QF to sell lounge passes

[JohnK]

I wasn't thinking just FLounge, I was thinking any lounge. There is so much penny-pinching going on at QF and the industry that I think that it is inevitable that they are going to try to save on food and drink in the lounge. If I were inside QF, the first thing I'd do is publish an access price, which is exactly what they've done. Mark my words - you heard it here first!

But why Platinums? Surely Qantas Club members and Gold status will be the guinea pigs unless you have already lumped Gold/Platinum together.

 

[defurax]

I know you stir quite a lot but I would not consider this proposal a terrible idea.

How many First lounge passes do you think is fair? 16/year? 12/year? 8/year? Most people would get reasonable use out of 16.

I wouldn't restrict access to business lounges or Qantas clubs.

Well if QF do that I'll enter the F lounge as a OneWorld Emerald instead of as a QF WP now that QF has confirmed you can decide under which rules you enter the F lounge.

 

[russ]

But why Platinums? Surely Qantas Club members and Gold status will be the guinea pigs unless you have already lumped Gold/Platinum together.

Yes, you are right, it would make sense to start with Gold members.

 

[medhead]

Yes, you are right, it would make sense to start with Gold members.

More sensible to implement for all members with access rights determined by their status levels. e.g. platinum can access domestic business and international first lounges and e-guest passes apply at that level.

 

[njba]

Well if QF do that I'll enter the F lounge as a OneWorld Emerald instead of as a QF WP now that QF has confirmed you can decide under which rules you enter the F lounge.

Slightly OT, but is there a discussion here as to what the practical effects of that are? Why would one want to enter as a OWE as opposed to WP?

 

[medhead]

Slightly OT, but is there a discussion here as to what the practical effects of that are? Why would one want to enter as a OWE as opposed to WP?

don't mention the war! Because emerald have slightly different access rules for guests. i.e. the guest doesn't have to be travelling together.

 

[harvyk]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet...

Why would anyone pay 7,000 points for a lounge pass, when you can upgrade to business class for 5,000 points on some flights/ticket types? Even on a red-e-deal, upgrades on flights like SYD-MEL and BNE-CBR only cost 10,000 points - and you'd get J lounge access and a J seat/meal onboard.

Not every ticket offers upgrading, not every flight has a J class, if your upgrade only nabs you PE you are still out in the cold, not every upgrade request is successful, plus there are many a person with points whom for what ever reason (eg BFOD policy / no award availability on the right days / other corporate policy) can't use them or don't see the value in them but may consider using it for some free food / booze before a flight.

Not everyone understands how to use points in the same way that the average AFFer does.

 

[mcbain]

In case anyone was wondering, the invites have started.

Wife and I (both currently PS) are flying SYD-ADL return over the weekend (Fri am-Sun pm). She got an invite yesterday to buy passes for the ADL QP before the return flight on Sunday night.

Not worth it in this case.

 

[Awesom Andy]

In case anyone was wondering, the invites have started.

Wife and I (both currently PS) are flying SYD-ADL return over the weekend (Fri am-Sun pm). She got an invite yesterday to buy passes for the ADL QP before the return flight on Sunday night.

Not worth it in this case.

How is Sun pm domestic ever an off-peak time?

 

[Ansett]

How is Sun pm domestic ever an off-peak time?

Perhaps because it is a non business day and thus nominated as off peak.

 

[Buzzard]

Looks like it's all done online, no physical passes involved: the QF 'lounge pass' invitation web page outlines the following four steps

1. Purchase lounge access for yourself or, if there are other passengers in your booking, choose which eligible passengers you'd like to purchase access for.
2. If you choose to purchase separately, forward this email to the other passengers.
3. Pay with cash or use Qantas Points for lounge access.
4. Check in and present your boarding pass at the lounge entrance. Keep a copy of your confirmation email handy just in case.

I like the "....just in case." bit

 

[Flying mermaid]

I think that would be a great move, depending on the limitation imposed. for example for the 2014/15 financial year I had about 112 eligible guest spots, I used maybe 3 of them - maybe. But the next time I had a family holiday with 3 other adults and 2 children, or perhaps 2 other adults and 2 children, I can't guest the group into the lounge unless I go begging, cap in hand (please sir may I have some more).

I'm all for being given (112-X) E-lounge passes if I get the flexibility to guest all of my family on the rare occasions we travel together.

didn't we used to have this? I remember getting little booklets of passes annually that could be used for accessing the lounge and then it changed - can't remember when, I am sure Serfy will remember.

 

[andye]

didn't we used to have this? I remember getting little booklets of passes annually that could be used for accessing the lounge and then it changed - can't remember when, I am sure Serfy will remember.

It would be an advantage to the regular work flyer who ends up taking his/her family on holiday in Y and is unable to take them to the lounges.
Some may not like the idea of more children in lounges though

 

[mcbain]

How is Sun pm domestic ever an off-peak time?

Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it. From a very quick look at available seats the flight out is about half load, flight back is almost full.

 

[medhead]

didn't we used to have this? I remember getting little booklets of passes annually that could be used for accessing the lounge and then it changed - can't remember when, I am sure Serfy will remember.

Yeah, we did. Obviously open to being sold on ebay being in paper form. I still have a few booklets at home that are undated. My memory is saying they went out around 2007 to 2010.

It would be an advantage to the regular work flyer who ends up taking his/her family on holiday in Y and is unable to take them to the lounges.
Some may not like the idea of more children in lounges though

Children are not really impacted since they don't count for guest allowance in Qantas lounges. But it's an interesting question. In somewhere like SIN the kids and I might sit in the lounge and the other adults will explore the airport.

 

[drron]

I just found a whole lot of Golden Wings passes if anyone wants an invite.

 

[Sdtravel]

I just found a whole lot of Golden Wings passes if anyone wants an invite.

What lounge are they?
IM flying out of Syd International Saturday so if they can be used for me and a few others im travelling with that would be great. Although timing may not work

 

[Danger]

What lounge are they?
IM flying out of Syd International Saturday so if they can be used for me and a few others im travelling with that would be great. Although timing may not work

Drron is being nostalgic. Golden Wing was the name of Ansett's lounge network which is now sadly a member of the dearly departed.

 

[russ]

Although timing may not work

Timing definitely won't work

 

[JohnK]

How is Sun pm domestic ever an off-peak time?

To be fair I've been travelling Sunday afternoon/evening from SYD for ~8 years and it is mostly quiet in the lounge. Also not as many flights.