FNB Platinum - No free SLOW lounge access anymore?

[xumwun]

Seems like FNB is doing a big bait n switch.

[Spizz]

It's two different things. Access to domestic SLOW lounges was always only for domestic flights and is free if you meet the criteria. This access to the international jobbie is new and at a reduced rate as described.

[Spizz]

I think with the slow lounge, there are too many FNB customers trying to use it to the irritation of the BA customers. In the afternoons, there is often very little space in the ORTIA lounge and as a BA card holder, this gets a bit irritating sometimes.

Lol. So your freebie is more important than my freebie? If I was BA I'd prioritse the FNB customers as they are the only ones who actually pay anything. I often use the lounges for a coffee and check my emails and my statement reflects a R250 payment.

How much do BA customers pay for wolfing down the noodles and sandwiches

[KaMoS]

As far as I can recall only the local flight SLOW lounges were free for Platinum card holders.

Platinum card holders never had access to the international SLOW lounge...the email is saying that we as platinum card holders now have access to the platinum lounge. This is a good thing no? I don't see why people are so upset :/

[Fudzy]

As an FNB Platinum Cheque or Credit Cardholder, you are eligible for exclusive access to SLOW International from now until the 31st January 2013

Yeah

[Borrels]

As far as I can recall only the local flight SLOW lounges were free for Platinum card holders.

Platinum card holders never had access to the international SLOW lounge...the email is saying that we as platinum card holders now have access to the platinum lounge. This is a good thing no? I don't see why people are so upset :/

'Cause we didn't realise there were two different lounges (domestic vs. international) involved

Thanks for pointing this out - I check the mail they sent a second time and it does only mention the international lounge but doesn't highlight that it is in addition to the domestic lounge access remaining the same...

[piranha786]

From this link:


I seem to recall reading that this was R5 000 worth of swipes. Is it swipes or overall spend? By spend I mean debit orders, internet purchases, EFTs etc.

Also wanna know if it is swipes or spend on the account? Any1

[peeryus]

Also wanna know if it is swipes or spend on the account? Any1

It's only swipes. Meaning only swipes made at Point Of Sale locations.

[Suspect99]

Well then I'm glad I stuck to my Standard bank Account. was seriously considering switching

[BBSA]

Well then I'm glad I stuck to my Standard bank Account. was seriously considering switching

Good, more space in the SLOW lounges for us

[lsheed_cn]

Kind of sucks for me, as I literally just got an FNB Platinum card *only* for the lounge access, since I lost my Gold Emirates Status this year

Should be able to get back on Gold next year though at least, this year I got screwed a little with their all flights are now only 6500 miles vs the usual 13k odd to China and back.

Oh well, live and learn.

[eehellfire]

Has FNB reversed the R5000 spend criterion to get into the Domestic SLOW lounge?
I can't find reference to it now on https://www.fnb.co.za/bank/account/p...ge-access.html or https://www.fnb.co.za/credit-card/sl...ge-access.html

[gregmcc]

Just received this from FNB:

Dear Premier Client,

We are concerned that you might not be fully aware of the impact of some changes to our Platinum Product benefits which were communicated to all FNB clients a few months ago, hence we are sending this email to assist you. We are specifically concerned that you might not be aware of the latest changes to gain access to SLOW Domestic Lounges and would like to point them out so you can continue enjoying access.

We know that some clients bank at more than one bank, while others view only one bank as their main bank. We want to ensure that those clients that view FNB as their main bank, receive all the benefits we believe these clients should experience, in order to feel special. SLOW Domestic Lounge access is exclusive in nature and therefore has limited capacity, so we adjust the rules constantly to ensure that FNB clients that use us as their main bank can easily be identified by FNB.

Who do we see as our 'main bank' clients?

In the case of a Platinum Cheque Account, this is a client who deposits R16,500 into a Platinum Cheque Account and swipes their Platinum Cheque Card at retailers to the value of R5,000 per calendar month – this amount includes swiping your Platinum Cheque Card to withdraw cash at a tillpoint (Cash@Till) as a safer, more convenient alternative to withdrawing cash at an ATM.
In the case of a Platinum Credit Card, a main bank client is viewed as someone who swipes their credit card at retailers (including fuel retailers) to the value of at least R5,000 as per your preceding statement period.
And of course, access to the SLOW Lounge is dependent on the card being in your name. Simple, achievable criteria to make sure people who view FNB as their main bank, enjoy exclusive use of the SLOW Domestic Lounges.

