MH to axe First Class, rebrand and reposition as Business Suites
Dec 14, 2018, 11:07 pm
#46
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Singapore and KL
Programs: HH Diamond, BA Gold, Marriott Platinum Premier, IHG Gold, Phyllis Court Junior Member
Posts: 360
According to posts #31 & 33 in this thread, Lounges - access, cost, who pays..., it is the operating carrier that pays.
Dec 15, 2018, 3:32 am
#47
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: 1A
Programs: Elite Diamond Purple Dot Gold Silver Titanium for life
Posts: 1,822
According to posts #31 & 33 in this thread, Lounges - access, cost, who pays..., it is the operating carrier that pays.
Dec 15, 2018, 8:25 am
#48
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
This is what I find interesting. If it's the operating carrier paying, I could see them swallowing the cost of the J lounge at KUL even if I buy a cheap ticket. The F lounge is a different matter; MH may be rather clueless in many things, but surely they would have found a way to deny OWE access to the F lounge by now if they don't get any revenue from non-Enrich customers accessing it? For that reason, unless I see a reliable source for such information, I'll assume that BAEC are having to pay MH for my claret and champagne.
)
Dec 15, 2018, 8:52 am
#49
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Singapore and KL
Programs: HH Diamond, BA Gold, Marriott Platinum Premier, IHG Gold, Phyllis Court Junior Member
Posts: 360
I doubt they look at any given OWE at a singular, transactional level. They do not have to make a "profit" from every pax, no more than BA's Galleries First making money off of a OWE flying from LHR to BRU on a cheap ticket, yet enjoying the champagne bar, some JW Blue, or XO Cognac (or all of them )
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Dec 15, 2018, 12:57 pm
#50
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: 1A
Programs: Elite Diamond Purple Dot Gold Silver Titanium for life
Posts: 1,822
That's a very good point, but are MH seriously going to accept reduced or eliminated profit margins for most OWEs flying short haul? Maybe they do. Maybe it's like chain hotels' club lounges - the benefits of being in a large hotel group outweigh the costs of feeding and watering hordes of diamond / platinum cardholders each evening. Still, I can't quite believe that MH absorb the cost of their F lounge on their own.
2) 99.9% of pax are NOT Emerald
3) How much did that Emerald spend on tickets to achieve Emerald
4) Bank and co-brand card revenue contributes to the overall member revenue (Gold/Plat much more likely to be engaged with miles earning)
5) It's my understanding that few Emerald pax purely fly on deep discount economy tickets (thus, higher RBDs)
Many more factors to look at... simple truth is that lounges are highly profitable for airlines. FFPs are highly profitable too. There is a large and intricate web of relationships between transactions that underpin the overall success of an airline.
Don't feel bad for any airline on lounge access. They're making money somewhere.
Dec 15, 2018, 1:19 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: CGK
Posts: 2,375
True.
I personally know quite a handful of emeralds who fly on deep discount economy tickets, particularly on very short routes like KUL-SIN, KUL-KNO, KUL-CGK (myself included), where the cost difference between Business and Economy is unjustifiable for such a short route.
FWIW, I travel purely for leisure.
FWIW, I travel purely for leisure.
Dec 15, 2018, 5:36 pm
#52
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
So, can OW Emeralds now access the former F lounge at KUL - any actual reports? if not, I will be there Monday & can confirm the situation.
Dec 15, 2018, 6:10 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: CGK
Posts: 2,375
https://www.ausbt.com.au/lounge-acce...-suites-flyers
Dec 15, 2018, 10:47 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,132
OWE still have access, at least for now. Also, the lounge still notes first class access. Didn't check the First class suite tho...
And 100% agree on this, no point flying short-distance business on flights within SEA under 3-4hrs, though access to the Golden Lounge at KLIA does keep me from flying the LCCs more...
Last edited by crackjack; Dec 16, 2018 at 7:18 am
Dec 16, 2018, 4:02 am
#56
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
I would believe Emeralds are still retained access to the former F lounge, at least according to this AusBT article
https://www.ausbt.com.au/lounge-acce...-suites-flyers
https://www.ausbt.com.au/lounge-acce...-suites-flyers
Dec 16, 2018, 11:00 pm
#57
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
Gained access as OWE, to "First Class" lounge without any issues. Once inside, there were zero staff in the main lounge & therefore no service offered. Headed into Dining Room, & once again, no staff/host etc to greet/seat me. Took a seat & there were 2 other guests dining......that was nearly 10 mins ago &..........nothing. Not exactly First Class (or is that Business Suites?! LOL) & once again, no less than I expect from the quite pathetic MH team 
EDIT: Met a very disgruntled MH Plat / First Class flyer who is might peed off at all of the MH shenanigans - I suggested he vote with his wallet
EDIT: Met a very disgruntled MH Plat / First Class flyer who is might peed off at all of the MH shenanigans - I suggested he vote with his wallet
Last edited by NoY; Dec 16, 2018 at 11:48 pm
Dec 17, 2018, 3:03 am
#59
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
Dec 17, 2018, 3:38 am
#60
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Malaysia
Programs: 2023 MH Enrich Gold (OWS), 2023 Marriott Titanium and Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,001
What dici meant was the first class lounge section is way too quiet with no one around and maybe spooky to some guest. If I do want fast dining, I suggest you use the Business class section for the buffet first before you return back to First class section to relax.