Alternatives to QC club?

[aussiedom]

I have QC membership but no longer do enough work-related travel to achieve 'Gold' status and thereby get it for free. I've also recently left a large government department which probably got as good a corporate discount for QC as could be obtained. From now on I will be an IT Consultant and will probably not qualify for those kinds of discounts on the annual QC membership. I've also in the past purchased QC 'partner' membership for my wife - they seem to be increasing the price of this fairly rapidly as well.

Recently I got an AMEX Platinum card which gives me free membership to Marco Polo Club Gold (allows access to all OneWorld lounges) as well as Priority Pass (which offers access to lounges in most airports internationally, but not to many here in AU).

I'm looking at alternatives to QC membership to achieve the same result. My wife and I generally do 2 or 3 overseas trips per year. In addition I would do a further 2 or 3 international trips per year for business purposes.

I've asked these questions directly of the airline, but I'm interested in whether the Marco Polo Club offers a partner membership at a reasonable rate. It's also not clear what partner membership exists for Priority Pass. Another factor is what access to Virgin Australia lounges is given by AMEX Platinum. There is confusing information on this point - some of AMEX's material suggests that the AMEX Platinum Charge Card gives access to Virgin lounges while other info suggests that the AMEX Platinum Credit Card gives this access but not the AMEX Platinum Charge Card.

My wife and I are travelling to Europe in early September for 6 weeks. In most of the airports we are visiting, Priority Pass will give us access to lounges, although there will generally be a fee for my partner. I’d be grateful for any advice as to the most cost-effective ways to maximize lounge access, based on the information provided above.

Grateful for any advice as to how best to maximize these benefits while reducing the costs...

Regards,


Dom

 

[Moopere]

I have QC membership but no longer do enough work-related travel to achieve 'Gold' status and thereby get it for free.

I've also in the past purchased QC 'partner' membership for my wife - they seem to be increasing the price of this fairly rapidly as well.

Yes, I found the quality of product of the domestic QP's to be too low to justify the huge price. Even the corporate discount offered to gold AFF members is too much for the product offered in my opinion. As I migrate away from QF to DJ I just couldn't easily justify the price of QP membership any more.

Recently I got an AMEX Platinum card which gives me free membership to Marco Polo Club Gold (allows access to all OneWorld lounges) as well as Priority Pass (which offers access to lounges in most airports internationally, but not to many here in AU).

MPC Gold would be OW sapphire I assume? If it is, then you and your wife should get lounge access across the OW network as long as you are travelling a OW airline.

I've asked these questions directly of the airline, but I'm interested in whether the Marco Polo Club offers a partner membership at a reasonable rate. It's also not clear what partner membership exists for Priority Pass.

I can't see why you'd need the expense and bother of a partner membership? Unless your wife is likely to fly by herself. If MPC Gold is OW Sapphire (and please check, I cant remember), then you'd almost certainly qualify to take a guest into a OW lounge with you when both are flying OW airlines. Priority pass will allow you a guest, but the guest will need to pay US$27 per entry I believe, as will you unless you obtain one of the higher level Priority Pass memberships.

Another factor is what access to Virgin Australia lounges is given by AMEX Platinum. There is confusing information on this point - some of AMEX's material suggests that the AMEX Platinum Charge Card gives access to Virgin lounges while other info suggests that the AMEX Platinum Credit Card gives this access but not the AMEX Platinum Charge Card.

I'd talk with Virgin about that. I don't see any evidence on the VA website with relation to automatic and free access for Amex card holders. There used to be a priority pass relationship with the virgin lounge before they had their makeover, and some high end Amex cards used to give Priority Pass as part of their package, but the virgin tie-up is long dead now.

My wife and I are travelling to Europe in early September for 6 weeks. In most of the airports we are visiting, Priority Pass will give us access to lounges, although there will generally be a fee for my partner. I’d be grateful for any advice as to the most cost-effective ways to maximize lounge access, based on the information provided above.

You're probably doing about the best you can do right now. MPC Gold should cover you + guest if you fly OW airlines, priority pass will almost certainly fill in the gaps for non OW air travel at a small expense for guest entry.

Domestically things are not so good. With little competition (ie; only DJ + QF) and domestic lounge memberships ridiculously priced, the only avenue is to pay these fee's or gain status with one of the airlines. Note that I would have thought Marco Polo Gold, being OW Gold (again, please check), would give you QP access + guest on domestic QF flights ...

 

[Cynicor]

Moopere is partly correct, but I'm guessing (s?)he doesn't have an amex plat charge as the changes have been coming pretty quickly this year.

