Qantas Club - Can I Justify the Cost?

[sng1971]

I get a discounted rate with my employer which is then salary sacrificed, so I don't think it costs me more than $150 a year.

And I like to think of the value of the QC in terms of "alcohol dollars"! I usually only travel with my partner for leisure, so we get to the lounge early, have maybe 4 drinks (only book afternoon flights when the bar is open) which is around $25 value, so I figure we only need to use the lounge 3 times a year (3x2x$25=$150) which we do easily.

This makes all the other perks a bonus. Did I mention I'm an alcoholic?

 

[Flashback]

Did I mention I'm an alcoholic?

Seems to be a common theme amongst FF.

 

[k_sheep]

Faxed off my forms yesterday, and my ff status has already been updated! Wow, speedy!

 

[Jacques Vert]

Biggest upside is that your guest gets all of the same things. So really if you travel with your partner all of the time, divide the cost in half.

The first time I took Mrs Batesy in to the domestic QC I was a paid member. She had a cold so I sat her down in a comfy armchair, got her a cup of tea and she instantly christened the QC "The Happy Place".
Upsides are all good. Go and get it!!

I must agree with Batesy; if you take your partner then the cost is halved and becomes reasonable.

On a trip to Singapore in 1997, I took the Minister for Finance to the QF/BA Club after having spent the afternoon at the zoo. While Mrs JV was having a shower to remove the grime, I arranged for our host to deliver a Singapore Sling to her immediately upon her return. Talk about earning the brownie points!!!

The benifits have been covered pretty well; I agree that the business/QC check-in is a huge benefit that you don't think about initially. Along with the lounge, the other benefit that I like is the free Internet access, which I use to book my accommodation along the way (and read AFF posts).

It's all good; I have never regretted paying the money.

 

[samh004]

Along with the lounge, the other benefit that I like is the free Internet access, which I use to book my accommodation along the way (and read AFF posts).

That is actually a very good benefit that you sometimes take for granted. The pub doesn't just serve beer, but a fine net connection to pick up and send off your emails, and other stuff.

 

[ljk23]

Just a quick question, relating to a QP member using an AA lounge..

Am i right that " soft" drinks are FOC and the vouchers provided are to be used for booze etc

I recall recently that when I asked for an OJ the barman told me to keep the voucher, I just thought he was being nice...

Now I realise maybe its because they were free ... just read the below on the AA site.

From AA site
U.S. lounge locations offer complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks and snacks. Private bars offer alcoholic beverages available for purchase.

 

[serfty]

Basic soft drinks are complimentary. Some places have bottled still water which do require a voucher or $.

 

[NM]

Basic soft drinks are complimentary. Some places have bottled still water which do require a voucher or $.

And at some AA lounges (such as DFW Terminal D) you can exchange a voucher for a half-decent coffee (espresso, latte, cappuccino etc).

 

[Warks]

I'm pretty glad I coughed up for my own QC membership after quite a few years of Gold and then the corporate teat. Now I've started flying again a fair bit it is paying for itself quite easily.

Top 10 Benefits as listed in this thread or as stated by yours truly:
1. free booze (was always going to be number 1!)
2. food - handy for breakfast, other meals not really meals but good to fill a spot - you won't go hungry.
3. wireless internet - very handy not having to hook up my USB modem.
4. comfy chairs (if you can get one!) as opposed to the chiropractor's helpers at the gates.
5. a place to work in relative peace without someone looking over your shoulder.
6. clean (well a lot cleaner than in the terminal) toilets.
7. showers - maybe not that much use domestically although I've certainly used them after field work in Darwin and Townsville in the summer!
8. a place you can leave your bags for a few moments while you get food, drinks, go to the toilets, grab a paper etc without worring about your stuff getting nicked or blown up by the bomb squad (yes I know there are reports of thefts and you probably shouldn't leave your bag for too long!) In the good old days there used to be "pigeon holes" for your bags near the entrance.
9. dedicated check-in counters (along with the lords of SG etc)
10. priority luggage (coughs dubiously)

I haven't gone into the international benefits but these are the first 10 I thought of to justify it.

