QANTAS not accepting international lounge invitations in Sydney till end of Dec 2023

[oz_boater]

Mod, if this is the wrong place, please move.

Just got of the phone from QANTAS FF support who told me I could not use my complimentary 1st class lounge invitation on Dec 16th in Sydney as, starting Sat the 9th, due to capacity constraints, no international lounge invitations are being accepted in Sydney till end of December 2023.
Now I am a gold, and flying business, so in practice I was just wanting to move from 1 lounge to another - but pointing that out got me nowhere. Just a repetition of "not accepting due to capacity constraints"

Only rang because - since last week - I have been getting "Unable to retrieve information. Please try again later." when I try and link using the website. No message saying "not allowed", just the generic one above.

 

[levelnine]

Not surprised. Peak travel season means lounges are going to be rammed, especially the tired old Sydney one.

 

[oz_boater]

Not surprised. Peak travel season means lounges are going to be rammed, especially the tired old Sydney one.

Up till end of Oct I was a platinum - and have never seen the 1st class lounge in Sydney near capacity.

Hard to imagine it will be more full than the business lounge (accepting the invitation would have freed up a slot in the bus lounge, given I have access there anyway) but the staff member I got had no ability to vary that ban despite calling their lounge people on my behalf.

Very much a "1st world" problem, but these invitations can't be transferred and only be used in Sydney, Melbourne and LA - so knocking them out in Sydney is a bit of a bummer.

 

[levelnine]

Ahh sorry, didn't see the reference to it being the first class lounge. Thought it was a reference to the business class lounge.

I've found it still gets very busy in the mornings, so makes some sense in peak travel season.

 

[encryptededdy]

Very much a "1st world" problem, but these invitations can't be transferred and only be used in Sydney, Melbourne and LA - so knocking them out in Sydney is a bit of a bummer.

Both the P1 & Titanium passes work in Singapore too

 

[encryptededdy]

Just linked a lounge pass for an international JQ flight ex-SYD for some friends flying today, I guess we'll see if they get declined.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Up till end of Oct I was a platinum - and have never seen the 1st class lounge in Sydney near capacity.

Hard to imagine it will be more full than the business lounge (accepting the invitation would have freed up a slot in the bus lounge, given I have access there anyway) but the staff member I got had no ability to vary that ban despite calling their lounge people on my behalf.

Very much a "1st world" problem, but these invitations can't be transferred and only be used in Sydney, Melbourne and LA - so knocking them out in Sydney is a bit of a bummer.

They have always restricted lounge pass use at certain times eg school holidays etc.
The staff have no capacity to override this.

 

[Nemeca]

Up till end of Oct I was a platinum - and have never seen the 1st class lounge in Sydney near capacity.

Hard to imagine it will be more full than the business lounge (accepting the invitation would have freed up a slot in the bus lounge, given I have access there anyway) but the staff member I got had no ability to vary that ban despite calling their lounge people on my behalf.

Very much a "1st world" problem, but these invitations can't be transferred and only be used in Sydney, Melbourne and LA - so knocking them out in Sydney is a bit of a bummer.

Just noting that P1 passes can be transferred to anyone whereas Titanium passes cannot be transferred to anyone. I also believe they can both be used at any Qantas international first class lounge. I don’t believe the OP says which one they have though.

 

[oz_boater]

Both the P1 & Titanium passes work in Singapore too

Good to know.
Because the Titanium T&Cs says they only work in Sydney, Melbourne and LA

"The Qantas Premier Titanium Primary Cardholder is entitled to two complimentary single-entry Lounge Invitations to the Qantas First Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne or Los Angeles"
See: Qantas Premier Titanium Features and Benefits | Qantas Money

Post automatically merged: Dec 11, 2023

They have always restricted lounge pass use at certain times eg school holidays etc.
The staff have no capacity to override this.

Still new to this Fiona - did not expect them to be limiting access to the 1st class lounge.

 

[encryptededdy]

Because the Titanium T&Cs says they only work in Sydney, Melbourne and LA

Yeah, I've personally used them in Singapore though. I think those T&Cs were written before the SIN First Lounge was opened in 2020.

 

[Nemeca]

Just noting that P1 passes can be transferred to anyone whereas Titanium passes cannot be transferred to anyone. I also believe they can both be used at any Qantas international first class lounge. I don’t believe the OP says which one they have though.

That should be “any Qantas international first class lounge except Sydney from 9/12 to 31/12 of course”

 

[oz_boater]

Just noting that P1 passes can be transferred to anyone whereas Titanium passes cannot be transferred to anyone. I also believe they can both be used at any Qantas international first class lounge. I don’t believe the OP says which one they have though.

Titanium.

The odd thing is that the website was giving me the same error both before and after this restriction came in.

I presumed it was some problem with my account. Some combination of me going from Plat to Gold since the passes were issued, and being upgraded from Economy to Business on this flight.

 

[oz_boater]

Yeah, I've personally used them in Singapore though. I think those T&Cs were written before the SIN First Lounge was opened in 2020.

Good to know.

Unfortunately can't use in Singapore either as my QF flight number (really Jetstar Asia) leaves in the morning and the QF 1st lounge doesn't open till 3pm.

 

[encryptededdy]

Just linked a lounge pass for an international JQ flight ex-SYD for some friends flying today, I guess we'll see if they get declined.

They were not declined FWIW.

 

[henrus]

Unfortunately can't use in Singapore either as my QF flight number (really Jetstar Asia) leaves in the morning and the QF 1st lounge doesn't open till 3pm.

Just an FYI that the Qantas business lounge is now open some mornings (I know not the 1st lounge but still better then nothing)

From 7:50am to 10am then 2:45pm to 1am on Tuesdays and Sundays
and open from 7:50am until 1am on Thursdays

Failing the above QF Status holders get access to the Blossom Lounge at Changi T4 just showing the QF card and JQ/3K boarding pass.

 

[oz_boater]

From 7:50am to 10am then 2:45pm to 1am on Tuesdays and Sundays
and open from 7:50am until 1am on Thursdays

Failing the above QF Status holders get access to the Blossom Lounge at Changi T4 just showing the QF card and JQ/3K boarding pass.

Thanks @henrus, my flight is at 7am, so looks like it is Blossom Lounge for me.

and again the value of "Australian Frequent Flyer" is shown, because both the Blossom Lounge and Jetstar pages are silent on this

But this post JQ/3K moving to T4 at SIN in March 2023 (previously October 2022) :-( and others in the same thread confirm it is available to QFF fliers with status.

 

[henrus]

and again the value of "Australian Frequent Flyer" is shown, because both the Blossom Lounge and Jetstar pages are silent on this

There was a single line during the initial move to T4 press release that said Qantas premium passengers are eligible but I agree they should promote it more (but why would they as QF would have to pay per person).

https://newsroom.jetstar.com/jetstar-group-commences-operations-at-changi-airport-t4/

In some way it's actually kind of better because the blossom lounge is 24/7 whereas the old setup really only saw access for flights departing after 4pm.

There is a handful of inconsistencies though and this isn't the first. Those with QF status can access a few partner lounges prior to Jetstar flights including the Blossom Lounge Singapore, Manaia Lounge Christchurch and Manaia Lounge Queenstown.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Peak travel season means lounges are going to be rammed, especially the tired old Sydney one.

Which one? The International J lounge, the domestic J lounge or the domestic QF Club (or all of them)? So many to choose from at Sydney. Makes you think that Sydney is an afterthought for QF.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Which one? The International J lounge, the domestic J lounge or the domestic QF Club (or all of them)? So many to choose from at Sydney. Makes you think that Sydney is an afterthought for QF.

Given that SYD has arguably the best QF F lounge, doesn’t seem like an afterthought to me.

I would love a refurb of the T3 J lounge though.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Given that SYD has arguably the best QF F lounge, doesn’t seem like an afterthought to me.

Not arguing there. Just the other QF lounges which are leagues behind other lounges.