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Originally Posted by QRC3288
(Post 37564115)
My guess is CX will have a dedicated "First" area which also permits DMs (yes. Regular DMs) but not OWEs, similar to the Bridge, however regular DMs will not be able to bring guests, whereas DME/DMP can. That's my best guess.
Judging by the limited visitation to that (very calm and peaceful IME) DM/F room at the Bridge, I suspect most lounge patrons are OWEs and/or guests of DMs using the very generous +2 guest policy. I was unapologetically rejected from the DM section despite flying CX F. Don’t really like that lounge much anyway so haven’t tried since. |
Originally Posted by QRC3288
(Post 37564115)
My guess is CX will have a dedicated "First" area which also permits DMs (yes. Regular DMs) but not OWEs, similar to the Bridge, however regular DMs will not be able to bring guests, whereas DME/DMP can. That's my best guess.
Judging by the limited visitation to that (very calm and peaceful IME) DM/F room at the Bridge, I suspect most lounge patrons are OWEs and/or guests of DMs using the very generous +2 guest policy. - you need to take food by yourself and the Chinese section is milessssss away - the tables aren't really designed to enjoy substantial food - you need the staff inside to open the door, when they are busy you're left awkwardly staring at a closed door so if i want any food i'd just go to the buffet area directly. |
Originally Posted by CXYYZ
(Post 37564164)
I was unapologetically rejected from the DM section despite flying CX F.
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CX so far have treated Emeralds pretty solidly and embraced the founding principle of alliance to treat OWE as like their own both on grounds and in the air. Thus I do not feel they will make any showy "F/DM only" zone in obvious way. However the PIER massage model where actual Spa (my guess is Cabana will become proper Spa like QF F) where only DME/DM/F can book ahead vs other OWE plebs like me will be told "it's fully booked" without saying i'm not entitled to it, to soften the blow. They could possibly be ushered to reserved corner of dining room (again, as opposed to a confrontational closed door 'DM/F only" setting like at the Bridge) where their wine/champaign list are from a better Celler.
From what I've seen CX do in last years, that's where I see them going. |
Originally Posted by VE105
(Post 37564186)
the problems of the DM room in Bridge are
- you need to take food by yourself and the Chinese section is milessssss away - the tables aren't really designed to enjoy substantial food - you need the staff inside to open the door, when they are busy you're left awkwardly staring at a closed door so if i want any food i'd just go to the buffet area directly. |
Originally Posted by tfung
(Post 37564049)
I guess he meant a zone for CX F class customers and CX DM members only, that is not accessible to OW Emerald members...
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Originally Posted by CXYYZ
(Post 37564164)
Unless things have changed, this is not how the Bridge operates. That space is (was?) DM only.
I was unapologetically rejected from the DM section despite flying CX F. |
Originally Posted by PaulC852
(Post 37564474)
CX has always treated DMs higher than non-status F passengers. For example a DM in economy can get a buggy to The Pier, but a revenue F passenger cannot.
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Originally Posted by CXYYZ
(Post 37564164)
Unless things have changed, this is not how the Bridge operates. That space is (was?) DM only.
I was unapologetically rejected from the DM section despite flying CX F. Don’t really like that lounge much anyway so haven’t tried since. |
The Pier is lovely but quantity of people for large parts of the day, mean it's not a library atmosphere despite appearances. Part of it is Wing F temporary closure, part is CX victim of own success. The Pier is well known as destination among OW travellers globally, and those glowing blog reviews are well read. I see this anecdotally with our own business, people from America on once-a-year trips carving off half a day before their next flight to visit the world famous Pier First lounge. Just a few days ago I waited in line for breakfast at Pier F like the old Wing F. Plus CX has the +2 guest policy for DMs (which I benefit from and hope stays), but all of this lends itself to the Pier not really being quite a sanctuary. (If we are counting "guest lounge hours", one guest staying for 6 hours is more than a DM family of four for an hour. Just pointing out it's not entirely an admissions quantity thing, but also how long people stay inside.) Side comment - I would love CX to implement and enforce headphones-only listening in lounges and in-flight, but that’s not really the point of this thread.
Originally Posted by VE105
(Post 37564186)
the problems of the DM room in Bridge are
Originally Posted by fakecd
(Post 37564263)
CX so far have treated Emeralds pretty solidly and embraced the founding principle of alliance to treat OWE as like their own both on grounds and in the air. Thus I do not feel they will make any showy "F/DM only" zone in obvious way. However the PIER massage model where actual Spa (my guess is Cabana will become proper Spa like QF F) where only DME/DM/F can book ahead vs other OWE plebs like me will be told "it's fully booked" without saying i'm not entitled to it, to soften the blow. They could possibly be ushered to reserved corner of dining room (again, as opposed to a confrontational closed door 'DM/F only" setting like at the Bridge) where their wine/champaign list are from a better Celler.
From what I've seen CX do in last years, that's where I see them going. |
Originally Posted by thomas164
(Post 37564418)
Tbh I don’t understand the concept of first class corner of The Bridge. The food is the same, but only the wines are different. For a full DM experience I would definitely go to Pier F, even if my flight departs from a <40 gate. The food quality (not the selection) is simply miles ahead of The Bridge.