I assume that you do, however, Aussiedom. MP Gold is OWS so entitles you to lounge access if you are on a OW airline. We are not yet sure if this benefit will be extended past 1 year so this is not currently a long term solution.

As you note, the plat card allows VA lounge access now. This is a very new thing but it is generally accepted that it is a perk of the Plat charge, and the credit cards are more iffy as far as I am aware. Your PP membership does allow you unlimited lounge entry but as you note your partner cannot access them for free. I do not know much about partner PP memberships, sorry.

 

[drewbles]

I Also believe the Marco Polo membership is only for one year with the Amex Plat card. After that, if you don't re-qualify, you'll lose it (ie, it's not a perpetual 'if you have amex platinum you get to keep the benefit'). It's good for a stop-gap until you decide.

The DJ lounges used to work with the Priority Pass that you've been supplied. That has now ceased.

We regret to inform you that effective 1 August 2011, Virgin Blue’s ‘The Lounge’ lounges at Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne International, Perth and Sydney Kingsford Smith airports in Australia will no longer accept Priority Pass cardholders. Rest assured, as the world’s largest independent airport lounge access program, we remain committed to looking for new lounge partners in Australia and other countries worldwide.

(taken from #50 so you won't have DJ lounge access).

 

[moa999]

DJ lounge is a new benefit of the Amex Plat charge...
Doesn't make up for the recent negatives of changing the insurance product and points earn.

 

[Cynicor]

Again, no one is certain about MP Gold, but members will be finding out soon. I've held out applying as I want it to be valid for as long as possible if it does not recur- I already have QF oneworld status anyway.

And, as MOA999 and I have mentioned, Virgin lounge access is a new benefit, and has nothing to do with PP now.

 

[aussiedom]

Thanks everyone,

Thank you very much guys - I have done a bit more research since I posted this and have clarified a few points which you might also be interested in.

In response to some of the questions/comments raised by Moopere and Cynicor:

* AMEX's material for Platinum members around access to Virgin Australia lounges is somewhat confusing and ambiguous. I called AMEX today and spoke to two different reps who both confirmed that it is only the Platinum Charge Card (not the Platinum Credit Card) that gives access to the Virgin lounges in AU. We can get the Platinum Credit Card free if we have the Platinum Charge Card I think, so I might apply. Having access to Virgin lounges is less of an issue than it used to be as my work trips are on the 'Whole of Government' contract which now seems to include lounge access, at least domestically.

* I've also confirmed with AMEX that the Marco Polo Gold (OW Sapphire) through AMEX Platinum is in fact only the first year's membership. If you want it beyond that, you'll need to pay to renew it, and presumably start at the bottom tier. They indicated there may be special offers made to Platinum members as time goes on, but nothing definite at this stage.

* The Priority Pass membership that comes with AMEX Platinum charge card is the 'Prestige' level (the top tier), so no charges for me to use their lounges. As others have said, there is a charge for a guest, although I've read that this is not always applied.

* I had a look at QC membership discounts through AFF - I must have been getting a pretty good corporate rate on QC as it seems to be much cheaper - only $450 for two years.

* At least we'll give both MP Gold and PP a good workout on our 6 week Europe trip next month! Might as well enjoy MP Gold while it lasts...

* moa999 - I agree, those cutbacks to the insurance from AMEX Platinum really suck! One of the main reasons I accepted the offer to go to Platinum from Rewards Advantage was to get the travel insurance. I wonder if they'll reduce the annual fee to compensate for the reduced benefits ;-)

Thanks again, Dom

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks everyone,

Thank you very much guys - I have done a bit more research since I posted this and have clarified a few points which you might also be interested in.

In response to some of the questions/comments raised by Moopere and Cynicor:

* I've also confirmed with AMEX that the Marco Polo Gold (OW Sapphire) through AMEX Platinum is in fact only the first year's membership. If you want it beyond that, you'll need to pay to renew it, and presumably start at the bottom tier. They indicated there may be special offers made to Platinum members as time goes on, but nothing definite at this stage.

Thanks for the update. I'd be inclined to take naything the AMEX CS reps say with a truckload of salt. Whilst that is the official line that was trotted out, we won't know for sure until the first free status expires. Even the Cent card members until recently were told it would not be renewed but seems to be continuing now.

 

[Deleted member]

Hi Dom,
My question is what are you current SC's looking like, where in the membership cycle are you! I.e. when does your QFF Membership renew.
Depending on all of that, it may be that a quick status ( JASA?) run will be enough to keep you gold or even push you to WP?
As a 100% self funded flyer, I have found that judicious use of JASA and the like is enough to keep me gold.
A bit of forward planning is usually necessary though.
You may have already considered all of this and my post is not going to be that helpful.