way of having to do it though and for all the hassle that would be worth you may as well just purchase a Priority Pass membership one would think.

 

[MatF]

On many busier Cityflyer flights, there is usually a nominal call for pax with children, who require assistance, and who are J and WP.

Given the fact that a rather messy unofficial queue has usually formed anyway, it's impossible for anyone who's not already at the front to negotiate it easily (are you pushing in front of someone who's legitimately in line due to being called or someone keeping their place warm?), and usually it is ignored by everyone else at the front for the simple reason that it's likely easier just to get them all on anyway rather than sift the queue for those that have been called.

Not sure what 'enhancement' is coming to remedy this situation, or if it has any hope of being effective - but not sure it matters to be honest, though perhaps overhead storage will continue to deteriorate with the new baggage allowances.

I take 2 citiflyer flights every second week, SYD-BNE Monday morning and back Friday afternoon, both busy flights, and I can only recall hearing this kind of announcement a couple of times in the last 2 years. I most definitely wouldn't say that it's usual, at least from my experience.

I'm normally at the gate rather than in the lounge by then, too ... for some reason I can't fully explain I like getting on the aircraft early to settle into my whY window seat (and actually have somewhere to put my carry-on bag)

The couple of times they have announced it, as you've said, I haven't been able to get through the throng of the great unwashed to get on board anyway

As far as anytime access goes, I wouldn't mind losing access on days I'm not flying, but I really do value being able to use the lounge on arrival at times. I'd be happy enough with that.

 

[harvyk]

If the numbers are true & QF get 80% of the business from 20% of their pax (plenty of WP's in that equation) why bite the hand that feeds you?

That's true with most businesses. I know from my own business, I have my top clients (20% of my clients) where more than 80% of my business \ income comes from and then rest which only just manages to make up the final 20% of my income.

For my top 20% I need to spend very little in advertising \ cost of sales to win big $$$ from them. For the other 80% I need to spend very big $$$ to win a very small number of $$$.
And to win a new customer is very big $$$. I can easily speak with 50 potential customers to come away empty handed. Furthermore to start getting a return on one customer it can easily take months.

This is the problem I have with bean counters. They are given way to much power without a true understanding of business in general.

Now for QF, I would say a good percentage of their flights contain non-status pax \ once a year pax \ BFOD pax. It has no doubt taken a lot of time and effort to convince these pax to fly with them. They have had to put up web ad's, billboards, TV ad's newspaper \ magazine ads, and sales, and even then if DJ comes along and trumps them, then it's gone to waste (excluding brand recognition).

Where as for a QFF like me, if I need to fly somewhere, I'll go to their website, give them a call, or go to my TA and book a flight with them with very little prompting. Even if they stopped all advertising (which is expensive) I'd continue to use them. Whilst there is a degree of brand loyality and a degree of "comfort" I get from using QF (eg I know what the procedures are, I know roughly what I'll get on board etc...) there is nothing stopping DJ from stepping in and convincing me to jump ship, and whilst I am loyal to QF, no one likes to feel that their loyality is being taken for granted. That's the sort of thing which will destroy a customer \ supplier relationship very quickly.

Just my 2c from someone who runs a business without having a "day job" to fall back on if I mess it up...

 

[pauly7]

By the way (not sure if this has already been covered as it's such a looooong thread already) but what's the so-called priority boarding for platinum members (only) for domestic flights that appears on the QF web site? I've never seen a priority lane for domestic flights...

It is rolling out with the next generation airports program.

 

[tuapekastar]

Well, all the attendees of the FT AGM will be happy to know (it has been negotiated by willyroo with BNE QC management) about the retention of the AGM - I've just come off the phone with him.

That's good news LW!

 

[straitman]

That's good news LW!

That's excellent news :!:

 

[oz_mark]

That's good news LW!

Good news - means I can skip the same day turnaround!

 

[Happy Trails]

Generally, it's no much about cost reduction, it's about either "you're with us or you're against us". It's the same principle as direct sweep, you gotta choose, we're not going to let you keep your options open. But what about peripheral things like non OW partner airlines, etc, JETSTAR Asia (as opposed to JETSTAR JQ), FJ.

Restricting it to only departures and not arrivals does seem mean and very LCC-esque, and all about cost. However, think about it a bit deeper though, you could fly MEL-SYD on QF, go to a meeting, show you're inbound arrival BP to the QP and get access before flying back to MEL on DJ. So even arrivals is not about cost - it's about making sure top customers are not spending a single cent on rival airlines.

