Should I renew Qantas club membership?

[ozrick33]

My Qantas club membership is due for renewal and I am not sure whether to renew it or not. I don't fly a lot. International once a year and domestic about 2 -3 times a year. When I do fly internationally I normally fly in J on points so have access to the club anyway. When I do fly domestic I really enjoy the club. I have discovered though that I get 2 free passes through Westpac Black. What I am concerned about is that if I drop the membership that I may find it more difficult to book International flights in J using points.

I am planning a final big International holiday in 2017 which means I will be looking for a round the world fare in J using points and don't want to jeapordise that if dropping the membership means more limited availability.

Thanks everyone, Rick

 

[Dr Ralph]

From what you've said it would be an expensive exercise to keep the membership open.

Easy enough to reopen it later if needed.

But also very easy to take advantage of the AA 30 day passes that are available and give many similar benefits to Qantas Club.

 

[Archphoto]

I wasn't aware that QP membership has anything to do with reward seats. I had it for a couple of years before I hit Gold and then WP and it did come in handy for the flights I did without the other team members (one hit Gold well before me as he always flew J, whereas I flew Y). I kept it when I fell back to Silver and then Bronze, but with QF reducing the access to clubs internationally and closing them, I haven't bothered to renew the past 2 years.

Switching to CX and being Silver gave me lounge access so I continued to use them over QF here in Asia. If you're flying J for your flights, I wouldn't bother personally - how much food and alcohol would you consume on those domestic flights? Yes, it's nice to have somewhere comfortable to relax prior to the flight, but $-wise, is it savvy?

 

[samh004]

I wasn't aware that QP membership has anything to do with reward seats.

Likewise, I wasn't aware there was any difference afforded to QP members; actual status on the other hand...

I'm thinking similarly for my sister, who has her membership expiring in September, but hasn't really taken advantage of the lounge access since acquiring it. Renewal under a corp scheme is $365.40!

 

[Mattg]

As has been said, I don't think Qantas Club membership makes any difference to award availability access.

Against my better judgement, I do think that my advice would be not to renew. As you say, it's not needed if you're flying Business anyway. The passes you get with the Black card can also fill some of the gaps when you're flying Y domestically.

 

[Limewood]

If your not flying Dom. much and need to get into the club stacks of sellers have lounge passes for sale be it legal or not.

 

[QFFHntrGthr]

We don't do that many flights each year but we have been QP members since 1996. We have seen the great deterioration of the offerings in the QP and each time renewal comes up, we question our sanity paying so much for a few visits a year. Food wise, it is really next to "kill them fast with the unhealthy fried or high carb/fat food "including the highly lauded pizza in the Perth BP" or they can always do salad or a toastie. Each time we have renewed because 1) we are too old to learn how to check ourselves in 2) it is so nice to wait for a flight in a lounge with a glass of wine (although the FIFO phenomena (with exposed undies on flared stubbies[when FI decides to lie down to play with the mobile and show FO]/feet on tables/unashamed expelling of excess gas)) killed the experience in Brisbane and Perth) 3)the extra baggage allowance (we have nearly taken our whole kitchen on some trips) 4) skippy on the tail wins us over each time and 5) it is so hard to let go. If money is not a problem, I think you should keep your QP membership because of (5) and you'll keep thinking "I shouldn't have let it go" when you fly in Y. I don't think it will buy you preferential treatment for reward seats though but each time you fly in Y, you'll feel so special that you've treated yourself to the comforts in life. New membership used to cost more than renewals. not sure if it still does.

 

[Spongbob]

The value of Qantas Club membership needs to be assessed against the services (food, drink etc) you would use for each QP visit.
With, say, 6 QP visits each year and annual fee at $400, the value of each visit is about $66 (or $33 if you have one guest on each visit).
So, would it be cheaper to directly buy the services than renew QP membership?

 

[timster]

The OP's is one of the clearest equations for QP non-renewal I've seen.

Pouring $100's into something you're barely using is a depressing feeling. I know, I did it for a few years after the QP benefits started to evaporate, before switching mostly to *A (where I could get Gold more easily and hence no longer needed the greatly diminished offerings of QP).

You're mostly in J on QFi anyway.
You have free passes for domestic.
AA 30day passes to fall back on.
Enjoy the feeling of not being shackled to a single airline when you see a good BFOD.

