Qantas Club MEL

[love_the_life]

I was in Melbourne QC last night for a over an hour as my flight was delayed and despite having a flex ticket I couldnt get on an earlier flight. They didn't appear to be enforcing the no guest restriction as there were lots of kids in the QC and I doubt those kids hold QC membership in their own right or are gold - so must have been guests of parents.

I always need to allow more time in Melbourne than in Sydney to get from the QC to the gate, as Melbourne is much more spread out i.e. no gate is opposite the lounge whereas in Sydney often the gate is directly opposite.

If it was children, they are not counted as guests in QC if under 18 IIRC.

 

[Pushka]

If it was children, they are not counted as guests in QC if under 18 IIRC.

I’m which case the lounge will be bedlam for the rest of April with school holidays. That explains why my last J lounge visit was packed. Kids everywhere. Keep ‘em at school I say

 

[RichardMEL]

It does seem to make a mockery of the guest access policy during construction if a QC member can take 3 kids in. I guess QF is in a bind in this dept.

 

[mrsterryn]

Does Melbourne only have one lounge ?
Or are all lounges being redesigned?
Going for the first time in some years in a couple of weeks

 

[Pushka]

Does Melbourne only have one lounge ?
Or are all lounges being redesigned?
Going for the first time in some years in a couple of weeks

It’s basically one large lounge with a sectioned off part for J lounge. But considerably smaller currently. The entrance is downstairs which is where the grab n go will be. Except dashing in to get coffee etc whilst carrying luggage isn’t really helpful for many.

 

[jase05]

I’m which case the lounge will be bedlam for the rest of April with school holidays. That explains why my last J lounge visit was packed. Kids everywhere. Keep ‘em at school I say

Seperate areas for families should be a must. I’d pay whatever it costs to use a kid free lounge

 

[mannej]

Mentioning kids is a ticking time bomb...

 

[Pushka]

Mentioning kids is a ticking time bomb...

Well, we did have kids but was always aware of the impact of their presence on other guests. We felt it a privilege to use the lounge and we supervised them at the meal counter and made sure they kept quiet. Things have changed and (some) parents do not give a rats about anyone else and let their kids run rampant. Singapore is particularly bad. But MelJ lounge a couple of weeks ago was dreadful.

 

[jase05]

Well, we did have kids but was always aware of the impact of their presence on other guests. We felt it a privilege to use the lounge and we supervised them at the meal counter and made sure they kept quiet. Things have changed and (some) parents do not give a rats about anyone else and let their kids run rampant. Singapore is particularly bad. But MelJ lounge a couple of weeks ago was dreadful.

Likewise with our son. Don’t know if it’s because I’m getting grumpier with age or not but it seems many more parents now allow their kids run riot. Last week in the VA lounge at MEL there was a fair little brat running amok and his parents were laughing thinking it’s a great hoot.

 

[Pushka]

Likewise with our son. Don’t know if it’s because I’m getting grumpier with age or not but it seems many more parents now allow their kids run riot. Last week in the VA lounge at MEL there was a fair little brat running amok and his parents were laughing thinking it’s a great hoot.

Yeah. I think some parents think that everyone adores their brats antics like they do.

 

[Shark bait]

Seperate areas for families should be a must. I’d pay whatever it costs to use a kid free lounge

I do agree if there were seperate areas for families (eg closed off rooms to minimise noise to other guests - AA admirals lounges have these sort of rooms) we would definitely use them. QP, Business and Flounges.

With our 3 year old we are very mindful of his behaviour in the lounges and containment.

BUT until they have separate areas for families, our son currently has every right as a WP to be in any lounge (gosh he can even invite his own buddies as guests ) hope I’m not upsetting anybody

 

[mrsterryn]

BUT until they have separate areas for families, our son currently has every right as a WP to be in any lounge (gosh he can even invite his own buddies as guests ) hope I’m not upsetting anybody

One day when I get grandchildren I do hope they are WP by 3

 

[love_the_life]

I do agree if there were seperate areas for families (eg closed off rooms to minimise noise to other guests - AA admirals lounges have these sort of rooms) we would definitely use them. QP, Business and Flounges.

With our 3 year old we are very mindful of his behaviour in the lounges and containment.

BUT until they have separate areas for families, our son currently has every right as a WP to be in any lounge (gosh he can even invite his own buddies as guests ) hope I’m not upsetting anybody

Not to disagree with you, following on from some discussion on another thread, with your son being under 18 only has the right to be in the lounge if accompanied by a responsible adult.

 

[Shark bait]

Not to disagree with you, following on from some discussion on another thread, with your son being under 18 only has the right to be in the lounge if accompanied by a responsible adult.

Yes I do understand that, but the point I was making (though probably not clear) is that he’s not a ‘guest’ in the lounge and is in the lounge on his status.

 

[Matt_01]

I have no issue with kids in lounges, MissM has been in and out of lounges since infantancy and has better lounge behaviour than some adults.

 

[love_the_life]

Yes I do understand that, but the point I was making (though probably not clear) is that he’s not a ‘guest’ in the lounge and is in the lounge on his status.

Agree that his status would allow him entry just that his age if unaccompanied does not (for quite a few years). No issues with kids in lounges as long as they do not detract from the experience of other members. I do know that some adults’ behaviour detracts though.

 

[Shark bait]

Agree that his status would allow him entry just that his age if unaccompanied does not (for quite a few years). No issues with kids in lounges as long as they do not detract from the experience of other members. I do know that some adults’ behaviour detracts though.

It’s part of his learning experience. He is generally well behaved on the plane and in the lounges. We always get the look of disgust though by at least one patron when we enter the business lounge, even though he is well behaved. Can’t say much though of the people shouting on their mobile phones in the lounge.

 

[Pushka]

Yes I do understand that, but the point I was making (though probably not clear) is that he’s not a ‘guest’ in the lounge and is in the lounge on his status.

How did your child make WP? That is pretty impressive.

 

[Matt_01]

How did your child make WP? That is pretty impressive.

I would suggest parents enrolled their son in the QFF program then just added number to travels with parents, that is what we did.

A bit OT, MissM has already started accumulating lifetime SCs. She almost hit WP at 4 but fell short and spent a couple of years at SG but has now dropped back to NB. As she is a little older I now get questioned on why she can not have the Comp WP from QF and was also a bit indignant that I gave away the companion VA SG on this site.

I think she will be in for a rude shock as she gets older and starts to travel either by herself or with friends and dad is no longer paying either by cash or points for J and F travel. Kids with SG or higher status are more common than most would suspect.

 

[Shark bait]

How did your child make WP? That is pretty impressive.

Matt_01 is correct. Enrolled him with QFF when he turned 2. A few family OS trips last year in J, and we are all WPs. The status has definitely helped us in cancelled flights and automatic rebookings. Plus with the lottery of points upgrades, the status of all 3 of us has helped with the upgrades .

On topic, to have the choice of QP or J lounge is a bonus depending on how crowded each lounge is. With the current renovations of the lounge in Melbourne, the domestic J lounge (small as it is) can get quite crowded. Vice versa QP can be busy if they allow guests, then the option to use J lounge is a bonus. All of us being WPs, we will unlikely ever be turned away (touch wood) . The bonus of being able to head to the lounge on arrival and get a takeaway coffee before heading to the baggage collection is a godsend too.