Interview with Stephanie Tully, Head of Airline Loyalty at Qantas-Platinum One

[medhead]

Which is still not in 'writing' from Virgin.

Meh! I've moved about 450 QF SC to DJ so far this year. I've hit WP retain, I've got lounge access with DJ and will hit requal with DJ next year as well. So ATA not needed from either airline. Even if I fly totally with QF I still won't make 2400 SC more likely around 2100. So I hope qantas appreciates the lost business due to anytime access removal and increasing the PG requirement. I'm certainly enjoying my new horizons. Thanks Qantas.

 

[ejb]

They may do Sam as a number of the 3600+ club would be CL members anyway I guess.

However if they do give CL access I would say the qualifying may include SC's only count if they are on paid J/F fares. Not JASA or OW partners. QF would want a short leash on members If they are entering the CL.

I am purely guessing and as I only get around 2000 SC per year WP1 does not really concern me.

ejb


Sent from my iPhone so please ignore auto corrects!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

...but do SYD or MEL have arrivals lounges, like many overseas long haul ports?

As far as l know, no. There are no arrivals lounges, but with the changes to WP ATA, you could in theory go to the domestic J Lounges and use them. I would think that CL's at the moment could use ATA for QF Lounges.

 

[samh004]

As far as l know, no. There are no arrivals lounges, but with the changes to WP ATA, you could in theory go to the domestic J Lounges and use them. I would think that CL's at the moment could use ATA for QF Lounges.

At SYD in particular that's a long way to go for a shower, however MEL is doable I guess. Either way, I think that might have to be their next expansion in the lounge network, as it could be really valuable/useful, especially for their high-end pax getting in from the other side of the world.

Alas, I'm off topic, but would hope such access was not just afforded to WP1 (and I'm back on topic).

 

[connieguy]

As far as l know, no. There are no arrivals lounges, but with the changes to WP ATA, you could in theory go to the domestic J Lounges and use them. I would think that CL's at the moment could use ATA for QF Lounges.

WPs now have domestic "On Arrival" Lounge access:

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Platinum Benefits

"Domestic Lounge access on arrival
As a Platinum Frequent Flyer you can access Domestic Business Lounges or The Qantas Club upon arrival if you have travelled that day on any flight that shows a Qantas, a Jetstar Airline or a oneworld[SUP]®[/SUP] flight number on your ticket.^ You may also bring two guests, who do not need to be travelling."

So maybe WP1s will have FLounge arrivals access? Yes I know there are security issues......

 

[TheInsider]

So maybe WP1s will have FLounge arrivals access? Yes I know there are security issues......

Will not happen, customs will not allow it.

 

[medhead]

Will not happen, customs will not allow it.

I guess the main concern for customs would be people not exporting stuff by giving it to a friend coming in. So they might be ok if arriving pax were segregated in a separate lounge. :?:

 

[dk4]

Which is still not in 'writing' from Virgin.

The best write up, of an unwritten benefit, that I've ever seen.

Confirming that our Gold members have 'anytime access' to our owned and operated Lounges.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....hanges-access-pricing-30819-6.html#post450049

 

[ejb]

I may be the odd one out but when I arrive home the last thing I would want to do is hang around a lounge.

Through customs and off home I say!

As QFF members arriving in Australia are more than likely arriving home I can't see QF spending big dollars on arrivals lounges for other OW elites.

ejb

 

[serfty]

...I would think that CL's at the moment could use ATA for QF Lounges.

This certainly has been the case. Earlier this year while awaiting my QF133, a CL and his wife were enjoying the comforts of the MEL Qantas First class lounge while awaiting their (delayed) EK flight. QF staff even came around to advise them thier flight had commenced boarding.

I may be the odd one out but when I arrive home the last thing I would want to do is hang around a lounge.

Through customs and off home I say! ...

It depends how far away "home" is. I live 60+ minutes drive from MEL; it's even more when you factor in think like heading to the car park to collect your car etc.

A quick shower and a light breakfast after, say, a Transpac flight or an ex Asia Red-eye is quite nice before heading out. (or in some cases, heading to work!)

 

[connieguy]

Re: AuBT Interview: Qantas Platinum One

I may be the odd one out but when I arrive home the last thing I would want to do is hang around a lounge.

Through customs and off home I say!

