CL - what does it actually get you?

[rjb92]

I apologies that this topic has probably been very well canvassed on this great forum over the years but I am relatively new. I have enjoyed lurking but this is my first post.

I am just wondering what CL gets the card holder beyond lounge access, first on the list for upgrades etc.

Do the benefits include the up to 7 days notice of successful upgrades or is that just for P1s?

Other people tell me of unadvertised benefits of CL which I am curious to find out about.

Also, anyone know of anyone with Emirates IO?

Thanks for your patience. This is a wonderful forum.

Cheers

 

[bugayev]

One of the things CL get are confidentiality, which means it's unlikely that they would advertise the unadvertised benefits!

 

[zachary.august]

As a CL I can tell you that there is three distinct catergories of CL. One, a CL that flies rarely and would otherwise hold Silver status or Bronze. Two, a CL that flies a lot (me) and finally a CL that, if there company stopped flying Qantas would cause massive economic implications. So the unadvertised benefits are different for each of these groups. For example, if I arrive at the import and request an upgrade there is a 90%+ chance of me getting that upgrade (speaking from experience). I also know CL's in the other catergories. The lower CL's are often below P1 for upgrades. Where as, someone in the top category will always have an automatic upgrade (even if lacking sufficient points) to F (yes they sometimes jump 2 or 3 classes). If there is no seat avalible then they often get a bloked seat in Y and even food, beverages, amenities etc are brought from J or F. All CL's get use of FHost and spa appointments etc. The CL lounge in SYD is pretty medioca apart from the food and alcohol which is amazing. Also a lesser known fact is that the CL lounge has a team of FHosts for domestic flights this is only for the top spectrum that I mentioned earlier (or if my flight is delayed they will run me to my next flight). You can also have requests put in the system like if you like a drink done a certain way or if you hate fish etc. I have also called in the past for a specific meal to be on offer in F (it worked). Same for any thing else.

 

[samh004]

As a CL I can tell you

Do you still have Any Time Access (not that I imagine you’d want to spend any more time in the airport), and can you access the Qantas F lounge if not flying OneWorld?

I have also called in the past for a specific meal to be on offer in F (it worked). Same for any thing else.

Sounds like Andrew has a bit of striving to do, but I wonder if you could request the degustation menu that they do to LHR or LAX on the HKG route?

 

[zachary.august]

Samh004. Yes I do have Any Time Access (but as you could imagine part of being CL is that you pretty much always fly Qantas ). I have also requested the degustation menu on the JNB flight and (when it still existed) the BKK leg. The small things is what does it for me though. Like being able to have your favourite flavour of Ben and Jerry's onboard your flight Also you can access the Qantas F lounge in Sydney/Melbourne whenever and still get Qantas F Host, Spa etc. Another, of the really good things is free Qantas Valet parking

 

[jono88888]

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

You're making me insanely jealous.

 

[rjb92]

Another, of the really good things is free Qantas Valet parking

Thanks for the tips, sounds like I am in the middle tier. Did not know about free valet parking - is that int or just domestic? Does
it actually include the cost of parking? Not that I ever drive to
the airport!

For international flights do you just lob up at the First check in counter and ask for an upgrade - is that how it works?

Cheers!

 

[Flying mermaid]

I had a friend who was CL before he retired - one of the benefits of which I was envious was that he and his whole family (i.e 6 of them) could go to the First lounge when flying internationally - even when on economy tickets.

 

[docjames]

Free Valet parking is not a CL benefit.

 

[zachary.august]

Docjames, whenever I use valet parking I don't pay..... Are you a CL as well? Perhaps if you are I am just more important ) lol

 

[amaroo]

I had a friend who was CL before he retired - one of the benefits of which I was envious was that he and his whole family (i.e 6 of them) could go to the First lounge when flying internationally - even when on economy tickets.

I think this benefit is the one I covet the most.

 

[docjames]

I'm waaaaay lower than you (SG!).

The CL I know denies this as a benefit. So he must rank lower than you too!

Docjames, whenever I use valet parking I don't pay..... Are you a CL as well? Perhaps if you are I am just more important ) lol