Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[medhead]

Anytime access to the lounges is illogical and the screams of rage are quite frankly risible. If you want to use the Qantas lounges then fly with them, or is that too much to ask of the Precious Platinums?

I suppose your right. I mean I will only fly Qantas 85 times this year. Why, the hell should I be able to walk into the Qantas lounge in CBR just after getting off my flight to use the window to note down the aircraft rego? Oh, whoops, but I did fly qantas, so exactly how is it illogical for me, a supposedly most valued important customer, to use the lounge after I get off my flight. I'd done as you suggest and flown with qantas?

The $64 question will be how many of the airports will not have a QC check-in?

All of them.

 

[drewbles]

Anytime access to the lounges is illogical and the screams of rage are quite frankly risible. If you want to use the Qantas lounges then fly with them, or is that too much to ask of the Precious Platinums?

We've done the hard yards and it's a benefit bestowed upon us. If you're jealous, we can't help that

Of far more concern to many and a real benefit withdrawal is the new rule that QC members can only use priority check-in domestically where there is a dedicated QC lane. The $64 question will be how many of the airports will not have a QC check-in? Will it be consistent or a lottery depending on the whims of local management?

I dare say you'll find they'll go. They were all integrated into the PS/SG line a while ago anyway (I don't recall any airport apart from SYD INT that has a dedicated QP line anymore but am happy to be corrected, I know PER didn't last time I was a QP PS). They're obviously pushing towards the NGCI as the only way to go for PS/QP. Don't like it? fly more

Turning up to an airport with family and bags and then spending an hour in a queue rather than in the lounge would be a real bummer. Fortunately this will probably not impact me at all because ....

• At the moment I am Gold status
• When travelling alone I always have carry-on only and normally print my own boarding pass before arriving at the airport
• If I haven't used on-line check-in I can always do it in the lounge
• When travelling with the family it is always international

So the best thing for Qantas to do would be to spell out which domestic terminals will have a dedicated QC check-in and which will not, as forewarned is forarmed as they say.

So you're gold and you're complaining. Are you planning on dropping back to QP PS?

Sorry but I don't see your point as being particularly well thought out. QF offered a benefit to people who are WP. They're now removing it. It is one of the few differentiations between SG and WP on Domestic travel. The only real benefit now is 50% more points, and larger luggage allowances, which as mentioned, SG's and WP will tend to travel as light as possible to speed through the terminals.

 

[QF WP]

Thanks to a member who posted on FB, I have come across this little piece of QF Marketing "spin".

What a joke - its not like platinum members are going to the lounges to have a good time on their weekends!

I, well, used to do this with various other members, both here and on FT

I'll have to think about folding the AGM back into the pre-change party. The last one as well. Will have to let the QP Manager know...

 

[pauly7]

Mmmmm tough one!

- Can see the rationale behind the decision, always thought it was over the top benefit for them to offer

- Never use the benefit myself - don't need for multiple reasons, so personally I don't really care that much

- A little bit annoyed something has been taken away (weird because it means nothing to me!)

- But I'm more happy with the PG change to any friend/family - so thats keeping in an ok mood in general!!

So - not too fussed really.

 

[nlagalle]

I'm still a SG, but will be WP by the end of the year..

two things I see that would affect me:

Can't use the lounge on arrival - that would be a big plus sometimes.

Can't use the lounge if I am taking someone to the airport.

As I live in MEL, I don't see myself going to the airport for a drink for the hell of it!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Thanks to a member who posted on FB, I have come across this little piece of QF Marketing "spin".


I, well, used to do this with various other members, both here and on FT

I'll have to think about folding the AGM back into the pre-change party. The last one as well. Will have to let the QP Manager know...

It's not financially viable to go drive and chill in the lounge for kicks when parking is $15/hr

 

[Aussie_flyer]

It's not financially viable to go drive and chill in the lounge for kicks when parking is $15/hr

you don't have to drive, take a bus, train, taxi, friend drop off? if you're drinking you shouldn't be driving anyway!

 

[markis10]

I dont see anything as being free when you have to go through security checks to get it, even with express lanes, throw in the cost of transport be it car/bus/train then you have a pretty expensive cover charge before you walk through the door.

 

[anat0l]

- Can see the rationale behind the decision, always thought it was over the top benefit for them to offer

FWIW QF is not the only one to have an "open doors" policy for its highest elites. Other programs appeared to have had it before, some are now gone.

I believe BA still has its "open doors" policy, although for a long time the rule has been no guests at all allowed under "open doors".

 

[samh004]

I'm still a SG, but will be WP by the end of the year..

two things I see that would affect me:

Can't use the lounge on arrival - that would be a big plus sometimes.

Can't use the lounge if I am taking someone to the airport.

As I live in MEL, I don't see myself going to the airport for a drink for the hell of it!

I would have thought that changing the WP anytime access to departure/arrival use would have been a better enhancement, certainly one that would make sense and keep WP’s happy, but removing that access altogether is a bit cough.

 

[markis10]

I would have thought that changing the WP anytime access to departure/arrival use would have been a better enhancement, certainly one that would make sense and keep WP’s happy, but removing that access altogether is a bit cough.

I would not have an issue if it was "WP or guest must be flying QF on the day", a good point Sam.

