Need to pay QC joining fee when moving from Gold to Silver??

[hardya]

The Qantas website indicates that Gold Status Frequent Flyers are entitled to "Complimentary membership" of the Qantas Club (http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/statusPrivileges).

If that is the case, one would assume that "membership" means that you are a joined-up "member" for the period of retaining Gold Status. Does that mean that if you drop back to Silver Status that you only need to pay the "renewal" fee for continued QC access; or they force you to pay the joining fee, despite having access previously?

 

[FlyFirst]

Hi Hardya

This question was asked on another FF bulletin board elsewhere and unfortunately there was only speculation as to what happens at the end of your time as a 'gold'.

I think the upshot was that we would have to wait until it happended and whomever got there first would be able to report! The difficulty is that this needs to be tested by a Gold FF, who goes back to silver, and who was also NOT a Qantas Club member from way back when, so it may be a little difficult. I have a mate that will be in this position, but not until Feb 2009 (after the Plat, Plat, Gold transition happens)...

But if you find out, let us know!

Regards

FlyFirst

 

[NM]

I think the upshot was that we would have to wait until it happended and whomever got there first would be able to report! The difficulty is that this needs to be tested by a Gold FF, who goes back to silver, and who was also NOT a Qantas Club member from way back when, so it may be a little difficult.

I expect I can test this situation with Mrs NM's membership come October. She is Partner Gold presently, but that will not be renewed next year. She was previously a paid QC member (about 3 years ago), but that lapsed before she became Parner Gold.

So when it close to the end of September, I will try to remember to phone and ask if she was to take a paid QC membership to immediately follow on from the Gold status, would she have to pay the joining fee again. We won't be taking out the membership, but it will allow a chance to find the current policy on the matter.

 

[oz_mark]

Didn't some of them find that they had been given 3 months QC membership? I think StevePER may have been in this situation.

 

[justinbrett]

Well if you are not a FF member, and join the Qantas Club - you get free membership of the FF program.

If you stop being in the club - you still retain your FF membership.

Different situation, but you think it'd be the same.

 

[Maca44]

I don't think it depends on your age so much, but the amount of flying you would expect to do in future years. If you only fly say two or three times a year domestic you would not reach a status that would give you Qantas Club access, so there is a lot to be said for outlaying the expense of life membership to the QP. I admit that $4,300 is a costly outlay, but when you consider some readers of these forums are prepared to outlay thousands of dollars just to get status credits for Gold it is something that some people should consider. The cost of life membership equates fairly well considering some pay annual membership to the QF.

On another note, I was of the understanding that with Gold status you got access to the QP and when you droped below Gold you lost that privilege, but could be wrong.

 

[serfty]

Fact is that the "renewal fee" will be offered! No 'joining fee' will be requested!

 

[justinbrett]

If you were in the Qantas Club before you got gold - don't you get back the unused portion of your membership?

 

[Maca44]

If you were in the Qantas Club before you got gold - don't you get back the unused portion of your membership?

If you attain Gold your paid QF membership is suspended until such time as you drop below Gold. I assume that if you reach life gold where you get QF access for life, you would lose your membership money as I don't think they would work out a pro-rata refund

 

[JohnK]

If you have paid QC access and you reach Gold or Platinum you do not get a refund of the unused portion of membership.

What happens is that your unused membership is put on hold until such time you lose your complimentary QC access by dropping below QF Gold.

 

[markis10]

Fact is that the "renewal fee" will be offered! No 'joining fee' will be requested!

I agree, membership is membership regardless of weather it is free or paid for, the t&C's are clear: If the Qantas Club membership is not renewed within the time permitted, the Qantas Club Joining Fee will be re-applied when the membership is reactivated.

 

[NM]

If you attain Gold your paid QF membership is suspended until such time as you drop below Gold. I assume that if you reach life gold where you get QF access for life, you would lose your membership money as I don't think they would work out a pro-rata refund

No refund offered to me for the 18 months of suspended Qantas Club membership Qantas is holding for me for when my lifetime expires .

I guess it may be reactivated if they change the rules so that lifetime membership requirements are no longer met (can they do that??). I guess they could leave me with Lifetime Gold status, but change the benefits of Gold status to no longer include complementary Qantas Club membership. Then I would need have the suspended paid Qantas Club membership activated once again.

 

[Maca44]

No refund offered to me for the 18 months of suspended Qantas Club membership Qantas is holding for me for when my lifetime expires .

I guess it may be reactivated if they change the rules so that lifetime membership requirements are no longer met (can they do that??). I guess they could leave me with Lifetime Gold status, but change the benefits of Gold status to no longer include complementary Qantas Club membership. Then I would need have the suspended paid Qantas Club membership activated once again.

I think this is one of those situations where you will have to wait until your lifetime expires before you know what will happen and hopefully that will be a long time.

 

[serfty]

The Qantas website indicates that Gold Status Frequent Flyers are entitled to "Complimentary membership" of the Qantas Club (http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/statusPrivileges).

If that is the case, one would assume that "membership" means that you are a joined-up "member" for the period of retaining Gold Status. Does that mean that if you drop back to Silver Status that you only need to pay the "renewal" fee for continued QC access; or they force you to pay the joining fee, despite having access previously?

Hi hardya,

My initial post was a bit terse. I'll clarify:

Basically, If you do not already have a QP membership and attain QF SG, you indeed get complimentary membership/access.

If as you postulate, at a later date you revert to QF PS, you will be offered QP membership for the renewal fee. You will not have to pay the Joining Fee.

This is based on the experience of a couple of work associates who had their 'wings clipped', so to speak.

 

[NM]

I think this is one of those situations where you will have to wait until your lifetime expires before you know what will happen and hopefully that will be a long time.

hehe ... I plan on living forever - so far so good :mrgreen: .

 

[StevePER]

Didn't some of them find that they had been given 3 months QC membership? I think StevePER may have been in this situation.

I am indeed... when I dropped from Gold to Silver, QF sent me a Qantas Club membership card with 3 months until expiry. There was no mention of why they did this - I didn't have Qantas Club before becoming Gold so I assume they are just being nice to me. I do not expect to have to pay the joining fee when renewing.

Steve

 

[StevePER]

oops... duplicate post

 

[OzFlipper]

Fact is that the "renewal fee" will be offered! No 'joining fee' will be requested!

While I rarely contribute to this board (sorry), I can definietly contribute on this point!

My wife just dropped out of Partner Gold after quite a while, and I got back home last night from a trip to find she had received a letter on this very point from Qantas. I have it with me.

Basically, she just has to pay the renwal fee. The letter directs her to qantas.com/renewyourself or the form has a CC payment section, quoting $215 for 1 year. Not going to happen as she flew a total of *never* times on her PG (her business rules her out of being able to travel much, while mine rules me out of staying home much! :^)