Qantas club changes?

[tracman]

I just had an interesting experience transferring from an international flight to a domestic flight at Sydney Airport. If my memory, and expensive serves me correctly I’m entitled to priority check-in,….When travelling on a Qantas domestic flight, Qantas Club members have access to priority check-in facilities including Premium Service Desks for assistance and booking change requests – or when flying with carry-on baggage only, can check-in at most major Qantas Club lounges. …. .
Despite the sign above the priority checkin/service counter even stating it to be the case, the gentleman directing “traffic” was insistent the sign, and me were wrong!
Have QANTAS made a recent change to benefits in the past few weeks??

 

[tracman]

Oops should read experience, not expensive…..

 

[Rich]

I just had an interesting experience transferring from an international flight to a domestic flight at Sydney Airport. If my memory, and expensive serves me correctly I’m entitled to priority check-in,….When travelling on a Qantas domestic flight, Qantas Club members have access to priority check-in facilities including Premium Service Desks for assistance and booking change requests – or when flying with carry-on baggage only, can check-in at most major Qantas Club lounges. …. .
Despite the sign above the priority checkin/service counter even stating it to be the case, the gentleman directing “traffic” was insistent the sign, and me were wrong!
Have QANTAS made a recent change to benefits in the past few weeks??

Are you referring to transferring to domestic? In April when my family was there, there was no priority for Qantas Club. I looked for signage and asked but no luck.

 

[tracman]

Are you referring to transferring to domestic? In April when my family was there, there was no priority for Qantas Club. I looked for signage and asked but no luck.

Yes I am, and the sign was clear, and it has been my previous experience until this point. Accordingly I was challenged in understanding his instance that the sign was wrong.

 

[Rich]

Yes I am, and the sign was clear, and it has been my previous experience until this point. Accordingly I was challenged in understanding his instance that the sign was wrong.

When I was there in April I would swear the only priority mentioned was for business class, or whatever it was its didn't include NB with QP.
We are talking transfers, but it's still a check in as you say. It was pretty frustrating. It took 2 hours to get from landing to the domestic lounge.

 

[justinbrett]

The website https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/the-qantas-club/benefits.html doesn't list priority check in at all, so probably something that's being quietly removed.

 

[bullerdude]

Wow… they defs silently got rid of this benefit then! Used it multiple times before becoming Silver/Gold and saved so much time checking in for international flights…

 

[kangarooflyer88]

The website https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/the-qantas-club/benefits.html doesn't list priority check in at all, so probably something that's being quietly removed.

Yes they removed that benefit from the site on Jan 25, 2022. If you look at the October 16, 2021 version of the website there is the following language for benefits:

Dedicated services​

Domestic: Qantas Club members can access the Premium Service Desk to check-in or for assistance and booking change requests. Alternatively, if you're only carrying hand luggage you can also check in at most major domestic Australian Qantas Club lounges.
International: Check in at dedicated Qantas Lounge counters available at most airports. You must be travelling on a Qantas operated service with a Qantas flight number.

Good riddance they removed it!

 

[opusman]

Priority check-in effectively disappeared domestically when they rolled out the q-tags and self-service baggage check in, really.

 

[Rich]

Good riddance they removed it!

Says you!

Yes they removed that benefit from the site on Jan 25, 2022

When we checked in internationally in Melbourne in March, I don't remember seeing any signs for QP priority check-in, but we asked and they said yes. But as I said earlier, at the return to Syd they said no at the transfers line.

 

[Traveller X]

I thought nobody has noticed that.

Few weeks ago, I noticed that at Melbourne international terminal (T2) Qantas Club is now using premium economy check-in rather than Business class counter ? My memory was Qantas Club used to be in busienss class counter? Is that right?

Does it mean that Silver is higher Qantas Club now? Cos Silver is still using J counter.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Few weeks ago, I noticed that at Melbourne international terminal (T2) Qantas Club is now using premium economy check-in rather than Business class counter ? My memory was Qantas Club used to be in busienss class counter? Is that right?

