Purchasing lounge membership - Star Alliance?

[gfroyle]

Just got quotes for a round-the-world trip (Perth -> Canada -> UK -> Perth) for me and the family, and the Star Alliance quote is nearly $3000 less than the One World.

But my wife is a Qantas Club member and as we have two young kids, we really rely on the clubs while travelling.

So, can I just join some other club program, using some of the saved $3000 and get access to lounges - Perth / Toronto / Heathrow / Singapore / Perth are the critical places...

I looked all over Singapore Airlines Website but it seems that you have to *earn* membership of their club by either flying lots or going business class.

Any advice - do I just join United's Red Carpet Club (for example) even though I have no scheduled United flights?

Is there a generic "Star Alliance Club"?

Cheers

Gordon

 

[smithym]

I'm sure some of the more seasond flyers will be along soon however, you might have better success on the FlyerTalk Star Alliance thread. Lots of experience on Star Alliance questions over there.

 

[serfty]

G'day gfroyle, welcome to AFF.

For an RTW ex Oz using oneworld, don't use Qantas to book it.

Use American Airlines, I think you'll find the cost of the same oneworld route much less expensive than the *A RTW.

To put it at it's most basic, this is due to American Airlines not charging fuel fines (levies) to the extortionist extent that Qantas, Air New Zealand (for example) do.

You should find a lot of useful information here: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/the-next-done4-planning-thread-9744.html

(Note that it refers to Business class travel, but much is appropriate to WHY travel)