Speculation: QF to axe MEL First lounge?

[MEL_Traveller]

It's laughable to suggest someone travelling in J should be allowed in the F lounge because they spend a certain amount of $$$

I dunno... think of it as a 'one off' membership to the F lounge. Instead of accruing SCs over an extended period of time, J class are earning them all in one go. The problem is the MEL J lounge (and SYD one too but to a slightly lesser extent). They're not lounges befitting the premium fares paid for Qantas business class.

 

[nlagalle]

I dunno... think of it as a 'one off' membership to the F lounge. Instead of accruing SCs over an extended period of time, J class are earning them all in one go. The problem is the MEL J lounge (and SYD one too but to a slightly lesser extent). They're not lounges befitting the premium fares paid for Qantas business class.

But they aren't acrueing enough to earn WP are they? So why again should they get access? They already get access to a lounge. Every airline ends up with a dated lounge, so then they re-do them and move it up a few notches (look at BNE as an example), at some stage a lounge will become tired, but airlines won't always continually upgrade them.

And its called a F lounge because that's what it is.. the J lounge is for J pax.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And its called a F lounge because that's what it is.. the J lounge is for J pax.

Except the F lounge has large numbers of economy passengers, and the J lounge is full of QC members. The latter has cost restraints because of the sheer numbers. Someone on an $8K or $10K ticket should have ground services recognising that value. The HKG and SIN lounges have special provisions for platinums, perhaps the answer is a similar arrangement at the J lounge... reserved seating, waiter service, and upgraded beverages (offering champagne would be a start).

One-off QF J pax might not be accruing SCs for platinum, but would qantas rather they go to the competition?

 

[nlagalle]

Except the F lounge has large numbers of economy passengers, and the J lounge is full of QC members. The latter has cost restraints because of the sheer numbers. Someone on an $8K or $10K ticket should have ground services recognising that value. The HKG and SIN lounges have special provisions for platinums, perhaps the answer is a similar arrangement at the J lounge... reserved seating, waiter service, and upgraded beverages (offering champagne would be a start).

One-off QF J pax might not be accruing SCs for platinum, but would qantas rather they go to the competition?

That's because they are platinum flyers..

You seem to forget the J flyers get lounge access. And a one off J flyer isn't going to know anything about the F lounge. They will be pretty darn happy with the H lounge. I know this is true simply because of people I have given passes to who are "amazed" with the J lounge.

You aren't making any argue me that as to why a J pax should get a gifted entry to the bag lounge.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's because they are platinum flyers..

You seem to forget the J flyers get lounge access. And a one off J flyer isn't going to know anything about the F lounge. They will be pretty darn happy with the H lounge. I know this is true simply because of people I have given passes to who are "amazed" with the J lounge.

You aren't making any argue me that as to why a J pax should get a gifted entry to the bag lounge.

If you've given them passes to the J lounge then they're not business class pax.

Someone spending $8k for a ticket probably has a good idea of the standards of a lounge. One-off QF traveller doesn't mean one-off flyer. Nor does it mean the passenger hasn't flown First previously.

The simple argument is that an $8K non-status flyer can take their business elsewhere, which could be remedied with a $100 lounge entry fee out of the ticket, especially that capacity will be increased with the cutting of F services to DXB.

 

[nlagalle]

If you've given them passes to the J lounge then they're not business class pax.

Someone spending $8k for a ticket probably has a good idea of the standards of a lounge. One-off QF traveller doesn't mean one-off flyer. Nor does it mean the passenger hasn't flown First previously.

The simple argument is that an $8K non-status flyer can take their business elsewhere, which could be remedied with a $100 lounge entry fee out of the ticket, especially that capacity will be increased with the cutting of F services to DXB.

It's the same analogy as the "once a year" business class flyers.

The even simpler argument is there is a J lounge for J pax. The fact that there will be no F on QF metal only means 15 less pax per day (but will probably be on EK anyway).

I'm not sure why you think that a J class pax should get a free ticket to the F lounge when there is a j lounge already.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm not sure why you think that a J class pax should get a free ticket to the F lounge when there is a j lounge already.

Because the J lounge is sub-standard for full fare paying J pax. Cheap food, cheap drinks, insufficient staff for the number of passengers means the lounge is often grubby (crumbs all over the floor, tables uncleared), no money to repair and replace tattered carpets and chair coverings.

 

[Princess Fiona]

. The HKG and SIN lounges have special provisions for platinums, perhaps the answer is a similar arrangement at the J lounge... reserved seating, waiter service, and upgraded beverages (offering champagne would be a start).
?

No they don't, that's CL/P1 only.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Because the J lounge is sub-standard for full fare paying J pax. Cheap food, cheap drinks, insufficient staff for the number of passengers means the lounge is often grubby (crumbs all over the floor, tables uncleared), no money to repair and replace tattered carpets and chair coverings.

The answer to that problem is to refurbish the Lounge. It's definitely not directing J pax into an already crowded F lounge.

