Qantas Club renewal - worth it?

[Warks]

I've been either SG (mainly) or WP for the last 15 years except for a brief period where I just had QC membership near the end of my corporate (and start of my self-employed) career. I managed to pay for a year under a corporate scheme (CSIRO alumni) when first self-employed and then made it to SG within a year and have been there ever since. Last year my travel changed and I didn't requalify - most of my flying has switched to VA and I'm SG there. My QC membership kicked back in when my SG expire last October but now it's running out at the end of the month. It's $305 a year (which is less than the website says) but still a fair amount of dough. I haven't flown a single QF flight since mid last year but the joining fee makes me think that I should renew it just in case my travel changes. The only upcoming use I can see is access to the Air Alaska lounge in LAX between flights next month. Having been in there last year I know it's not much but better than 6 hours at the gate.

I never thought this day would come. I have to work hard enough to retain my VA SG so I can't really justify flying QF just to stay in touch.

I guess it's tax deductible...

 

[Buzzard]

If like you I flew VA and was VA Gold, I would not renew my QP membership. Not worth spending $305 just for the Air Alaska lounge.
Perhaps there is a lounge you could pay to go into. A Priority Pass membership may be better value for you.

 

[Hvr]

It always comes down to a financial equation. How much will each visit cost when you're paying $305 per annum?

If above the figure when you can get the same benefits by paying for the items individually then the answer would seem apparent. Probably the only other question is, 'is your travel likely to change back to QF in the near future?'

If so then include the cost of the joining fee and see if it still males sense to renew.

 

[hutch]

QF gives you access to the Air Alaska lounge? Who knew?

If you are not flying QF and don't intend to for the near future, any money you save by not having to pay a 'joining fee' would be lost in paying a yearly membership fee for a service you are not using.

 

[cmon0005]

Also (I'm not an accountant) but are you not able to Tax deduct QC?

 

[clazman]

Only if you can prove you fly for work, believe only needs to be one flight

 

[Warks]

It's hard to say what will happen re future travel but if I drop the QP that means I'll totally throw in my lot with VA. A situation I never would have thought possible some 10 years ago. I had quite a rant about DJ back then, swearing never to fly with them again. Mind you that was a different airline really - operating out of the shed at SYD.

The cost of rejoining QP is a killer but if I didn't fly QF for the next 12 months I guess I'd save that much anyway if I had to re-enlist.

'All' my flying is for work purposes (self-employed statement for ATO!)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I haven't flown a single QF flight since mid last year but the joining fee makes me think that I should renew it just in case my travel changes. The only upcoming use I can see is access to the Air Alaska lounge in LAX between flights next month. Having been in there last year I know it's not much but better than 6 hours at the gate.

Same boat as you - I didn't renew QC membership. It kinda 'pangs' to watch the membership renewal date pass, knowing you'll be up for a joining fee if you decide to join again... but once that passes it's all good!

For most lounges in the USA you can buy a day pass anyway (about USD50)... and on AA you can buy a one month membership for USD99.

 

[BD1959]

The only upcoming use I can see is access to the Air Alaska lounge in LAX between flights next month. Having been in there last year I know it's not much but better than 6 hours at the gate.

Is this still the case? I can't find mention of either the Lounge or Access Benefit on QF's website ... but then I can't find my car keys at times, either!!

Regards,

BD

 

[OATEK]

It always comes down to a financial equation. How much will each visit cost when you're paying $305 per annum?

If above the figure when you can get the same benefits by paying for the items individually then the answer would seem apparent. Probably the only other question is, 'is your travel likely to change back to QF in the near future?'

If so then include the cost of the joining fee and see if it still males sense to renew.

My employer pays half the renewal fee, but even at $150 or so, I hardly use QP at present and wonder if it is worth keeping.

 

[Warks]

Is this still the case? I can't find mention of either the Lounge or Access Benefit on QF's website ... but then I can't find my car keys at times, either!!

Regards,

BD

I flew VA to LAX last October and was booked to fly on to YVR with Alaska. Spotted the lounge and saw it had the Qantas logo on the list of airlines so flashed my SG card and went in. Whether a QC card would be recognised as well I don't know but would expect so.

I'd actually got a $50 upgrade to First so could have gone in anyway I guess.

Tiny club with not much on offer. Not worth renewing for just that of course.

 

[BD1959]

I flew VA to LAX last October and was booked to fly on to YVR with Alaska. Spotted the lounge and saw it had the Qantas logo on the list of airlines so flashed my SG card and went in. Whether a QC card would be recognised as well I don't know but would expect so.

I was wondering whether the recent "enhancements" - AAdmirals Club members having to fly on AA codeshare to access QC - QF might have snuck a further "enhancement" for QC access to Alaska Air Board Rooms.

RedRoo: Given the lack of information on the QF Website, can you confirm that QC Members have access to the Alaska Board Room at LAX and, if so, under what conditions.

Regards,

BD