Qantas club worth it?

[HarryB]

Hi all,

I have been doing a lot of reading here recently and have learnt a tonne from many threads in these forums. It has helped me make several travel decisions and all for the better.

So I'd like to get some ideas on whether people think QC is worth paying for. I understand that for the most part I will need to decide if I think I will get the value out of it and that will, of course, be determined by how many times I expect to use it. But what I would like to know is what others think would be reasonable use for the money. All my work travel is Y as its all domestic and while I have no trouble maintaining silver I can't quite get to gold so any QC privileges will need to be bought.

So please let me know what you may consider adequate use to justify the price. I expect to travel once or twice a month.

Cheers
Phil

 

[11sjw]

one or twice a month, say 20 times a year @ two visits per trip = 40 visits each calendar year. Yes I would say it's worth the money. BTW the membership is deductible.

 

[Greggsy]

When the Melbourne QP was closed due to fire the other week, members were issued $30 vouchers as compensation, if that's any sort of yardstick for you to use.


Greg.

Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[HarryB]

one or twice a month, say 20 times a year @ two visits per trip = 40 visits each calendar year. Yes I would say it's worth the money. BTW the membership is deductible.

Thanks. When, you say deductible I assume you would be required to provide evidence of business use? This won't be an issue so I hope it's that simple.

 

[amaroo]

one or twice a month, say 20 times a year @ two visits per trip = 40 visits each calendar year. Yes I would say it's worth the money. BTW the membership is deductible.

+1 here - I loved my QP pass prior to having status.

 

[Simo]

If you travel on a even semi regular basis it is well worth it.

My Father is a QP member and he probably only flys 3 or 4 times a year and just books who ever is traveling at the time he wants to go.

And he finds he gets value when he does travel as they can get out to the airport have something to eat a coffee and what ever else they need to do.

He found it to be awesome value when OS as didn't need to get money for short transits in SIN and HKG and the like and could have a shower and also a quick bite and a coffee.

I have paid before and got more than my money's worth out of it.

 

[muppet]

People often ask this question, and the predictable answers surround how often you travel.
However, I've been thinking that it actually benefits less frequent fliers more than really frequent fliers.
I travel more than weekly and (excluding the initial W of becomming a WP, where I'd try to "relax" in the J lounge for ages) I just get to the airport in time to have a beer and board, often less.
Infrequent travellers tend to get to the airport a good hour or more before their plane, so will get a real benefit out of lounge access.

I think it's worth it for 1 trip a month or more, so go for it.

m.

 

[here2go]

It also depends on the kind of flying you do. If you are on a flexible fare doing the SYD-MEL run or similar on a regular basis, I would question its worth.
However, if you are on best fare of day without flexibility, or you are doing red-eyes DRW-SYD or PER-SYD, or late night departure from SIN, HKG or NRT, then its value is far greater than the $30 voucher. A shower before departure makes the night flight more comfortable. Before moving to DRW and getting access to the Qantas Club, I had a shower at the free facility in DRW before flying on the red-eye to SYD. Free means not well maintained, and having to bring a towel, thongs for tinea, shampoo, soap, in addition to a change of clothes, not leaving much room for anything else. If you're traveling international this isn't an option, although most OS Airports have places you can get clean for a fee.

Some employers will cough up the money, which is better than tax deductibility. If not, look at your salary sacrifice options too - it may work out cheaper than tax deductions noting that you are only pay the GST exclusive amount (it depends on the Salary Sacrifice fees for this benefit).

Good luck with your deliberations.

 

[Boris spatsky]

I don't think that Qantas Club access is worth it. The food etc is sub standard now compared to 10 years ago. You generally get better food in the terminals. Unless you fly internationally a lot, i would recommend that you save your money.

 

[nlagalle]

Having been a QC member before hitting gold I'd say it is worth it. I've never had an issue with breakfast spread and usually when i hit the lounge in the evening I went for the liquid dinner. I quickly drank my monies worth!

 

[samh004]

Having been a QC member before hitting gold I'd say it is worth it. I've never had an issue with breakfast spread and usually when i hit the lounge in the evening I went for the liquid dinner. I quickly drank my monies worth!

Pretty similar experience as you

Would only add that these days the lounges offered for access seem to be dwindling, especially with BA, so it was a factor for me then, but wouldn't be anymore.




 

[Andyc]

I would say that lounge access is valuable and worth paying for. You're exactly right about the value being a function of how often you fly and as other have mentioned, value that it is usually greater the more often you fly international.

But don't assume that QP is the only way to go. Some recent threads have highlighted the value of the AA paid offer (including 30 day options which is great for some infrequent flyers) but also the Virgin offer. I've had QP for a number of years where I couldn't make QF Gold, but this year I made Velocity Gold quite easily. The lower thesholds and various offers are definately worth looking at.

 

[11sjw]

Thanks. When, you say deductible I assume you would be required to provide evidence of business use? This won't be an issue so I hope it's that simple.

I never do just a receipt/invoice for my QP membership.

 

[HarryB]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I was leaning strongly towards getting membership but having visited the lounge only on the few occasions that I've upgraded my flights to J it was difficult to get a real feel for the value. I do quite a lot of day trips to Sydney and Melbourne so getting hammered on free booze isn't an option most of the time as I have to drive home after the flight. An overseas trip in May will be different of course!

One comment about the food doesn't particularly bother me because I find it difficult to believe it would be worse than what you get on the flight so eating before flying is on the cards. Prices in the terminals are ridiculous and most of it is like shopping mall food anyway.

I have signed up for membership here so I'll save myself a couple of hundred dollars joining under the AFF corporate offer.

 

[HarryB]

I never do just a receipt/invoice for my QP membership.

Sweet, thanks

 

[HarryB]

But don't assume that QP is the only way to go. Some recent threads have highlighted the value of the AA paid offer (including 30 day options which is great for some infrequent flyers) but also the Virgin offer. I've had QP for a number of years where I couldn't make QF Gold, but this year I made Velocity Gold quite easily. The lower thesholds and various offers are definately worth looking at.

Yes, thanks ... I will look into the AA option as it looks to be cheaper than qantas. I don't really fly virgin so that might get overlooked.

 

[eastwest101]

pbissett - I personally value a visit to the QP as about $10-$15 per visit (need to value snacks, papers, internet access, drinks, peace & quiet etc) as I don't drink at the bar, so by the time you claim it for work or salary sac it you need to visit at least twice a month to make it worthwhile. Like you I am PS and unable to get to SG so it is marginal.

Just watch out if your BFOD work policy starts sending you over to VA or JQ as that can change the equation fairly quickly.

 

[nlagalle]

Just watch out if your BFOD work policy starts sending you over to VA or JQ as that can change the equation fairly quickly.

Even if the OP was sent on JQ, you can still use the Qantas Club

 

[eastwest101]

Yes yes - I know - the benefits of the QP make a journey on JQ a bit more bearable (I know from personal experience). Importantly - I forgot to ask the OP if they are based in a Qantas Club town, and what their main destinations are..... would be pretty silly and futile if they happened to be Gold Coast based.

 

[harvyk]

Depends on what sort of flying you are doing... If you only fly the golden triangle, during peak times, then no it is not worth it, and there have been several times I've chosen to go down into the terminal to escape the noise of the QP (when 90% of the airport has some sort of status, it's no longer the special place).

If you mainly fly international on QF \ AA, or fly on non golden triangle routes then yes, it is worth it.