Ok, it's been a while in the planning, but as part of a comprehensive move to "Best Flight on the Day" I've just joined Priority Pass. (If I am going to have to fly economy anyway, 'cause Qantas doesn't upgrade its most frequent flyers for free, then why stay loyal to just one airline's economy?)
I joined via an Amex link - http://www.prioritypass.com/tp/aecuk US$320 (+2guest visit bonus) or US$79 (pay per use +1 free visit)
Also found - http://www.prioritypass.com/freddie07 (US$319, US$199, US$99 +1 free visit) & http://www.prioritypass.com/bt (US$339, US$212, US$84 +3extra months bonus)
After spending time in the overcrowded, aged, unkempt barn of a Qantas Club in Melbourne the other day, I can't wait until my first visit to The Lounge towards the end of next month. (Their website pics look soooo good.) (I have allowed a few weeks for the PP card to arrive, plus there is a US$10 fee for postage not mentioned in the prices.)
I have done a reckie of the facilities, and note that @ MEL, The Lounge is landside, so when flying an airline other than Virgin Blue there is no need to double pass security, plus, unfortunately the Rex pier doesn't have an exit to the downstairs car park (i.e. next to T4) but there really isn't much difference, given The Lounge's location, with using the Virgin Blue arrivals area exit anyway.
I think Virgin Blue's strategy with Priority Pass is incredibly sophisticated - 1st they have got me to step foot out of the Qantas Club, 2nd they have got me (on the ground) into their facilities (where they can focus on my general conversion) and 3rd - I don't think I will like walking between T3 & T1/4 constantly, so may add a convenience buffer to Virgin Blue pricing (which I note has recently started to price better on routes where, I consider, they compete with Jetstar rather than Qantas for my dollar).
(And that's just in Melbourne, & I don't even live there.)
I joined via an Amex link - http://www.prioritypass.com/tp/aecuk US$320 (+2guest visit bonus) or US$79 (pay per use +1 free visit)
Also found - http://www.prioritypass.com/freddie07 (US$319, US$199, US$99 +1 free visit) & http://www.prioritypass.com/bt (US$339, US$212, US$84 +3extra months bonus)
After spending time in the overcrowded, aged, unkempt barn of a Qantas Club in Melbourne the other day, I can't wait until my first visit to The Lounge towards the end of next month. (Their website pics look soooo good.) (I have allowed a few weeks for the PP card to arrive, plus there is a US$10 fee for postage not mentioned in the prices.)
I have done a reckie of the facilities, and note that @ MEL, The Lounge is landside, so when flying an airline other than Virgin Blue there is no need to double pass security, plus, unfortunately the Rex pier doesn't have an exit to the downstairs car park (i.e. next to T4) but there really isn't much difference, given The Lounge's location, with using the Virgin Blue arrivals area exit anyway.
I think Virgin Blue's strategy with Priority Pass is incredibly sophisticated - 1st they have got me to step foot out of the Qantas Club, 2nd they have got me (on the ground) into their facilities (where they can focus on my general conversion) and 3rd - I don't think I will like walking between T3 & T1/4 constantly, so may add a convenience buffer to Virgin Blue pricing (which I note has recently started to price better on routes where, I consider, they compete with Jetstar rather than Qantas for my dollar).
(And that's just in Melbourne, & I don't even live there.)