 

[nlagalle]

Because the J lounge is sub-standard for full fare paying J pax. Cheap food, cheap drinks, insufficient staff for the number of passengers means the lounge is often grubby (crumbs all over the floor, tables uncleared), no money to repair and replace tattered carpets and chair coverings.

In YOUR opinion. it's a J lounge. The F lounge isn't for full paying J pax with no status. Compare to other lounges the MEL lounge isn't as bad as you make out. From memory SQ's lounge for J pax isn't that crash in many destinations. What about the lack of showers in SIN???

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No they don't, that's CL/P1 only.

thanks. But still potential to copy those services across to full J at MEL/SYD.

The answer to that problem is to refurbish the Lounge. It's definitely not directing J pax into an already crowded F lounge.

QF has chosen not to refurbish atm. It would be interesting to see the ratio of full J to platinum Y on a flight. If the latter was more they could reduce crowding by swapping access around.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In YOUR opinion. it's a J lounge. The F lounge isn't for full paying J pax with no status. Compare to other lounges the MEL lounge isn't as bad as you make out. From memory SQ's lounge for J pax isn't that crash in many destinations. What about the lack of showers in SIN???

SQ J lounge in SIN has showers.

But this is a QF home port. Compared to SQ's home port offerings (which granted are still dark and dingy) it is far behind in terms of catering.

 

[nlagalle]

thanks. But still potential to copy those services across to full J at MEL/SYD.



QF has chosen not to refurbish atm. It would be interesting to see the ratio of full J to platinum Y on a flight. If the latter was more they could reduce crowding by swapping access around.

So you expect they just snap their fingers and upgrade everything all at once? They are already working in lounges and have finished the BNE ones, all take time. They'll have a roadmap to update it but I hear the Dom J lounge will be before the INT one

 

[katiebell]

As I already pointed out SIN and HKG were joint lounges with BA.. Why oh why would you be investing in 2 lounges in what are really outposts?? Tell me did BA put an F lounge in HKG? They wouldn't because look at CX's offerings. As for BNE well what they have now is better than the broom closet..

BA have J, F and concorde at SIN

 

[Princess Fiona]

.



QF has chosen not to refurbish atm. It would be interesting to see the ratio of full J to platinum Y on a flight. If the latter was more they could reduce crowding by swapping access around.

How on earth would they implement that ?
There are published status benefits and published flight benefits based on class of service.
You are suggesting that prior to each international flight QF looks at the loadings and manipulates the lounge access based on them ?

Really ???

 

[nlagalle]

BA have J, F and concorde at SIN

And what about at hkg? Or LAX?? Heck which lounge a docBA use at SYD?

 

[nlagalle]

How on earth would they implement that ?
There are published status benefits and published flight benefits based on class of service.
You are suggesting that prior to each international flight QF looks at the loadings and manipulates the lounge access based on them ?

Really ???

Can you imagine that? We already laugh and heckle at VA's lounge matrix.. imagine if it was based on loads!!

 

[straitman]

And there is zero argument about a once a year J flyer versus a platinum who spends thousands more over the year. You value a pax not on one trip alone.

They are all valuable.

I am quite sure they (QF) have a business model that includes the value level of all that use the lounges.

They may or they may not. Introducing $$ spend thresholds for status levels would be a step in the right direction. Min 15, 20, or 25K for platinum (or whatever), half those levels for gold. One business class ticket to the USA can be the equivalent of 27 SYD-MEL flights. Which one gives more profit to the airline?

You are joking, aren't you?

Because the J lounge is sub-standard for full fare paying J pax. Cheap food, cheap drinks, insufficient staff for the number of passengers means the lounge is often grubby (crumbs all over the floor, tables uncleared), no money to repair and replace tattered carpets and chair coverings.

That just means the J lounge needs some TLC and more cleaners. Totally irrelevant to the who uses which lounge discussion.

QF has chosen not to refurbish atm. It would be interesting to see the ratio of full J to platinum Y on a flight. If the latter was more they could reduce crowding by swapping access around.

Pure speculation. Just because you/we don't see something doesn't mean that nothing is happening. It's a bit like a duck on a river.

 

[oz_mark]

Because the J lounge is sub-standard for full fare paying J pax. Cheap food, cheap drinks, insufficient staff for the number of passengers means the lounge is often grubby (crumbs all over the floor, tables uncleared), no money to repair and replace tattered carpets and chair coverings.

That may be so, and it may be time that the lounges in MEL got a refurb, but sending J Pax to the F Lounge doesn't seem to be the right way of going about things.

It may be that Qantas are looking at the whole MEL lounge offerings behind the scenes, who knows. But whatever they do would need to consider their overall offerings. Until then, the lounges are what they are.

 

[Pleb Status]

Most of the 'problems' in the international QF J lounges would be solved simply by eliminating 'fake' status obtained through DSC promotions and the like.