Interesting article on lounge use and abuse

[RooFlyer]

A link by @trippin_the_rift in another thread led me to this article on lounge use and abuse by pax and airlines.

Welcome To The Airport VIP Lounge, Please Grab Snacks And Leave

... which addresses an issue that's been ventilated often here on AFF, namely airline lounge crowding and amenity. It begins

I’m sorry, I just can’t. Malcolm Gladwell would call it the tipping point, but I’ll just call the current state of the airport lounge what it is – insanity. Mass transit masquerading as luxury.

What were once refined spaces and places for road warriors and those who pay for the best when they fly are now basically hospital waiting rooms at a push, with very slightly upgraded snacks and queues that rival a Taylor Swift merch booth just to get in.

And to be clear, unlike the hospital waiting room which usually has enough chairs upon entry, these spaces no longer do, so on behalf of the airline or credit card, please take your “free” snacks and bounce.

A time may be on the horizon where it actually makes sense to stop offering lounge access to some elite statuses and reimagining day of travel benefits that people can enjoy. There’s just not a lot of joy in lounges right now.

and ends with

A time will come when it might make serious sense to cut lounge access for lower their elite statuses and instead focus on just calling a spade a spade, and setting up a grab and go area, or enhanced terminal wifi proposition for people with low status. It might actually be a lot better than delivering sub-bar experiences.

I think many domestic lounge experiences in Australia are sub-par experiences; the VA lounge at MEL & the QP at Hobart come immediately to mind. Both need their numbers admitted reduced to 1/3 below present capacity, either by admittance eligibility criteria.

Solution?
For Qantas domestic lounges (J and QP), dis-allow anyone flying JetStar. QFF P1? Get yerself on a real Qantas flight, else an hour amongst the hoi-polloi won't kill you.
For Virgin it would be trickier to cut the eligibility. Maybe a limit on the number of lounge entries per year for Golds flying economy?

 

[kpc]

Lots of calls to stop status pax flying J* from using Qf lounges....allegedly to stop overcrowding. QF must know the exact numbers....on the rare occasions I fly J* out of my home city, Syd, J* flies out ftom the wrong terminal and it is too much hassle to go to the Qf lounge. I use my PP benefits of $36 credit to have a nice meal at a restaurant in T2. Next week I leave Hba early pm on J* so can access the Qf lounge there for the first time as the lounge is normally closed when I take the last J* flight out of Hba.

So I like to see the numbers of J* pax using the Qf lounges before i can make up my mind whether they are causing / responsible for overcrowding...once upon a time,status J* pax did not have accces to Qf lounges so to go back to that will not be a popular decision for many, I think

 

[sqrt()]

I appreciate there are often physical limitations, but why is the proposed solution to crowding always restricting pax who currently have access (via whatever means) instead of placing the onus on airlines to provide the service they advertise, at the quality passengers can reasonably expect (i.e. x% more comfortable than sitting in a gate lounge) by increasing lounge footprint and/or improving lounge setups (less 2x/4x seating that gets taken up by one person and their suitcase). Don’t tell me its not possible, just been put in the too hard basket.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Just accept the principle, that when everyone has premium status, is the same as no one having premium status.

 

[GrahamBRI]

I use my PP benefits of $36 credit to have a nice meal at a restaurant in T2.

Yes, I am definitely enjoying the PP benefit over any of the lounges at the moment.

 

[aikman]

Why is the solution always to deny access to everyone else except yourself?

 

[dairyfloss]

Why is the solution always to deny access to everyone else except yourself?

I would be happy to deny myself access if I was flying JQ. It would serve as a helpful reminder that I'd made a terrible, terrible choice*

* Yes, yes, we know there are a few places where QF doesn't have a flight and is only served by the orange cancer.

 

[Quickstatus]

increasing lounge footprint

There is space limits at airport terminal buildings.
Airports would do well putting better amenity into the terminals for the average traveller

Just accept the principle, that when everyone has premium status, is the same as no one having premium status.

WP is the new NB

 

[dajop]

Ultimately, lounge overcrowding is not a problem for the airline at all. If it was it would be self correcting, people wouldn't see value in lounges would stop accruing status, or stop preferencing that particular carrier, and overcrowding would decrease.

