DONE* Qantas Club membership & QFF elite status (newbie)

[shellthom]

Hi all,

Sorry, I'm new and not concise and have lots of questions?!

Ive been doing some research and everything I found was from 2006-2009 and wondering if there has been any updated threads/advice I can get on the DONE* fares (vs lh/lx if anyone knows the comparison), I am happy to depart from any port if it is considerably cheaper. Have enough points to get myself and partner a one way to any destination in Y but based on the taxes it seems better off paying for that ticket, then as I would understand, could just keep buying RTW fares - in economy if I couldn't afford anything more - departing from that port and have a nice holiday every year. But I want to do at least the first 1 in business. I am only little so y is comfortable enough for me. I just don't like crowds or people or kids. My partner is over 6ft so its a little less spacious for him but he also doesn't like dealing with the crowds or kids.

Also, at the moment I am only bronze with QFF. I have done a lot of flying (leisure only) but had friends in the airlines so got staff friends and partner benefits (great when your mate breaks up with his gf and put me - and at some points my partner - down as his significant other instead for free trips here and there - this friend has since left and now I must go back to paying for such things waaa).

I have these trips booked (so far) all in discount y:
Sep jq -syd - ool return (partner and I) paid for status earning flights
Nov: jq syd - hti return (hayman island via launch) (partner and I)
Feb: qf syd - ool return (partner and I)
May: qf syd - lax reutrn (parents, partner and I)
May: aa airpass booked through qf: lax - las - jfk - mco - dfw - ont (parents, partner and I)

I want to be able to take my parents into the lounges on the May trip because it is a trip for their birthdays and anniversary so I want it to be special. I am not sure of the benefits of elite status vs just buying qantas club membership. I was thinking about getting a membership and a guest pass with points, but then 1 of the 4 of us is going to miss out which will not really work out.

Can anyone help me? Never really having been involved in any of these lounges I am not sure how worth it they really are. I have been in syd and mel domestic business lounges with points flights (because I had to fly and thats all they had available) but I don't want to spend a whole heap of money (on membership/flights for status) if there are no real benefits.

Note: My parents only got their passports because my sister got married overseas. So I am travelling with people who will no doubt be very tiring and bewildered and probably annoying/frustrating - so wanting a lounge may be more for my benefit than theres like I have suggested.

 

[here2go]

It comes down to how much you can get QP membership for. You won't be able to take more than one guest in either. Look at Priority Pass options OS (there are threads on this) through Diners Club.
A triple S is always pleasant before boarding an all nighter to Aus, but it comes down to value, and you have to be the judge.

 

[Danger]

Welcome, shellthom.

I'm not sure I'm fully across your queries but I'll try to help where I think I can.

Qantas Club membership does not have as many perks as elite membership (Gold/oneworld Sapphire and Platinum/oneworld Emerald). The big difference is, Qantas Club membership limits benefits to QF, BA and AA. It does also provide you with lounge access when flying JQ.

As far as I can work out, a 30 day Admirals Club pass for, I think, USD90 may well be of assistance. Review this thread for details.

Because you're flying on QF, JQ and AA, the Admirals Club pass might just work. However, it will need to be combined with some other lounge access entitlement, as there are four of you. So, for example, a Qantas Club pass and/or Qantas Gold will entitle you to lounge access plus one guest at all of your ports listed above. I'm not very familiar with the Admirals Club pass but USD180 for two to provide lounge access will then cover off the four of you.

Elite status will give you additional benefits like waived luggage fees on AA and the like, but if the number one thing you're after is lounge access then a Qantas Club membership plus an Admirals Club pass may suit.

Check out the other thread and then come back here (or there) with any further questions.

 

[shellthom]

Ah! thank you that is fantastic!! (basically) exactly what I was after this should make us all happy.

Are there any updated threads on the ow rtw fares (ive read everything I could find but they are dates 06-09 and not sure how relevant they are now)

 

[here2go]

USD 180 is not bad. QP has gotten rather expensive unless you know the ROI will be worthit.

