Coolangatta airport and Jetstar

[Evan]

Opps, I thought SWMBO told me they were from Oz. She says she never said that.

I then told here they are actually from US and give money to freakish cults.

She thought freakish cults was ok, because the coffee still tastes alright.

 

[NM]

I would think if access is given, it'll be for QF SG/WP/CL/QP, not OWS/OWE from other airlines, just like how QF SG/WP/CL/QP can access the QP when flying Jetstar, but other FFP from OW airlines cannot.

While OneWorld lounge access rules exclude lounge access when flying JQ (not a OneWorld airline), in practice many people are reporting that Qantas Club lounges are welcoming OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald members departing on JetStar flights. In fact I am not aware of any reports of OneWorld Sapphire or Emerald members not being welcomed into Qantas Club lounges when flying with JetStar. It appears to be an unofficial policy to allow such members into the lounge.

 

[samh004]

While OneWorld lounge access rules exclude lounge access when flying JQ (not a OneWorld airline), in practice many people are reporting that Qantas Club lounges are welcoming OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald members departing on JetStar flights. In fact I am not aware of any reports of OneWorld Sapphire or Emerald members not being welcomed into Qantas Club lounges when flying with JetStar. It appears to be an unofficial policy to allow such members into the lounge.

Oh, interesting. My dad is a CX Diamond and probably tried a few years ago, unsuccessfully. I'll have him try again and see if his luck has changed, but I don't think he's wanted to fly with them since he wasn't allowed in.

 

[k_sheep]

Opps, I thought SWMBO told me they were from Oz. She says she never said that.

I then told here they are actually from US and give money to freakish cults.

She thought freakish cults was ok, because the coffee still tastes alright.

Heh well fair enough then I do miss the mocha caramelattes since boycotting them! Oh well, coffee club is almost as good.

Hmm if jetstar is so keen on making OOL a bit of a hub, wonder if they'll start running any *class domestically?

 

[samh004]

Hmm if jetstar is so keen on making OOL a bit of a hub, wonder if they'll start running any *class domestically?

I don't think making OOL a hub would qualify as a reason for expanding *class. But you can get domestic legs of international tickets in *class currently anyway. Never done one myself, but I know there's one between OOL and SYD.

 

[medhead]

Heh well fair enough then I do miss the mocha caramelattes since boycotting them! Oh well, coffee club is almost as good.

Hmm if jetstar is so keen on making OOL a bit of a hub, wonder if they'll start running any *class domestically?

I doubt the domestic *class would happen. Doesn't it go against the LCC model.

Well, I am a QLDer, so Coffee Club is my preferred option. But they are fairly rare in South Australia.

 

[Saab34]

Lounge is opening on 15th June. $5 entry. Free food/beverages/alcohol. Sounds like a bloody good deal to me.
Lounge Website Here

Peanuts.aero
Australia’s low fares airline Jetstar has unveiled a unique passenger lounge at Gold Coast Airport to be opened on 15-Jun-2009.
Jetstar’s Gold Coast Lounge is a one-off passenger lounge concept at the low fare carrier’s major Australian leisure gateway.

The lounge will have capacity for 120 people and features a range of benefits, including a designated children’s play area and children’s cinema, complimentary food and beverages, Internet access and plasma screens showing movies, music videos and television news.

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan announced Gold Coast Lounge would be a welcome addition for Jetstar passengers travelling from Gold Coast Airport on one of the airline’s existing 120 weekly domestic and 23 weekly international return services to Japan and New Zealand.

“Gold Coast Lounge is the latest example of Jetstar’s commitment to offering even greater choice to our customers both in the air and now on the ground in our largest holiday port,” Mr Buchanan said.

“The unique opportunity at Gold Coast Airport allows us to offer Jetstar passengers the choice of a passenger lounge. This lounge will support our ever growing domestic and international services operating to and from our Gold Coast flying hub.