Also, grab and go solutions are not the answer. Lounges are not about the food. They are all about dopamine. Providing some grab and go food would probably not provide the same level of dopamine as actually entering the lounge and partaking. Why do you think barista coffee and an extensive alcohol selection (in the lounge primarily catering to western travellers, anyway) are so important, whilst the food is lacklustre and they get away with serving disgusting post-mix soft drinks rather than such drinks in cans and bottles? Alcohol and barista coffee provide much more stimulation.

Also why is a nicely new freshly designed lounge so important, irrespective of overcrowding or not? It's the dopamine. I'm an outlier, and actually don't mind functional, comfortable, older fashioned lounges that are spacious with worn furniture and 90s/00s decor. But no, the number of references I read on AFF and in vlogs, blogs etc to "tired and worn lounges" , "needs a modern refresh" suggest it's not about the comfort, but the look and feel which contributes to the dopamine. Simple as that. We're all suckers for that rush.

 

[Quickstatus]

We're all suckers for that rush.

Especially the "rush" of being allowed/able to go up the elevator where others can't. And being self conscious that others can see you getting in.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ultimately, lounge overcrowding is not a problem for the airline at all. If it was it would be self correcting, people wouldn't see value in lounges would stop accruing status, or stop preferencing that particular carrier, and overcrowding would decrease.

Well, using me as an example, QF lounges are overcrowded. I've stopped preferencing etc. and even when I do use QF out of HBA, I don't bother with the lounge zoo.

 

[dajop]

Well, using me as an example, QF lounges are overcrowded. I've stopped preferencing etc. and even when I do use QF out of HBA, I don't bother with the lounge zoo.

HBA is probably a captive audience though. But ultimately if they notice the loss of custom of Golds, Platinum patronage ex-HBA they might (or might not) act.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I've said this a few times on AFF, and I know its the wrong crowd to say it to but here goes:

You don't HAVE to go to the lounge!

 

[Captain Halliday]

I've said this a few times on AFF, and I know its the wrong crowd to say it to but here goes:

You don't HAVE to go to the lounge!

But if you’ve paid (for example) $199 for a flight that you could otherwise have taken for $159, surely you’re obliged to eat and drink $40 worth.

And failing that, stuff your pockets, carry on baggage and upturned hat with as much “free” food as you can, no?

 

[Pushka]

Ultimately, lounge overcrowding is not a problem for the airline at all. If it was it would be self correcting, people wouldn't see value in lounges would stop accruing status, or stop preferencing that particular carrier, and overcrowding would decrease.

Also, grab and go solutions are not the answer. Lounges are not about the food. They are all about dopamine. Providing some grab and go food would probably not provide the same level of dopamine as actually entering the lounge and partaking. Why do you think barista coffee and an extensive alcohol selection (in the lounge primarily catering to western travellers, anyway) are so important, whilst the food is lacklustre and they get away with serving disgusting post-mix soft drinks rather than such drinks in cans and bottles? Alcohol and barista coffee provide much more stimulation.

Also why is a nicely new freshly designed lounge so important, irrespective of overcrowding or not? It's the dopamine. I'm an outlier, and actually don't mind functional, comfortable, older fashioned lounges that are spacious with worn furniture and 90s/00s decor. But no, the number of references I read on AFF and in vlogs, blogs etc to "tired and worn lounges" , "needs a modern refresh" suggest it's not about the comfort, but the look and feel which contributes to the dopamine. Simple as that. We're all suckers for that rush.

Athens Sky something lounge is modern. And tacky. Hard modern seats. Give me worn and comfortable seats any day. I'm not a lounge foodie, just like a nice quiet spot to have a tea or coffee in peace, know my bags aren't going to get flogged or blown up, and clean bathrooms. Alcohol if in the mood for it.

 

[encryptededdy]

Considering the cost of alcohol in Australia and as someone who doesn't really drink, I always have selfish thoughts about how the food could be meaningfully better if they just didn't bother serving alcohol.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Considering the cost of alcohol in Australia and as someone who doesn't really drink, I always have selfish thoughts about how the food could be meaningfully better if they just didn't bother serving alcohol.

Dunno. Aussie lounges are so miserable with their measures. They get 23 drinks from one bottle. Which would be pretty cheap retail.

 

[drron]

Unlike the barman at the SQ lounge in LHR yesterday who gave me 2 measures every time for my G&Ts.

 

[dairyfloss]

Unlike the barman at the SQ lounge in LHR yesterday who gave me 2 measures every time for my G&Ts.

Exactly… luckily alcoholic beverages, particularly the high end ones, cost less in London and Singapore!