Qantas SG renewal while travelling RTW

[significance]

I will be off on an around the world trip (for work purposes, but unfortunately, flying economy all the way) in mid May. The first leg of the trip will tip me over the SC balance required to retain Qantas SG. My current Qantas gold FF card is due to expire at the end of May and I will be doing quite a bit of flying with oneworld partner airlines between then and my return home (where I imagine my new SG card will be waiting for me) towards the end of June.

Will I be able to access Qantas partner airline lounges? Any advice?

 

[dmitri]

Call them up, they may be able to post out your new card before you leave.

 

[significance]

Call them up, they may be able to post out your new card before you leave.

Even though I won't requalify until after that QF1 flight?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Even though I won't requalify until after that QF1 flight?

Yes, I would contact them and ask if they can send out the card in advance. Theoretically it shouldn't be an issue gaining access with the expired card as your status will update online but personally I would feel more comfortable having a new valid card with me as IME partner lounges vary in their ability and willingness to check your eligibility.

 

[significance]

Okay - I called Qantas and got a very friendly, helpful customer service rep on the phone. Upshot, unfortunately, is that they can't sent the new SG card out early and it will be up to the lounge staff whether or not they let me in with the expired card+ability to show my status online. Since I am also a paid QC member, however, they will send me a new QC card with a later expiry date, and that will get me into AA and Emirates lounges, but not BA lounges (unless I am lucky with a friendly lounge dragon).

 

[JohnM]

Okay - but not BA lounges (unless I am lucky with a friendly lounge dragon).

They are usually mutually exclusive terms :evil:.

 

[Bushflyer]

You can print the " your summary" page from the website that has your status validity and take it with you.

 

[Robert K]

status is printed on boarding pass no? I haven't been asked to see my FF card ever.

 

[significance]

status is printed on boarding pass no? I haven't been asked to see my FF card ever.

Status is printed on Qantas boarding passes, but not partner airline boarding passes.

 

[significance]

You can print the " your summary" page from the website that has your status validity and take it with you.

Or I can show my summary on my iPad when I get there. Slightly less easy to fake. It's still up to the lounge staff, though.

 

[eric2011]

Just wondering...if you are a current QF gold and you know you will requal to QF gold, then why do you pay to join QC. ie, are there other benefits

 

[eric2011]

Status is printed on Qantas boarding passes, but not partner airline boarding passes.

Doesn't it say, ruby, emerald etc which are the colours for status ?

 

[Princess Fiona]

status is printed on boarding pass no? I haven't been asked to see my FF card ever.

It's actually quite common at BA Lounges.

 

[significance]

Doesn't it say, ruby, emerald etc which are the colours for status ?

You may be right. It has been a while.

 

[nonpop]

It's actually quite common at BA Lounges.

+1 plus other OW lounges through Europe.
They say the BP is not enough and the card is required.
So now I always have the card on me.

To the OP ... call QF and advise them you will be renewing during your trip.
I have had them advance issue my card. You will find they may need to exclude the debit card component if it is a rush job.

 

[significance]

Just wondering...if you are a current QF gold and you know you will requal to QF gold, then why do you pay to join QC. ie, are there other benefits

I paid before I was SG. While I am SG, they keep the remaining time of my QC membership on hold and reactivate it if I drop back to silver.

 

[significance]

I have had them advance issue my card. You will find they may need to exclude the debit card component if it is a rush job.

Thanks - tried that, but they can't issue the card early as I won't hit the required number of points to renew SG until the first leg of my trip.

 

[MelUser]

The biggest problem in the past were BA lounge staff - they really didn't want you in their lounges unless you were flying Business or First Class so they looked for every excuse to keep you out. AA, CX and QF have always been fine with the CIP information printed on the boarding pass. But, recently BA have changed - I had a business class flight out of LHRT3 and went to go to the First Class Lounge without my card and expecting a fight on my hands. The lady guarding the entrance said it was fine that their policy had changed and they could go by the information on the boarding pass.

 

[eric2011]

I paid before I was SG. While I am SG, they keep the remaining time of my QC membership on hold and reactivate it if I drop back to silver.

Ahh yes, I do recall that now. Thanks

 

[rickylee]

I was in that position quite a few years ago when I regained my gold status after a health scare stopped me from flying for a while. I did not have a problem getting into any QF or Oneworld partner lounges while I was away - but I did have problems with what I call contractor lounges when I was in Europe - for example, the lounge in Budapest the "Platinum Lounge" is the designated lounge for BA and they would not let me in, even with a printout of my activity statement.