I agree that this is likely what is driving the change.
But it will have quite the opposite effect in my case. I fly PER-BKK at least 12 times a year and I have been preferencing QF. This means transiting through SIN and doing the last leg on 3K.
I don't want to spend 2 loungeless hours in SIN followed by 2 hours on an LCC so I will definitely be shifting my business after Feb.

 

[JohnK]

Wow! Missed all the fun again.

Received the email yesterday but did not bother to read it as I thought it was all about NGCI which does not interest me in the slightest. Saw this thread and then read the email. Enhancements for Platinums? More like a further dilution of benefits and now only a very marginal difference between Gold and Platinum. I make no secret of the fact I used the anytime lounge access benefit quite a lot and this change will hurt me if I continue to commute.

No need to jump ship but a very disappointing announcement leaving a very sour taste behind. Does Qantas actually care about their highest tier frequent flyers? My feeling for a long time has been that Qantas does not actually care and this decision supports my feeling. Is there any significant benefit left for a Platinum flying predominantly domestic economy? Probably only the ability to get seating in the front of economy and the occasional wayward op-up.

Having read the wake thread, I wonder if QFF considered that WPs might respond to this by using up the benefit to the absolute maximum until Feb, guesting randoms at each port at whatever opportunity and letting pre-flight restraint take a back seat to milking their bottom line while they can.

Why stop guesting randoms in February. It may sound like sour grapes and childish but I will now actively seek out 2 strangers to guest into the Qantas Lounge everytime I fly domestically. And if I have time on my hands I may even guest 2 strangers into Qantas Lounge and another 2 strangers into the Qantas Business Lounge.

My gesture may not actually hurt Qantas financially but it is going to make me feel a whole lot better....

 

[straitman]

Why stop guesting randoms in February. It may sound like sour grapes and childish but I will now actively seek out 2 strangers to guest into the Qantas Lounge everytime I fly domestically. And if I have time on my hands I may even guest 2 strangers into Qantas Lounge and another 2 strangers into the Qantas Business Lounge.

My gesture may not actually hurt Qantas financially but it is going to make me feel a lwhole ot better....

JohnK,

Thanks for making me smile on a coughpy Victorian 'spring' night.
(10deg with an apparent temp of 2deg and 18-20kts of wind)

 

[Bundy Bear]

Thanks for making me smile on a coughpy Victorian 'spring' night.
(10deg with an apparent temp of 2deg and 18-20kts of wind)

Why are you outside feeling the chill when you could be inside.

 

[Flashback]

JohnK,

Thanks for making me smile on a coughpy Victorian 'spring' night.
(10deg with an apparent temp of 2deg and 18-20kts of wind)

straitman, you're making London look like heaven:!: :shock:

 

[Tooner]

No need to jump ship but a very disappointing announcement leaving a very sour taste behind. Does Qantas actually care about their highest tier frequent flyers? My feeling for a long time has been that Qantas does not actually care and this decision supports my feeling. Is there any significant benefit left for a Platinum flying predominantly domestic economy? Probably only the ability to get seating in the front of economy and the occasional wayward op-up.

Good to see you chip in John! I was wondering why you hadn't posted. I do remember your warnings of downgrading WP benefits with seat selection!

I can only add to the chorus - poor treatment of an attractive benefit (anytime access), downgraded priority to classic awards, debased LTS benefit. I was a user of QC when flying with other airlines and dropping off relatives, so am annoyed htis is going.

As to jumping ship, for me it is becoming more likely I'm afraid. At least my VS Silver gets me the premium economy queue at DJ, even if I won't earn tier points on VS flying SYD - MEL it does seem more attractive. Could I get by on DJ / SQ? Almost, and certainly for the last trip to SIN, the price difference together with 1 flight in an A380 certainly made it an easy choice (and renewed Silver on VS).

I think DJ will be using the responses here to fine tune the revamped DJ offering, and expecting some defections; against that in a couple of years I would be LTG and more likely to consider switching or sharing.

 

[beardoc]

Why not purchase a JetFlex fare out of your home town then change it to the day you know you'll need access so you legitimately do have an onward booking that day in this case on JQ.