When the bridge is in use, it manages operations until the last departure, replacing the Wing. However, Pier F remains open until 00:30, catering to many premium flights like those to New York, seasonal Toronto, Urumqi, etc., with numerous premium customers. Hence, the first reason is that they require a designated space from 00:30 to 03:25, which is why there is a Diamond Room. (However, since Pier F remains open until the last departure flight, this reason does not apply.) The second reason is that Gates 40-60 are too far for Pier/Wing/Deck to efficiently serve, making the bridge the most suitable area. It's possible that CX conducted a survey revealing that people tend to utilise the nearest lounge, hence the existence of the Diamond Room. |
Originally Posted by QRC3288
(Post 37565572)
The Pier is lovely but quantity of people for large parts of the day, mean it's not a library atmosphere despite appearances. Part of it is Wing F temporary closure, part is CX victim of own success. The Pier is well known as destination among OW travellers globally, and those glowing blog reviews are well read. I see this anecdotally with our own business, people from America on once-a-year trips carving off half a day before their next flight to visit the world famous Pier First lounge. Just a few days ago I waited in line for breakfast at Pier F like the old Wing F. Plus CX has the +2 guest policy for DMs (which I benefit from and hope stays), but all of this lends itself to the Pier not really being quite a sanctuary. (If we are counting "guest lounge hours", one guest staying for 6 hours is more than a DM family of four for an hour. Just pointing out it's not entirely an admissions quantity thing, but also how long people stay inside.) Side comment - I would love CX to implement and enforce headphones-only listening in lounges and in-flight, but that’s not really the point of this thread.
My aim is zero lounge time. When I do visit, it’s maybe 30-45 minutes, often less. I also prefer getting close to the 10-minute boarding cutoff (mostly because I can get to the airport as late as possible). I find myself using the DM/F room in the Bridge when flying from gates 40+. Agree it’s not a place to get a meal, but I like the quiet without the bustle and quantity of people in Pier. I like how peaceful it is, and I can live without the food/drinks (maybe that’s part of why it stays quiet, nobody wants to go!). fwiw, the only time I’ve ever gotten a massage was a few months ago with the new DM booking feature. I’m not young anymore, coming up on two decades as DM. Have been DM the entire time Pier F has been open. I don’t have an exact count, but every single time (at least 10?) I tried under the old system in the first decade, I was told the wait was longer than my lounge visit - sometimes hours (I think I'd been told 4 hours before, which is crazy!). That’s the result of people treating the lounge as a place to camp for half a day, there's really no other way to explain a 4 hour wait for a massage back in the old days when there was no pre-booking feature. For those of us trying to minimize airport time (but would've tried a massage had it been available) and who fly Cx very regularly, there was effectively zero chance of using the massages at the Pier until now. Every time I saw the friendly reports of CX offering a spa/massage feature at the Pier for hurried travelers I would laugh. The only people who could use it had hours on hours in the lounge!! Maybe more will be setup in Wing F, as value proposition of DME in particular. |
Originally Posted by QRC3288
(Post 37565572)
Side comment - I would love CX to implement and enforce headphones-only listening in lounges and in-flight, but that’s not really the point of this thread.
FWIW, I am one of those guys who has zero issues with asking somebody in a lounge, at a departure gate or on a flight to use headphones or otherwise be more considerate of others. I find that if you approach this the right way – with the right attitude, eye contact, expressions and body language – things generally work out. But back on topic, kinda sorta... My aim is zero lounge time. When I do visit, it’s maybe 30-45 minutes, often less. fwiw, the only time I’ve ever gotten a massage was a few months ago with the new DM booking feature. I’m not young anymore, coming up on two decades as DM. Have been DM the entire time Pier F has been open. I don’t have an exact count, but every single time (at least 10?) I tried under the old system in the first decade, I was told the wait was longer than my lounge visit - sometimes hours (I think I'd been told 4 hours before, which is crazy!). That’s the result of people treating the lounge as a place to camp for half a day, there's really no other way to explain a 4 hour wait for a massage back in the old days when there was no pre-booking feature. For those of us trying to minimize airport time (but would've tried a massage had it been available) and who fly Cx very regularly, there was effectively zero chance of using the massages at the Pier until now.! |
I do understand the feeling of DMs and F class pax who would like to be treated better than the OWE plebs.
But CX is not BA or AA. CX offers a tiny (and decreasing) number of F seats, compared to BA. If CX follows the trend of airlines with a premium lounge for own-F class and top elite, CX would probably restrict it to DME. Otherwise, it would be invaded by DM plebs flying regional Y. From a business viewpoint, the problem for CX is that the local market is very small and even many local residents have status on another FFP (e.g. expats for a few years with status on BA, QF or AA). But CX needs to attract to fly CX lots of transit traffic and all the OWE premium pax it can. Discriminating against OWE that fly CX is a dangerous game from a business viewpoint. What CX wants is for people take CX flights whatever their FFP. The vision of Alliances has weakened. OW was offering most comprehensive F-lounge benefits to OWE, especially in Asia Pacific. It seems to me that the question is not to discriminate between OWE plebs and DM plebs. It is to discriminate among CX and non-CX pax, as BA basically does. But that is a huge step for CX. |
My take on this is reciprocity -- since BA, AA and QR all have restricted access to "higher" or designated "special" lounges, then yes CX should do the same. As it turns out, I find myself transiting in JFK or LHR or DOH at least once a year, usually from long-haul to short-haul and it's annoying that at all three ports, there are off-limits lounges to a DM/OWE like me. LHR = Arrivals lounge and Concorde Room, JFK = The Chelsea, DOH = Al Safwa. Agreed that it wouldn't matter for transit times of two hours or less, but what if we have 4 hours and up, in between flights?
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