Qantas to close domestic airport business lounges over Christmas
By David Flynn, December 23 2013
Qantas will close its domestic Business Lounges at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra airports this week so they can undergo "routine cleaning and maintenance" across the Christmas and New Year period.
The four flagship domestic lounges will shut their doors following the last flight of Christmas Eve, on Tuesday December 24th, and reopen on Monday morning, January 13th 2014.
Globetrotters are spared such deprivations, however, with the airline's international business lounges remaining open throughout that period.
Qantas says the 19 day closure of its domestic lounges will be used to give them a combined spruce-up and fix-up after a solid year of business travel wear and tear.
In the meantime, passengers who usually enjoy access to the Qantas Business Lounges – including those flying business class, holding Platinum Qantas Frequent Flyer status or the equivalent Emerald status with a oneworld partner airline – will need to 'rough it' in the Qantas Club.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on twitter: we're @AusBT
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Sep 2011
Total posts 321
Don't suppose they're reducing ticket costs for this amenity withdrawal are they?
25 Feb 2012
Total posts 77
Lol! Never let a chance go by ,,,haha
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
No, wilsoni, they are a law unto themselves.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2012
Total posts 580
I know the image caption is meant to be sarcastic, but I would've thought they'd gifted her CL status.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
And she's having to rough it at James Packer's multi-million dollar Bondi Beach pad when she's not flying. Tough life.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 124
Will they close the Chairman's lounge over the same period, for the same combined spruce-up and fix-up following a solid year of business travel wear and tear???
It funny how virgin are expanding some lounges over the Xmas new year period to cater for increased traffic while Qantas closes lounges. Two airlines approaching their customers in different ways.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Apr 2013
Total posts 16
last time i was in the normal Qantas Club lounge i thought that needed much more attention than the business lounge, in melbourne at least it looks very old, dirty and tired!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Sep 2011
Total posts 321
Same for Brisbane. Sad compared to high standards back in the day. Prefer VA for domestics these days.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 124
Adrian I quite agree!
Call me a cynic, but it wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that they are assuming many platinum and domestic business travellers aren't flying over that period, & hence saving costs in staff & resources required for the lounge to be open??? Hmmm
Virgin Australia - Platinum
21 Dec 2012
Total posts 86
Who cares if you are from Perth or Adelaide, you dont even get a business lounge. Not that there is a shortage or room, particularly in Adelaide!
04 Dec 2013
Total posts 156
They did this last year and there were exactly the same howls of protest from AusBT readers. Seriously, do you care that much?
And yes, it will affect me with a couple of flights in that time. But I don't care that much. In fact, I'm such a pleb that I downgrade my lounge choice in my home airport because the hot dogs in the (base level) business lounge are far better than the fancy snacks in the Star Gold lounge...
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
When people purchase a business class ticket routed from one of the locations with a business lounge, their purchase includes the advertised feature of access to that lounge. They may or may not decide to make use of that feature, along with seat selection, a certain increaded baggage allowance, free drinks, some sort of meal, etc.
QF could (but don't) make reasonable effort to inform such customers that one of the advertised features will not be available at the time of purchase.
The problem is that last year it wasn't just the lounges that were closed for a significant period, the on board catering was also downgraded.
Imaging buying a new laptop (a similar price to an average business class fare at around $1,000) which has an advertised deal of a 3-year care plan included in the price only to find that because you bought in a 10 day christmas period you didn't get the after care - you weren't told at the time of purchase. Or a new camera kit, but one of the two lenses wasn't included in the pack.
Yes, I care when I purchase something and don't get what I paid for.
13 May 2011
Total posts 5
woooaaah, has anyone else experienced the 'new' menu in the Melbourne business lounge? Arrived last night around 7pm. Gone are the daily plate specials. Instead there is a toaster where you can make your own toasties. Dessert seemed to have disappeared, same for the cheese. Bread downgraded too. what a shame.
22 Mar 2013
Total posts 7
I was at the Brisbane Business lounge on Monday and noticed a new sandwich toaster and I was talking to the guy behind the bar and he said that a new juice bar is coming and that the contract was now being run by Sofitel hotels. Not sure if that is Australia wide or just Brisbane.
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
David, perhaps you could ask your contacts at QF the obvious questions, which could clarify the debate and ease the frustration:
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
PS. I seem to remember that the lounger were closed for around 10 days last year: isn't longer this year - almost three weeks!
30 Mar 2012
Total posts 13
Sorry, I'm from Perth. What is a Bussiness Class lounge!!!! Seriously though, was in Brisbane Business lounge two weeks and Melbournes last year and was impressed. Perth Domestic Qantas club is full of Hi Vis miners coming from and going to work. Its all we got
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 319
I reckon they should transform the "downstairs" lounge into a Business Class Lounge... it's segregated, away, and there is potential to up the ante in that dedicated area...would be nice... *dreams*
17 Feb 2012
Total posts 121
Why is everyone moaning about this - what a pack of complainers. What don't you travel Virgin - oh I forgot - they don't have busienss lounges and the last time I was in the Melbourne lounge - most of people had their names written on their shirts and half the women were littered with tatt's. Very trashy. The Qantas Clubs are fine - and lets get real - most people are in there for the bar service, not to create a three course meal from the dips. Also PLATY all the airline is liable for is to get you from point A to point B and not even guarenteed with the timings, so suck it up pussycat.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
"Pussycat"? Classy, whipper. Real classy...
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
Whipper, some folk like some lounge time and would prefer to eat/drink before the flight. Others get to the airport just on time and then moan about the low levels of service on board their business class flights from the USA to Australia.
People are different.
I fall into the former category and you in the latter (based on your previous whinging posts about QF in flight catering).
Despite these differences, both of our expectations are reasonable if we are paying $10 per hour of flying time for an advertised benefit - be it business lounge access or any time dining.
The legal stuff ain't even an issue. Give poor service - compromise your customer base.
Virgin Australia - Platinum
21 Dec 2012
Total posts 86
Actually now flying virgin twice a week I think the clientele and etiquette are very business focused. It's not like trying to board a jet star flight at the coast.
Qantas P1
18 Jan 2012
Total posts 73
Gee you guys can have a moan! Any property requires regular maintenance so give them a break.
Travel is light over these periods particularly in SYD, MEL and BNE so it makes commercial sense. If you are too precious (or too tight) to shout yourself a sandwich in the food court then don't bother flying.
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
Good advice, htc, giving them a break is exactly what I'm planning.
I don't think it does make commercial sense - it's just one of many service degradations that lowers the quality of the product and brand at a time when their main domestic competition is encroaching on their market.
Suggesting someone is precious or tight because they expect the advertised product to be delivered as advertised and have the temerity to question the commercial sense of QF management seems absurd logic to me and bordering on the personal insult.
Happy holidays!
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qantas to close domestic airport business lounges over Christmas