Qantas New Domestic Business Lounges

[borntotravel]

Interested in other members' viewpoints on restricting access to the new and upgraded QF domestic Business Lounges (currently Syd/Mel/Bne with better hot food and decent coffee) to Business Class and Platinum FF? Do you think that paying Qantas Club members should have access to these new lounges? Understand that with the increase of Gold+ FF that the club lounges have become very crowded and are no longer a quiet haven, but what about those members who pay for the privilege of lounge access, shouldn’t they also have access to the new improved lounges?

 

[ejb]

Hi borntotravel,

I think QF have done a reasonable job of splitting the crowd and to allow "paid" QC members in would lead to overcrowding in the Bus/Plat lounge.

Also you seem to be saying that "paid" QC members have more rights than SG members however IMHO I think QF would value SG over QC NB/PS as by achieving SG you have flown often. Also many SG and WP members have paid QC memberships in limbo (me included, 11 months remaining if I ever drop below SG) so they would then also want access to the new lounge.

ejb

 

[adrian]

Interested in other members' viewpoints on restricting access to the new and upgraded QF domestic Business Lounges (currently Syd/Mel/Bne with better hot food and decent coffee) to Business Class and Platinum FF? Do you think that paying Qantas Club members should have access to these new lounges? Understand that with the increase of Gold+ FF that the club lounges have become very crowded and are no longer a quiet haven, but what about those members who pay for the privilege of lounge access, shouldn’t they also have access to the new improved lounges?

The QF Club members are getting what they pay for - access to the QF Club Lounge.

If access was open to QF Club members also, then that would defeat their purpose.

 

[DTM1]

The idea of the paid product is to provide something extra to some infrequent travellers and for QF to derive additional revenue from that group of travellers.

The aim of the bus/plat lounge is to provide something that money cannot buy, and say thank you to the most frequent travellers (similar to the international first lounge rules). I think it is the right thing. However, whether or not QF have devalued the QC for gold ffs by selling too many QC memberships is another question altogether.

By the way, the bus lounge approach is also adopted by AA, with their Flagship Lounge product.

 

[coyote25]

Welcome BornToTravel,

This might start up a bit of debate between the merits of paid membership versus rewarded membership to the lounge. I'm actually in both sections having a suspended paid membership and a WP membership so I can see both sides.

The problem with allowing paid membership into the dom business lounge is you'd only have SG outside leading to potential crowding problems + seeing this as an elite lounge (which I believe is the plan). Plus it appears that QF wants to made the dom business lounge a key part of their very frequent flyer program.

Yes they make a lot of money off people paying for membership but with WP they are looking for long term financial benefit, plus it's another golden handcuff to keep WPs aiming to stay WP, which includes those who get LTG.

They are trying to give you something to aim for, now whether the dom business lounge and first class international lounge, exit seat requests plus top of upgrade list (behind CL) is enough of an incentive is another question but this is what QF is trying for, to make the WP stand out more. I expect changes in the future to again go down this route.

BTW I haven't tried the new bus lounges yet but I'm thinking that any lounge will still be a better place to be when delayed.

 

[moa999]

I would say very few people make WP without spending (either personal or corporate) at least $10k a year on Qantas, majority probably much much more.
(yes I know it is possible to construct an overseas purchased DONE/ YUP runs for less than that - but that is a small percentage)

Any half decent profit margin puts the contribution well ahead of QP members.

Now if you paid a few grand for lounge access...

 

[taswegian77]

I think QF has got it right with the new J domestic lounges. I have not been in there yet but the idea of a lounge just for J paying and CL/WP members is a good idea. Maybe QF should make it harder to reach SG and WP, that way the over crowding might not be such an issue. Getting 1400 SC is tough and retaining it is only marginally easier. I say give the benefits to WP. Good work QF.

 

[simongr]

By the way, the bus lounge approach is also adopted by AA, with their Flagship Lounge product.

I didnt quite get this comment at first. Are you referring to the restriction to access the Flagship lounge only to pax in full fare F flying transatlantic and/or non-AA OWE?

 

[Batesy]

Like many others I am WP so can access the J Dom and F int lounges. I also have a paid QP membership that will kick in should I drop my status.

When/If that happens I won't expect access to the more elite lounges, why would I? I am less valuable to the airline than before, plus I knew the rules going in when I joined the Qantas club.
Also to be selfish, keep out of my lounge!! Only joking, however let me assure you that they aint that great, in fact the Dom J lounges have turned out to be a great disapointment to those who can acccess them. I can't find the SIGNATURE food offering anywhere. A very slight improvement on the existing QP.

 

[Sequel]

...would lead to overcrowding in the Bus/Plat lounge.

