Qantas Club Nadi

[TonyD]

Does anybody know when the "rules" changed in Nadi?
Apparently the lounge is now fully run by Air Pacific and QC have no access unless travelling business class or gold or plat.
Any clues as to if this is a done deal or a way around it.

Cheers Td

 

[ANstar]

I think the rules changed about a year ago

 

[markis10]

Its pretty clear on the QC Pages: Nadi - Air Pacific, Tabua Lounge, owned and operated by Air Pacific. Access to this lounge is available to Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers and those customers travelling in Business Class.

 

[MelUser]

I was personally annoyed with this decision. Qantas owns a fair chunk of Air Pacific. Air Pacific is run by ex Qantas executives and staff. It wouldn't hurt anyone to allow in Qantas Club members. I suspect it is all cost cutting and devaluing of Qantas Club memberships. There is no reason this change couldn't be reversed but Qantas is too tight to pay Air Pacific everytime a Q CLub member walks into the lounge!

 

[aus_flyer]

The change only came into effect recently
Flying with Us - Qantas Club - The Qantas Club News

 

[maninblack]

I was personally annoyed with this decision. Qantas owns a fair chunk of Air Pacific. Air Pacific is run by ex Qantas executives and staff. It wouldn't hurt anyone to allow in Qantas Club members. I suspect it is all cost cutting and devaluing of Qantas Club memberships. There is no reason this change couldn't be reversed but Qantas is too tight to pay Air Pacific everytime a Q CLub member walks into the lounge!

Quite right and the Tabua (Tambua) lounge is quite large and generally fairly empty. Much of the furniture, even the doors to the toilets and most fittings came out of one of the old QF lounges at MEL and were shipped over there in the belly of Taveuni some years ago! All they serve in there are drinks and sandwiches, no internet yet, so it would not be much to let QC members in you would reckon.

 

[TonyD]

I was personally annoyed with this decision. Qantas owns a fair chunk of Air Pacific. Air Pacific is run by ex Qantas executives and staff. It wouldn't hurt anyone to allow in Qantas Club members. I suspect it is all cost cutting and devaluing of Qantas Club memberships. There is no reason this change couldn't be reversed but Qantas is too tight to pay Air Pacific everytime a Q CLub member walks into the lounge!

Is the lounge manned these days? I haven't been for 5 years but I rmember it being like regional (unmanned) lounge in oz.

 

[maninblack]

Is the lounge manned these days? I haven't been for 5 years but I rmember it being like regional (unmanned) lounge in oz.

Yes it is. At least 2 staff when I was there in January.

 

[TonyD]

Yes it is. At least 2 staff when I was there in January.

Oh well, I will report back in 2 weeks, whether "ignorance" and charm got us in!
Thanks for the feedback
cheers

 

[ANstar]

Oh well, I will report back in 2 weeks, whether "ignorance" and charm got us in!

Good luck! There was a sign at the front desk of the lounge which stated the new rules and when I was there in MArch the lounge person also checked on a sheet of paper that my card was indeed valid for entry. (SG)

 

[TonyD]

Here's a bit of an update.
I emailed both Q and AP and got these responses, which convince me that Qantas IS being tight.
AP:
Please be advised that previously we shared ownership of the lounge at Nadi Airport. This has changed as Qantas are no longer financial contributors to the daily running and maintenance of the lounge. That is why there is limited access to QFF members to the lounge. Only QF members holding Gold, Platinum or Chairman have access to the lounge.
I said:
I appreciate your email response, however, I ask - how much are you saving by excluding the few Qantas Club members who are not Gold or Plat?
AP:
We are not too sure about the difference of a Silver level to a Platinum, as we do not know how Qantas demarkates their membership levels. This will have to be a question you will have to pose with Qantas
QF: Phone response:
Air Pacific owns and operates the lounge now, its up to them, who they admit.

 

[aus_flyer]

QF: Phone response:
Air Pacific owns and operates the lounge now, its up to them, who they admit.

What I don't understand is if AP own and operate the lounge, without financial contribution from QF, why are they will letting golds and platinums in??
.

 

[v8Statesman]

What I don't understand is if AP own and operate the lounge, without financial contribution from QF, why are they will letting golds and platinums in??

Don't question. Just enjoy

Assuming you are SG or WP

 

[TonyD]

What I don't understand is if AP own and operate the lounge, without financial contribution from QF, why are they will letting golds and platinums in??
.

Qantas is obviously contributing for SG and WP but not QC

 

[Mal]

So if on a FJ flight number in Economy, can a Plat or Gold get entry with a guest?

Doesn't seem to be fully clear on the Qantas site. The bit that confuses me:
"Access to the lounge is available when travelling on QF/FJ codeshare flights to Gold and Platinum Frequent Flyers." (Are they saying only on the QF number on a FJ flight? Or both FJ and QF numbered flights as long as they codeshare on the flight?)

 

[ANstar]

So if on a FJ flight number in Economy, can a Plat or Gold get entry with a guest?

Yes!

I got entry 4 weeks ago as a QF SG + 1 guest

 

[MelUser]

Re the question of what qantas pays for access to a lounge - about 5 years ago I was travelling BA from WAW to LHR. At the time tt warsaw airport there was only 1 lounge for all airlines and they dutifully took down my QClub details - when I asked why, they said they will charge BA/QF USD$20 for my visit!

I'm sure with inflation it would be more today but I suspect that is how it works at non-QF lounges - ie QF is sent a bill at the end of the month listing the number of its Passengers who visited the lounge and this is multiplied by a lounge visit fee.

Qantas can devalue Q Club memberships by simply not renewing its agreements with 3rd party lounges.

I was travelling through Ayers Rock in March and enquired about the unofficial Qantas Club which was situated above check in. I was told that Voyages [the owner of the Ayers Rock Resort, the Airport and entire town of Yulara] doesn't let Qantas use the space any more. I'm sure this is non-sense - Qantas probably refuses to pay for the space!

 

[MatthewRob]

The Nadi lounge has to be the strictest lounge I have ever been to. The staff are just plain rude and inflexible. About 18 months ago, I was travelling with my family and they refused to let 2 guests in (eventhough the lounge was empty). It is the only lounge that has ever happened, empty or not. When we said fine, we would switch guest in an hour, again she refused and said your one guest was the only guest, whether or not they stayed. She certainly wasn't in the Christmas spirit.

 

[TonyD]

Back from Fiji today and here's the scoop.
Fronted at Tabua Lounge today, with green boarding pass and QC card.
I was told (very politely) that since Nov. QC could not enter to which I said but why and theres lots of room ( There were 4 people in there!)
They bluntly but politely told me to take it up with Qantas.
Upon return I found an email dated 7th May from QFF:
I can certainly appreciate your disappointment with the termination of our agreement with Air Pacific for all but Gold and Platinum members. Nevertheless, under point 9.1 in its Terms and Conditions 'Qantas expressly reserves the right to terminate or alter (materially or otherwise) any benefits, or any aspect of the operation, of the Qantas Club at any time without notice.

On a bright note - is this a record for an international economy passenger? Touchdown to loading bags into car - 25 minutes.

Cheers TD

 

[maninblack]

B
On a bright note - is this a record for an international economy passenger? Touchdown to loading bags into car - 25 minutes.

Cheers TD

But was the reason for this that your Air Pacific flight left 3 hours late (standard) so you arrived home at 2am?

Regarding the Tabua club the ridiculous thing is that QF owns half of Air Pacific and provides them with many facilities and services, including most of the fitout of the Tabua club lounge at Nadi, most of which was free cast-offs from old Qantas club lounges that Qantas club members effectively paid for :!: