Imagine my surprise to find that Qantas was closing their domestic business lounges in NZ. Well, actually that wasnt such a surprise - they had announced that there would be changes to the services the lounges provide with Jetstar taking over the domestic flights in NZ. I had expected that the new "jetstar" lounges to honour the qantas club membership until renewal time or something like that.
After a good review of both the Qantas and Jetstar websites, I found very little detail on the transition. Having called Qantas, have now been told that I can get a refund on the Qantas club membership for the balance of my year, but only on the proviso that I post in my Qantas Club card. Unfortunatly I have not seen this for some time - and in fact have never had to use it for access. Qantas are adamant - no card, no refund. I doubt they can enforce that and am more than happy to take them to the Disputes Tribunal to prove it. When I mentioned this, they advised that this was a directive from their finance dept as a security measure - yea right!
I have travelled for over three years as a memeber of Qantas Club and have never had to present this card? Nor have I had to present my Frequent Flyer card for that matter - its all online. So taking into account that Qantas made no effor to be transparent about the closure of the domestic nz lounges, that they have made no mention of the refund option available, and have stipulated that to get the refund you have to present your qantas club membership card, (which I am sure many other members dont bother to carry), this whole transition stinks of "keep it quiet and keep the cash".
Qantas appear to be very happy to qualify Jetstar as part of their group when it suits - and to qualify jetstar as a seperate entity when they cut a service corner. Air New Zealand appear to be upping their game - as long as they keep working to maintain some competitive pricing, and with a much better number of flights, times and domestic lounges I guess my 22 years of qantas preferrence is coming to an end.
The qantas domestic club lounges in nz are now jetstar lounges and whilst they are opening access to anybody - for a door charge, the general facilites at the domestic terminals are so much better now. No longer does one have to join a business club lounge to avoid the carnage of a domestic lounge!
As for the refund, will try for one last search for the qantas club card, otherwise will just prove to their arrogant finance department ( shouldnt this have been a customer service issue?), that they dont get to re-write consumer law.
stay tuned and travel safe this christmas!