Interesting experiences in the J class QP

[Stephen65]

Recently travelled with the wife and two kids (ages 2 and 4) from MEL to BNE return, all in J class on FF points, for holidays.

At the MEL QP I went through to the J class lounge and after showing our tickets was asked by the desk lady: "Are you travelling on points?". I was slightly taken aback by this question because I didn't understand its relevance but answered "yes". She didn't say anything but waved us in.

On the return flight we arrived at the BNE QP. As many of you will know, from the desk its to the left to the standard QP and to the right to the J class QP. This was a weekend and we were neatly but casually dressed. The desk lady looked at our J class tickets (I didn't bother showing my QP card) and then put out her arm to direct us to the left. I not so innocently asked, because I well knew where the J class lounge was, "isn't business class over there?". I got a cold look and a terse "yes" and we proceeded to enter the J class lounge. It was almost empty.

Is there some subtle policy to try and keep young children out of the J class QP?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Is there some subtle policy to try and keep young children out of the J class QP?

I've seen kids in the FLounges without any issues. However if your kids were being annoying or disruptive I would expect you all to leave immediately :evil:

Not sure why the dragon asked you about points... very odd.

 

[opusman]

The desk lady looked at our J class tickets (I didn't bother showing my QP card) and then put out her arm to direct us to the left.

That's pretty common in BNE from my experience; not sure why, but they seem to want to dissuade people from using the J lounge as much as possible!

 

[Stephen65]

I've seen kids in the FLounges without any issues. However if your kids were being annoying or disruptive I would expect you all to leave immediately :evil:

Not sure why the dragon asked you about points... very odd.

On both occasions the kids were behaving themselves. The 4 yo is obsessed with aircraft so getting into the J class QP in BNE was essential as that is the side with the view of the tarmac.

I was surprised by the points question and half expected to be told that there was some new restriction on access for mere award travellers. I fly J for work and use points for J class on holiday trips and I have never been quizzed about whether the ticket was paid for or award.

 

[Ewing]

That's pretty common in BNE from my experience; not sure why, but they seem to want to dissuade people from using the J lounge as much as possible!

Or they just look at the service information (are you WP Stephen?) and assume that you're not travelling J. I always get sent to the left even when travelling J (as an SG), but I know better so I go to the right.

Do any WPs on here get directed to the left?

I avoid BNE as much as possible anyway. Both lounges are standing room only at the times I usually fly out of there (QF551 is my usual ex-BNE flight). The last time I waited 20 minutes for a seat in the J lounge and the QP was worse (I settled on the J lounge)

 

[Homer]

Both incidents sound surprising to me and I just want to add a defence about the lounge reception in BNE. The wife, daughter (who is four) and I travel up there a lot because we have family and friends in SE Qld and I’ve never seen anything like this. I just flash one boarding pass (it doesn’t matter which) and we walk straight in. Maybe you just had two unfortunate coincidences?

 

[Stephen65]

No I am well short of WP in status Ewing! I thought the same thing originally, that maybe she didn't realise we were travelling J but:

- Since I didn't show her my QP card she would have to read the ticket to know we were entitled to be in the QP at all; and

- She didn't ask to see the tickets when I asked about the J lounge and headed in there.

If the kids had been rioting I could understand being kept out of the J lounge but they were being good on this occasion and the lounge was almost empty.

To balance this out: We've always had great service from the FAs when flying in J with the kids.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Recently travelled with the wife and two kids (ages 2 and 4) from MEL to BNE return, all in J class on FF points, for holidays.

Is there some subtle policy to try and keep young children out of the J class QP?

I have never had any problems taking kids into J or F lounges. The points question from the dragon was a bit off.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have never had any problems taking kids into J or F lounges. The points question from the dragon was a bit off.

Get the name and make a thing of it I would suggest. Don't put up with that, you have the BP, they are behind a desk.

SPRUCE

 

[straitman]

I always find the BNE QP staff to be very friendly and have never had an issue even when a certain person from this forum arrives late and has me paged.

 

[MatF]

I've never had an issue with the BNE QP either - I've always found the desk staff friendly.
I'm there every second week, always flying Y. Once I actually (not thinking) headed to the left after showing my boarding pass, and was almost forcibly stopped and directed to the right!

 

[Mrmaxwell]

They are not called dragons for nothing

I think you were unlucky to have this happen twice...with school holidays I guess they were on extra alert with wandering PAX crossing over into the wrong lounge.

 

[Flashback]

They are not called dragons for nothing

I think you were unlucky to have this happen twice...with school holidays I guess they were on extra alert with wandering PAX crossing over into the wrong lounge.

I think the issue though is more so that the dragon checked BP, saw they were eligible for the J lounge and still proceeded to direct them to the QP...

 

[Leumas]

Perhaps it's simply a capacity thing...? The BNE J lounge can get very crowded sometimes, where even spare seats are hard to come by.

 

[samh004]

Perhaps it's simply a capacity thing...? The BNE J lounge can get very crowded sometimes, where even spare seats are hard to come by.

The OP said it was almost empty.

FWIW, I’ve never had a problem getting into the J lounge and I’m not a WP or a J flyer

 

[NM]

My guess (and of course I was not there, so its just a guess):

MEL - the question about using points was probably pure curiosity and not in any way associated with entry entitlement.

BNE - probably just laziness in not checking the boarding passes closely enough to note business class travel. The "look" from the desk staff may have been more from embarrassment of not checking properly rather than trying to keep children out of the business lounge. As a non-QF oneWorld Emerald I have had to make the right turn at BNE entrance without specifically being invited by the desk staff. Never a complaint of suggestion I was not to use the J lounge, just initially invited to go left instead of right. So I very much doubt the presence of children in the party had anything to do with the situation.

 

[drron]

My guess (and of course I was not there, so its just a guess):

MEL - the question about using points was probably pure curiosity and not in any way associated with entry entitlement.

BNE - probably just laziness in not checking the boarding passes closely enough to note business class travel. The "look" from the desk staff may have been more from embarrassment of not checking properly rather than trying to keep children out of the business lounge. As a non-QF oneWorld Emerald I have had to make the right turn at BNE entrance without specifically being invited by the desk staff. Never a complaint of suggestion I was not to use the J lounge, just initially invited to go left instead of right. So I very much doubt the presence of children in the party had anything to do with the situation.

I would agree with the laziness.The one time we were allowed in the J lounge was when connecting to QF1 as first leg of DONE.The BNE-SYD sector was discount Y.Mrsdrron had the QF1 BPs on top(not deliberately) and the agent waved us and 2 friends into the J lounge.

 

[Voyages]

The 4 yo is obsessed with aircraft...

A future WP in the making?

 

[openseat]

My guess (and of course I was not there, so its just a guess):

MEL - the question about using points was probably pure curiosity and not in any way associated with entry entitlement.

BNE - probably just laziness in not checking the boarding passes closely enough to note business class travel. The "look" from the desk staff may have been more from embarrassment of not checking properly rather than trying to keep children out of the business lounge.

I often think that what is interpreted as a 'look' by some is actually, as you say NM, embarrasement.


The benign interpretation makes life much less troublesome when it comes to these things.

 

[JohnK]

That's pretty common in BNE from my experience; not sure why, but they seem to want to dissuade people from using the J lounge as much as possible!

And my experience is totally different.

I usually flash my Platinum card and start heading left to the Qantas Lounge and most times the person at reception points towards the right hand entrance to the Business Lounge. I usually say something along the lines of "I prefer to be in this lounge today."

Do any WPs on here get directed to the left?

Never.

I avoid BNE as much as possible anyway.

I wish I could avoid BNE as well.