Oneworldplus2

Don't wish to far ahead. If there is another terror attack, l will assume that BP's will form part of the entry conditions into air-side space one day. Qantas Security have also openly said that this is one area that they would like to see changed.

thadocta

Taking a major step back here, as I am NOT a WP (and probably will never be) but will always be a paid up lower tier member, just looking at some comparisons between Qantas Club and The Lounge.

DJ offer better barrista arrangements (QF do, but only in selected lounges, and only in the morning)
DJ offer better catering (from my only two visists, MUCH better food, and that is all day)
DJ offer better guest arrangements (extra guets can be paid for)

QF offer priority check-in (hang, on, this has been removed)
QF offer priority seating assignements (hang on, that is AFTER OWE, OWS and OWR have already got in)
QF orffer priority baggage (that is still there, but the last number of times I have used it, it has been worthless!)

Not a lot of difference there between QF Qantas Club and DJ The Lounge.

Why am I bringing it up in this thread?

Because I think it is counterproductive for QF to be devaluing what is on offer to QF elites, when they are already devaluing what is on offer in the QP's, compared to what is on offer elsewhere.

Perhaps they are looking at aligning the QP offering with The Lounge offering - after, all what is the difference, a large number of lounges not available domextically, and a large number of lunges not available internationally?

In short, DJ might have the better lounge offering domestically, but in fewer lounges, and QF is seeing the opportunity to devalue their own product in order to match that.

Dave

Dave Noble

Whilst those travelling on business will blindly book Qantas regardless, then QF has no incentive to improve their offerings and can happily cut back .

Dave

DownUnderFlyer

I guess this sums the changes up quite nicely.

whughes3

I still find it hard to credit that this constitutes much of a burden for Qantas..I seriously doubt that any large number of people are actually doing this; and as has been noted above, how would Qantas know this even if they were? The entry checks at most domestic lounges are pretty cursory, and indeed I have often noted people being granted entry just by flashing a Gold or QC card.

Dave Noble

Perhaps they are going to tighten up on admission and properly validate that people entering are entitled access

Dave

whughes3

An excellent idea, which might well in itself have more effect than denying "anytime" access to Platinums!

justin_krusty

I agree. The current arrangement is a joke and easy to circumvent. Sure scanning BP's would slow down entry somewhat, but I would gladly trade this for anytime access.

To make this workable, they could place several of the new NGCI readers at entry and make members use their cards, with a staffy looking for green/red lights on the poles. The lookup & response times of the readers would need to be improved though.

m0hamed

I think we should also draw attention to while QF is taking away our benefits, they can't ensure the current ones are being upheld.

3 domestic flights in the last week and not once was priority boarding offered. This morning, even leaving the lounge 10 mins early, arrive at the gate to find 50 people in the queue for QF421 including families with children etc. It's tolerable on a A330 or 767 but on a 737 it's a nightmare. Aren't they supposed to enforce this rule?

willyroo

I do rather like the new line at BNE security, on the left hand side. Give me that anytime over [anytime] lounge access or priority boarding thanks...

turtlemichael

Give me all three

Oneworldplus2

That has also been in PER for a while now (few months), and when it's slow, they only have 1 line open, so it doesn't make a difference. Same with SYD T3 last week, the J+SG+WP sign wasn't even put up.
Guess it depends on what time of the day you are departing to use this benefit.

seat_4D

Given the 3 times I have tried to use the NGCI poles at PER the system told me to go to the service desk, I would see this as a disadvantage!

They could just use a security coded locked door like KGI I guess.... Though printing the code on every boarding pass, and not changing the code makes entry pretty easy.

Like other non WP's this has nil impact on me now, but I can see the frustration for the frequent users of this system

RichardMEL

This may well change when DJ bring 2 class 330's online for domestic runs and again QF has competition for the J product since it appears DJ would probably offer, at least initially, a better product than QF.....

seat_4D

x-PER the aircraft arent the only problem, the scheduling and capacity is also fairly ordinary from a business travellers perspective.

To ADL 2 options out (07:45 & 17:10) vs QF 5 (6, 8, 9, 12, 17:00)
To SYD 4 options out (6, 7, 10, 15:00) vs QF 7 (5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13:00, 15:00) and 9 back compared to 5

I am yet to see Virgin as the best option when travelling for business, and our booking tool alsways gives both options, so in the past 5 years have only flown them the once (SYD-MEL when the difference in airfare was about $150).