No More International Lounge Access on Jetstar Flights (except QF codeshare/JQ business max)

[shuuy]

I think it's interesting they have allowed P1 but not Platinum. Increasingly I am not finding much difference between Gold and Platinum and not really missing it as much as I thought I would when I dropped back to Gold.

The biggest Platinum vs Gold difference - ability to use points to book at Classic levels

 

[transpactraveller]

The biggest Platinum vs Gold difference - ability to use points to book at Classic levels

I never had much luck finding any International Classic Rewards as a Platinum, I don't even bother trying as a Gold. I was successful with a few last minute upgrades over the years though.

 

[justinbrett]

Plenty of routes don't actually have them. This change is telling people to go book something that in a lot of cases doesn't exist.

I’m almost certain every single JQ flight has a corresponding QF codeshare - including all domestic flights.

The issue is many, including most (all?) domestic flights don’t have inventory.

 

[dairyfloss]

I never had much luck finding any International Classic Rewards as a Platinum, I don't even bother trying as a Gold. I was successful with a few last minute upgrades over the years though.

The reference is to being able to call up and request reward seats to be released, which is an unpublished benefit and can only be done at WP and above tiers. There's no known difference to what you'll find when searching online.

 

[drron]

For me fortunately I now have very little need for my LTQP as if an international flight we fly J and rarely on QF.
For domestic Mrsdrron is LTQ. As well usually use VA on domestic flights as much easier to redeem awards for flights we want to do..

So this change does p*** me off a little but realistically now much cheaper to get flights with no lounge access on JQ. Quite content to slum it in the terminal.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Likewise LAX, LHR and SIN have designated areas for actual F pax

Unless they've changed things lately, the dining tables on the right of the LAX F lounge are strictly P1 and CL only, which puts LA at odds with the other F lounges. Was told I couldn't sit there last time flying QF F to SYD, even after showing the boarding pass with "First" across the top. Lol.

 

[henrus]

Unless they've changed things lately, the dining tables on the right of the LAX F lounge are strictly P1 and CL only, which puts LA at odds with the other F lounges. Was told I couldn't sit there last time flying QF F to SYD, even after showing the boarding pass with "First" across the top. Lol.

Flew F to MEL in April last year as WP and was escorted from the front door to a reserved table on the right.

 

[arrow]

Flew F to MEL in April last year as WP and was escorted from the front door to a reserved table on the right.

Yes the tables to the right are for F / P1 / CL - note that even P1 / CL traveling on the AA flight to Syd as a Qantas codeshare have been refused to sit in that area - which is quite odd.

 

[nick.wall]

For all the comments that say QF and JQ are completely different product and business, with different standards, normally I would agree. I never complained about VA and TT not sharing VFF benefits.
The difference here is when it suits QF they publicly talk about how they are the one group and can share routes. The big announcement QF did in 2024 about 220,000 more seats and new routes they added combined JQ and QF numbers. QF hand off whole routes to JQ (like ICN) and act like to the customer it isn't much of a change. QF want their cake and eat it too. Either they are completely different businesses which don't cross over in the eyes of the customer, or they do. They rightly deserve the ire from us over the removal of JQ lounge access.

While I don't want to give them ideas, id rather they drop lounge access on Dom JQ services and retain on Int JQ services. Most Dom locations do have JQ and QF options, where there aren't JQ and QF options on the same international route in many destinations.

Agree with this sentiment!

While I've only ever accessed on a Biz Max fare for JQi which wouldn't be impacted, this does leave a bad taste. It's feels like yet another cut in what seems to be never ending cuts and slipping service levels.

The loyalty program might be called QFF although realistically they've used it across both brands to keep 'spend in group' for many years while leveraging both brands to optimise their group international operations. In that context in my view such drastic changes with a few months notice when status is for 12 months really isn't in the spirit of things. Although expecting them to act in the spirit of things is probably the mistake there.

I'd be more understanding if they took a more nuanced approach.

It seems more reasonable to look to exclude starter fares for instance. I've always taken the Max Bundle on JQ to be "paying extra for (most of) the loyalty program to apply" so a middle ground might have been keeping the F lounge out of bounds and then limiting status based lounge access to requiring all of status + the max bundle + Club Jetstar Qantas Frequent Flyer Extras package. They extras package is already named perfectly for such a scenario!