“The opening of our Gold Coast Lounge is part of our unique commitment to the Gold Coast, and is in addition to our support of the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans, our increasing flight network and our ongoing development of local employment through our recently expanded crew base here.

“Gold Coast Lounge is a great place to relax with plasma screens, magazines and newspapers, or conduct business where you can check your emails on your laptop or charge your mobile phone.

“At Gold Coast Lounge, Jetstar passengers can enjoy complimentary use of all the facilities including comfortable lounges, news and movie entertainment, Internet access laptops and an extensive food and beverage menu.

“With free entry for children six and under and a separate area where they can play and draw, or sit on beanbags and watch movies in the children’s cinema, the lounge is ideal for entertaining little ones before boarding a flight.”

Entry to the Gold Coast Lounge will be available for purchase at Jetstar.com as part of a seamless process when booking a flight from the Gold Coast. Entry can also be purchased via the Jetstar Telephone Reservations Centre or at Gold Coast Airport.

Jetstar is launching Gold Coast Lounge with a special introductory rate of AUD5 when pre-purchased from Jetstar.com or from the call centre AUD10 at the door (from 15-Jun-2009). The special introductory rate will be available until midnight 30-Jun-2009 unless sold out prior and the offer may be extended.

Passengers flying StarClass on Jetstar’s direct flights to Japan from the Gold Coast will receive free entry into the Gold Coast Lounge.

“The new Gold Coast Lounge is another way in which we give our passengers choices when traveling, by offering great products and services for a competitive price,” Mr Buchanan said.

Children six years and under will be admitted free Designated children’s play area and separate children’s cinema – the play area includes books, puzzles and a chalk blackboard. The children’s cinema features beanbags, and plays a range of kids movies

Complimentary breakfast (including Japanese style breakfast), lunch, dinner and snack menu, with a wide selection of non-alcoholic beverages including soft drinks and juices Complimentary selection of wine and beer

Plasma screens showing the television news, movies and music videos Complimentary wireless Internet access for passengers with laptops Variety of latest magazines and Australian newspapers Optus mobile phone connect stations to charge mobiles

The Gold Coast Lounge is located through security in the domestic departure lounge and will be open 45 minutes prior to the first scheduled Jetstar flight departure and closed at the boarding call of the last scheduled Jetstar flight departure daily.

Both international and domestic Jetstar passengers can access the lounge as the Gold Coast Airport security point is common for both international and domestic departures.

 

[ric_melb]

Certainly is good news to have a lounge on the Gold Coast again.
The entry price of $5.00 sounded too good to be true, especially if food and alcohol was offered. And it is; available for two weeks only at this stage.
One imagines it will increase to something like $20.00 after the introductory offer. Otherwise it will be cheaper for passengers to enter the lounge than eat at the numerous fast food outlets at the airport.

 

[GoldCoastGuy]

One imagines it will increase to something like $20.00 after the introductory offer.

You are spot on there.

From the FAQ at FAQ - Gold Coast Lounge - Travel Services - Travel Information - Jetstar Airways

Q. What will be the regular entry price to the Gold Coast Lounge after June 30?
A. Gold Coast Lounge will be competitively priced at $20 per person pre-purchase and $25 at the airport. These prices are subject to change.

Evan :->

 

[GoldCoastGuy]

Also from the FAQ:

Q. Will Qantas Frequent Flyers or Qantas Club members get free or discounted rates into the Gold Coast Lounge?
A. No, the Gold Coast Lounge is an independent Jetstar product offering. Jetstar is presently developing a Gold Coast Lounge membership offer. Details of this offer will be provided shortly. Introductory discounted rates are offered to all eligible Jetstar passengers.

 

[Saab34]

^^Although it is sort of sounding like a kids play centre, the $25 fee would most likely deter alot of families.

