How to get Chairman's Lounge Membership ?

[drron]

No hackers here Liam but collectively we know everything!
And yes welcome to the forum.

 

[ecomonytravel]

I have been CL for 12 months. It is nice but frankly if your worried about how to become a member then forget it, it only comes by invitation. I had no idea it was coming to me, I got a phone call and then a letter about it.

I only travel in Economy so just flying First or Business is not a big deal. Either is miles. But I would suggest being a Platinum for several years is essential for consideration.

 

[NM]

But I would suggest being a Platinum for several years is essential for consideration.

I would suggest that is not the case. Being in a "position of influence" is the essential consideration. Previous personal travel history is not the key.

 

[ecomonytravel]

I would suggest that is not the case. Being in a "position of influence" is the essential consideration. Previous personal travel history is not the key.

Okay point taken, I guess normally if you are a senior exec or some VIP your are usually going to be PL because of all your travel anyway... thanks

 

[NM]

Okay point taken, I guess normally if you are a senior exec or some VIP your are usually going to be PL because of all your travel anyway... thanks

Possibly. Sometimes a number of CL memberships may be granted to an organisation as part of a large corporate travel contract, and it may be up to the company to nominate the recipients. Many would nominate their senior execs, but on some cases it may be the procurement exec or travel coordinator who gets it.

The actual "influence"of the "position of influence" may be quite varied. Such may include public sector policy (such as a politician), influence over a large travel budget (such as defining the travel policy for a large corporate), or being a senior exec of a company that may affect Qantas in some other manner. None of these in or of themselves require the recipient to be a frequent traveller themselves.

 

[ejb]

Hi all,

I lot of people seem to place great worth on CL membership, I personally have noticed that becoming WP made a great difference to the QF experience (last PER-SYD flight was greeted personally by CSM during flight), however I dont know much about CL.

What are the great benefits everyone seems to chase?

BTW, I already understand I will never get membership I am only asking as I am curious to the additional benefits.

Thanks,

 

[NM]

Hi all,

I lot of people seem to place great worth on CL membership, I personally have noticed that becoming WP made a great difference to the QF experience (last PER-SYD flight was greeted personally by CSM during flight), however I dont know much about CL.

What are the great benefits everyone seems to chase?

BTW, I already understand I will never get membership I am only asking as I am curious to the additional benefits.

Thanks,

I am not sure anyone is "chasing" CL membership.

CL members receive complementary Platinum FF status, so all the associated benefits such as First Class check-in and Lounges etc. They can access special Chairman's Lounges at certain airports (such as major Australian capital domestic airports). The customer service agents at these lounges have considerable discretion when it comes to helping CL members.

I am not sure if they get access to a different phone number or enhanced priority for call centre agents. Platinum members get access to the Qantas Premium desk, so I expect its the same desk for CL members.

Qantas used to be generous with upgrades for CL members, but I have no real evidence of how this pans out these days following Qantas' tighter control over upgrades using FF points.

CL members generally end up towards the top of waitlists for things like points upgrades, standby seat availability etc.

 

[NYCguy]

I am not sure anyone is "chasing" CL membership.

CL members receive complementary Platinum FF status, so all the associated benefits such as First Class check-in and Lounges etc. They can access special Chairman's Lounges at certain airports (such as major Australian capital domestic airports). The customer service agents at these lounges have considerable discretion when it comes to helping CL members.

I am not sure if they get access to a different phone number or enhanced priority for call centre agents. Platinum members get access to the Qantas Premium desk, so I expect its the same desk for CL members.

Qantas used to be generous with upgrades for CL members, but I have no real evidence of how this pans out these days following Qantas' tighter control over upgrades using FF points.

CL members generally end up towards the top of waitlists for things like points upgrades, standby seat availability etc.

Sounds like UGS. Except that you can qualify for that by spend.

Any rumours/knowledge of other airlines that have an "unpublished" list of benefits for "special" customers?

 

[NM]

Sounds like UGS. Except that you can qualify for that by spend.

Any rumours/knowledge of other airlines that have an "unpublished" list of benefits for "special" customers?

Many do. BA call theirs Premier.

 

[ejb]

Sounds like UGS. Except that you can qualify for that by spend.

Any rumours/knowledge of other airlines that have an "unpublished" list of benefits for "special" customers?

