Making bludgers pay to use the QP...

[munitalP]

BLUDGER: noun, a person who lives off the efforts of others; a person who does not pay his fair share or who does not make a fair contribution to a cost, enterprise, etc., a cadger; an idler, one who makes little effort...

In the last couple of months I have been asked by total strangers to comp them into the QP - they wait at the bottom of SYD escalators and bail you as you enter - usually with the excuse of they are waiting for a friend who's QP and still to arrive or similar... in my recent past, I would say that this has happened to me more than 10 times...

Here's a question to put to the masses - should the QP have a pay as you go option? (similar to DJ and JQ). If the answer is yes, it goes without saying that the dragons will enforce the numbers rule. The QP-J does not count in this hypothetical question (we wouldn't want the riff raff in there now would we...!)

I look forward to the result of this poll!

Mr!

:shock:

 

[Flashback]

I think the poll results are speaking for themselves...! If you want access and can't be guested in, pay for membership. It already gets crowded as-is.

 

[notzac]

Here's a question to put to the masses - should the QP have a pay as you go option? (similar to DJ and JQ).

Dear gods no. The QP gets crowded enough as is. If you want access, cough up for QP membership (that's pay as you go, amirite?) or fly enough to get status.

Failing that, there are (legitimate!) ways of getting QP invitations - the AmEx Gold QFF card as one example.

 

[anat0l]

Is this question really needed?

Flashware hit it on the head. Those of us that are fully entitled to use the QP are already facing bulging QPs.

One time in ADL it was apparently so full that even WPs were only allowed one guest. I'm going to guess that it was strictly only travelling pax too. Personally, I think everyone agrees we don't need more people inside taking up valuable chairs/tables and more competition at the timely Evening Hot Food Selection Snipers club.

Surprisingly, I've never been pestered by strangers to get into the QP. When I was an SG, I guested a stranger that I met on the shuttle bus into the QP, and just this April I met two work colleagues by chance and guested both of them into the J Lounge. (Both were in the morning and in BNE). But that's my choice. Opening up the QP for a free-for-all is just asking for trouble.

Say QF charge $35 to enter the lounge (and I doubt it would be that low, even if it meant a higher price would be a stupid idea if they wanted to compete with the DJ lounge). You'd only need to pay that amount 10 times to get close to recovering the cost of QP membership. You'd probably need to fly at least that many times in a year to get value for a QP membership anyway.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Sure, let them pay to come in.

$500 per head.

 

[Hvr]

As has been mentioned here far too many people in some lounges so no. Let them buy a membership or earn it.

If it is too cheap they won't value it like we all do.

 

[codash1099]

Don't even plant the idea in QF's money grubbing collective heads.

 

[JohnK]

I would hope that Qantas does not introduce a pay as you go option for the Qantas Lounges.

I have only ever come across one group asking someone to get into the Qantas Lounge in BNE. I was going to offer to help but the person they asked did not have access on the day and then they disappeared.

The other Friday night I left the BNE business lounge to see the status of the boarding gate when I saw a bloke talking to the lounge staff as his wife/girlfriend was fumbling through her things looking for something. As the queue at the boarding gate looked to be ~100 metres long I went back inside and offered to guest the couple into the lounge. At first they refused but when I said to them it was OK they followed me inside. I got a couple of drinks and they looked lost for a while but then walked passed me and thanked me again.

I felt good guesting them into the lounge and it means nothing to me that I did know the couple but I am entitled to 2 guests and I enjoy helping people out where possible. If I ever see someone looking like they want to get into the lounge I will offer to guest them....

 

[Bundy Bear]

As I have already paid for Qantas Life Membership then I don't want the option to pay for membership on the odd occasion they want to use it.

 

[Grooba]

The lounges are already way too overcrowded for my liking, even the Domestic J lounges are a nightmare most of the time.

They are so bad that at times it's less crowded in the QP than the JL. =/

 

[russ]

You can't make bludgers pay to use the QP because then they wouldn't be bludgers! Q.E.D.

