Platinum "anytime" lounge Access ceases from 1 February 2011

[vt01]

I found anytime access good because it allowed me to at least use a business class lounge when flying on non-oneworld carriers. This did not happen very often. Because company policy is cheapest fare of the day, this is beginning to happen a little more. With anytime access, this was not too much of a concern. Now that anytime access is going away and I do not have any status with any other airlines, I will lose that benefit. The result for me is to look harder and book at times when the QF flight is the cheapest.
IMHO, this enhancement by QF is a to try and get every last dollar of revenue out of their existing customers. Which of course in business is the easiest money to make rather than find new customers. In my case this will work. For instance, to go to KL, I can travel on QF via Singapore cheaper than flying MAS direct. I have friends in Singapore so I travel this way. It's longer, I am away for one extra day but I do get a daytime flight home from Singapore on QF32.
Of course I am against the 'enhancement' and disappointed in another benefit being removed. But I don't think it is seen as eroding loyalty from the QF side. I think it's just increasing revenue.
Cheers

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Hey Simon..... I do not think that is the main issue... I am thinking that for MOST (and certainly in my case) it is the dilution of benefits which is causing so much concern.

Benefits come and go: J lounges didn't exist before. The Syd F lounge was pretty poor before.

In an industry were prices and margins are constantly being squeezed, and that is extremely capital intensive, I think it's naive to think that (with an influx of people paying ever lower prices) that benefits can stay how they are.

Benefits will continue to be eroded unless people are prepared to pay more.

 

[JohnK]

I don't feel this is worthy of a new thread but there appears to be further erosion of "unpublished" Platinum benefits.

I went to the SYD First Class check-in yesterday and checked in a suitcase and golf clubs travelling SYD-SIN in economy. Everytime I have used the First Class check-in the porter has come around and taken the golf clubs to the oversize baggage counter. This time around the check-in agent informed me to take the golf clubs down oversize baggage with is past check-in row A.

I am not complaining but it is a fair walk from check-in row D down to check-in row A and it takes you away from entry to customs so you have to walk back again past check-in row D.

Has anyone else had this experience or did I get them on a bad day?

 

[simongr]

Traveling with mrssimongr and babgr last November I was told to take the stroller to oversize but then the check in staff saw the pained look on my face and took it for me. My view was that this was a one off rather than a regular thing.

 

[Amberlower]

To kpc
Not exactly on topic, but amazingly, I just saw your avatar on another site a few minutes ago - a cruise site - and was really taken by it - the Copacabana hotel in Rio - right?
Surprised I didn't recognise it as I stayed there last June.

On the right note - I wondered if the First Class Lounge changes also apply to Chairman's Lounge members?

 

[Amberlower]

Just received an email from QF re a Qantas "enhancement":shock::evil:

Changes to Qantas Lounge access

From 1 February 2011, Platinum members must be travelling on a Qantas, Jetstar or oneworld® flight to access any Qantas Domestic or International lounges

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Platinum Benefits

To kpc
Not exactly on topic, but amazingly, I just saw your avatar on another site a few minutes ago - a cruise site - and was really taken by it - the Copacabana hotel in Rio - right?
Surprised I didn't recognise it as I stayed there last June.

On the right note - I wondered if the First Class Lounge changes also apply to Chairman's Lounge members?​

 

[Princess Fiona]

To kpc


On the right note - I wondered if the First Class Lounge changes also apply to Chairman's Lounge members?

What changes?

 

[el_rooto]

What changes?

There are none.

 

[samh004]

On the right note - I wondered if the First Class Lounge changes also apply to Chairman's Lounge members?​

Jury is still out on that one as we don’t have any direct word from any CL members, but I think their access would stay the same as they’re almost not a part of the frequent flyer program, they’re sort of an extension, something different.

 

[markis10]

There are none.

There are changes:

+ From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply. See Qantas Club Terms and Conditions.

For a change its good, previously 3K travel would not allow access to F in SIN.

 

[el_rooto]

There are changes:

+ From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply. See Qantas Club Terms and Conditions.

For a change its good, previously 3K travel would not allow access to F in SIN.

Ah fantastic, makes flying 3k and vf more attractive in Asia. I would call vf and 3k access to the f lounge an enhancement.

However, still upset about loosing anytime access to the qp.

 

[markis10]

At least they removed the word onward, so arrivals lounge refresh is possible. Again very handy in SIN.

 

[kpc]

To kpc
Not exactly on topic, but amazingly, I just saw your avatar on another site a few minutes ago - a cruise site - and was really taken by it - the Copacabana hotel in Rio - right?
Surprised I didn't recognise it as I stayed there last June.


​

Yup...it is the Copacabana Hotel in Rio; well spotted....only hotel I have stayed where Royalty (Queen, I think) had previously stayed. Obviously, I was in the "cheaper" room....

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I don't feel this is worthy of a new thread but there appears to be further erosion of "unpublished" Platinum benefits.

I went to the SYD First Class check-in yesterday and checked in a suitcase and golf clubs travelling SYD-SIN in economy. Everytime I have used the First Class check-in the porter has come around and taken the golf clubs to the oversize baggage counter. This time around the check-in agent informed me to take the golf clubs down oversize baggage with is past check-in row A.

I am not complaining but it is a fair walk from check-in row D down to check-in row A and it takes you away from entry to customs so you have to walk back again past check-in row D.

Has anyone else had this experience or did I get them on a bad day?

Hi,

I fly SYD-SIN every 4 weeks or so, either in Y+ or J (sometimes F if I can get an upgrade). Each time I travel I check in 6 or 12 bottles of wine (which then needs to go to the oversize baggage area you mention). Most times (probably 6/7 times out of 10) I need to take the wine over myself. The rest of the time the porter will take it.

Without fail, on an F ticket, they'll call the porter to come over. On Y+/J tickets it's pot luck. It probably depends a lot on the checkin agent, and what the porters are doing, and how busy they are.

 

[djfuzz]

At least they removed the word onward, so arrivals lounge refresh is possible. Again very handy in SIN.

FWIW, the printed 'Platinum Benefits' document I got with my Q tags still has the word 'onward'.

I'll take it in good faith that Red Roo's posts and the update on the website are the more accurate statement of the current position.

 

[samh004]

FWIW, the printed 'Platinum Benefits' document I got with my Q tags still has the word 'onward'.

I'll take it in good faith that Red Roo's posts and the update on the website are the more accurate statement of the current position.

Goes to show they’ve been stockpiling things for a while, just waiting to start sending them out.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

+ From 1 February 2011, to access Qantas Domestic or International lounges, Platinum members must be travelling the same day on a flight that shows a Qantas (QF), a Jetstar Airline (Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) or Valuair (VF)) or a oneworld® flight number on your ticket. Other lounge access conditions apply. See Qantas Club Terms and Conditions.

This also means when you're flying on a Qantas classic award with Air Pacific or Air Vanuatu you won't have access to any lounge if not on the QF flight number...

 

[samh004]

This also means when you're flying on a Qantas classic award with Air Pacific or Air Vanuatu you won't have access to any lounge if not on the QF flight number...

Unless you count "Other lounge access conditions apply" as being where a partner airline flight would receive access?

 

[markis10]

This also means when you're flying on a Qantas classic award with Air Pacific or Air Vanuatu you won't have access to any lounge if not on the QF flight number...

Correct, no access with a partner airline which also includes China Eastern, Air Nugini, South African and SAS.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Unless you count "Other lounge access conditions apply" as being where a partner airline flight would receive access?

unsure... we know it currently doesn't permit you FLounge access...would J lounges be any different?