What pain does your elite frequent flyer status let you avoid?

[Joshua]

Express everything. Honestly you can forget what life is like without it.

Last weekend economy check-in queue literally stretching out the door. Priority line, 1 person.

Also it differs by culture, in some realms of the OW alliance you get quite improved treatment being identified as an elite status - they just treat you as if from a higher social class. It is... odd.

 

[jetlagger]

Express immigration counters. Sometimes it can make all the difference for me.

+1
Made a remarkable difference at BNE INT earlier today.. Normal immi. queue was around 200 deep.
Express.. 2..
As for boarding.. Same story.. Breezed through & greeted with a smile & glass of the fine blend. :mrgreen:

 

[jetlagger]

Spending time in noisy and uncomfortable gate lounges and spending money on food and drinks while waiting for flights. The money saved pays for the incurred costs of a status run. Also really helps when a flight is delayed.
.

I knew there was some obscure valid justification to visit the 4 delightful CX lounges in HKG as a result of delayed flight.
I feel better now..

 

[tuapekastar]

I have always rated the ability to generally avoid long queues (at checkin, boarding, sometimes immi/security) as just about as important as lounge access. Row 4 QF 738/Row 3 VA 738 is also good.

I disgraced myself last weekend and missed a flight for the first time in my life (I'm still not sure how - I certainly did not hear a call, the staff insisted they made it, but I normally get antsy if I haven't heard a call by the time boarding is due, somehow just botched it this time). The flight was VA MEL-CBR and I just caught the FA locking the door to the bridge before disappearing down it. She came out and said "sorry' you've missed this one", then sat at the desk and tapped a little bit and gave me a BP for the next (and last) flight to CBR - still a row 3 aisle seat. I am VA plat, and while she may have done the same thing for anybody, maybe she wouldn't have.

 

[jetlagger]

I have always rated the ability to generally avoid long queues (at checkin, boarding, sometimes immi/security) as just about as important as lounge access. Row 4 QF 738/Row 3 VA 738 is also good.

I disgraced myself last weekend and missed a flight for the first time in my life (I'm still not sure how - I certainly did not hear a call, the staff insisted they made it, but I normally get antsy if I haven't heard a call by the time boarding is due, somehow just botched it this time). The flight was VA MEL-CBR and I just caught the FA locking the door to the bridge before disappearing down it. She came out and said "sorry' you've missed this one", then sat at the desk and tapped a little bit and gave me a BP for the next (and last) flight to CBR - still a row 3 aisle seat. I am VA plat, and while she may have done the same thing for anybody, maybe she wouldn't have.

It's a nightmare when it happens though.. Same scenario for me last month.. Missed a domestic in Philippines with an international conX. No love for me though.. Had to coin up for another ticket.
As for the moment.. The lounge angels @ HKG are wondering why I keep walking out of the lounge to observe the boarding gate.

 

[ShaneN]

I have always rated the ability to generally avoid long queues (at checkin, boarding, sometimes immi/security) as just about as important as lounge access.

At LAX in May, just arrived from SYD, 1.5 hours in immigration queue (status does not help there). Walked across to T4 for connection. Queues from security were down the stairs and out the door. As OW Emerald I was able to walk around the scrum on the sidewalk, into priority checkin, through priority security check and relaxing in the lounge within 10 minutes. A lot of pain avoided.

 

[seanpodge]

Lounge access is the main benefit for me, particularly since most of my flying involves transfers, so having somewhere to go that isn't a bare bones gate lounge is very much valued. Not having to buy ridiculously overpriced food and drink in the airport is a nice benefit for me.

Aside from that, the queue jumping is also rather nice. Should also mention the extra baggage allowance that has saved me hundreds of dollars in baggage fees.

 

[sandpipers]

Full agreement with Hvr. The support when needed and the availability of Lounge access. Yesterday I waited in the terminal for a flight out of Cairns. It was not an ordeal but on the other hand nowhere near as pleasant as having a lounge to sit in.

Puzzled why you waited in the terminal in CNS? The new Qantas Club in CNS is my favourite in Australia!

 

[Valerie Moffat]

Because I travel alone, and am 50+ I am a loyal Qantas Club member and have been so for many years.
I live on the Central Coast and the service which takes me to and picks me up from the Airport sometimes has to get me there rather early so I go to the Lounge and relax, and enjoy the benefits it provides.

 

[Keith009]

My status on various airlines have saved me a fair bit on excess baggage over the years. Thinking about it rationally, additional baggage is almost more useful to me than something like lounge access. Shopping ain't light!

 

[Valerie Moffat]

To clarify my previous post my FF status ( I travel domestically most often, and overseas less often) + my Lounge Membership are valuable assets in my coughnal !!

 

[Ticktock]

Ticktock : QLG, QP,EMG

Please do not forget the getting to and from those long flights (Chauffeur to and from Airports) this really sets you up and in the right mod. Investigating flight schedules, this could mean that you gain a free stopover with a bed for ? hrs, that is if you have the time. Most lounge staff love to help, play on this sometimes it takes you a long way.
Happy flying

 

[fersea]

Re: Ticktock : QLG, QP,EMG

For me it is not so much avoiding the pain but the additional opportunities my status opens up.

As soon as I tell people I am a Bronze QFF so many extra doors open for me!!

 

[erkpod]

Re: Ticktock : QLG, QP,EMG

I'm now SG with VA.

Quite happy with the lounges, priority check-in (if I'm not HLO), priority security (where available) & priority boarding (it actually works on VA, unlike QF.)

 

[cirqueboy]

Re: Ticktock : QLG, QP,EMG

Domestic lounge access in the USA (I do alot of domestic USA flights), extra baggage allowance, business or first class check in, being looked after when things go wrong. If QF WP opened up PreCheck, then I would be a happy camper!

 

[LonePine]

Re: Ticktock : QLG, QP,EMG

I only reached gold this year with VA and had a couple of flights with the status already. Last flight was ADL-DPS and the family loved the priority check in at ADL (with the normal queue out the door...) and scored row 3 even after having bought the cheap tickets.

 

[Hvr]

Re: Ticktock : QLG, QP,EMG

For me it is not so much avoiding the pain but the additional opportunities my status opens up.

As soon as I tell people I am a Bronze QFF so many extra doors open for me!!

Wait till you get real status, then those doors will be inwards and less likely to hit you on the backside as you pass through.