Priority Pass access at DJ Lounges

PP isn't just a once off fee. You have to factor in the cost of each entry (sometimes free) depending on which PP plan you purchase. Guests also cost $$ (whereas they might be free if you have the Lounge membership. Not sure). I believe the US$399 fee is of the "all you can visit" variety, so it might be handy.

Also keep in mind that the "list" price of PP isn't always what you should pay ... often lots of deals going for reductions in the price.

I believe the Amex Centurion has a free PP membership? Can anyone confirm?

 

Yes Centurion members receive a complimentary Priority Pass membership, however it is equivalent to the Priority Pass standard membership which is priced at US$99 per year which includes no lounge visits. Each lounge visit for the card holder or guest is an additional US$24 per year.

For US$399 the card holder gets free visits to all lounges, though guests still pay US$24 per visit as you have noted.

 

Lounge members can take in one guest, who doesn't have to be travelling (or so they told me a couple of weeks ago).

If you hunt around you might be able to find some sort of corporate discount for The Lounge similar to Qantas Club. My membership was nowhere near $349.

Steve

 

Free access to DJ Lounge

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Had my first experience of The Lounge yesterday on a return trip from Brisbane. The BFOD policy had all but guaranteed that myself and a colleague would be on Virgin and also ensured that our early arrival at the domestic terminal (2 hours prior to departure) did not mean that we could get an earlier flight.

So we thought "Feck the corporate bean-counters .... we're going to The Lounge!". Armed with boarding and Amex cards we approached the desk and asked to come in. After a couple of minutes of tapping away at his keyboard I asked the DC why he wasn't swiping our cards through the EFTPOS terminal.

"Because it's <fecked>" he said "And so's this <fecking> thing!"

"So it must be free today", we said cheekily.

"Yep", he said.


So we got to polish off a six-pack of beers along with some antipasta, and enjoyed free wireless internet at speeds better than I get in my office. There were also about 20 people max in The Lounge compared to the 2000 that seem to sqeeze into the QC most nights.

The only drawback is that my employer wasn't suitably punished for their insulting BFOD policy ..... but their time will come.


Cheers,


Andrew

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Re: Free access to DJ Lounge

Sorry for going off topic.

Just out of interest how much were the DJ flights? How much were the QF flights? How much notice did you have in planning the trip?

If I were unfortunate enough to work for a company that had implemented a BFOD policy then I would happily pay the difference, within reason if enough time to plan, to fly QF over DJ and JQ anyday.

 

Re: Free access to DJ Lounge

The flights were $214 in total. Something like $85 on the way up at 7am and $129 return at 5:30pm. The trip was on the cards for a few weeks but not confirmed until the middle of last week. By that time the Qantas flights weren't even close.

Yes - I certainly prefer Qantas because of the points (to be used for international travel) and QC access. Being a Silver FF also seems to pay off in other ways.

That said, I have no problems with flying Virgin and find their personnel to be superior. My only gripe with the BFOD policy is that the tangible and intangible benefits of QF & QC are overlooked, but recent discussions with our office manager has given the green light to reinstating my QF fudge-factor. I set this figure at around $20 per morning flight and $30 in the evening. With enough advanced notice this should allow me to book QF most of the time.

Nobody has even mentioned Jetstar in my company, but just in case it comes up I have calculated a fudge-factor for them too ...... so if they give away their tickets for nothing I may have to fly with them!


Cheers,

Andrew

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Ah yes - I had forgotten about the Avalon taxi factor. So that means if Jetstar pay me $30 I might have to fly with them.

But let's be serious for a moment - there is no possible justification for flying Jetstar for business travel, and I choose not to fly them for personal travel. End of story.


Cheers,

Andrew

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