New Brisbane Platinum Lounge and Valet

[MomoWang]

Currently in the Brisbane Lounge and it's busy and close to capacity. Only one guy behind the bar serving and working hard at it.

A passenger asked him if they were going to expand the lounge to make it bigger. He said no and the staff didn't want it bigger, they were struggling to cope with everyone as it is.

He explained that other changes are coming, specifically
- new platinum lounge further down
- new security point downstairs
- valet parking but that's been delayed again until at least the end of March.

Not sure if the above is 100% accurate or if it has already been posted here (sorry if it has). The valet and security point made me think of the Sydney setup but it was the Platinum lounge that peaked my interest.

I know many have suspected it, but has there been any official announcement at all in relation to the concept of a Platinum / Chairmans style lounge ?

 

[The Rok]

If they were going to do Platinum Lounges wouldn't they logically of done them at the same time as the SYD & Mel Lounge?

 

[markis10]

SYD is already slated for a lounge expansion, BNE also has the room where the temp lounge was, and after all the GW Valet facilities are still there, so it makes sense.

 

[samh004]

Sounds interesting, I just hope they make enough money to offset all these enhancements…

 

[JohnK]

Wouldn't it make more sense to improve the onboard experience?

 

[TonyHancock]

Wouldn't it make more sense to improve the onboard experience?

I think this is a Virgin thread rather than a QF thread, but I am all for QF improving their inboard experience.

 

[straitman]

Wouldn't it make more sense to improve the onboard experience?

As I posted in another thread. my DJ experiences of yesterday and today were at least as good as with Qantas.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Currently in the Brisbane Lounge
He explained that other changes are coming, specifically
- new platinum lounge further down
- new security point downstairs
- valet parking but that's been delayed again until at least the end of March.

I might be wrong, but I thought the BNE premium entry was already confirmed by DJ........maybe it was just confirmed by AFF rumour .

The delay for the valet service may be due to the new parking complex. I don't think it's fully operational as of yet (but I concede, I may be wrong on that score too).

 

[`X']

I might be wrong, but I thought the BNE premium entry was already confirmed by DJ........maybe it was just confirmed by AFF rumour .

The delay for the valet service may be due to the new parking complex. I don't think it's fully operational as of yet (but I concede, I may be wrong on that score too).

The new car park is most definately not fully operational yet. Still HEAPS of construction going on. Brisbane Domestic is a shambles!

 

[straitman]

The new car park is most definately not fully operational yet. Still HEAPS of construction going on. Brisbane Domestic is a shambles!

.... and has been for years :!:

 

[JohnK]

I think this is a Virgin thread rather than a QF thread, but I am all for QF improving their inboard experience.

And you don't think I knew that?

As I posted in another thread. my DJ experiences of yesterday and today were at least as good as with Qantas.

I extremely happy for you.

I fail to understand why people continue to rave about the lack of service. They are extremely ordinary and so far behind Qantas that it is depressing as Qantas could do with some competition.

- Lounge in Brisbane last night was extremely ordinary. No hot food and I had some cold meats and pickled onions. I went to the bar 3 times and twice there wasn't anyone there to serve and the 3rd time the only person serving was making coffee for someone or other.
- Only 2 out of 3 desktops in the lounge were functional and I was extremely lucky that I was able to use one of them for ~5-10 minutes
- The flight go to SYD early. Fantastic! But the luggage took another 25 minutes to come out and mine appeared to be the first priority bag out and it was number 17. Where in hell people get the idea that VA is performing better than QF is beyone my comprehension.
- I had my wallet out on tray and credit card was sitting on wallet wanting to purchase a beer. It took the crew forever and a day to hand out the so-called free meals to Corporate or flexible fares that they only had a few minutes to serve the rest. By the way I was in row 4 and they went just straight past me without even asking if I wanted anything.

Now on Qantas

- I would have had a much better time in the lounge with at least some hot food
- I would have definitely been able to use the desktops as there are ~8 in the business lounge and 10+ in the Qantas lounge
- I would have received a meal onboard and believe me I was starving last night and a pie or wrap for $15 just does not cut it for me on VA
- I would have had 2 drinks, possibly more
- And more than likely paid less for the privilege

Am I missing something?

 

[medhead]

Am I missing something?

the comment was "as good as" not better than. Frankly, what you describe for VA sounds almost exactly the same as my experiences with QF right down to waiting 25 minutes for luggage in Sydney.


Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[straitman]

I extremely happy for you.

Thank you.

fail to understand why people continue to rave about the lack of service. They are extremely ordinary and so far behind Qantas that it is depressing as Qantas could do with some competition.

I don't agree :!: I have seen as bad or worse service from Qantas.

Lounge in Brisbane last night was extremely ordinary. No hot food and I had some cold meats and pickled onions. I went to the bar 3 times and twice there wasn't anyone there to serve and the 3rd time the only person serving was making coffee for someone or other.

I agree about the food but have had the same poor service experience in the QF bus lounge in BNE.

Only 2 out of 3 desktops in the lounge were functional and I was extremely lucky that I was able to use one of them for ~5-10 minutes

That's pretty poor.

The flight go to SYD early. Fantastic! But the luggage took another 25 minutes to come out and mine appeared to be the first priority bag out and it was number 17. Where in hell people get the idea that VA is performing better than QF is beyone my comprehension.

My bag was second out yesterday and they were second and about tenth today. I've certainly had much worse experience with Qantas. SYD seems to be the common denominator with that one.

I had my wallet out on tray and credit card was sitting on wallet wanting to purchase a beer. It took the crew forever and a day to hand out the so-called free meals to Corporate or flexible fares that they only had a few minutes to serve the rest. By the way I was in row 4 and they went just straight past me without even asking if I wanted anything.

Not very good at all.

on Qantas

- I would have had a much better time in the lounge with at least some hot food
- I would have definitely been able to use the desktops as there are ~8 in the business lounge and 10+ in the Qantas lounge
- I would have received a meal onboard and believe me I was starving last night and a pie or wrap for $15 just does not cut it for me on VA
- I would have had 2 drinks, possibly more
- And more than likely paid less for the privilege

Am I missing something?

I'm not defending Virgin or running Qantas down (or the opposite) but to me most of these things can occur in either direction and/or are things that can easily be fixed. DJ have shown their colours with being responsive to feedback and attempting to fix issues and Qantas have not.

In any case IF we are going to continue this discussion it should be somewhere else as it is not really on topic for this thread.

 

[JohnK]

In any case IF we are going to continue this discussion it should be somewhere else as it is not really on topic for this thread.

Yes I seem to have a habit of sidetracking threads!

My original comment is still relevant though. I do not believe a Platinum lounge should be high on the agenda as that is not likely to increase business for VA. I believe they need to improve their onboard experience first.

 

[markis10]

Yes I seem to have a habit of sidetracking threads!

My original comment is still relevant though. I do not believe a Platinum lounge should be high on the agenda as that is not likely to increase business for VA. I believe they need to improve their onboard experience first.

Might solve the very things you seem to be griping about in your lounge experience posted above . At least with QF you don't have to worry about staff being distracted by making coffee after 9.30 AM, fancy that, another customer wanting something besides a cold drink in the afternoon that isn't made by a staff replacing machine?

 

[pauly7]

I do not believe a Platinum lounge should be high on the agenda as that is not likely to increase business for VA. I believe they need to improve their onboard experience first.

I agree partially John. I actually think VA need time to train their staff EVERYWHERE not just onboard about moving from LCC to 'full/partial' service or whatever they are these days.. I think they've loaded so much in a lot of their staff are struggling to keep up! Sometimes I feel they need to just stop and revisit basic training.

Couple experiences this week:

MEL lounge - food extremely limited to basically what you described.

MEL lounge boarding saga: as has been extensively discussed on here the staff don't know when to call flights. This time I was treated to a general call 10 mins before departure time boarding - even though the boarding sign had been flashing for 20 mins before departure time - I've learned not to trust the boards so I rely on the staff and/or being personally paged now. So left at 10 mins on the announcement, got to gate and waited another 15. Virgin PLEASE SORT THIS OUT!! It is small but so annoying for your pax.

Priority boarding. Ok this was a Goldy flight... So of course no one paid attention and everyone swamped both lines. FA's didn't bother / weren't properly trained to sort out. Therefore why have it if you only use it when it's easy for you.

The clincher: unsurprisingly appeared no J pax to Goldy! Cabin was empty when doors were shut. Ok, as soon as the doors shut we had what I now call the 'Virgin shuffle' where people move around to better seats. I'm trying to get used to it! But a couple of people moved into the J section! I saw the FA bend down and chat to them, then left them there!!!

I actually grabbed the same FA later on route to the bathroom and said I was suprised (understatement of the day) that it was allowed. She replied that if J is empty then it is ok and she let the pax know that?!?

Um right..... This can't possibly be a VA policy right? If it is then bring on the Virgin shuffle!! I'll sprint for them If it's not a policy it either reflects on the lack of training / an entire rogue crew that allowed it.

Does anyone know what the go is?

(Apart from that flight was the usual. Seats are still hard but will hopefully soften with use. Lack of IFE was a killer but that's been widely discussed)

 

[markis10]

I have yet to have a flight in the last few months that didn't have a J or PE pax, although often it was me that was the pax, so I have never seen the rush for seats you describe, although I have seen attempts at self upgrades on a regular basis, which are quickly rebuffed. DJ should be upgrading status pax to prevent such ridiculous things at the gate, leaving some seats free for late bookings etc.

 

[777]

I do not believe a Platinum lounge should be high on the agenda as that is not likely to increase business for VA. I believe they need to improve their onboard experience first.

A couple of things here...

The first is that while a platinum lounge per se might not be a high priority heading off overcrowding in the existing lounges certainly is. It's pretty clear that demand for lounge space has gone through the roof over recent months and at times the lounges are getting crowded. This is clearly a sign that key aspects of Virgin's strategy are working but it creates a pressure that several people have noted here. By creating a "Platinum lounge" you can effectively kill two birds with one stone - ease overcrowding AND introduce a premium lounge option for people to aspire to or to look after the top tier. A separate plat lounge might also solve some challenges with simply expanding the existing lounges in cases where space is constrained.

The second thing is that i don't think "improving the onboard experience first" makes any sense at all. I'm no expert on how organisations like VA are set up but i would expect the people responsible for improving the lounges and those responsible for improving the on-board product are mostly different teams. It would be kind of stupid to tell the lounge team to drop everything for six months because some other people in another part of the organisation need to work on something else.

 

[JohnK]

I have yet to have a flight in the last few months that didn't have a J or PE pax....

I do not fly anywhere near enough as often asd you but my flight is was one of these flights. Not a single passenger in premium cabin bit many flexible/corporate passengers.

By the way not sure what a flexible customer is doing on the last flight of the night, as that is in my opinion a gross waste of money, but I guess that is the nature of the beast.

The second thing is that i don't think "improving the onboard experience first" makes any sense at all.

I am not expert either but lounge experience alone is not going to make me fly any specific airline over another either.

But let's just say that my experiences to date in VA lounges has been awful....

 

[777]

But let's just say that my experiences to date in VA lounges has been awful....

And you're the guy arguing against investing in the lounges?