MEL QC and J lounge getting much needed overhaul!

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: QF in relation to ADL, they probably will have something big when the airport gets redeveloped, if you believe the map thats sitting on the wall by the solitary guard that prevents people from getting into the domestic secure zone without being xrayed.
Or that Youtube hype where they say ADL will be changed into something big.
Sad to hear about the QFd MEL QP changes though.
That place was like a 2nd dog box home to me on my travels.
So, what will the QFd MEL QP be like, something like the dungeon ie QFi MEL J lounge?

 

[levelnine]

A comment from a well-known leaker on AusBT:

Spot-on reporting AusBT, you guys have great sources. I will add this, the approximate capacity for the new business lounge is 290 up from 230 now, for the new Qantas Club it's 440 down from about 520 now.

So the Qantas Club is going to experience approximately a 15% reduction in seating capacity. That truly is disgusting news for Gold MEL-based FF members (as well as Qantas Club members, of course).

 

[mviy]

And a net approx reduction in seating capacity of 20 persons combined. I would have thought a refurbishment should have lead to an increase in combined seating capacity not a reduction.

 

[RichardMEL]

Several comments from this peanut (gallery):

ADL: The QC there is atually pretty nice. I rate it above most other QC's in locations without other options.. so I'm talking OOL, CNS, HBA, DRW etc.
I suspect the post-immigration issue is both space related, and cost/demand related. Even when there was QF81 to SIN, and the odd seasonal adventure to AKL, and even with the partners, short of ADL opening a "Premium lounge" for all the airlines to basically pay for, there prob isn't the demand vs the cost to operate one, and really given the size of the situation it doesn't take too long to get through immigration and go board. I mean OOL has the same issue. I really like the ADL QP as there's usually ample seating, the bar staff are brilliant (I hope the lass from Glasgow is still there ) and the food offerings, while standard QP fare in the main, have some little extras I've seen over the time, plus the crew coming around with the odd snack or drink service I find pretty good. Sure it's no international F lounge, but it's not a tiny box in the corner with a few tea bags and prepackaged biccies.

As for MEL Domestic - I'm a bit curious as to why they can't extend along where the current CL is, over that walkway over to gates 21+ - it's probably a cost or design or maybe building issue but imagine if they could say bring the current QC area back to a QC only, extend the area to the right to be a J lounge (and still have a CL there, or someplace else) and everyone would win. Of course this stuff is hardly cheap and there are probably a million reasons why this couldn't happen from a technical point of view but it is a thought I've had. It may even be related to the terminal lease agreement.

At peak times when I have been in the MEL lounge I've sometimes found the J lounge even MOIRE packed than the QC (I've gone to the nice big QC bar at times for a drink) and maybe this strategy reflects that to an extent. Not that the QC isn't busy - of course it is, but it's clear that the capacity simply is not nearly enough as is so any increase could help.

At least it's a step in the right direction (mostly, given the reduction for QC space).

I also like the noodle station idea. I think it is a good theme for Melbourne and could work pretty well if it's done right. Being able to get some fresh Pho or a quick stir fry of some sort could really work (if you can get a seat )

 

[Danger]

We have

And we is . . .?

WP and above who like to upgrade to F on MEL-LHR are big losers from the scrapping of A380 flights to LHR. Some benefits that were previously for WP have been removed and are now just for P1. SG and WP in MEL are both hurting from changes.

What WP benefits have been removed and now only available to P1 and CL?

 

[Matt_01]

FWIW one of the QF staff in ADL informed me a while back that QF either owns or has rights to (I can not remember which one) an upstairs area in ADL airport that could be used for an airside lounge however have chosen not to build one. Not sure how much space or location but maybe QF with the help of the OW carriers could CX,MH,QR build a lounge. They could also extend the lounge offering other QF partners such as FJ and CZ, I think they have either started or will start flying out of ADL, I am not sure as I do not fly internationally out of ADL.

SQ has there own lounge and for most of the year they only fly out daily and sometimes x2 seasonally. Not even sure if NZ flights get to use the lounge

 

[DavidFlynn]

And we is . . .?

Australian Business Traveller.

 

[mviy]

What WP benefits have been removed and now only available to P1 and CL?

Lots: To name a few: anytime lounge access, free exit row selection for domestic flights, selecting F cabin seats months out for seasonal A380 flights from SYD to HKG etc. Special treatment in international QF lounges is just for P1/CL (no champagne for WP in SIN, HKG QF lounges for example, yet would get champagne if there was a QF FLounge).

 

[Danger]

Australian Business Traveller.

I find it odd that you post on AFF as a representative of Australian Business Traveller but you're apparently not an "Official company representative".

Lots: To name a few: anytime lounge access, free exit row selection for domestic flights, selecting F cabin seats months out for seasonal A380 flights from SYD to HKG etc. Special treatment in international QF lounges is just for P1/CL (no champagne for WP in SIN, HKG QF lounges for example, yet would get champagne if there was a QF FLounge).