 

[travelislife]

We don't do that many flights each year but we have been QP members since 1996. We have seen the great deterioration of the offerings in the QP and each time renewal comes up, we question our sanity paying so much for a few visits a year. Food wise, it is really next to "kill them fast with the unhealthy fried or high carb/fat food "including the highly lauded pizza in the Perth BP" or they can always do salad or a toastie. Each time we have renewed because 1) we are too old to learn how to check ourselves in 2) it is so nice to wait for a flight in a lounge with a glass of wine (although the FIFO phenomena (with exposed undies on flared stubbies[when FI decides to lie down to play with the mobile and show FO]/feet on tables/unashamed expelling of excess gas)) killed the experience in Brisbane and Perth) 3)the extra baggage allowance (we have nearly taken our whole kitchen on some trips) 4) skippy on the tail wins us over each time and 5) it is so hard to let go. If money is not a problem, I think you should keep your QP membership because of (5) and you'll keep thinking "I shouldn't have let it go" when you fly in Y. I don't think it will buy you preferential treatment for reward seats though but each time you fly in Y, you'll feel so special that you've treated yourself to the comforts in life. New membership used to cost more than renewals. not sure if it still does.

It seems crazy you pay/keep QC for the reasons you outline, but you are probably QFs perfect customers.

Responding to your 5 reasons below specifically.

1) Qantas Club membership has no effect on this. If you believe you are too old to self check in just approach one of the desks/agents.

2) Wine is sold at many establishments in all of the airports in Australia (and probably much quieter in ambiance than the QC!) Unless you are spending >$50 per person in consumption per visit to the QC you are probably not getting value.

3) This depends on how often you travel. If you do 4 domestic sectors or less per year it is probably cheaper just to pay for the extra bag than QC.

4) Has nothing to do with QC. You can still book skippy when not a member.

5) The 'special feeling'. You have been sucked in by the marketing. Use the $500 per annum on good food and drink and you will be way ahead. At the end of the day a seat is still a seat and you aren't special for having paid your money for access to the QC.

So rereading the 5 reasons it is very hard to justify paying for membership. At the end of the day it is all based on frequency of access. I only believe it is worthwhile for those who travel a lot but fall short of gold. I.e if you are doing 20-30 domestic segments a year which could only be 200-300 SCs at 10 a pop I think it is worthwhile. If doing less than 10. I don't see the value.

 

[samh004]

We don't do that many flights each year but we have been QP members since 1996. We have seen the great deterioration of the offerings in the QP and each time renewal comes up, we question our sanity paying so much for a few visits a year. Food wise, it is really next to "kill them fast with the unhealthy fried or high carb/fat food "including the highly lauded pizza in the Perth BP" or they can always do salad or a toastie.

Each time we have renewed because:

• We are too old to learn how to check ourselves in.
• It is so nice to wait for a flight in a lounge with a glass of wine (although the FIFO phenomena (with exposed undies on flared stubbies[when FI decides to lie down to play with the mobile and show FO]/feet on tables/unashamed expelling of excess gas)) killed the experience in Brisbane and Perth).

It seems crazy you pay/keep QC for the reasons you outline, but you are probably QFs perfect customers.

Responding to your 5 reasons below specifically.

1) Qantas Club membership has no effect on this. If you believe you are too old to self check in just approach one of the desks/agents.

2) Wine is sold at many establishments in all of the airports in Australia (and probably much quieter in ambiance than the QC!) Unless you are spending >$50 per person in consumption per visit to the QC you are probably not getting value.

I would echo travelislife on these two points, despite my devotion to the Red Roo myself. Using the self-check machines is much the same experience as buying a single item at the supermarket and using the self check machines there. It essentially walks you through the steps. And as for the wine/alcohol factor, that only starts at midday, but if you're so inclined you can grab a beer at 11 in the terminal!

 

[QFFHntrGthr]

I don't really want to start a debate over our frivolity, travelislife, but since you've taken the time to dissect my reasons to be, I thought it might be rude if I didn't acknowledge your effort. Yes, we are well aware that we are not getting our money's worth, hence our questioning our sanity each time we renew. The monetary wastage in our own justification applies to us only and as it does make us feel "special" that we've treated ourselves to this extravagance (as opposed to being special, which we are far from being). As I stated, if money if not a problem, spoil yourself. Life is to be enjoyed best we can afford and along the way, if we do waste, so be it if we do not adversely affect others in so indulging. Thank you for taking the time to show us how foolish we're being, but it's all been fun and we don't regret any of it.