 

[shellthom]

is there a easy/known way other than status bonuses for a complimentary/day pass for QP? (sorry not up on the abbvs yet)

I used to be a travel agent (very short lived - stupid low money) and the NSW rep would organise entry for our 'elite' guests on occasion, but I haven't found a way to buy one myself. I have been to a travel expo recently where the rep remembered me but it was so busy I couldn't ask her to give me one (although I wish she had the time so I could).

Otherwise it might be worthwhile to get a 1 year membership with admiral club for the domestic use (I will have to read the rules better to confirm the lounge locations and access) and then 1 30 day pass in the US next year.

 

[Danger]

Ah! thank you that is fantastic!! (basically) exactly what I was after this should make us all happy.

Are there any updated threads on the ow rtw fares (ive read everything I could find but they are dates 06-09 and not sure how relevant they are now)

Are you planning a RTW in addition to your plans above? If you do a search for terms like "world" (title only) you will come up with some good threads.

is there a easy/known way other than status bonuses for a complimentary/day pass for QP? (sorry not up on the abbvs yet)

I used to be a travel agent (very short lived - stupid low money) and the NSW rep would organise entry for our 'elite' guests on occasion, but I haven't found a way to buy one myself. I have been to a travel expo recently where the rep remembered me but it was so busy I couldn't ask her to give me one (although I wish she had the time so I could).

Otherwise it might be worthwhile to get a 1 year membership with admiral club for the domestic use (I will have to read the rules better to confirm the lounge locations and access) and then 1 30 day pass in the US next year.

Check ebay for Qantas Club complimentary passes. In the past, the authenticity of some has been questionable.

 

[moa999]

Will the AA membership provide access before US Domestic only flights?
(I note the OP is on an international itin)

 

[shellthom]

will search ebay and see if there are any.
AA membership said it can be done online - I didn't check if I need a us postal address, but my cousin lives in denver if I do. The 30 day pass conditions/membership are unclear if I can get in using jq flight numbers based on the adrimal t&c's but qantas website says qf or jq so I assume it is reciprocal (but should probably clarify before purchase - it is cheaper and it is in us$ so cheaper again based on the dollar and when I buy).
Yes RTW would be probably november next year (so cant book yet but want to know what I want before it comes up - and what I want is business that is a decent price and will get me to platinum or if the difference is too great i will go with lx/lh and try to do enough yupp across america to be platinum.

 

[sutho58]

welcome to the forum,, if you go to the Qantas website, there is a rtw planner, just use this year's dates for flights and it will give you an idea of where you can go and the cost,,

 

[shellthom]

I have used the rtw planner - it never works for me. I don't get prices, I get a tonne of errors but from my understanding (and checking the flights individually) the rules are all met. I have tried economy and business, I have been on a rtw before, but I think it was a fare that is now discontinued. I called and booked it over the phone and it took about 3 hours. I changed it about 30 times before I departed, and my partner had to change it for me after I had departed because he decided to meet me in vegas for NYE (and I wasn't going to be there). I paid a fare difference for that change only, because I couldn't get a seat otherwise.
I think the issue is I want to go to exotic islands as these are expensive to get to the rules must have something in there to prevent such a large revenue loss of doing this, but for the life of me I don't know which on it is (and the planner is no help in clarifying as it says it is fine until I select the dates as if I were going to book).

 

[sutho58]

what are some of the errors?? I have used it and found it to work fine ad long as you meet the restrictions,, if you can get your itinerary to meet the rules, it will price it for you,, a done4 is about $13 k per person..

 

[serfty]

Will the AA membership provide access before US Domestic only flights?
(I note the OP is on an international itin)

The 90 day A/C pass provides three months of entry to any A/C the Hiller can physically. Actually flying AA is not necessary.

It also provides QP entry before any QF flight.

In both cases, one guest is permitted.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

,, a done4 is about $13 k per person..

A DONE4 ex NZ is about AUD11.5k.


Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[shellthom]

argh! the main problem is I select the links to 'direct' flights and follow that around - its a holiday not a status run so no want for connecting for the sake of connecting, i use all the sectors - 16th reserved to get back to point of origin - only to find out half these 'direct' flights are only servicable via connections thus having to re do the entire itinerary every time until I cry (being an emotional & frustrated female) and give up and try again another day to again have the same issue - sigh. I just went through it again.

I might just bite the bullet, ebay is selling the passes for $50 a pop anyway being the same as the flights I already calculated and no doubt ill book some more for the gap between jan and may next year (and whats the likelihood of all these flights running on time anyway??). I have checked and the US lounges say food for purchase, I thought lounges gave you free snacks and drinks - thats my main motive for getting one. As I usually spend $20+ at the airport and/or $30+ on the flight (unless flying QF domestic) for myself, my partner usually doesn't get food on the flight.. but does eat at the airport before and after flights where convenient.

Thank you everyone for the help!

I thought some of the DONE fares could be done cheaper from asia/africa but then flights were cheaper a few years ago as well. ??

Also, A/C does state qf and most of my flights are jq. But I thought I read I could invite 2 guests (but ill either have 1 or 3 so..)

 

[tuapekastar]

shellthom, welcome to AFF.

DONE* fares are indeed considerably cheaper from some other ports outside Australia (Sth Africa a good example). Check this tool for comparisons.

A couple of things to note: 1) Despite it being overall an excellent resource, I've noticed the odd mistake there in the past and 2) while it may say "cheapest RTW fares from Australia" it may be including fares like Circle Asia and the like.

You need to dig a bit. If you find fares you like the look of come back here and someone will be able to confirm whether it is correct or not.

 

[shellthom]

Omg - so 2 hours later manage to get an itinerary validated.
JNB - LHR - DME - MAD - ORY - GIG (via LHR) - SCL - LIM - CCS - SJU - MIA - BDA - JFK - SYD - JNB
70,300 ZAR / 8089 AUD ... DOME - I'm note sure how many continents it is sorry, I get confused .. good price given the cost ex au... but I am not sure I want to go to all of the places but I was forced to pick some based on the flight routing.

 

[serfty]

That would be a DONE5 using continents Africa-Europe-NthAmerica-SthWestPacific-Africa.

There's a good synopsis on xONEx's on FlyerTalk, here: The oneworld explorer ticket FAQs - Flyertalk Forums

 

[Danger]

Omg - so 2 hours later manage to get an itinerary validated.
JNB - LHR - DME - MAD - ORY - GIG (via LHR) - SCL - LIM - CCS - SJU - MIA - BDA - JFK - SYD - JNB
70,300 ZAR / 8089 AUD ... DOME - I'm note sure how many continents it is sorry, I get confused .. good price given the cost ex au... but I am not sure I want to go to all of the places but I was forced to pick some based on the flight routing.

That would be a DONE4 using continents Africa-Europe-NthAmerica-SthWestPacific-Africa.

There's a good synopsis on xONEx's on FlyerTalk, here: The oneworld explorer ticket FAQs - Flyertalk Forums

Isn't it a DONE5? If it's a 4, the taxes are almost an additional 50% of the base fare.

 

[shellthom]

Africa, Europe, South America, North America, Australia. I guess that would be 5. I could come to AU via South America to make it 4, I don't really need to go to the US as I go there a lot anyway. Then I would have more sectors/segments for SWP region. I cant believe the difference in fare from a lone 4 ex syd vs jnb... I may as well buy rtw everytime from jnb and a one way with points, 3k a year to travel round the world every year yes in economy but thats what I am used to!!!... I just spend more than that for a North American return and an air pass ** feel so stupid **
long trip every second year
short trips every other year (start and end of each rtw but alternating the direction so to get more leave off work..)
My best friend lives in JNB so it is really the perfect ticking spot !!

 

[Danger]

. . . I cant believe the difference in fare from a lone 4 ex syd vs jnb... I may as well buy rtw everytime from jnb and a one way with points . . .

Shhhhh. SHHHHHHH.