Chairman's Lounge

[drewbles]

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?...........'

viral 101

Well Put. I was on two AA flights in two days with one rather famous person (Adam Savage from Mythbusters) and a lesser known Australian Comedian, Caroline Reid (If you don't know her standup routine you would have never heard of her). It's good publicity for anyone saying "I saw Adam Savage flying first class on AA". This translates into lounges too as you say

 

[estate]

I agree it would be a good idea to give Thorpe QP membership but he doesn't need to be in CL.

But people with little influence are in there and really don't need to be. IMHO.

 

[serfty]

Interesting Thorpe is mentioned.

One Saturday afternoon in CBR some time ago (while he was still competing) I saw him being escorted to the (closed) CL via the QP (past the bar and through the kitchen behind it).

 

[DTM1]

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...

I have no prolem with big spenders and big wigs being recognised - that's simply smart business.

However, 2 ways that they could easily reduce numbers:

1. Stop giving CL membersip to partners of primary holder. I know this does not happen all the time, but I do know of some people who have received as partner. Pretty stupid idea. Simply reward the person - not their family.

2. Cull the old members. While it may not be overly popular, a carefull culling of many middle/senior mangers would not hurt at all. We have to re-qualify each year, so so should they. I understand not culling those with "behind the scenes" pull or connections, such as ex-CEO's and prominent individuals, but there are too mant people getting a free ride. I know of at least 3 that have CL and have had no reason for it having continued for at least 3 - 5 years (eg previously did work for QF or used to manage a tavel account before changing job).

We all understand that some jobs come with perks, no one should surprised that when the job ends, so does the perk.

I, for one, resent the fact that I travel J and F and have earned 2500+ SCs for the last years, yet see people I know, who no longer have any connection with QF, travelling Y and heading in to the CL lounge for their 2 -3 trips per year.

 

[david870mdg]

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

A bit like buying a Bentley really - the unwritten rule that if you have to ask how much you simply can not afford it.

 

[estate]

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/members/dtm1.htmlDTM1, giving partners of cardholders access is the same as giving Partner Gold to high-level Platinums. Given CL is their senior-most membership level, it makes sense to provide at least the same privileges to CL as they do to WP PG. Besides which, partners wouldn't fly anywhere near as often as the primary cardholder, so it's not a significant additional expense, and makes the primary CL feel appreciated. This keeps them happy, and keeps them spending with QF. The power of pillow-talk.

I agree about culling old members. Membership to CL is reviewed every two years, and it's understandable that they would renew it once after someone has retired or changed jobs, but there's no need to keep them there indefinitely. People like ex-PMs etc can stay for life, that's another matter.
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/members/dtm1.html

 

[Mr Ed]

You need an area where you can shuffle off the Celebrity, Pollie, Sport Star and the ones deemed famous so as to keep them out of our way.
Try having a meal when seated next to the famous person. Uugh, give me a break, every one gawking at them, bumping past you to get there John Hancock.
No thank you. Keep the famous away from the people and only accessable through the medium we know them through so we can turn 'em off.

 

[ric_melb]

A bit like buying a Bentleigh really - the unwritten rule that if you have to ask how much you simply can not afford it.

To be pedantic: Bentleigh is a Melbourne suburb!
Presumably you mean Bentley!

 

[david870mdg]

You need an area where you can shuffle off the Celebrity, Sport Star and the ones deemed famous so as to keep them out of our way.
Try having a meal when seated next to the famous person. Uugh, give me a break, every one gawking at them, bumping past you to get there John Hancock.
No thank you. Keep the famous away from the people and only accessable through the medium we know them through so we can turn 'em off.

Stuff that.
Make them check in with the plebs at the Economy counter and fly in cattle class. No priority boarding or lounge access. Then they can really complain.
Give them a perception of reality, especially some of the unworthy already mentioned in this thread.
Those who geniuenly afford such luxury can fly First and the enjoy the priviliges associated with that.
For those who are important enough with genuine reason it's called the CL.

 

[samh004]

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.

