SYD Business Lounge - ''this is not an arrivals lounge'

[medhead]

On a more positive note, I thought I should add that Manfred is fantastic at Sydney J lounge (and very funny), and so is that Alistair fellow [CL?] and most others! Domenic who does Island Dining is also A+ and a really nice guy. Hoping the QantasLink people fade discreetly away to man gates somewhere down on the concourse.

I'm pretty sure Domenic is gone now. Will confirm tomorrow.

 

[boomy]

How do you figure that? Given access requires either a same day flight or onwards flight; of course there is a need to show a BP or otherwise have your eligibility checked if the staff insist. Staff not checking does not mean there is no need.

A QFF card is effectively a BP. Also remember that not everyone can use their QFF card to board.

I'm not arguing about the rules. I'm just saying that one of the purposes of the smart card is to save the need of printing a BP. From my experience, the staff at MEL, SYD & BNE never asks for a BP as long as you show a valid QFF card.
So, if you can avoid unnecessary questioning when entering the lounge, then why not?

 

[medhead]

I'm not arguing about the rules. I'm just saying that one of the purposes of the smart card is to save the need of printing a BP. From my experience, the staff at MEL, SYD & BNE never asks for a BP as long as you show a valid QFF card.
So, if you can avoid unnecessary questioning when entering the lounge, then why not?

And I'm saying that the smart card has become your boarding pass. There is a need to show a BP in whatever form, if the staff ask to see it.

 

[BD1959]

And I'm saying that the smart card has become your boarding pass. There is a need to show a BP in whatever form, if the staff ask to see it.

Staff may ask to see a BP but there is a scenario where you are genuinely not in possession of one (in ANY form) when entering the Lounge:

If you are travelling without luggage you can check in for your Jetstar* flight in most Qantas Club lounges.

At MEL previously, I have explained that I am accessing the Service Desk within the Club in order to check-in for a JQ flight. I've been allowed access past the Entry Desk.

Regards,

BD

 

[Danger]

Far too many posts have gone off topic. Both issues ('arrivals' access and anytime access) are, in my opinion, important enough to have their own thread. Can a moderator please cull and reassign?

I disagree. The idea behind the smart cards is that you can check in online and use the card to board the flight.

I really don't understand pax that are still printing boarding passes for domestic flights. It's a thing of the past.

When crediting to AAnother program.

 

[leon_rex]

I'm pretty sure Domenic is gone now. Will confirm tomorrow.

He told me he was taking 6 weeks off a little while ago, I remembered the other night when I didn't see him.

 

[medhead]

He told me he was taking 6 weeks off a little while ago, I remembered the other night when I didn't see him.

He told me that his job was at risk with the lounge contract moving to a different company.

 

[medhead]

Staff may ask to see a BP but there is a scenario where you are genuinely not in possession of one (in ANY form) when entering the Lounge:

If you are travelling without luggage you can check in for your Jetstar* flight in most Qantas Club lounges.

At MEL previously, I have explained that I am accessing the Service Desk within the Club in order to check-in for a JQ flight. I've been allowed access past the Entry Desk.

Regards,

BD

That certainly is an interesting one off scenario. But then they have checked you for a BP and have accepted your explanation and allowed you to proceed. Otherwise, if you wish to drive out to MEL, pay for parking and use that reason to scam some free booze. Good luck to you.

Far too many posts have gone off topic. Both issues ('arrivals' access and anytime access) are, in my opinion, important enough to have their own thread. Can a moderator please cull and reassign?

Que? The topic is arrivals access. The anytime access posts seem to have been solely about informing that discussion.

 

[JohnK]

Arrivals access for international lounges (for WPs and above) would be a welcome return. It's allowed domestically. Is internationally such a big ask?

Are you afraid to ask? Cannot hurt....

 

[Austman]

Are you afraid to ask? Cannot hurt....

I have! I asked off a QF flight on arrival in SIN and was told "No Access". And that's how it's published too! You need an "onward flight".

But I even had an onward 3K (QF Jetstar group) flight that was technically a transit connection (as it was within 24 hours). But because it was not the same calendar day, I was also refused!!

Why not just allow "Arrivals Access", which is published as "Same Day Access" as per the domestic lounge policy for all Qantas operated lounges? Not that many will be able to qualify at the international lounges anyway!

 

[JohnK]

John, its great to see you being optimistic about Friday afternoon on-time performance

You will notice I did factor in the customary 30 minutes delay on my flights.

 

[leon_rex]

Bummer. The really good contractors should be offered some sort of permanent employment, even if they won't employ them under a Qantas contract.

 

[BD1959]

That certainly is an interesting one off scenario. But then they have checked you for a BP and have accepted your explanation and allowed you to proceed. Otherwise, if you wish to drive out to MEL, pay for parking and use that reason to scam some free booze. Good luck to you.

After tolls and Parking fees, it's not luck you'd need but a shrink!

Regards,

BD

 

[medhead]

Bummer. The really good contractors should be offered some sort of permanent employment, even if they won't employ them under a Qantas contract.

Turns out I was over thinking things. He was sick last week. So he's around for a little bit longer.

 

[leon_rex]

Turns out I was over thinking things. He was sick last week. So he's around for a little bit longer.

I must write a note to the lounge manager requesting one of the QantasLink people be replaced by him permanently. Seriously, do a personality test for some of those ground support positions before you hire. Ugh.

 

[jdp]

Arrivals worked for me this morning in the Melbourne domestic business lounge, on arrival from an Adelaide flight. It meant I had a decent breakfast rather than the half cup of muesli that counts for "full service" on the ADL-MEL flights. I had an hour to wait for a colleague arriving from SYD so spent it there. Much appreciated.

Worth noting that I showed my WP card at the door, not BP and they did not scan it.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Not good to hear accounts by others of issues with arrivals access, no excuses for those staff.

For me, have encountered no issues at either SYD or MEL J lounges. Had two breakfasts yesterday, a light one pre departure in Syd and a full hot brekkie on arrival in Melb

 

[mrpooky]

I've been using the BNE lounge for on-arrival access about once a fortnight over the last couple of months, flying in on QF598 from Perth; with the time zone change I get lunch on the plane, but I miss dinner, so having a quick snack and a cider in the lounge makes a nice end to the day.

Until last week I just flashed my WP card and hadn't been asked for a boarding pass. Last week I was asked for my boarding pass, which I handed over, and the CSR typed some 'stuff' into her computer before letting me in; she seemed to be checking something against the boarding pass.

She handed it back and let me in with just a comment about the lounge closing in half an hour (or so), but I'm not sure what she would have checked on the computer.

Any ideas?

mrpooky.

 

[JohnK]

Until last week I just flashed my WP card and hadn't been asked for a boarding pass.

....

Any ideas?

I think it depends on who is at the desk at the time. Perhaps they were keeping statistics on that day.

Some days all you need is a card while other days a boarding pass is required.

 

[DMMatlin]

I really don't understand pax that are still printing boarding passes for domestic flights. It's a thing of the past.

Because on a recent flight there were issues with check in computers at the gate.

Gate staff reverted to manual boarding by keeping part of the boarding pass - those with QFF cards had to line up at customer service to get a paper boarding pass to board the aircraft.

Lots of happy pax left the Prem boarding lane to join a long long queue. Whilst us with old world technology just boarded - heaps of locker space that morning ;-)