Qantas Club: 770AUD for what?

[NM]

I've been meaning to ask. I'm flying LAX-SFO next month in First on a Y-Up fare with AA. It has an AA flight number.

I am a Qantas Club member. Will I be able to access the AAAdmirals Lounge at LAX?

Qantas Club member can visit any Admirals Club lounge when flying with AA. So yes, the LAX AC counts.

 

[harvyk]

The Qantas Club membership affords lounge access on AA, doesn't provide any access to short queues ( such as check in or security ) though

Dave

Yes, but PS (as it's OW Ruby) is enough to get you AAccess... All the advantages (bar the bonus points) of being a SG at a fraction of the cost...

 

[reflector]

The Qantas Club membership affords lounge access on AA, doesn't provide any access to short queues ( such as check in or security ) though

Dave

Hmm, perhaps this is "official" practice, but as we all know, in practice, some procedures are mislaid, or just plain ignored.
Recently whilst travelling in america, my sister and I both checked in at a very uncrowded AA First counter in T4. The staff were friendly(!) and didn't even bother charging us the checked bag fee/ransom.
We then proceeded throuch the priority line through security, and made our way up to the T4 admirals club (one of the few places in the states they don't look at you strangely when you ask for lemon lime and bitters)

Now I don't fly all that much, but when i do, it's usually long haul to the eastern USA (atlanta, which usually ends up being BNE-SYD-LAX-DFW/ORD-ATL) I usually fly in Y because I'm thrifty/haven't got money to burn.
As for my reasons for being a QC member? Well I'll be perfectly frank... (and shallow)
I like feeling better than others!!!

I love queueing in the QC line when the rest of Y is being herded through the 40min lines.

I take perverted satisfaction from seeing dishevelled tourists crammed in around the gate lounge as i stroll up to my free food, drink, internet and lack of ratty children (usually)

Most of all, I love how qantas gives me great seats in Y because of my status. last 4 lax-syd/bne flights I've had bulkhead window behind business, amazing when you're taller than 6 foot like me.



That's why i love Qantas Club.

 

[tuapekastar]

Yes, but PS (as it's OW Ruby) is enough to get you AAccess... All the advantages (bar the bonus points) of being a SG at a fraction of the cost...

You mean lounge access? Not as far as I'm aware. Priority checkin certainly, lounge access no.

 

[Dave Noble]

Yes, but PS (as it's OW Ruby) is enough to get you AAccess... All the advantages (bar the bonus points) of being a SG at a fraction of the cost...

Qantas Club membership does not give OW Ruby Status; Silver status provides that but is quite irrelevent to Qantas Club benefits

Dave

 

[harvyk]

you mean lounge access? Not as far as i'm aware. Priority checkin certainly, lounge access no.

qp + ps...

 

[PineappleSkip]

lack of ratty children (usually)

I usually find a horde of the ratty children in the "quiet area", aong with their parents who pretend they dont exist.

Cheers skip.

 

[JohnK]

Don't get me wrong lounges are quite nice but if I did not have Platinum/Gold status (obviously would not fly as much) I don't think I would pay for lounge membership.

One can buy a lot of beer for the cost of a yearly Qantas Club membership and there is always somewhere nice to sit at the airport and have a drink away from everyone else. The food is no big deal as most airlines provide some sort of food on board and a shower once a day in the morning is more than adequate.

 

[thewinchester]

I love queueing in the QC line when the rest of Y is being herded through the 40min lines.

I'm with you there, as someone who totally hates queuing.

There is nothing better than rocking up at PER T2 to take a red eye, where the check-in/bag drop lines for Y are all the way back to the door, and walking straight up to the fast moving J/QP/OW lines where you're away and upstairs in the QP inside 5min.

Same at T1, when it's the usual midday QF77 and more often than not there's a tour group of about 20-30 people (more often teens or school kids) in the lanes, and the J line totally empty. My friends travelling with me just love it.

I take perverted satisfaction from seeing dishevelled tourists crammed in around the gate lounge as i stroll up to my free food, drink, internet and lack of ratty children (usually)

me too

Can't stand being out in the terminal with the huddled masses, yearning to be airborne. Crying kids, drunk friends, loud talkers, teen angst, seat hogs, paid wireless, overpriced drinks and ankle biters who's parents don't know how to control them.

QP membership for me is AUD250 well spent every single year.

 

[rhjames]

For me the biggest benefit of the QP is being able to shower after work on a Friday afternoon before getting on a 5 hour flight home.