Qantas used to say Qantas Club members had priority, but they never said which counter they got. Certainly a argument could be made that for international check-in Premium Economy check-in confers some priority.

Does it mean that Silver is higher Qantas Club now? Cos Silver is still using J counter.

A published benefit of OneWorld Ruby (Qantas Silver) is access to Business class check-in.

Says you!

For international check-in it's not a big deal but for domestic travel there is no differentiation between status or Qantas Club. Literally one counter for business/Qantas Club/Qantas Status and one counter for everyone else. Sometimes the everyone else counter is empty which makes me feel empty as a World Platinum. Do they even know who I am? Similar story for boarding. Contrast that with the US where distinctions are made. For instance, AA has flagship First check-in with its own separate entrance into the airport from everyone else. And that's available to anyone holding OneWorld Emerald status flying on an AA operated flight.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Rich]

For international check-in it's not a big deal but for domestic travel there is no differentiation between status or Qantas Club.

I absolutely take your point, but I think we are all influenced about what is "right" based on our own circumstances.
As a life time bronze usually travelling in Y, I rigorously pursued PC+ (for Mrs Rich) late last year, specifically for lounge benefits on a trip to USA. It was definitely worth it, but one of the bonuses was getting priority check in on departure from Melbourne, as we estimated it saved about 30 mins. That did mean an extra 30 minutes of disappointment in the dungeon, so it is all relative.
On the flip side, not so long ago I flew Virgin J out of Adelaide. It seemed half the plane had priority check in boarding and I did feel slighted that I couldn't get on ahead of the Flybuys golds and the like travelling in Y.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I absolutely take your point, but I think we are all influenced about what is "right" based on our own circumstances.
As a life time bronze usually travelling in Y, I rigorously pursued PC+ (for Mrs Rich) late last year, specifically for lounge benefits on a trip to USA. It was definitely worth it, but one of the bonuses was getting priority check in on departure from Melbourne, as we estimated it saved about 30 mins. That did mean an extra 30 minutes of disappointment in the dungeon, so it is all relative.

A couple thoughts here (in no particular order):

• Could you not just check-in online and just head straight for departures?
• Supposing you needed to check a bag, could you not simply use a Kiosk and the self-service bag tag system?
• A lot of people like to slam the dungeon, but it's not all that bad. Sure there's no natural light but at least the catering is okay? Alright who am I kidding here?!
• For Qantas Club specifically you get lounge benefits aside from Qantas operated lounges. For instance you can access to the Admirals club when travelling on QF or AA flights, even domestically within the US. I believe a similar arrangement exists for JAL and some other partners like Emirates when flying out of Dubai you can access the Business class lounge
• Another bonuses is you are given an additional baggage allowance which on domestic flights means being able to pack up to 32 kg in economy and on international flights to the Americas that's 3 pieces of luggage @ 32 kg each. So potentially considerable savings if you, like me, tend to pack a lot on their travels

On the flip side, not so long ago I flew Virgin J out of Adelaide. It seemed half the plane had priority check in and I did feel slighted that I couldn't get on ahead of the Flybuys golds and the like travelling in Y.

When everyone has priority no one has priority.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

On an occasional basis, for what ever reason, sometimes the OLCI process on the print out will read, "online check in is not available, please approach a customer services officer at the airport, who will assist in checking you in".
Or that you have to present your passport to be dipped and swiped. into a slot in QFF's keyboard at the airport.
It reads the MRZ lines on your passport, below your photo.
Don't just go through ougoing immi and iint security screening, without have your passport dipped and swiped into QFF CSA desk system, or you might get stuck, ie, you might be able to have passed the border, ie, outgoing immi and int security screening, but you can't board, and you have to hold up people at the gate who have checked in and others have got the green light and beep, and yours is red and a buzz.
(((Once at ADL airport, I was on a linked PNR ADL - PER - SIN, had done OLCI, and had my dom BP, and the reader kept buzzing red, then gate CSA must have known, I didn't know, that for an int flight, you must have your passport dipped and swiped into QF's system))).
In the past, at an Aust airport, I have always gone to a counter to check in, but this in 2013 was my first int flight as an Aust citizen, and not having approached a counter, but had done OLCI.
Now, even with OLCI, I always go to a counter and get Aust passport dipped and swiped, at counter or the int lounge.
So, at the gate for boarding, I don't get the red light and the buzz.

