F lounge as WP - children

[Katie]

We have a few AA Flagship lounges on the itinerary over x-mas - was wondering how we'd go getting access as a foursome......doesn't look good

We went through in Oct (F on AA flight LAX-SFO, me as WP, Mr Katie and Little Miss both PS), and they would not let us all in. On the way to SFO, I got an outright no, the lounge was too busy, and Little Miss was too old. On the way back, Little Miss and Mr Katie were in Y+ on QF16 and I was in F on an AA flight to ORD, I was offered a door key, but not allowed to take my husband or daughter in. I kinda thought we were stretching the rules a bit, but it is a change after having been welcomed into the Flounge in SYD on the way over. I had hoped that the T4 Flagship lounge being a shared lounge might have had a more QF edge to the rules, but it did not.
Had no worries getting them both in to the T4 Flagship lounge in April last year. They were both SG at the time, though that shouldn't have made any difference.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Success
We all got into the Flagship lounge but it wasn't as easy as I thought.
It was pointed out to me that we had an extra guest over the entitlement so should use the AC. I smiled and thanked her and she handed over the white key card and said "you should all go in the Flagship lounge to just check it out before going to the AC"

 

[serfty]

So really, is a YMMV on this.

The "princess" way epitomises the best one can do and that us ask with a smile and whether denied our not, accept the result with more smiles.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I am creating a monster I think.
Mini-me asked after half an hour "Can we go to the First Class Lounge now?"
She rates the Flagship as on a par with the SYD J Lounge

 

[amaroo]

I was told we had to use the QP at BNE Int yesterday and told I could only guest one into the 4Th rate Flounge......told her that was wrong and I was entitled to guest one + my 2 kids aged under 18. She started to get frantic......told her to check the T&C.....long pause then I was told to go to the Flounge if I wanted too. As we were walking in I got the - I've been working here for 21 years.....

Not a good way to start a holiday........some staff clearly are doing jobs they're not suited for.

 

[nlagalle]

I was told we had to use the QP at BNE Int yesterday and told I could only guest one into the 4Th rate Flounge......told her that was wrong and I was entitled to guest one + my 2 kids aged under 18. She started to get frantic......told her to check the T&C.....long pause then I was told to go to the Flounge if I wanted too. As we were walking in I got the - I've been working here for 21 years.....

I would have shot back and said "I;ve been flying for 21 years also!"

 

[mannej]

As we were walking in I got the - I've been working here for 21 years.....

Not a good way to start a holiday........some staff clearly are doing jobs they're not suited for.

I'd be shooting feedback to Red Roo about that - comments like that aren't really that acceptable, especially on top of the lack of knowledge re the guesting rules

 

[Flying mermaid]

I was told we had to use the QP at BNE Int yesterday and told I could only guest one into the 4Th rate Flounge......told her that was wrong and I was entitled to guest one + my 2 kids aged under 18. She started to get frantic......told her to check the T&C.....long pause then I was told to go to the Flounge if I wanted too. As we were walking in I got the - I've been working here for 21 years.....

Not a good way to start a holiday........some staff clearly are doing jobs they're not suited for.

it can be a problem - most of the staff are lovely but some need to be convinced/trained that front line staff can make or break the customer's experience ....

 

[serfty]

it can be a problem - most of the staff are lovely but some need to be convinced/trained that front line staff can make or break the customer's experience ....

And, to be fair, it can be tough on legacy staff ... Qantas only really publicly clarified access for children as distinct from guests a little over a year ago IIRC. Maybe she missed the memo ...

 

[Flying mermaid]

And, to be fair, it can be tough on legacy staff ... Qantas only really publicly clarified access for children as distinct from guests a little over a year ago IIRC. Maybe she missed the memo ...

I have trouble keeping track of lounge access! it seems to subtly change all the time However it is the way it is handled that makes the difference - no-one can be right all the time but if you do concede something do it graciously - that way the person walks off with a glow rather than aggrieved.....

 

[legroom]

I was told we had to use the QP at BNE Int yesterday and told I could only guest one into the 4Th rate Flounge......told her that was wrong and I was entitled to guest one + my 2 kids aged under 18. She started to get frantic......told her to check the T&C.....long pause then I was told to go to the Flounge if I wanted too. As we were walking in I got the - I've been working here for 21 years.....

Not a good way to start a holiday........some staff clearly are doing jobs they're not suited for.

I do now carry a printed copy of the T & C as applicable to lounge access to minimise this sort of "conflict".

Used it with good effect in AMS (QF codeshare EK flight, SG at the time, flying J) where they started to object to 1 guest.

All was good after I showed her the piece of paper.

Esp when you have guest(s).

By yourself, it should be no issue at all (J/F or status) but with guests it starts to confuse some staff - should not happen but it does, sometimes.

And, to be fair, it can be tough on legacy staff ... Qantas only really publicly clarified access for children as distinct from guests a little over a year ago IIRC. Maybe she missed the memo ...

I only learned of the QF "family rules" recently on AFF when I had a need to know.

Before that, travelling by self or just with +1, I paid no attention to such rules.

However, staff is expected to know better - in an ideal world.

 

[amaroo]

And, to be fair, it can be tough on legacy staff ... Qantas only really publicly clarified access for children as distinct from guests a little over a year ago IIRC. Maybe she missed the memo ...

Late on the uptake is an understatement!

I've taken my kids into the Flounges for years....never had any issues with dozen+ visits with the kids.

 

[maninblack]

I was told we had to use the QP at BNE Int yesterday and told I could only guest one into the 4Th rate Flounge......told her that was wrong and I was entitled to guest one + my 2 kids aged under 18. She started to get frantic......told her to check the T&C.....long pause then I was told to go to the Flounge if I wanted too. As we were walking in I got the - I've been working here for 21 years.....

Not a good way to start a holiday........some staff clearly are doing jobs they're not suited for.

Crikey. One of the only things these dingbats need to know is the access T & C's.

Families

Qantas Lounges welcome you when travelling together with your family. In addition to your normal guest allowance you may also bring up to two children, between ages 4 and 17, into lounges operated by Qantas. Children aged 3 years or under are not counted as guests for the purpose of determining the number of guests of the member. If you are travelling with more than two children, the Qantas lounge manager will try to accommodate them, subject to reviewing the space available in the lounge.

 

[Dalek]

Cheers to the Flounge Angels in Sydney, they let me bring my wife and 20 year old son into the lounge today. He will turn 21 on the flight to LHR, they even brought him a Happy Birthday dessert.
It helps dull the pain of a 24 hour flight in Y.

 

[amaroo]

Success
We all got into the Flagship lounge but it wasn't as easy as I thought.
<snip>

Another lucky punter here

Currently enjoying a glass or three of Cloudy Bay Sav Blanc

By a stroke of pure luck SWMBO BP came up with EMERALD (she is SG) and we were given the white key no questions asked as a family of 4