I tried hard - but failed!

[mannej]

I think some people are missing the satirical nature of Flying_man's posts on this forum.

 

[RooFlyer]

Again, there are emoticons available to help convey the meaning of 'satirical' posts, as noted a couple of times before flying_mans post, so I take it at face value.

 

[Flying_man]

You see, the flaw with this approach is where do you stop if you're not going to take no for an answer? Ok, demand a "senior" manager deals with you. If and when they back up the "junior" manager then demand the QF airport duty manager be called who, I guarantee, will corroborate the other staff. At this stage you're running the risk of being a no fly and having federal police attend the lounge.

It is not illegal to ask for manager. People on this forum will do it in respectful way. If airline call police or security man on peaceful passenger who is seeking redress of customer service issue then it will be recorded by other passenger and share on social media.

 

[Jack_OC]

Maybe posting here will make me feel a little better about my failing!
I dropped from plat to gold late last year. Have been flying lots domestically since March, so started to push back up towards the required 1,400.
My big problem - using the odd JQ flight as Avalon was a bit easier for me. JQ points never get added, and realized I need to do missing flight claims each time. I'm still waiting on 70 status credits to be added.
So, not deterred, I have put them to one side, and am at 1,360 points. So I flew twice with Qantas yesterday - Sydney - Canberra, Canberra - Melbourne - bang, 1,400 credits.
My Sydney - Canberra flight had hit my account before landing in Canberra. But my Canberra - Melbourne flight hasn't yet been credited.
I'm flying internationally today (another 70 status credit points due when I land). I called Qantas - can't do anything for 3 days. They said they would speak to the lounge staff though and confirm they were in process.
Melbourne Qantas 1st lounge manager - no, I can't get into 'nitty gritty, you are either a member or you are not - it says you are gold'.
So, that was that - back to the business lounge.
It'll probably tick over to Platinum as soon as the flight is boarding.
Soooooo annoying - have spent an absolute fortune, and missed it by 20 status credits (when I am waiting on 90 to be credited) - and the attitude of the lounge dude, pretty disappointing!
Ehhhh well!!!

I found myself in a somewhat similar set of circumstances when I first qualified as QF Gold - which was in fact the first time I had reached "lounge access level' of status with any program - so it was pretty exciting at the time. However, due to delayed posting of the last required flight, my status was not yet official, and despite explaining my situation at length and even showing the BP for the flight that (should have) got me over the line, they were having none of it. To make matters worse, I was already well past the required 700 SCs, I just needed one final ~.

So I feel your pain, but of course when it happened to me, I didn't even get to settle for the J lounge - I had to go and sit amongst the proletariat, in a place where you actually have to pay for booze

 

[Pushka]

I think some people are missing the satirical nature of Flying_man's posts on this forum.

I don’t ‘do’ satire well in written form.

Again, there are emoticons available to help convey the meaning of 'satirical' posts, as noted a couple of times before flying_mans post, so I take it at face value.

Agree.

It is not illegal to ask for manager. People on this forum will do it in respectful way. If airline call police or security man on peaceful passenger who is seeking redress of customer service issue then it will be recorded by other passenger and share on social media.

Ok, I still don’t think it was satire.

I found myself in a somewhat similar set of circumstances when I first qualified as QF Gold - which was in fact the first time I had reached "lounge access level' of status with any program - so it was pretty exciting at the time. However, due to delayed posting of the last required flight, my status was not yet official, and despite explaining my situation at length and even showing the BP for the flight that (should have) got me over the line, they were having none of it. To make matters worse, I was already well past the required 700 SCs, I just needed one final ~.

So I feel your pain, but of course when it happened to me, I didn't even get to settle for the J lounge - I had to go and sit amongst the proletariat, in a place where you actually have to pay for booze

A true walk of shame then.

 

[Mattg]

It is not illegal to ask for manager. People on this forum will do it in respectful way. If airline call police or security man on peaceful passenger who is seeking redress of customer service issue then it will be recorded by other passenger and share on social media.

Wouldn't be the first time Qantas has done this!

Airline Executive Encourages Calling Cops On Customers - One Mile at a Time

But to me, more concerning than the guy in charge not knowing the rules is the way he suggests handling a situation. “If someone bullies or forces their way into the lounge,” he suggests calling the police. Of course there are cases where that’s appropriate, like if someone goes into the lounge without permission.

But one could also reasonably interpret that as meaning that someone who tries to make their case based on the correct rules should have the cops called on them if they talk back at all. And we know frontline airline employees do sometimes call the cops on people, but I always assume those are “bad apples.” In the case of Qantas, this actually seems to be the suggestion from the manager.

 

[Snowman]

Thank you all for your replies - did make me feel a bit better (even the fake news comment!)!
I was still Gold when I landed in Singapore, which is probably not a bad thing. Arguably, would have been worse if my status had ticked over during the flight.
The Canberra - Sydney flight was credited that evening, and I'm now back to Platinum. I'm now on 1,400 SCs with (now) 180 SCs more still to hit my account (not a whole lot of use to me, but I guess I'll probably get four membership rewards this year, and it'll help towards lifetime Gold.
I do get that people will try it on to access the lounge daily but, equally, I showed him my account (which he didn't really look at), and also offered to show him my boarding pass from the previous day - again, not interested (and I kinda get that).
I will write a little letter to Qantas however to explain my feelings - I reckon I've done 65 QF and JQ flights since last September, and probably spent close to $40k. I know that's not a huge amount compared with others, but it's not just an occasional flight either.
While posting, I should say what an awesome flight the JQ flight to Singapore was. Really nice service, obviously an awesome aircraft, and heaps of room.

 

[Mattg]

While posting, I should say what an awesome flight the JQ flight to Singapore was. Really nice service, obviously an awesome aircraft, and heaps of room.

Wow, that's not something you hear often!

 

[Franky]

Wow, that's not something you hear often!

There was no emoticon with Snowman’s post, so I’m now not sure whether to consider the last bit as satire or not?

 

[JohnK]

A few years ago, when I earned QF Gold for the first time, I was in the middle of a trip in South America. I attempted to access a Oneworld lounge at GRU around a week after my status was upgraded but for some reason my BP was still showing Oneworld ruby. The lounge staff refused to help. Not much I could do, so I just accepted it. Good on the OP for doing the same.

I wouldn't have given up on that one especially if I could prove my current status.

But for the record there are some useless lounge staff around the world. They argue their useless interpretation of lounge access rules even when you have a printed copy of the website in front of you that clearly states you have access rights.

 

[Pushka]

I wouldn't have given up on that one especially if I could prove my current status.

But for the record there are some useless lounge staff around the world. They argue their useless interpretation of lounge access rules even when you have a printed copy of the website in front of you that clearly states you have access rights.

Sure but you still have to get past them. And they won’t change their minds if they choose not to.

 

[pauly7]

Next time ask to speak to even more SENIOR manager who can overrule decision of rude junior manager.
Lot of people use title of manager but sometimes not the most SENIOR one in charge. Do not take NO for answer.

I’d suggest not to do this. If you are asking for an issue to be elevated do it on the phone because they are the people who can change your status not the people at the airport...