As QFF members arriving in Australia are more than likely arriving home I can't see QF spending big dollars on arrivals lounges for other OW elites.

ejb

Many airlines / airports offer arrivals lounges for their international passengers. Gives you a chance to shower, change clothes and get refreshed / revive a bit before going on to say a business meeting.

but not Sydney:
Sydney Airport arrivals lounge is off the cards - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Chatterbocks]

The 'anytime access' thing would be the key for me. I earn 2000-3000 SCs a year so not quite there yet, however occasionally I have to take a non-OW leg due to scheduling etc. Whilst I am mostly in J, for shorter flights I have to take Y and sometimes find myself sitting tantalisingly close to a OW lounge but can't get in

 

[oz_mark]

It should be obvious to everyone by now (if not much earlier than this interview) that QF do not want to tell anyone what Platinum One will entail, yet. Either they don't know or they are just not telling. You can't accuse them of either because you don't know which one; those saying that QF have no clue have automatically assumed the AusBT journalist is correct. You can have something worked out - in full or substantially - and still not decide to tell anyone: don't tell me that that doesn't make sense, because you've all probably done it before in your life.

I'd be inclined toward Qantas having a general idea, but the specifics aren't locked in yet. In my experience, (although in other industries) the specifics could be changing right up until very shortly before the formal announcement!

 

[djfuzz]

I'd be inclined toward Qantas having a general idea, but the specifics aren't locked in yet. In my experience, (although in other industries) the specifics could be changing right up until very shortly before the formal announcement!

In your experience, why does this happen? And would you pre-announce the announcement as well?

With all due respect, despite the fact they're both holding out on detail, Virgin does seem to be setting the pace here - until they relaunched under JB, QF was quietly rationalising away FF member benefits. It's been a little disturbing just how reactive they've been, almost every change in the last little while has directly mirrored what Virgin has been doing (though Virgin is not entirely guilt free for being reactive either).

As with anat0l, don't want to get into the Anytime Access morass again here - but it's quite interesting that they are so utterly convinced that the only thing it does is give its competitors the proverbial 'free kick' (demonstrated to be quite difficult) without acknowledging the many circumstances (hashed out in the other thread) where its use is entirely consistent with strict QF/OW loyalty within their network. Obviously the overcrowding argument has had its day now as well.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Make no mistake...this is a chess game being played out between QF and DJ, each awaiting the other to make their next move.

As for the interview with Stephanie Tully, this comment gets me regarding ATA;

“We want to make sure that our lounges are occupied and enjoyed by the people that are actually flying Qantas or our oneworld or codeshare partner airlines.”

Like anyone with 3600+ of SCs would NOT be on a QF or OW flight on a regular basis...guess they have to protect that half-billion dollar profit.

 

[samiam]

The 'anytime access' thing would be the key for me.

From the article:

But she is quick to pour cold water on the return of ‘anytime access’ – the privilege to use a Qantas lounge even when flying with a competing airline – even for these super frequent flyers.
“We want to make sure that our lounges are occupied and enjoyed by the people that are actually flying Qantas or our oneworld or codeshare partner airlines.”

 

[rechoboam]

Surely there should be a level: 2600/3600/ even 5000 SCs that lets you do anything anytime (within reason) because you are so valuable to the airline that they never want to lose you? I mean, they current give WPs seven hours notice of upgrades and that's considered at all acceptable? None of this affects me personally (see my status) but really..

PS "some of the benefits might be aligned"
What benefits? I doubt that even sitting in the chairman's lounge itself is that fantastic, (unless you enjoy watching the wrestling).

 

[Fantic125]

What benefits? I doubt that even sitting in the chairman's lounge itself is that fantastic, (unless you enjoy watching the wrestling).

Blanche & Bob's daughter? Even a tonne of jelly and all the bikini's in the world would'nt make that worth watching. :-|

 

[rechoboam]

[SUB][/SUB]

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Also found the comment about "looking after" the P1s a bit of a worry. If I am (or somebody else is) paying almost $10k for a J ticket to NYC you bet I expect to be looked after if there's a cancellation, status or not.

 

[jbryan5]

Re: AuBT Interview: Qantas Platinum One

Many airlines / airports offer arrivals lounges for their international passengers. Gives you a chance to shower, change clothes and get refreshed / revive a bit before going on to say a business meeting.but not Sydney:Sydney Airport arrivals lounge is off the cards - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

There is one very major airport that has a Oneworld arrivals lounge, LHR T3. However, a platinum card will NOT get you access to have a quick shower and shave after a long haul overnight flight. I travel this route regularly, but generally in premium. Access will only be granted with a J or F boarding pass. This lounge is run by AA and I have used it several times, but in the last few months they have cracked down on this. I have been a WP + PG for many years , but will struggle to get to WP1. I feel my loyalty deserves a shower after a long flight. Anomaly: if I flew into UK on BA, I reckon my platinum card will get me into the LHR T5 arrivals lounge (which is actually much nicer than T3). Only issue is that BA Premium economy is even less comfortable than QF!John