Chairman's Lounge

[duffshot]

I've been out of the AFF loop for quite a while so maybe this is an old rumour but I heard a rumour recently that QF is looking at ending the Chairman's Lounge. I find it hard to believe but I guess anything is possibile these days. Anyone else heard the same or can they confirm one way or the other on this one?

 

[serfty]

I am not sure about closing them, but there was a recent article about reducing the number of CL members.

More turbulence ahead for Alan Joyce

 

[moa999]

While things do change, I would have thought the best time to have done this would have been when QF opened the domestic Business lounges (still a superior lounge than the QC and they don't suffer the publicity of closing lounges)

But that time is gone. I also would think that the reasons for the Chairmans Lounge are still as relevant now as they ever were, particularly with more and more companies and govt departments tendering travel

 

[QF WP]

Welcome back after your extended posting break, duffshot

Hmm, interesting article - thanks serfty

 

[samh004]

It was mentioned here. As noted above, it was to do with culling membership, not closing them.

I'd imagine if the Federal Government doesn't renew their travel with Qantas, they'll have no worries cutting membership to those politicians.

 

[ejb]

Hi all,

As CL members do usually control large accounts I can't see them closing the club, However it may become harder to get in.

If anything I beleive QF will make the tiers harder to attain. I heard one plan was to increase the number of QF flights from 4 to 10 for status. So I guess they are throwing ideas around to see what effect they have.

Either way as I will never attain CL and take more than 10 flights every year it doesn't bother me.

ejb

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Yep... it will not be the big corporate account holders that get the tap, it will be the smaller fish (after being encouraged to increase their spend)...

Plus the odd has-been.. May just involve a careful review of their books to get rid of ex-CEOs

 

[oz_mark]

If anything I beleive QF will make the tiers harder to attain. I heard one plan was to increase the number of QF flights from 4 to 10 for status. So I guess they are throwing ideas around to see what effect they have.

...or perhaps they will tighten up on the comp status extensions

 

[trippin_the_rift]

So the question is..... how much do you need to spend to get in?

 

[straitman]

So the question is..... how much do you need to spend to get in?

Most of us simply do not have enough to spend to even try to find out :!: :shock:

 

[serfty]

So the question is..... how much do you need to spend to get in?

It's more of a case of how much busines one can send in Qantas' direction.

e.g. Controlling at $10M travel budget for a corporation may get you a look in.

 

[Hvr]

The old response, "if you need to ask then you can't afford it" comes to mind here.

 

[straitman]

The old response, "if you need to ask then you can't afford it" comes to mind here.

I do not need to ask because I know I cannot afford it :!:

 

[greenfrog86]

Well you could always bring an international superstar and their entourage to Aus and all the associated organisational travel...

Oh, and knowing people on the Qantas board helps too I believe...

I think it sounds like the CL is a matter of 'we will have only those we care enough about to invite', where there are no rules, and no logic

Like some of the previous posters, I doubt I will even make silver QFF in the near future, let alone CL (unless my friend invites me in)

 

[Cyclogenesis]

A friend in need is a friend indeed, but a friend with chairman's lounge is better?

 

[harvyk]

To be honest I would have thought the CL's would be the last place they would look to cut back. Given that most people in the CL control a vast amount of income for QF cutting back on the CL would almost be counter productive, especially during the GFC, considering that when it ends these will be the guys who for the most part will be responsible for filling of the F and J seats...

 

[pauly7]

To be honest I would have thought the CL's would be the last place they would look to cut back. Given that most people in the CL control a vast amount of income for QF cutting back on the CL would almost be counter productive, especially during the GFC, considering that when it ends these will be the guys who for the most part will be responsible for filling of the F and J seats...

Yes I agree, everything is starting to pick up now and the CL fat cats will be back with avengence!

PS Didn't QF recently refurb Sydney CL?

 

[notzac]

To be honest I would have thought the CL's would be the last place they would look to cut back.

My reading of that article was that QF was looking at cutting back on CL membership for people that no longer send large amounts of business to QF -- makes sense really.

 

[estate]

I think the comment earlier about cutting membership by culling now retired senior businessmen would be the best way to go about it. That an getting rid of a few B-list celebrities.
Not everyone with CL membership necessarily controls a large Qantas account, though certainly those who do are invited in. But there are a lot of people in there who really hold no influence over people's QF spend, whether direct via a corporate account, or indirect (somebody like Alan Jones springs to mind in that example).

If Qantas are looking at ways to cut back, I'd think they'd start with these "has-beens" or perhaps "image only" members. For instance, I'm fairly surely somebody like Ian Thorpe would be a member, but just how much value having him there brings to QF is debatable.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

For instance, I'm fairly surely somebody like Ian Thorpe would be a member, but just how much value having him there brings to QF is debatable.

I would have thought having someone like Ian Thorpe in the normal qantas clubs would be a good thing.

I mean, any trip where theres some "celeb spotting" is always talked about more.... you know.... the story that goes like...... 'so it was in the qantas club last week and guess who i bump into?...........'

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