Anytime QF Platinum Lounge Access

[NQflyer]

Hi All, yesterday for the first time my a partner and I (we both have Platinum status) took advantage of anytime access in Canberra. Parking at Canberra is relatively cheap compared to other airports around Australia. We were allowed to enter the Business lounge, we stayed for a couple of drinks and a bite to eat. Upon exiting the lounge we politely said thank you and good bye to the Lounge agent. Anyway, all we got back from her was a nasty glare with attitude.

Ok, we were not flying but was this really necessary. A smile and a simple good bye would of been the normal expectation.

I know it’s not a big deal but considering how much money we have spent with Qantas to both have and maintain Platinum status am I wrong in expecting a little common courtesy/customer service? Instead we were made to feel unwelcome and like we were doing the wrong thing.

 

[Mal]

Upon exiting the lounge we politely said thank you and good bye to the Lounge agent. Anyway, all we got back from her was a nasty glare with attitude.

Probably just an agent on an 'off' day I think. I've had sour faces from staff when I've said thanks/good bye at lounges too, even when flying. She may not have even known you weren't flying if you just showed the card and nothing else, and depending how busy the place was may not have even remembered anyway.

Note that anytime access is not supposed to be to the Business (domestic) lounges, but the normal QP's instead. The rule appears to have been unofficially changed a while ago though.

 

[djfuzz]

We took advantage of anytime access last night at the MEL QP while waiting to pick someone up - because of the internal separation of the J/L, we've never tried of the unofficial J/L anytime access - is this still in place?

Having said that, the MEL QP is pretty bare at night - even with a few flights left to depart, the food (antipasto) selection was almost gone and nothing sweet - just good for a quick drink (not coffee) and WiFi really.

 

[Homer]

because of the internal separation of the J/L, we've never tried of the unofficial J/L anytime access - is this still in place?

It was at SYD a few weeks ago. I had a meeting at the QF meeting rooms and, as one of the group was travelling in J I thought I'd go with him to the domestic J lounge. I showed my WP card and said something like "I know I shouldn't go in because I'm not flying today, but..." and the lounge agent told me, incorrectly, that WPs get anytime access to the domestic J lounge and that "it has always been this way". Obviously I didn't argue with her...

 

[david870mdg]

I arrived recently ex SYD at MEL, showed my BP with WP status;
The "agent" (if I can give her a humane name) on the desk replied:
"Oh. So you want to come in here now do you?"
No. I just came up here to show you a BP.
Not very impressed with her attitude.
But havent had this kind of problem before with anytime access.

 

[v8Statesman]

I arrived recently ex SYD at MEL, showed my BP with WP status;
The "agent" (if I can give her a humane name) on the desk replied:
"Oh. So you want to come in here now do you?"
No. I just came up here to show you a BP.
Not very impressed with her attitude.
But havent had this kind of problem before with anytime access.

Not trying to excuse the poor customer attitude, but I have seen on many occasions the Lounge Dragon having to fight off people trying to slip in or trying to talk their way in. If I had to do that all day, I know I would start to look sour.

My 2c worth.

 

[harvyk]

Not trying to excuse the poor customer attitude, but I have seen on many occasions the Lounge Dragon having to fight off people trying to slip in or trying to talk their way in. If I had to do that all day, I know I would start to look sour.

My 2c worth.

True, but they do need to remember that they are dealing with the airlines more loyal or important pax. A bad attitude towards all pax, because they get one or two trying to slip or talk their way in is in no way an excuse.

Whilst QF probably wouldn't notice if one QP \ SG \ WP or J class flyer went to the competition, they would notice if every premium pax started doing it, and that's the danger of having the gatekeeper unable to control themselves.

 

[v8Statesman]

True, but they do need to remember that they are dealing with the airlines more loyal or important pax. A bad attitude towards all pax, because they get one or two trying to slip or talk their way in is in no way an excuse.

Whilst QF probably wouldn't notice if one QP \ SG \ WP or J class flyer went to the competition, they would notice if every premium pax started doing it, and that's the danger of having the gatekeeper unable to control themselves.

I 100% agree with you harvyk. I was not trying to excuse them. Just giving a possible reason for why. Some people are not built for customer service. That dragon may be one of them.

 

[JohnK]

Upon exiting the lounge we politely said thank you and good bye to the Lounge agent. Anyway, all we got back from her was a nasty glare with attitude.

I think she was having a bad day.

In all the time I have been using anytime lounge access at SYD and BNE I have not had an issue once. I use the lounge both at the beginning and end of the trip if time permits. In fact sometimes I go into the normal Qantas Lounge and I am redirected to the actual Qantas Business Lounge. Sometimes I show my Platinum card while other times I just show them the boarding pass.