You could either refund the ticket straight away that night after leaving the QP or change the ticket to the next date you will need "anytime access". I realise you shouldn't have to do this but just an idea for those that do use this 'privilege' as they put it.

What are the issues with changing your flight date after checked in by OLCI/mobile check in? Can you just change your flight easily?

 

[dk4]

A Qantas history of lounge access "enhancements"... so, what's it gonna be for 2011?

1. Anytime Access to Qantas Lounges

2. An end to First Class Anytime Access

3. Anytime rewritten as "Must be travelling"

4. October 2010 - as per this thread...

5. October 2011
So, what "enhancements" does Qantas have install for WPs next year? (If you decide to hang around, then I'm sure you will find out!)

 

[drewbles]

That's true with most businesses. I know from my own business, I have my top clients (20% of my clients) where more than 80% of my business \ income comes from and then rest which only just manages to make up the final 20% of my income.

For my top 20% I need to spend very little in advertising \ cost of sales to win big $$$ from them. For the other 80% I need to spend very big $$$ to win a very small number of $$$.
And to win a new customer is very big $$$. I can easily speak with 50 potential customers to come away empty handed. Furthermore to start getting a return on one customer it can easily take months.

This is the problem I have with bean counters. They are given way to much power without a true understanding of business in general.

Now for QF, I would say a good percentage of their flights contain non-status pax \ once a year pax \ BFOD pax. It has no doubt taken a lot of time and effort to convince these pax to fly with them. They have had to put up web ad's, billboards, TV ad's newspaper \ magazine ads, and sales, and even then if DJ comes along and trumps them, then it's gone to waste (excluding brand recognition).

Where as for a QFF like me, if I need to fly somewhere, I'll go to their website, give them a call, or go to my TA and book a flight with them with very little prompting. Even if they stopped all advertising (which is expensive) I'd continue to use them. Whilst there is a degree of brand loyality and a degree of "comfort" I get from using QF (eg I know what the procedures are, I know roughly what I'll get on board etc...) there is nothing stopping DJ from stepping in and convincing me to jump ship, and whilst I am loyal to QF, no one likes to feel that their loyality is being taken for granted. That's the sort of thing which will destroy a customer \ supplier relationship very quickly.

Just my 2c from someone who runs a business without having a "day job" to fall back on if I mess it up...

Very well said. I setup a business back in the late 90's for another organisation, who heard about the "IT Boom" and wanted in.

Proposals were done, business plans finalised, lots of spreadsheets with big numbers presented. All was good. When it came time to actually start pushing the end product, the bean counters got involved. The product required a setup fee, which was the norm at the time. It was also fast becoming the norm to waive setup fees on a regular basis as a 'thank you' (loyalty?) for taking a longer service period (12 months or more).

All the bean counters would keep saying is "you can't do that it's more than 5%" referring to margin and dollars.

The concept of signing a customer up, getting their cash in, and building good will went in one ear and out the other. They did not care what the opposition was doing with their new customers, and cared only about their bottom line, failing to realise that these customers would form the bottom line. Don't waive the setup fee, customer goes elsewhere to someone who does.

Slightly different situation to QF, but I couldn't agree more that bean counters have far far far too much say in how business runs.

 

[Australian]

Re: A Qantas history of lounge access "enhancements"... so, what's it gonna be for 20

So, what "enhancements" does Qantas have install for WPs next year? (If you decide to hang around, then I'm sure you will find out!)

isn't the most telling thing of all in terms of the state the QFF program when it's 'loyality' customers are in fear of what 'enhancements' await them in the future ... really, it seems anything BUT a rewards program ... it's like waiting to find out what the next piece of abuse/cough that you'll 'just have to deal with now' comes out with

the focus on what is really just a one tier system (ie, gold) is a move towards a mean, lean model that simply reflects the australian market (ie, QF aligning with the LCC model, whilst still trying to retain key features/façade of a traditional full-service carrier). remember, they arent even making money from their core business of flying anymore! they have to be lean, but unlike DJ (who can move 'up' and expand), QF moving 'down' (and "looking" like it has) is really not an option in terms of market/product differentiation ... at least it's still got that leverage to try work with.

 

[markis10]

Well I have finally worked out what the benefit is to us WPs from these changes, we now have something to talk about on AFF that is not the normal best CC, how do I get xx SCs, what is my upgrade chances etc etc :-|:evil: