I'm over (most) lounges

[Groundfeeder]

Be like me and pack your ACME Batman Suit and seek out free food selections from 100'.
I'm still renovating my cave as VIP lounge but some rotten bird keeps getting in and out rapidly without a card validation.

 

[MELso]

On my recent trip to Europe, I flew Finnair and got to experience both extremes.

In SIN, I went to the QR business lounge and it was superb - quiet, comfortable seating, nice showers, top notch a la carte dining and great wines/coughtails. Why so good? I imagine it was because it was strictly business class only and the money could be put into offering a good product.

At the other extreme, the Sala Monteverdi in the MXP Schengen zone was dreadful. Basically, I popped in, found there were no seats in the dark dingy atmosphere, looked at a coughpy selection of snacks and drinks, and decided to grab a couple of cans of soft drink and high tail it out of there to a much quieter closed gate lounge. This contract lounge was open to anyone willing to pay ~$A50 so the offerings were necessarily cheap and nasty.

However, for the most part, I think lounges are pretty ordinary - cheap booze, a mediocre buffet (or toasties) and crowded seating. Getting back to the comment of @Atleastonce, might be time to tighten access and improve quality?

 

[justinbrett]

My take (which will get howled down) is that if Im flying J I want to be treated with a much better lounge experience than a lifetime gold on a discount Y ticket.

And some airlines agree with you like QR.

However I agree with QF’s stance that the LTG has spent far more money with QF than a one time J pax, and should be recognised as such.

 

[Forg]

At the other extreme, the Sala Monteverdi in the MXP Schengen zone was dreadful. Basically, I popped in, found there were no seats in the dark dingy atmosphere, looked at a coughpy selection of snacks and drinks, and decided to grab a couple of cans of soft drink and high tail it out of there to a much quieter closed gate lounge. This contract lounge was open to anyone willing to pay ~$A50 so the offerings were necessarily cheap and nasty.

Maybe that price reflects the product, as well?

I tried a couple of LH J lounges circa 2008, one in Frankfurt the other Amsterdam. They were somewhat akin to a really massive version of QF's Hobart lounge (except using automated processes or vending machines rather than the blue-haired tea lady to refresh the bowl of pre-packaged biscuits) ... and I wonder if that partially reflects the product in the air? Most people using those lounges, and the Sala Monteverdi, probably have "EuroBusiness" in mind, ie. Row 4 on a QF 738.

And some airlines agree with you like QR.

However I agree with QF’s stance that the LTG has spent far more money with QF than a one time J pax, and should be recognised as such.

I guess that depends on what the airline's strategy is for WHO they're trying to get loyalty from?

QF seems to be targeting anyone in Straya who'd consider flying, where they can ... the Royalty owned Middle Eastern airlines seem to skew more towards trying to get loyalty from those up the front of the bus?

 

[RooFlyer]

My take (which will get howled down) is that if Im flying J I want to be treated with a much better lounge experience than a lifetime gold on a discount Y ticket.

Totally agree.

 

[CaptJCool]

I found that dripping from WP to LTG
I Automatically got the same but different lounge experience

Who knew there were lounges for the more infrequent traveller that served up the same booze offerings ?

Perhaps coming from Adelaide I was used to the old egalitarian all-in lounge so didn’t get too bothered by what food was available….

After all, it’s all about the droplets (the casino experience that keeps you hooked on returns, rewards and freebies)
The Seppelts Fleur de Lys of which I’ll drink a bottle tonight when I lob in the Melbourne QC

Now where’s my discount Y ticket to Adelaide ?

 

[chol]

When I was flying a lot domestically, I would just pop into the lounge to raid the drinks fridge or grab a coffee and then head out and find a quiet spot somewhere. For food, I would just go buy what I wanted and claim it instead of forcing myself to eat the cheese and crackers and soup or whatever just because it was *free*. International is different if I get access to a shower, but I got so over the domestic lounge zoo. Found it was just better outside of the lounge at some quiet gate somewhere.

 

[justinbrett]

QF seems to be targeting anyone in Straya who'd consider flying, where they can ... the Royalty owned Middle Eastern airlines seem to skew more towards trying to get loyalty from those up the front of the bus?

If it’s a class based benefit then it’s not loyalty as such, those pax can flap in the wind between QR/SQ/EK or whatever and whoever has the BFOD.

The point of a loyalty program is to get customers to stick with you without even considering the competition.

It’s two different strategies that work for different situations.

 

[CaptJCool]

Guzzling

Plus G&T to pay for the overpriced fare …

 

[OATEK]

Is this really a question of familiarity breeding contempt?

I must admit I didn't have any problems finding a comfortable spot and some decent coffee and pastries at Changi recently when I didn't have lounge access for a morning departure.

But when at Gatwick in the North Terminal, a zoo of LCC carriers and patrons, access to the EK Lounge is a wonderful escape.

So as we slide down the QF status greasy pole, we will adjust to more terminal outlets and less lounge time.

 

[AuSammy]

The point of a loyalty program is to get customers to stick with you without even considering the competition.

It’s two different strategies that work for different situations.

Not so sure it works that well given the dozens upon dozens of posts on AFF and eleswhere where the op says “reached my goal of ltg, now moving to another program”.