I've never understood the appeal of the QP - they are always crowded and jostling for the meagre food is not my idea of travelling. Most of the time I'd rather go to a cafe in the main part of the terminal, pay my money and get some service (ok, often terrible service, but at least there's a better selection of food.) So I voted for the last option on the basis that it will herd more people into the QP and make more space for me in the cafe!

 

[medhead]

I voted with the middle option.This doesn't mean that I think the general bludgers waiting at the bottom of the escalator should be able to pay for entry. But I do think their is a gap in the avalablility of guests for members.

I mostly travel alone and hence can't use my guest entitlement. But occassionally when travelling with family I'm technically over the guest limit. To me this is a good reason for some sort of guest pass system. But I would be happy to pay for my kids to enter the QP during the 1 or 2 times a year they are with me when flying. (SWMBO gets to be the guest)

 

[serfty]

No need for me to vote as an option indicating my thoughts is not available.

No-one has approached me for QP guesting in that manner going back 15 years; maybe munitialP looks a more inviting guy.:shock:

For me, if a QFF flying QF/JQ would be ok - $40 paid minimum per entry.

FWIW, AA charge USD50 for such a pass (day pass - can be used at any A/C on the day - and you still have to purchase "coughtails")

 

[tuapekastar]

I voted 'yes with a paid up QP member'. It was a toss-up between that and 'not at all'.

I would put a limit on how many 'paid' guests (one), as I know the QPs are so full already some of the time. But it would be nice if, as often happens with me, travelling with two people (as a non-WP) to be able to take them both in, provided one pays.

But I wouldn't be unhappy with the 'not at all' option either.

PS. I have been on on the receiving end...guest rules changed while I was OS with a couple of friends. When we left OZ, I was able to guest 2 into domestic QP (not that I did so as it was international flight) with the old guest passes, when we returned, connecting SYD-MEL no guest pass required, but could only take one in. As I was explaining this to my friends at SYD dom QP entrance a guy fronted, heard what I was saying to them and said "I'll take one in". Dragon asked him "friends of yours"? (she was not happy)...he just replied, deadpan, "Best mates"!

I'd have no real problems guesting in a stranger, but would have problems if someone simply asked me to do so.

 

[Bundy Bear]

No-one has approached me for QP guesting in that manner going back 15 years; maybe munitialP looks a more inviting guy.:shock:

So people you have previously met on the internet are ok in guesting in the Qantas business lounge.

 

[serfty]

... total strangers ...

... in that manner ...

B/B,

Hardly a pertinent comment!:-|

 

[munitalP]

No-one has approached me for QP guesting in that manner going back 15 years; maybe munitialP looks a more inviting guy.:shock:

Serfty, I distinctly remember my first... :shock:

She was hovering around the first door into WEL Koru club, saw me come along and turning toward the entrance asked me if I could take her into the lounge - she had a friend who was coming in on a flight etc...

Being the good kind hearted person I am, I did take her in but she is one of the few..

Another time that stands out was about 4 people at the bottom of the SYD QP long before the QP-J lounge existed - they asked me if I could comp one in as the dragon had turned them away due to numbers and only 1 QP membership. I did in this instance as well...

Maybe I am a more inviting guy! :shock:

Mr!

 

[stryker]

I must admit I'm over Qantas Clubs and their objectionable staff. I gave my membership away in 1998.

Since then I have discovered the Priority Pass, a much more useful membership IMHO. Try using your Qantas club pass in CMB or DXB or some such place.

So, chacun à son goût...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have to say i would be all for paid entry into Qantas Clubs provided the money was used to improve food, beverages and staff a little bit more cleaning at peak hours would be nice! (ie the money didn't go in QF coffers but went to the club)

If 50 people paid $35 or $40 each, by the time you take out $10 for their food and alcohol on the day it does leave a bit left over for some nice food for the rest of us!

I agree that the lounges as they are are too crowded at certain times - I wish they would follow the example of the AA domestic clubs where you can go grab a coffee in a takeaway container and off you go!

mel-t

 

[Warks]

Yes if outside of peek hours...

Are those the hours when they are standing on the outside looking in?:mrgreen: