Free upgrades?

[Skyring]

But once on the plane I join the rest of the cattle in the back - so don't fear that I am developing a superiority complex .... that's for the wankers at the pointy end of the plane.

Piss being taken there, I presume.

If I had the money to splash around, then I'd travel everywhere in First and bugger the rest.

But I don't, and I've got to choose where I get the best value for money. With three RTW trips planned for this year, I reckon I'll be spending a lot of time in terminals waiting for flights, and QC membership is going to be a lot of comfort and convenience for not a great deal of money.

I'll happily accept any upgrades given, and if that makes me a wanker, then colour me throbbing! {insert appropriate smiley here}

--
Pete, cheap, clean and convenient

 

[Yada Yada]

With three RTW trips planned for this year, I reckon I'll be spending a lot of time in terminals waiting for flights, and QC membership is going to be a lot of comfort and convenience for not a great deal of money.

Pete - I guess you already know that QP membership does not automatically get you into all one world partner lounges overseas? Here is some info from the QF website:

Qantas Club lounges
When you arrive at any Qantas Club, QantasLink, joint Qantas/British Airways, Qantas/American Airlines® or Qantas/Air Pacific lounge, present your Qantas Club card, or your Platinum or Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer card, together with your ticket or boarding pass for travel on that day with a Qantas flight number.

If you are travelling internationally, you will also need to present your Qantas Club card or your Platinum or Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer membership card at check-in. Most of our international lounges are 'airside' and easy to find once you have gone through passport control.

Access to Partner airline lounges
In addition to Qantas Club lounges, you can relax in British Airways lounges (Terraces and Executive Club lounges), American Airlines® Admirals Club lounges and US Airways Club lounges.

To access a partner airline lounge, simply present your Qantas Club card or Platinum or Gold Frequent Flyer card at check-in and again with your boarding pass at the lounge reception. You may also invite a guest. Note that both you and your guest must have onward travel that day on a flight marketed and operated by the partner airline whose lounge you wish to visit.*

* Marketed and operated means a flight operated by the same airline whose flight number appears on your ticket. Includes American Airlines® or British Airways operated flights with a 'QF' flight number on your ticket.

Access to Associated lounges
You will be welcome at associated lounges in most international ports that Qantas flies to but where it does not operate its own lounge or partner airline lounge. Our associated lounges are operated by, or on behalf of, other airlines.* Present your Qantas Club, Platinum or Gold Frequent Flyer card at check-in and again with your boarding pass at the lounge reception. You may also invite one guest. Again, both you and your guest need to be travelling together further than that day on a Qantas marketed flight.^ If you are taking a domestic flight, your guest does not need to be travelling.

* Lounges are not available in ports that are only serviced by Qantas codeshare flights.
^ Qantas marketed and operated means a Qantas operated flight with a 'QF' flight number on your ticket.

Access to oneworld airline lounges
As an additional benefit, Platinum and Gold Qantas Frequent Flyers (Emerald and Sapphire oneworld members) may also enter the lounges of our oneworld alliance partners* when travelling on eligible flights that are marketed^ and operated by a oneworld alliance airline. You may also invite one guest. Note that both you and your guest need to be travelling further than on an eligible flight that is marketed^ and operated by a oneworld alliance airline.

Qantas Club members with Bronze or Silver status are unable to access oneworld alliance airline lounges with the exception of British Airways and American Airlines® lounges which can be accessed as part of our partner airline agreement.

* oneworld partner airlines are Qantas Airways, Aer Lingus, American Airlines®, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia and LAN. Note: LAN affiliates LAN Ecuador and LAN Argentina are not members of oneworld.
^ Marketed means that there must be a oneworld alliance flight number on your ticket.

Website link

 

[Skyring]

With three RTW trips planned for this year, I reckon I'll be spending a lot of time in terminals waiting for flights, and QC membership is going to be a lot of comfort and convenience for not a great deal of money.

Pete - I guess you already know that QP membership does not automatically get you into all one world partner lounges overseas? Here is some info from the QF website:

[/quote]
Thanks!
Yes, I'm aware of this. I reckon I'll get a fair bit of benefit anyway, but to tell the truth, it's LAX T4 that I want to escape from mostly. Anything else is pretty much gravy!

 

[Yada Yada]

Yes, I'm aware of this. I reckon I'll get a fair bit of benefit anyway, but to tell the truth, it's LAX T4 that I want to escape from mostly. Anything else is pretty much gravy!

Fair enough. The last time I was in LAX, the AA lounge was indeed a nice escape from the public areas of the crowded terminal. There wasn't a lot on offer for free (coffee, water, and "trail mix"), but I was on a J fare so I received some vouchers for food & drink, but never actually got around to using them because I arrived close to departure time and spent it all working.

 

[NM]

I have never had a Qantas Club CSA count my children in the number of permitted guests. And this includes recent visits including my son who is almost as tall as me (he is well taller than Mrs NM).

Last family entry was earlier in Jan, with Mrs NM and 4 Mini NMs all welcomed when I waved my Plat card. Mrs NM had be BP showing Gold status in her hand but didn't even show it to the CSA. When she saw my plat card she just nodded and said welcome. Only one of the minis is under 3 yo.

In my experience, the Qantas Clubs are very accommodating when it comes to families and children. I guess they know the kids won't drink the bar dry (except maybe the sprite vending machine), and generally parents travelling with kids won't be drinking to excess.

 

[Skyring]

The last time I was in LAX, the AA lounge was indeed a nice escape from the public areas of the crowded terminal. There wasn't a lot on offer for free (coffee, water, and "trail mix"), but I was on a J fare so I received some vouchers for food & drink, but never actually got around to using them because I arrived close to departure time and spent it all working.

The public area isn't the best spot for working, and that's what I tend to be doing if I've got a few hours of "dead time". I dare not use my laptop batteries before the long flight, and there are only a handful of power points available in that whole big circular area.

And those loudspeaker announcements are a distraction, to be polite!