If you use either of your cards in this way, what do you get in return at the SLOW Domestic Lounges?

4 free visits (including guests) per month during off peak time; and
2 free visits (excluding guests) per month during peak times (04h45-07h00 and 15h00-17h30)
Please note that changes to the rules and pricing always happen on the 1st of July – so watch out for the Pricing Guide every year and updates to www.fnb.co.za , where all this information is contained.

There may unfortunately be instances when you are unable to gain access due to the huge popularity of the lounges(even though there seem to be free seats in the lounge). This is because FNB is allocated a percentage of the seats and we are not allowed to exceed this allocation. We have investigated increasing the size of the lounges, but unfortunately this is not possible at this stage.

There are many benefits associated with FNB’s Platinum Products – ranging from access to the various SLOW Domestic, International and City Lounges; free ADSL and 3G data, to eBucks allocations and discounts on fuel. Please ensure that you are aware of what the various rules entail, to obtain maximum benefit from using your Platinum Products.

Regards,

Lezanne Human
(CEO: Premier Banking) and the Premier Bankers

[Naks]

I just queried @RBJacobs and this was his reply: '"a minimum spend of at least R5000 on your Cheque Card in the month preceding the visit" - any way you spend on the card is fine'

Slow Domestic: https://www.fnb.co.za/credit-card/slow-lounge.html
Slow International: https://www.fnb.co.za/premier/slow-international.html

[iceman23]

i used the lounge last week and the fee was reversed on my statement.

just got this mail though

Dear Premier Client,

We are concerned that you might not be fully aware of the impact of some changes to our Platinum Product benefits which were communicated to all FNB clients a few months ago, hence we are sending this email to assist you. We are specifically concerned that you might not be aware of the latest changes to gain access to SLOW Domestic Lounges and would like to point them out so you can continue enjoying access.

We know that some clients bank at more than one bank, while others view only one bank as their main bank. We want to ensure that those clients that view FNB as their main bank, receive all the benefits we believe these clients should experience, in order to feel special. SLOW Domestic Lounge access is exclusive in nature and therefore has limited capacity, so we adjust the rules constantly to ensure that FNB clients that use us as their main bank can easily be identified by FNB.

Who do we see as our 'main bank' clients?

In the case of a Platinum Cheque Account, this is a client who deposits R16,500 into a Platinum Cheque Account and swipes their Platinum Cheque Card at retailers to the value of R5,000 per calendar month – this amount includes swiping your Platinum Cheque Card to withdraw cash at a tillpoint (Cash@Till) as a safer, more convenient alternative to withdrawing cash at an ATM.
In the case of a Platinum Credit Card, a main bank client is viewed as someone who swipes their credit card at retailers (including fuel retailers) to the value of at least R5,000 as per your preceding statement period.
And of course, access to the SLOW Lounge is dependent on the card being in your name. Simple, achievable criteria to make sure people who view FNB as their main bank, enjoy exclusive use of the SLOW Domestic Lounges.

If you use either of your cards in this way, what do you get in return at the SLOW Domestic Lounges?

4 free visits (including guests) per month during off peak time; and
2 free visits (excluding guests) per month during peak times (04h45-07h00 and 15h00-17h30)
Please note that changes to the rules and pricing always happen on the 1st of July – so watch out for the Pricing Guide every year and updates to www.fnb.co.za, where all this information is contained.

There may unfortunately be instances when you are unable to gain access due to the huge popularity of the lounges(even though there seem to be free seats in the lounge). This is because FNB is allocated a percentage of the seats and we are not allowed to exceed this allocation. We have investigated increasing the size of the lounges, but unfortunately this is not possible at this stage.

There are many benefits associated with FNB’s Platinum Products – ranging from access to the various SLOW Domestic, International and City Lounges; free ADSL and 3G data, to eBucks allocations and discounts on fuel. Please ensure that you are aware of what the various rules entail, to obtain maximum benefit from using your Platinum Products.

Regards,

Lezanne Human
(CEO: Premier Banking) and the Premier Bankers