To late! BNE Thurs evening - standing room only (as lots of seats in groups of 4 with 1 or 2 spare, people with bags on seats etc)

 

[ejb]

To late! BNE Thurs evening - standing room only (as lots of seats in groups of 4 with 1 or 2 spare, people with bags on seats etc)

Hi,

(ready for abuse)

I propose they limit it to WP flying J.

ejb

 

[comint]

Do you think that paying Qantas Club members should have access to these new lounges?

In my mind, this question brings up another - Are paid up members getting value for money from the Qantas Club?

The answer depends on how much you pay for a Qantas Club membership. (As well as you flight frequency/destinations.)

If you pay list price, then most likely the answer is "no"... go and join Priority Pass / Virgin and stop flying Qantas.

If you pay a highly discounted corporate rate, of practically nothing, then "yes" you are probably getting value for money!

 

[simongr]

Just out of interest what are these highly discounted corporate rates of "practically nothing". I recall when I worked at a very large accounting firm we paid an annual membership of around $150. Now that isnt huge but at the same time it isn't nothing (admittedly my company then reimbursed me but that was because I was doing 20 flights per year).

I think a reason that QF wont introduce premium paid memberships to allow access to the DOM J lounge is that they will then get pressure from Corporates to give discounted memberships to that as well...

One thing still not addressed is how QF are avoiding the Business Class lounge access to non-QFF OWS...

 

[NM]

I didnt quite get this comment at first. Are you referring to the restriction to access the Flagship lounge only to pax in full fare F flying transatlantic and/or non-AA OWE?

AA has two levels of lounges, the AAdmirals Club lounge and the Flagship lounge. Admirals Club is available to:

• Paid AC members
• AA Plat and Exec plat status members with a OneWorld international flight on the same day
• OneWorld Sapphire or Emerald members with a OneWorld flight departure

The Flagship lounge is available to:

• Paid First Class passengers on Flagship service trans-continental flights
• AA Exec Platinum status members with a OneWorld international flight on the same day
• OneWorld Emerald members with a OneWorld flight departure

Of course there are very few Flagship Lounges remaining in the AA network.

 

[simongr]

The Flagship lounge is available to:

• Paid First Class passengers on Flagship service trans-continental flights

Only certain fare classes as well.

 

[codash1099]

Personally, I'm happy if QF keep all of those WP and J passengers out of our QP.

I didn't pay good money (well my company didn't) to BUY a life membership just to have to mix with people whose only qualification is actually flying.:mrgreen:

Bring back Golden Wing with unrestricted entry!

 

[Danger]

I recall when I worked at a very large accounting firm we paid an annual membership of around $150.

And mine was only $205 through a company that probably did fly a lot but would have had less than 50 employees total.

It's these cheap-as-chips memberships that lead to such crowded Qantas Clubs.

 

[DTM1]

I didnt quite get this comment at first. Are you referring to the restriction to access the Flagship lounge only to pax in full fare F flying transatlantic and/or non-AA OWE?

my understanding was that Exec Plat AA (OWE) are also allowed acces to FS louges - am I wrong ? (I have only been in on basis of F trans-atlantic/WP status)


Ok, have now read NM's reply, so disregard the above.

That's perhaps why there are so few people in the ORD FS lounge, as they would only be non-AA OWEs and intnl flights (as no trans-con from there) - I have never seen more than 5 or 6 people there, although it does make for a nice lounge experience, particularly when compared to the AC.

 

[simongr]

Based on status EXP only allowed if they are on an international itinerary (international excludes Canada, Mexico and the Carribean).

 

[acampbel]

And mine was only $205 through a company that probably did fly a lot but would have had less than 50 employees total.

It's these cheap-as-chips memberships that lead to such crowded Qantas Clubs.

Oh - so you have a breakdown of QC customers between paid and un-paid, and also how much they paid?

I was on a $99 per annum rate until recently, but last year this was raised to $162.50 (the new low-water mark I believe) and out of a sense of honesty I transferred to my current company's program at $325. They then closed the program, tossing us out onto the street at the list price of $405.

For me dropping membership is not a viable option, and fortunately I have just qualified Gold so I can postpone the vendetta against my company to make them pay dearly for their despicable behaviour.

My point is that price is not such a big factor , and casual paid-up QC members (by definition) will not be there very often. The lounges are crowded due to the high number of "regulars" who will most like be Gold and above, and therefore non-financial.

I think the Business Lounges are designed to separate the Gold bludgers from the real CIPs (those flying Business or who regularly do so) and who gives a toss anyway as long as it reduces crowding?


Cheers,


Andrew


.