Sorry to be a pain, but what is "UGS":?:

Thanks.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry to be a pain, but what is "UGS":?:

United Global Services Member. It is an invitation only status based on revenue spent with United Airlines and not miles flown.

This thread on Flyertalk has more information.

 

[ejb]

United Global Services Member. It is an invitation only status based on revenue spent with United Airlines and not miles flown.

This thread on Flyertalk has more information.

Thanks.

So to clarify the "ejb ain't getting Cl" message, CL is not based on QF spend.

 

[Harpoon]

Hi All,

I found this thread very interesting. I was looking up info on CL after chatting to my Uncle last night, who informed me of his CL status, which I previously had no idea he had.

Anyway thought I'd add some of the things he mentioned...

Firstly the CL membership card looks very 'sexy'...all black and very exclusive. he showed it to me last night. Similar to the AMEX Black credit card if anyone knows what I'm talking about. The card in itself is a lovely ego boost when flashing it to the QC person at the front desk.

My uncle mentioned the best thing about CL from his POV is most definately the upgrades on most domestic flights. He usually buys a Y seat said that if there is a J seat spare, he'll get it without even asking. Said that he's never had to sit in Y unless J is full. Same with J to F upgrades on intl flights. He said it's not 100% garunteed but it happens pretty much every time on his regular MEL-SYD-MEL, and most international flights.

The other decent perk he described that changing flights due to delays or whatever is an absolute breeze. He said it's as simple as calling the lounge and they'll do it even if the flight he wants to change to boards in a few minutes. I'm not sure if that was an exaggeration or not though.

And another perk, which is a bit of a ego boost as well, is that on check-in they rarely give him a boarding pass for domestic. Usually he goes straight to the CL. They will announce boarding for his flight and then somebody will bring him his boarding pass to where he is sitting in the CL.

Obviously it's also nice to have your own private lounge without the 'peasants' like me in the QC elbowing you out of the way of the coffee machine hehe. Oh and if anyone is wondering, at MEL domestic QC anyway, the CL is the door that says 'Private' or something when going in to the QC. I'll be looking for it next time I walk past

He said he just got CL renenewed for 2 years not long ago, so he's quite pleased about that. He flies enough to be Plat anyway.

To be honest after reading the previous pages of this thread, I'm honestly not sure how or why he got invited based on the criteria described by others. He not a 'big wig' of a major company, but I think he's done consulting work for the fed government or possibly for Qantas itself, something like that. Maybe he is mates with somebody on the Qantas board...but I didn't ask him that last night because I hadn't seen this thread yesterday

 

[straitman]

Thanks Harpoon. Interesting.

 

[simongr]

Thanks.

So to clarify the "ejb ain't getting Cl" message, CL is not based on QF spend.

Not based on personal spend - for one group within CL it is very much based on corporate spend with QF. Or it is based on being Harpoon's uncle

 

[serfty]

Locations: (May change when J lounges open)

• SYD - Veer to left after going up East escalators - head to passage in corner.
• MEL - Veer Right after going up escalators, entrance in Right Hand corner.
• BNE - Old QP, across concourse from gate ~24.
• ADL - on the left as you face the Qantas Club admission desk
• PER - veer to the right as you come up the escalators.
• CBR - Door to the right of the main entry to the QP (This may be the only CL that is either nearly as big or bigger than it co-QP)

 

[SeatBackForward]

Locations: (May change when J lounges open)

• SYD - Veer to left after going up East escalators - head to passage in corner.
• MEL - Veer Right after going up escalators, entrance in Right Hand corner.
• BNE - Old QP, across concourse from gate ~24.
• ADL - immediately to right at top of escalator (still use main desk when entering).
• PER - ???

PER - veer to the right as you come up the escalators. The only CL I've been in.
Editted to add: its actually a sliding panel that doesn't look like a door at all.

 

[straitman]

PER - veer to the right as you come up the escalators. The only CL I've been in.
Editted to add: its actually a sliding panel that doesn't look like a door at all.

PER zoo is probably the one where you want the CL and don't want to be in the regular QP.

 

[Anna]

In ADL there is no longer an escalator in the QC since the move to the new terminal.

I don't know where the CL is in the new terminal. Am flying through there on Sunday so will try and find out.

 

[Mal]

I don't know where the CL is in the new terminal. Am flying through there on Sunday so will try and find out.

I believe it's on the left as you go into the Qantas Club. The front staff will direct as appropriate!