Most people could have a shower at work before going to the airport.

I wouldn't join just for domestic flights. If you fly enough to justify the cost, you'd be gold anyway. I've been platinum for years due to a lot of international travel, and certainly enjoy the club facilities on the long hauls. The fast check in is probably more important to me than the lounge. (I consider the Sydney 1st class lounge to be excellent, but expensive overkill).

 

[tuapekastar]

qp + ps...

Aah, a little bit of qp makes a big difference!

 

[munitalP]

Most people could have a shower at work before going to the airport...

There are not many places I can shower before getting on a flight except the qantas lounges


Mr!

 

[Cyclogenesis]

I have used many QPs over the ~7 months I have had membership..

But one leg, YUL-ORD-LAX-MEL where I got to have a shower at LAX and some dinner (and it was one of the few times the LAX J lounge was not packed) before the 15 hour flight to Melbourne, ALONE would have been worth the $770 (Work paid)

IMHO "refreshment" facilities on long haul is no-1 benefit... helps "reset" the trip....

Oh and another great benefit is when you fly AA... If you have no OW status the service is, well, sub-par IMHO... Walk into the A/C with your QP membership and talk to the desk staff there an things look a lot rosier (I had shocking seating for my US flights, 10 minutes work with a very nice A/C staffer and I had exit rows all the way! YMMV)

 

[rhjames]

where I got to have a shower at LAX and some dinner (and it was one of the few times the LAX J lounge was not packed) before the 15 hour flight to Melbourne, ALONE would have been worth the $770 (Work paid)

Yes but if it was out of your pocket, would you pay?

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Yes
(oh I need a 10 character post... so to re-iterate: Yes)

 

[NM]

There are not many places I can shower before getting on a flight except the qantas lounges

And I am sure your fellow passengers appreciate your lounge membership for just that reason

 

[Curious]

I agree that membership at least gives you the opportunity to discuss options with usually helpful staff, not that they can always agree to our requests. Example; recently my partners luggage didn't arrive for our Singapore stopover between London and Perth. On leaving Sing the QC staff tried unsuccessfully to locate the luggage. I didn’t think they would be any more successful than the lost luggage dept but wanted them to be aware of our situation and my partner’s distress, once this was established it was easy to get them to give us a free upgrade as some recompense.

Also the US trip that was the subject of my one and only post to date, is with an 80 year old chap, who though very good for his age will I am sure appreciate my membership.

 

[11sjw]

Yes but if it was out of your pocket, would you pay?

Never had to pay $770 for it.

My travel agent (also a family friend) has a Corporate Program set up with Qantas. It cost me $550 for two years. (I transferred over from Ansett's Golden Wing at the time so no nomination paid)

Most of the flying I do results in departures pre 6am (Perth - Pilbara return) with carry on only. So knowing I can get a bite to eat for breakfast (in flight breakfasts are average at best) and a coffee or 3 is very handy. When the flying was for one of the big miners we rec'd full econ SCs each time (60 for return trip) so Gold was easy to attain. A change of jobs has seen the SCs drop to 30 for a return trip, hence I had to pony up this year.

Will continue to do so and can claim it on tax so I see it as definitely worth it.

 

[econgdon]

Re: Qantas Club: 770AUD for what reason in domestic market?

I travel frequently within Australia. Its business and quick and I have no time to waste away in lounges. If I am travelling with staff that's different, BUT they couldn't get access to a lounge anyway.
Internationally its different, BUT if travelling business class access is granted free.. SO WHY JOIN ?? My main trips are from HBT or SYD and MEL and no lounge in HBT despite a new airport building, where I could use it. I think it is a status thing of little use domestically

 

[NM]

Re: Qantas Club: 770AUD for what reason in domestic market?

I travel frequently within Australia. Its business and quick and I have no time to waste away in lounges. If I am travelling with staff that's different, BUT they couldn't get access to a lounge anyway.

If you don't travel enough for complementary lounge access (OneWorld Sapphire) then your theory hold merit. One of the major benefits of lounge access is when schedules go wrong and you find yourself with unplanned time to spend at the airport.

Internationally its different, BUT if travelling business class access is granted free.. SO WHY JOIN ?? My main trips are from HBT or SYD and MEL and no lounge in HBT despite a new airport building, where I could use it. I think it is a status thing of little use domestically

That works if you are privileged enough to travel business class. Not everyone does.