Always friendly attitude by the lounge staff. And even better when they remember what you normally drink when they see you. Even if you happen to order a beer and a vodka chaser at the same time.

 

[NYCguy]

I 100% agree with you harvyk. I was not trying to excuse them. Just giving a possible reason for why. Some people are not built for customer service. That dragon may be one of them.

Then it's up to pax who are treated inappropriately to complain to her employer, and they can manage her out of the business.

 

[Travel Guru]

True, but they do need to remember that they are dealing with the airlines more loyal or important pax.

It's probably the ones who are full of their own self-importance who wear them down...i've seen more than a few of them carrying a WP card in my time. :mrgreen::mrgreen:

TG

 

[serfty]

...i've seen more than a few of them carrying a WP card in my time. :mrgreen::mrgreen: ...

Hence the W in WP ... all get tarred with the same brush ...

 

[Mal]

It's probably the ones who are full of their own self-importance who wear them down...i've seen more than a few of them carrying a WP card in my time. :mrgreen::mrgreen:

Which reminds me of the "Border Security" episode (saw a repeat of it yesterday!) where a guy is trying to prove to immigration who he is. After pulling out lots of credit cards, he then rips out his Qantas WP card

 

[samh004]

Which reminds me of the "Border Security" episode (saw a repeat of it yesterday!) where a guy is trying to prove to immigration who he is. After pulling out lots of credit cards, he then rips out his Qantas WP card

Well, if Qantas can take it as valid ID…

 

[Travel Guru]

Hence the W in WP ... all get tarred with the same brush ...

Indeed, sort of reminds me of my profession as well! :mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[BAM1748]

I arrived recently ex SYD at MEL, showed my BP with WP status;
The "agent" (if I can give her a humane name) on the desk replied:
"Oh. So you want to come in here now do you?"
No. I just came up here to show you a BP.
Not very impressed with her attitude.
But havent had this kind of problem before with anytime access.

I'd hazard a guess that QF attitudes to customers will change as Virgin's new boss brings in better business travel options.

 

[Travel Guru]

I'd hazard a guess that QF attitudes to customers will change as Virgin's new boss brings in better business travel options.

I dare say you're correct, though I have to admit that I have noticed a positive improvement especially from cabin crew over the past 12-18 months.

Admittedly that's only based on domestic experience, I tend to fly a variety of airlines internationally but rarely QF, but I have been impressed by the positive changes i've already seen, lets hope it continues.

As with any company some of the staff are brilliant, and some are just downright deserving of a severance package...one of the stand outs for me would have to be a gentleman who works on the desk at ADL's QP (I cant recall his name though he tends to be the only male so isnt hard to spot, but he's a brilliant ambassador for QF)

TG

 

[Commuter]

I haven't actually used the Anytime Access facility, but I often test the 'anytime' access facility by only showing my WP card (even though I do have my boarding pass).
I've never been asked to show my boarding card or had any issues, and they've always pointed me to the J lounge since they opened.

 

[Skyring]

As a cabbie in Canberra, I occasionally have to pick a passenger up at the airport. Meet the flight, hold a sign up, carry the bags.

From the passenger's point of view, it's eleven dollars well spent on a liveried limo and uniformed chauffeur playing mellow jazz, especially when there is a long queue on the cab rank gambling with dirty cabs and illiterate immigrant drivers. From my point of view, not a great deal, as it's a lot easier for me just to get one of those hundreds of passengers instead of having to find a park, write up my sign, walk to the arrivals area, check the flight time, wait for the plane, wait for the bags, wheel them all the way to the car, tuck the passengers in etc.

All that for $5.50 - my cut of the fee. Sure, I can charge waiting time, and sometimes I turn the meter on at the time ordered, and sometimes the plane is delayed half an hour or so, not to mention the wait for bags. It can easily turn out to be fifty dollars on top of the regular fare, and even if it's some corporate suit who doesn't care how much it is because it's not coming out of his pocket, I still don't like it.

So I avoid airport silver service pickups.

But every now and then I get trapped, and every now and then I have a wait for the flight. So I go through security and up to the lounge, and I have a coffee and maybe a bit of salty sugary fatty finger food. I flash my card and they let me in. In my chauffeur uniform.

I tried the J lounge when it opened in Canberra, and they insisted I needed to be flying. Fare enough.

Besides, the regular lounge has a better view, and I like to keep an eye on the planes arriving, so I can finish my coffee, whip downstairs and meet my passenger.

Never had anybody question me, or even ask to see the card up close. Just the flash of platinum and they smile. And I smile back.

I don't think anyone else smiles in the Qantas Club.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I 100% agree with you harvyk. I was not trying to excuse them. Just giving a possible reason for why. Some people are not built for customer service. That dragon may be one of them.

Maybe that's why they got hired?