Anytime access has been lost for everyone, not just WP.

I was of the understanding that selecting seats in the F cabin on flights where J is the highest cabin sold is still possible for WP passengers.

Special treatment (like shoe shines) were never afforded to WP passengers so that's not been lost.

 

[RichardMEL]

Lots: To name a few: anytime lounge access, free exit row selection for domestic flights, selecting F cabin seats months out for seasonal A380 flights from SYD to HKG etc. Special treatment in international QF lounges is just for P1/CL (no champagne for WP in SIN, HKG QF lounges for example, yet would get champagne if there was a QF FLounge).

OT but IIRC Plat's never got "special lounge treatment" like the bubbles in HKG/SIN.

I'd also say "Anytime Access" is not strictly true for P1.. at least not as published. Now yes, in practice, P1 can use lounges on arrival and I've only had to show my card to enter lounges in MEL and BNE in the past, but technically I need to be flying and if they scanned and found no flight I am certain I would probably be refused, but I've not been scanned. So I suppose it is defacto anytime access, but that's more how it works out, than what the policy says (IIRC).

I can't speak to CL perks in terms of anytime access(I suspect they do, but nfi) though.


and while I perosnally disagree with the charging for exit rows for status pax, and the "special lounge treatment"(eg: bubbles) for P1/Cl (if they have bubbles, just offer to all, or offer to none imho) I also feel it's fair enough to have some things that still make the higher status actually mean something in a practical sense. If we fly all those flights to get the status, shouldn't it actually have things above WP?

or if you like just put it this way: "Platinum is the new Gold"

 

[DavidFlynn]

I find it odd that you post on AFF as a representative of Australian Business Traveller but you're apparently not an "Official company representative".

That's a fair observation. I've never asked, it's never been offered, but it doesn't bother me much one way or the other to be honest.

 

[DavidFlynn]

I can't speak to CL perks in terms of anytime access(I suspect they do, but nfi) though

CL includes access to the international F lounge regardless of which airline they're flying with.

 

[muppet]

I'll repeat the comments I made on the AusBT article:

Loss of natural light and fewer seats for the Qantas Club. A massive loss for MEL-based Gold FF members.


Add on to that the windowless International Business Lounge and fewer J seats available for MEL-LHR upgrades (with the A380 becoming the 787), which arguably impacts Gold FF members the most (ie more likely to lose the ability to secure an upgrade than Platinums).


In sum, Qantas has firmly extended its middle finger towards Gold FF MEL-based members.

Small price to pay so we don't have to interact with the SG and QP types.

n.b. current QP PS but back to WP by month's end.... very stressful times.

 

[muppet]

<snip>

I'd also say "Anytime Access" is not strictly true for P1.. at least not as published. Now yes, in practice, P1 can use lounges on arrival and I've only had to show my card to enter lounges in MEL and BNE in the past, but technically I need to be flying and if they scanned and found no flight I am certain I would probably be refused, but I've not been scanned. So I suppose it is defacto anytime access, but that's more how it works out, than what the policy says (IIRC).

</snip>

WP cannot access the J lounge on arrival anymore? .... GASP .... I just added about $1k to my current trip to guarantee WP after a year as SG.... should have been following things better.

 

[Happy Trails]

WP cannot access the J lounge on arrival anymore? .... GASP .... I just added about $1k to my current trip to guarantee WP after a year as SG.... should have been following things better.

Nothing's changed, still a platinum benefit.

 

[kermatu]

According to CL colleagues / acquaintances they can access any lounge any time domestically, flying with QF or not.

 

[mviy]

WP cannot access the J lounge on arrival anymore?

No anytime access was access even if you're not flying on that day, a very different thing to arrivals access. Years ago, I believe WP could access the lounge even if not flying on that day.

 

[kermatu]

And a net approx reduction in seating capacity of 20 persons combined. I would have thought a refurbishment should have lead to an increase in combined seating capacity not a reduction.

On the one hand, given how condensed the seats in the J lounge are I'm not too surprised that overall capacity is unchanged. But there does seem a lot of wasted space in the QC so it would be a shame if there is a net reduction overall.

 

[serfty]

OT but IIRC Plat's never got "special lounge treatment" like the bubbles in HKG/SIN....

Where there's an F lounge, WP have access to "bubbles".

WP used to have access to these "bubbles" in SIN, HKG & BNE - that's gone. They will soon lose this access in AKL.

 

[bsb]

As a Melbourne based QFF, I think we should all be focusing on the REAL priority of any lounge refurbishment in this city and that is training the baristas to make better coffee. How can we be expected to fly from this city and continue to have to endure the Gloria Jean-esque experience we currently face in the QF J lounge. We all must rise up and march on this matter, for our city's reputation is at stake. One must have priorities.