Business Travel Guru

 

I fly about 12 return trips each year and debating taking out qantas club membership, just wanting to know if it is worth the $685 membership fee. I have been into the qantas club several times when invited by friends, and have always enjoyed my time there so I like that aspect, so what I am really asking is what are the additional benifits to be had other than Lounge access?

Harry
 

 

 

Barry thats very subjective, it depends on what value you place on the benifits that the Qantas club gives you, here is a short run down of benifits that come with QC membership:

• Lounge Access (invite up to one additional friend)
• Complimentary membership of the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program (You proberly already have)
• On Departure upgrades for domestic flights
• Priority reservations and waitlisting
• Dedicated check-in counters
• Priority Baggage handling & allowances
• Personal Travel Profile (Seating preference, special requirements, etc)

For myself the Prioriy baggage handling and allowances (even without lounge access) makes the Qantas Club great value. Note I get a reduced rate ($266 per year) because my company have QC corporate program. 

You should check if your company or professional association has a corporate membership program. I saw a recent discussion over at Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) http://www.FrequentFlyer.com.au check it out, they also run their own corporate program, which might be worth investigating.

 

 

That answer helped me too, but have a question about BA & AA lounge access with Qantas club membership, I understand from reading that If I fly Qantas I can obtain BA & AA lounge access with my QC membership. But what I am wondering and it is not really mention on their website.

If I am flying BA or AA does QC membership allow me to gain entry to either of these airlines lounges?

 

Thanks in Advance

Davo 

Yes you can access BA & AA Lounges when flying with that particular airline (i.e. Use AA Admirals Club Lounge when flying AA, and BA Airways lounges when flying BA), the rules are as below straight from the following Qantas page:

 

 http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/qantasClub/loungeAccess

 

Access to Partner airline lounges In addition to Qantas Club lounges, you can relax in British Airways lounges (Terraces and Executive Club lounges) and American Airlines® Admirals Club lounges.   To access a partner airline lounge, simply present your Qantas Club card or Platinum or Gold Frequent Flyer card at check-in and again with your boarding pass at the lounge reception. You may also invite a guest. Note: both you and your guest must be travelling together and have onward travel that day on a flight marketed and operated by the partner airline whose lounge you wish to visit.***   *** Marketed and operated means a flight operated by the same airline whose flight number appears on your ticket. Includes American Airlines® or British Airways operated flights with a 'QF' flight number on your ticket.

 

James

 

Does Qantas Club membership also give me access to Priority Checkin with those airlines? What about Jetstar? Many Qantas flights are now Jetstar and you are forced to queue with the cattle. Is this right?

Hi Labmsie welcome to the Business Travel Guru forums 

Unfortunatly Qantas club membership does not give you priority check in on any Qantas partner, or Oneworld partner airlines (British Airways, American Airlines, Cathay)
This is also the case for Jetstar flights.

For prioriy check in on One world partner airlines, you either need to be traveling Business/First or be a Qantas Gold frequent flyer or above or Oneworld Sapphire (and above)

The only means of getting Priority check in on Jetstar is to be traveling StarClass. (Jetstar is not a Oneworld Partner, so Sapphire/Emerald status does not provide this benifit)

If you are planning any trips over to the US, I highly recomend flying American Airlines, joining their frequent flyer program and signing up for the Platinum challange, The Platinum challange basically allows you to obtain American Airlines Platinum status (Oneworld Sapphire) for a significantly reduced number of points/miles. After obtaining AA Plat (OS) you will get prioriy check in on all Oneworld partner airlines, along with increased mile and SC earning rates.  

Ben Hoffman

The Business Travel Guru