Qantas Domestic Business Lounge - oneworld Emerald access Discussion

[pauly7]

I haven't heard pikelets called drop scones for years!
Brings back memories - I might even make some this weekend.

Haha today they were serving pikelets in the QF club and drop scones in the J lounge

And yes there was a difference!!!

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Re: Ducks and geese

As for solutions, there have been numerous mentioned already.

1./ Allow all nonQF 1W sapphire (excluding AAdvantage card holders) to use any Qantas business lounge,
2./ Rename the whole domestic premium class “domestic first” or such like (booking codes must also change to F… etc, remember the “duck” analogy!)
3./ Rebrand the QF entry level international lounges as "Qantas Club with International Business Lounge", so that customers can understand that the bloody things are both in some terminals, and separate in others.

4./ Rework the 1W sapphire privileges, to state - lounge access is to the “frequent flier club lounge” where available, otherwise the “business class lounge”.

1W’s advantage over the massive Star Alliance network, is that it should be able to use its smaller size to offer more standardised service levels to all partner airlines’ elites. (i.e. “seamless” in many senses across its smaller network): 1W obviously recognises this advantage, because it offers the emerald status level, but it then allows individual airlines to constant shoot each other in the foot (ala Star Alliance style) by not adhering to the key - 3 tier principle.

With all due respect QANTAS doesn't have to do anything. I'm sure that if they had to, they would have already.

OWS get access to a lounge, and I doubt any OWS have stopped flying on QANTAS and chosen another carrier on principle, because of this issue.

Frankly, there's a bunch of people complaining here (and other forums), but unless/until:
a) it affect QF's bottom line
b) QF is obliged to do something by its alliance partners
QF doesn't really have to do anything, and expecting anything to change is naive.

If we assume that one of the main things that business customers want is “network”, 1W needs other competitive advantages to combat the ubiquitous Star Alliance. Qantas is particularly at risk in this area from Star Alliance, because in today’s world; the short haul LCC/BFOD combined with medium/long haul in J strategy, is becoming more palatable to the travellers, if not just the number crunchers.

Giving away more expensive things for no return isn't a good business strategy. All legacies are being squeezed on the revenue front (hence the constant downgrading of offerings on the ground and in-flight). Unless you're prepared to pay more for flights, don't expect more.

 

[markis10]

If they start serving Pobblebonk in the lounge then I will know standards have dropped and they may as well let anyone in