It was discussed in a prior thread to be around the $10 million mark for annual travel for your company, and only the top level management, such as CEO, CFO, COO etc get it.

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

If I was Ian Thorpe and travelled a lot, but had to put up with fans disturbing me before my flight in the QP, I'd be a little upset.

 

[Leumas]

It wouldn't surprise me if some people are there simply because QF don't want DJ or someone else 'to get to them first'... Especially those world famous in Australia type...

 

[drewbles]

To be pedantic: Bentleigh is a Melbourne suburb!
Presumably you mean Bentley!

Same thing different name. If you wanted to buy Bentleigh, if you had to ask how much it was to buy you couldn't afford it

 

[ejb]

Same thing different name. If you wanted to buy Bentleigh, if you had to ask how much it was to buy you couldn't afford it

In this market Bentleigh may be cheaper than Bentley.:shock:

ejb

 

[munitalP]

...
I, for one, resent the fact that I travel J and F and have earned 2500+ SCs for the last years, yet see people I know, who no longer have any connection with QF, travelling Y and heading in to the CL lounge for their 2 -3 trips per year.

I cant argue with that...

DTM1, giving partners of cardholders access is the same as giving Partner Gold to high-level Platinum's....

Ummm, no its not! Mrs! earns her PG due to me being continuously away - I have to earn double Platinum status in a 12 month period for Mrs! to achieve PG - it is NOT handed out on a silver platter such as a partner CL is...

In this market Bentleigh may be cheaper than Bentley.

Correct

Mr!

 

[simongr]

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/members/dtm1.htmlDTM1, giving partners of cardholders access is the same as giving Partner Gold to high-level Platinums.

Actually it isnt. PG can't access the F lounge without the WP so by that logic the CL partner should get WP status.

 

[harvyk]

Actually it isnt. PG can't access the F lounge without the WP so by that logic the CL partner should get WP status.

The thing you have to remember is the CL has nothing to do with rewarding people for loyalty (if it was then there would be clear guidelines on how someone gets this privilege) and everything to do with influencing those with connections or ability to affect QF's business.

To gain entry, you have to be in the position to change numbers on QF's balance sheet, or affect the laws under which QF fly's. Which is why CEO's, CFO's etc are given access, and pollies are given access. The reason why they will need to be careful with any such cull is because the retired CEO's have friends still in business. With membership to CL I'd imagine they would look at not only your personal spend (which is why you can do 2 to 3 trips in Y a year and still stay CL) but the total amount of influence you would have.

The only way I can think they would be able to do a cull of CL memberships is by checking out which members no longer control large travel budgets, and more importantly which members no longer have any influence over large travel budgets and cull in accordance with that list.

Even so if I was in charge of the CL, I'd be very careful with removing any member from the CL as one of the other airlines (DJ \ SQ \ NZ etc...) would find it the perfect to strike and win the business away from QF.

 

[simongr]

With membership to CL I'd imagine they would look at not only your personal spend (which is why you can do 2 to 3 trips in Y a year and still stay CL) but the total amount of influence you would have.

I think you will find personal spend is not looked at even slightly.

I was just pointing out that a comparison of the benefits of WP PG and CL partner is not a valid comparison the CL partner gets the "same" as CL but the partner of a WP PG does not get the same as a WP.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

The rule is there is no rule... AFAIK it is basically decided at an executive level. They may tap some one on the shoulder or some one may be recommended to them from regional sales managers.

So any kind of guessing what spend is required is just that, guessing.

And I would be very surprised if they got rid of it, marketing genius if you ask me... This little tidbit they can wave around to nab the big accounts that is not possessed by the (limited) competition. I bet they land accounts from some salivating execs just at the *chance* of being offered access...

 

[harvyk]

I think you will find personal spend is not looked at even slightly.

I expect if your personal spend with QF was $10m pa then personal spend would probably come into the equation. (that's a lot of F flying ) but no otherwise your probably correct.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Well MEL-LAX rtn is ~20K so that's 500 (15 hour long) flights... You would be kinda over it by then!