 

[dajop]

FWIW QF is not the only one to have an "open doors" policy for its highest elites. Other programs appeared to have had it before, some are now gone.

SQ used to have such a policy for PPS members (well, obviously with SQ you had to be flying to access the lounge), but dropped it about 2-3 years ago.

 

[MatF]

I would have thought that changing the WP anytime access to departure/arrival use would have been a better enhancement, certainly one that would make sense and keep WP’s happy, but removing that access altogether is a bit cough.

I agree.

I don't use it on days when I'm not flying, but after a long flight it's a huge benefit to be able to freshen up in the QP, particularly after a redeye.

I would have been happy enough with that.

 

[PineappleSkip]

The removal of these benefits (and the more general erosion of top-tier benefits, such as dilution of preference to exit row seats when QF commenced pricing them) appears to me to be a strategic miscalculation on the part of QF. There is another thread current questioning what is happening with QF management, this is another reason to question that.

The whole point of loyalty programs from the perspective of the provider is to gain customer loyalty, and particularly that of the high yield customers and those who spend most on the product they are competing for. By removing top tier benefits - the revised WP has negligible value to me over SG - you dilute the incentive to keep flying to requalify. Instead, by quickly requallifying for the tier with the highest marginal value, you maximise opportunities to fly with someone else to qualify with them as well (*G and Velocity the obvious ones) and retain some flexibility.

In my case most of my travel is on PX metal between POM and AUS, where I could buy a QF or PX ticket. I also have some domestic AUS and PNG travel and a couple of leisure trips elsewhere in the world, usually in Y+ if long haul. I've renewed my PX executive gold membership. I've requalified for SG and would have come close to WP this year.

This possibility of acquiring WP this year would have kept me ticketing on QF. However there really seems no point any more, as PX gold membership and ticketing gets me access to better seats than I can get with QF, and flights out of CNS at better times (e.g. after 0540:shock. I also have my next leisure trip coming up, and rather than fly QF again, would look at the options for using other airlines whose J costs little more than QF Y+.

So that's one more traveller who will probably send quite a lot fewer $$$ QF's way.

I think letters to QF might have more impact if you actually specify in your letter why you will go elsewhere - many would have common sense rationales of their own - and how much money you're likely to take there, so it might be a bit clearer to the bean counters who came up with this change why they might want to put a few more columns in their spreadsheets and recount their beans.

I've also seen the receiving end of letter writing campaigns, and I think they would work better if the letters were personalised. If they're all the same, they will be read once, piled up and counted. If the letters have a significant element of uniqueness, while retaining some commonality of message, they all need to be read.

Cheers skip

 

[serfty]

A have an Annual MyKi - I can use it (and have) to commute to/from MEL airport for no additional charge, but always for a flight.

There's some guys I used to work with in Pitt St who used to have regular evening meetings in the "Botany Office".

 

[nlagalle]

I would have thought that changing the WP anytime access to departure/arrival use would have been a better enhancement, certainly one that would make sense and keep WP’s happy, but removing that access altogether is a bit cough.

Same.. although on closer reading on the terms it doesn't specify before the flight, only says you must be flying. So perhaps arriving it's ok?

 

[serfty]

I believe there is the word departing in there somewhere.

[EDIT]
Actually, the word is onward:

+ From 1 February 2011, Platinum members must be travelling on a Qantas, Jetstar or oneworld® flight to access any Qantas Domestic or International lounges. Access is available when travelling onward that day on a flight with a QF, JQ or oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply.

[/EDIT}

 

[oz_mark]

I believe there is the word departing in there somewhere.

It's "onward that day"

 

[medhead]

The + footnote to the lounge access table says "access is available when traveling onward that day......."

 

[ivanhoe]

I think that about sums it up perfectly.

As a new Gold, some of the changes, although not major at a gold level, are disappointing. I certainly wont be aiming for WP as it just doesnt seem that great any more.

The WP benefits changes strike me as a way of upsetting some of the most valuable customers.

Again I am further questioning my loyalty to Qantas. If Virgin can complete their transformation to a decent competitor product (global options, J class and availability of upgrades, lounge access, food etc), then i'm prepared to move. They are certainly getting there, Qantas are making the changes in advance of that, and will only reinstate them if it starts costing them business. Unfrotunately so far, it seems very few of the top end travellers have been prepared to switch (at least domestically), in which case QF can just do whatever they like with the benefits (as long as they meet Oneworld commitments).


My thoughts, also negative, on changes to Silver/Gold, plus all the other changes to allowances etc, I should post in another thread, but basically they just further devalue Qantas in my eyes as a "premium" airline.

This is what you get when you put someone who is an LCC aficionado at heart in charge of a premium airline - gradual erosion of loyalty benefits and increased/new charges introduced as 'program enhancements'. I'm sure we'll see more of these 'enhancements' down the track, unfortunately... not a wise move, IMHO.

Somewhat ironic that the person who really has the Qantas blood in his veins (Borghetti) is now running the former LCC (Virgin Blue) and is looking to improve (rather than degrade) the experience for loyal frequent travelers. I look forward to the inflection point (which admittedly may still be a while off), when the DJ total package trumps QF...

Memories of Virgin Atlantic versus BA in the early days...