This could be interesting though

Q. Will a Jetstar membership be available?
A. Jetstar is presently developing a Gold Coast Lounge membership offer. Details of this offer will be provided sh

 

[Travel Guru]

Jetstar to open "one off" lounge

From today's Travel Today:

Jetstar to open “one-off” lounge Steve Jones Jetstar will open a lounge at
Gold Coast airport next month but stressed it will be a “one off” and will not be extended to other airports.
The Gold Coast lounge will open on June 15 with a capacity for 120 passengers.
Those flying Star Class, and children aged six and under will receive free entry with all other travellers charged a fee. Introductory rates until June 30 are $5 when bought online and $10 on the door. Normal entry is likely to be $20.
It will include a children’s play area and cinema, complimentary food and drink, internet access and plasma TV screens.
But Jetstar said it will not replicate the lounge elsewhere. Spokesman Simon Westaway said there were “unique circumstances” at Coolangatta, including the lack of Qantas Club, good available space and the growth of Gold Coast as a sizeable hub for Jetstar.
Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan said: “Gold Coast lounge
is the latest example of Jetstar’s commitment to offering even
greater choice to our customers both in the air and now on the
ground in our largest holiday port.”



Interesting, definately needed at OOL, shame there's no mention of allowing QP members or WP/SG Status holders entry.

TG

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Jetstar to open "one off" lounge

Interesting, definately needed at OOL, shame there's no mention of allowing QP members or WP/SG Status holders entry.

They have to pay like everyone else

Q. Will Qantas Frequent Flyers or Qantas Club members get free or discounted rates into the Gold Coast Lounge?
A. No, the Gold Coast Lounge is an independent Jetstar product offering. Jetstar is presently developing a Gold Coast Lounge membership offer. Details of this offer will be provided shortly. Introductory discounted rates are offered to all eligible Jetstar passengers.

Q. Will Qantas Club Members or Qantas Frequent Flyers receive complimentary access to the lounge?
A. The Gold Coast Lounge is not associated with the Qantas Club & Frequent Flyer program. As such, there is no special consideration given to Qantas Club Members or Qantas Frequent Flyers. All Jetstar passengers, regardless of Qantas Club membership or Qantas Frequent Flyer status, are subject to the same commercial entry conditions and payments.

 

[samh004]

And there I almost thought Gold Coast would be an attractive new destination/port for me, but now no. Shame.

I hope they reconsider in the future though, to allow SG/WP/QP members access.

Also I wonder if they are thinking of extending this to NZ, even though they said it was a one-off.

 

[steve99]

Lounge is opening on 15th June. $5 entry. Free food/beverages/alcohol. Sounds like a bloody good deal to me.

I'm booked on 16th June OOL/KIX. My initial euphoria about the lounge rapidly cooled when I read that QP members will have to pay. For $5 I will try it out. Being the OP of this thread I will report back on my experience.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

From the picks...it is the old QC as I have been there.

 

[samh004]

From the picks...it is the old QC as I have been there.

Well we knew that, just not sure how much they've changed it, though kids play rooms and a cinema seem like they'd be pretty significant. I do think the cinema is a bad idea, dependant on how dark it is, will get seedy fast.

 

[pauly7]

I'm booked on 16th June OOL/KIX. My initial euphoria about the lounge rapidly cooled when I read that QP members will have to pay.

Meh for me Ill just expense it back to work - handy that you can book it online with the airfare so its all bundled together.

 

[docjames]

Is it just me or is that pricing crazy?

$5 - barely buys you a coke at most airports, and they're offereing breakfast, lunch, dinner, other food, drinks etc. And a beer's usually closer to $8-10 (at BNE at least).

The place will be a zoo!

And even at $20, that's still very cheap (no doubt trying to undercut "the lounge".)

Of course, if the "breakfast, lunch, dinner" comes out in the same way it does at the QP, be prepared for a lot of queueing!

 

[garee]

So if you are a QP member and you are flying to SYD, you have no lounge access, but leaving SYD to OOL you have . How bizarre.