 

[Lynda2475]

At SYD International anyone not eligible for the F and J check-in counters is strongly encouraged to use the kiosks, the kiosks scan your passport so not issue when you then go to security. My last 2 trips even though there was no lengthy J counter queue (2-3 passengers at most), a queue dragon was verifying whether you were eligible to even join the line. Whilst i could have used First, there was no wait for J so I headed there.

At SYD domestic it is a moot point since there is only 1 counter manned and pretty much everyone has to use the kiosks to drop bags, having checked in online; or if HLO you can check in at the lounge.

At airports where there are manned counters probably should be:
* First counter - those flying F or holding CL, P1 or WP status
* Business counter - those flying J or holding SG status
* Premium economy counter - those flying PE or holding SG status or with QP membership

The only time I have had to connect from international to domestic was at MEL, i dont recall any priority even though I was flying J and was SG at the time, I just cleared immigration (was first off my flight used the egates), then got stuck for 10 minutes at customs even with nothing to declare because everyone in front was off an Indian flight had mountains of luggage and were being heavily questioned re contents, then went to domestic, re-cleared security and back into the lounge.

At SYD personally for expediency I would just go landside, take the train to Domestic, drop my bag and head back to the lounge.

When I was a lowly NB or PS and has QP membership, I mainly just used it for lounge access (as the public toilets at MEL are disgusting) i never expected any special treatment at International departures or arrivals.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I thought nobody has noticed that.

Few weeks ago, I noticed that at Melbourne international terminal (T2) Qantas Club is now using premium economy check-in rather than Business class counter ? My memory was Qantas Club used to be in business class counter? Is that right?

Does it mean that Silver is higher Qantas Club now? Cos Silver is still using J counter.

Yes It has changed. (as paid QF club member and QF lifetime silver) Maybe ~6 months ago??
QF club benefits do seem to be on a descent.

No kiosks a MEL T2 international check-in, when I last used in Sept 2023.
But JQ at MEL T2 international check-in has had kiosk and self bag drop for a long time [but failed for me yesterday]

 

[Rich]

A couple thoughts here (in no particular order):

• Could you not just check-in online and just head straight for departures?
• Supposing you needed to check a bag, could you not simply use a Kiosk and the self-service bag tag system?
• A lot of people like to slam the dungeon, but it's not all that bad. Sure there's no natural light but at least the catering is okay? Alright who am I kidding here?!

It was so chaotic at MEL T2 that day, I didn't realise there was self bag drop but with priority it didn't matter. I will keep it mind for next time if QP doesn't help.
Previously I had enjoyed breakfast at the dungeon. Lots of good choices. The problem for us that day in the dungeon is we just missed breakfast and lunch wasn't that great (and they were not keeping up with restocking the food either). Plus we had to clean up tables in order to sit down. It still beat the gate, but we might try Centurion next time.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

It was so chaotic at MEL T2 that day, I didn't realise there was self bag drop but with priority it didn't matter. I will keep it mind for next time if QP doesn't help.
Previously I had enjoyed breakfast at the dungeon. Lots of good choices. The problem for us that day in the dungeon is we just missed breakfast and lunch wasn't that great (and they were not keeping up with restocking the food either). Plus we had to clean up tables in order to sit down. It still beat the gate, but we might try Centurion next time.

Centurion is smaller but FAR fewer people than the QF Dungeon. Also some nice seating options too:




Now if you have access to Priority Pass (e.g. via AmEx Platinum) then your best bet is actually the Marimba lounge which is located on the same floor as the QF F lounge (I.e. good views) and decent catering too

 

[AIRwin]

Marimba lounge

Marhaba? I may try it out on Thursday morning if The House is not open...