Qantas New Domestic Business Lounges

[JohnK]

Lounge access benefits: When travelling internationally* on any of the oneworld member airlines, regardless of the class of service, a Sapphire equivalent member and one guest will be welcome in any of the exclusive airline pre-flight Business Class and Frequent Flyer lounges.

The key to this statement is "when travelling internationally*". These are domestic lounges we are discussing so as far as I can see Oneworld Lounge access rules do not apply.

Technically a QF Gold is also a Oneworld Sapphire. So if you allow Oneworld Sapphires into the new Business Lounges then QF Golds should also be allowed. I don't think this will happen anytime soon.

 

[simongr]

OK - lets cite the BA OW rules:

Lounge access benefits: When travelling on any of the oneworld member airlines, regardless of the class of service, a Sapphire equivalent member and one guest will be welcome in any of the oneworld airline pre-flight Business Class and Frequent Flyer lounges.


And CX

Lounge access benefits: When travelling on any of the oneworld member airlines, regardless of the class of service, a Sapphire equivalent member and one guest will be welcome in any of the exclusive airline pre-flight Business Class and Frequent Flyer lounges.

And AY

Lounge access benefits: When travelling on any of the oneworld member airlines, regardless of the class of service, a Sapphire equivalent member and one guest will be welcome in any of the exclusive airline pre-flight Business Class and Frequent Flyer lounges.

And IB

Lounge access benefits: When travelling on any of the oneworld member airlines, regardless of the class of service, a Sapphire equivalent member and one guest will be welcome in any of the exclusive airline pre-flight Business Class and Frequent Flyer lounges.


S

 

[JohnK]

I think each of those airlines need to update their respective access rules, as they are not in line with Oneworld access rules, or QF is totally in the wrong here. I would not be surprised, if pressured by Oneworld, if QF renamed the lounges to First Class/Business Lounges.

It is not like Oneworld Sapphires have been denied lounge access. They can still enter the Qantas Clubs when travelling on a Oneworld flight that day....

 

[simongr]

I agree - but i think QF made a mistake branding these as Business lounges as they just add confusion to the OW access rules. Personally I would have branded them something like "QF Premier Lounges" and that would avoid this.

 

[taswegian77]

OK, visited the Qantas club lounge at MEL last night so decided to be brave and try to get access to the business lounge with no BP and just my WP card.
Talked to the nice lady inside the frosted doors and was asked for my boarding pass which I did not have and was explained the entry rules. I thanked her for her explanation and proceeded back out the frosted doors to get a crown lager and a paper. Anyone who manages to snag a entry without traveling then congratulations to you all. I will check them out on Tuesday anyway when I travel to BKK via SYD.

 

[htchapman]

Heres one:

I'm going SYD-MEL next week and have two hours in MEL before I meet someone getting in from AKL.

What enforcement is there with the "next onward flight"? Do you think I'd have much trouble hitting the J lounge showing the pass...and walking in? (Yes, I had travelled that day on a OW flight).

Attained WP six weeks ago - still no sign of the new card.

The two hour wait in the J is surely better than the two hour wait in the QC at rush hour.

Thoughts?

 

[BAM1748]

Heres one:

I'm going SYD-MEL next week and have two hours in MEL before I meet someone getting in from AKL.

What enforcement is there with the "next onward flight"? Do you think I'd have much trouble hitting the J lounge showing the pass...and walking in? (Yes, I had travelled that day on a OW flight).

Attained WP six weeks ago - still no sign of the new card.

The two hour wait in the J is surely better than the two hour wait in the QC at rush hour.

Thoughts?

I'm sure it would be better, but lets not get overly precious about a free coffee and a seat for a couple of hours. There are plenty of times where I'm happy enough to simply sit in the general waiting area with "normal" non FF passengers even if I'm in at the pointy end when on board.

 

[serfty]

htchapman is a QF WP; as a result he gets access to the domestic QP's anytime they are open.

His post was more about gaining inbound access to the [domestic business] lounges which are the topic of this thread ...

 

[Mal]

Heres one:

I'm going SYD-MEL next week and have two hours in MEL before I meet someone getting in from AKL.

What enforcement is there with the "next onward flight"? Do you think I'd have much trouble hitting the J lounge showing the pass...and walking in? (Yes, I had travelled that day on a OW flight).

You can only ask. Real issue is by not having the card to flash they'll look at your boarding pass more closely (if you just try and walk in). That said, I have been allowed in the QPJ after a flight without any issues a couple of times.

I'd suggest calling Qantas to chase up your card. It should have turned up within 2 weeks, or 3-4 at the most.

 

[JohnK]

MEL appears to be the only lounge of the 3 to be asking to see boarding passes. I have gained entry again to the BNE business lounge just by showing the Platinum card.

I have been using both the BNE and SYD business lounges as both departure and arrivals lounges for the last 2 months and I have not had any issues.

 

[NM]

MEL appears to be the only lounge of the 3 to be asking to see boarding passes. I have gained entry again to the BNE business lounge just by showing the Platinum card.

I have been using both the BNE and SYD business lounges as both departure and arrivals lounges for the last 2 months and I have not had any issues.

Monday Mornings (the last three at least) at BNE they want to see the boarding pass. Same for Sydney on Thursday afternoon. My experience differs from your suggestion that only MEL is asking to see boarding passes.

 

[htchapman]

htchapman is a QF WP; as a result he gets access to the domestic QP's anytime they are open.

His post was more about gaining inbound access to the [domestic business] lounges which are the topic of this thread ...

Exactly...thanks for the feedback guys. Will let you know the outcome.

 

[JohnK]

Monday Mornings (the last three at least) at BNE they want to see the boarding pass. Same for Sydney on Thursday afternoon. My experience differs from your suggestion that only MEL is asking to see boarding passes.

So we all experience something different and the advise given on these type of matters should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[serfty]

No, more like that with collective experince, you won't get in on Monday mornings in BNE unless you are flying ...

The more anecdotal evidence we have the more any trends can be ascertained ...

 

[Mal]

The more anecdotal evidence we have the more any trends can be ascertained ...

And the more accurate information Qantas has to know which staff in particular need extra training!

 

[JohnK]

I was just asked for boarding pass in SYD so maybe staff are getting the relevant training to police the new guidelines for entry into the new business lounges....

 

[luckydog]

I walked into the Sydney QF domestic business Lounge on Sunday (Aug 24) and showed only my platinum card.
She asked me if I wanted a boarding pass (implying that I was flying) but I replied that I already had one and just kept walking.
I actually did have a BP but she never saw it.

I was also amused that after reaching the top of the escalator coming up to the Lounge.... you turn left for the Business Lounge.
Not sure that was intentional...

 

[ejb]

Hi all,

My parents were flying SYD-PER in J (courtesy of my points), when I took them to the airport I showed them the way to the Bus Lounge and asked if I could show them around (while showing my WP card) and was waved straight through.

On the way out I thanked them and he commented that on weekends they are not so strict as they are empty.

ejb

 

[dr3tz]

I was also amused that after reaching the top of the escalator coming up to the Lounge.... you turn left for the Business Lounge.
Not sure that was intentional...

In Brisbane we turn right but a lot of stuffs here are the other way around compared to other cities

 

[luckydog]

I was in the Brisbane lounge yesterday.
The nice girl at the door told me I had to be flying to enter...
so I produced my BP and access was granted....
The food was good (esp the Italian meatball soup) but the lounge is very narrow.