Need to do 10 domestic flights a year I think but what the hell?

 

[SnowYeti]

I'm pretty glad I coughed up for my own QC membership after quite a few years of Gold and then the corporate teat. Now I've started flying again a fair bit it is paying for itself quite easily.

Top 10 Benefits as listed in this thread or as stated by yours truly:
1. free booze (was always going to be number 1!)
2. food - handy for breakfast, other meals not really meals but good to fill a spot - you won't go hungry.
3. wireless internet - very handy not having to hook up my USB modem.
4. comfy chairs (if you can get one!) as opposed to the chiropractor's helpers at the gates.
5. a place to work in relative peace without someone looking over your shoulder.
6. clean (well a lot cleaner than in the terminal) toilets.
7. showers - maybe not that much use domestically although I've certainly used them after field work in Darwin and Townsville in the summer!
8. a place you can leave your bags for a few moments while you get food, drinks, go to the toilets, grab a paper etc without worring about your stuff getting nicked or blown up by the bomb squad (yes I know there are reports of thefts and you probably shouldn't leave your bag for too long!) In the good old days there used to be "pigeon holes" for your bags near the entrance.
9. dedicated check-in counters (along with the lords of SG etc)
10. priority luggage (coughs dubiously)

I haven't gone into the international benefits but these are the first 10 I thought of to justify it.

Need to do 10 domestic flights a year I think but what the hell?

Nice little write up Warks. I don't fly that much these days but I still have QC for 3 reasons ... extra allowance on international, check in counter and lounge access for those pesky delays. Priority luggage is a joke, for me, the only time it worked was landing at JFK ... it's such a miss and hit with baggage tags! Sometimes the check in person doesn't put them on and I don't really care for domestic, and guess what? Those times, they have come out first :shock:

International lounge much nicer, less traffic Never been into F lounge so we'll save that one for another story

 

[Archphoto]

I originally bought my QC membership; never regretted it.
Not having to sit with screaming kids, and in uncomfortable chairs is welcome after photoshoots that often last up to 3 months.

Business lounge is nice, First is better, but they really need to do something about the Melbourne domestic one, and fast! Friday afternoons are more like drinking in your local pub; no chairs, no room, noisy as hell, dirty and way too many people.

I usually end up choosing to sit out of the lounge if I travel at that time.

You won't regret the cost - it's nice to have a comfortable (and usually quiet) area to chill before and after your flights.

 

[Soundguy]

AMEX sent me a 2nd invitation to get their Platinum charge card..... I won't bother but I would if it included free QC access. I believe it gives free access to AA's AC (and a few others) which is nice if you use AA a bit. The other benefits don't really justify the $600 annual fee to me.

 

[nlagalle]

AMEX sent me a 2nd invitation to get their Platinum charge card..... I won't bother but I would if it included free QC access. I believe it gives free access to AA's AC (and a few others) which is nice if you use AA a bit. The other benefits don't really justify the $600 annual fee to me.

You get the Priority Card which will get you into the DJ lounges domestically.

You also get SPG Gold and IC Priority Club gold as well..

 

[SnowYeti]

Wow, nlagalle, didn't know they gave so many away, maybe I should have got that instead of my QC I'm just using Amex Plat CC not charge ..

 

[straitman]

You get the Priority Card which will get you into the DJ lounges domestically.

You also get SPG Gold and IC Priority Club gold as well..

nlagalle,

How do you actually get these cards if you have an Amex Charge Card :?:

 

[simongr]

There are application forms in the back of the Amex welcome pack or you can call and they can send the forms to you.

 

[straitman]

There are application forms in the back of the Amex welcome pack or you can call and they can send the forms to you.

I'll have to learn to read the fine print :!: