Qantas Club invitations on e-bay

[Blue Peter]

I notice there are at least 2 e-bay auctions for these at the moment.
Are they what they seem and would they be valid?
If so, is it one per person?
Given that they are valid, what's a fair price to pay for one?

Would appreciate any comments.

 

[Mal]

I have watched various Qantas Club pass auctions on Ebay for quite a while now.

There are three main types:

1. A person who got offered one with their Silver membership, Amex Card, or as a recovery from Qantas who offers it for sale.
2. The "4 pack"/"2 pack" sellers. These have no expiry date on the front of the card in the pictures on Ebay.
3. The "Member's Guest Pass" sellers.

My comments on each.

Seller type #1. Normally a legitimate card - just being sold as excess to the person's needs. Note that new Qantas Club passes have "Not for sale" clauses on them - although I don't think Qantas can track that. They also should have an expiry date that the customer should put in the auction description. Newer cards have a holographic (cheap looking!) sticker on the front of the card.

Seller type #2. I've always been suss about these cards, but they do appear legitimate on the surface. The card should have an expiry date on the front, (such as Valid Till End March 2008), but the auctions often say no expiry. I suspect that they may have been obtained in unusual circumstances based on the number of cards being sold and the length of times these auctions have been around for. It is also possible that they are offered to some Corporate Customers and or Travel Agents based on sales, rewards or to help convince them to fly with Qantas.

Seller type #3. These cards are most likely worthless, unless you are a Qantas memorabilia collector. "Member's Guest passes" were phased out in 2005 (IIRC), and I'm not aware of any re-issues of these cards. Luckily the last batch of these Member's Guest cards were expiring either late last year or early this year, so unlikely to be sold much these days.


What is a pass worth? All that depends on what you are willing to pay and what it is worth to you. I would value a Qantas Club visit around $40 for an International Journey, and around $20 for a domestic journey. It all depends on whether you drink alcohol, whether the bar is open when you visit, how long you are at the airport for, whether you want to use a computer etc etc etc. The real value is variable based on how you use the card.

The physical cards themselves seem to go for between $20 and $100 each on Ebay depending on what people are willing to bid...

There is also a wealth of discussion on this topic already here in various threads. Have a search for "Invitation" or "ebay"

 

[Danger]

I've purchased guest passes on eBay twice now. The first time was two passes and I paid about $70 in total. The second time, only a couple of weeks ago (from harlowtravel) was four. I paid $110 including postage. They are valid until sometime in 2008.

I'm a QP member but like the extra passes to give as gifts to friends who are travelling and aren't members, or for an extra guest when I want to bring a couple of friends into the lounge with me.

 

[Blue Peter]

Thanks for the information, Mal.

I should perhaps say that these are on e-bay UK and they seem to fall into your 2nd category: there are 2 "4-pack" sales, one with a Dec 07 and the other with an Oct 08 expiry and one "2-pack" sale with no expiry.

Searching past threads (which I suppose I should have done in the first place), someone said that e-bay were unhappy about these being traded (in Australia, I tkae it) and that QF now use a hologram device (not on any of the ones mentioned) and say they are not for re-sale.

On reflection, I think I'll steer clear. I don't need any hassle on a family holiday or to waste my money. On the first leg from LHR I have already booked an independent lounge at LHR T4 for GBP 40.00 for the whole family. KLM Holideck (Heathrow Airport - Holideck Heathrow) if anyone is interested, so it was mainly a thought for the return ex-SYD or the stops in HKG/SIN, though these are short. Anyone know of an independent lounge in SYD?

Going back to airline lounges, when I was flying BA a lot and had lounge access, it was only that or having the right ticket that would get you in. I was never aware of any other way whatsoever, and think I would have noticed if there had been one.

Thanks again.

 

[Blue Peter]

The second time, only a couple of weeks ago (from harlowtravel) was four. I paid $110 including postage.

Interestingly, it's the same seller of one of these sets of 4.

 

[JohnK]

What is a pass worth? All that depends on what you are willing to pay and what it is worth to you. I would value a Qantas Club visit around $40 for an International Journey....

Don't know about domestic QPs but for international QPs that sounds like a reasonable valuation of the QP complimentary invitation. Possibly a little more if used at LHR/LAX and the duration is 3+ hours.

 

[d15.in.oz]

As the Internet is a visual space here's a picture - showing a true QP pass, unfortunately it was only valid until yesterday.

 

[d15.in.oz]

Ooops, I forgot to add a copy of the invite below, (above)... these are issued at specific airports! [Mostly used by check-in agents as maps, to help those new to the experience, find the place? Validity information is on the back.]

 

[smithym]

As the Internet is a visual space here's a picture - showing a true QP pass, unfortunately it was only valid until yesterday.

Dont let the exp date fool you, I have used QP Comp passes with exp dates 2 years + at most QP's without even a blink of an eye from the lounge dragons.

 

[ksthommo]

The ringleader of the UK Mob selling fake qantas pub passes got 5 years for his troubles.

eBay scammers foiled by fake golf clubs

 

[deka2]

This one was listed a couple of days ago. Local listing

Any chance they are genuine?

Qantas Club LOUNGE Invitation x 2 - eBay, Experiences, Vouchers, Gift Certificates, Tickets, Travel. (end time 22-Apr-10 20:00:04 AEST)

 

[Mal]

This one was listed a couple of days ago. Local listing

Any chance they are genuine?

If they are what is pictured, then I'd suggest there's very little chance of them being fake. The pictured letter and cards etc is what is sent to Qantas Amex Premium Card holders when they have their first spend on Qantas. Plus the seller is local, hasn't seemed to auction off anything similar in the last few months etc etc.

 

[JohnK]

Yes they do look genuine. They are exactly the same ones I received recently from Qantas for the Qantas Amex Premium card.

Would be interesting to see the final price or whether the auction is able to last the distance.

 

[v8Statesman]

Well I just pushed it up to $29.

Bidding just for a laugh as I have WP

 

[Mal]

Would be interesting to see the final price or whether the auction is able to last the distance.

Ex-AU Ebay auction of QP passes do seem to get closed down often... I still wonder if that's Qantas reporting them to ebay or whether it's another reason.

 

[JohnK]

Ex-AU Ebay auction of QP passes do seem to get closed down often... I still wonder if that's Qantas reporting them to ebay or whether it's another reason.

I guess it is still worth a shot. Not much to lose for the seller and I do not see an issue with genuine Qantas Club passes being sold on eBay.

 

[deka2]

What do others think the value of these are.

How much can two people eat and drink in one visit.

 

[samh004]

Considered them briefly (as I’m one place short for lounge access in June), but then remembered they only work at QP’s and I’ll need to get someone into a BA lounge.

They look legit.

What do others think the value of these are.

How much can two people eat and drink in one visit.

Well, last time I was there I managed a couple scones, a couple sandwiches, and about 8 beers. But I was there for a whole afternoon

 

[munitalP]

$40 - immediately outbid....


Actually, what I want if anyone wants to give me one, is an original QP guest pass - the ones we used to get 5 or so years ago, anyone got one laying about they would like to donate toward my QF memorabilia collection?

PM me!


Mr!

 

[JohnK]

What do others think the value of these are.

Somewhere between $30-$40 each.

How much can two people eat and drink in one visit.

Just to give you an example (and no I am not the average person) of my last visit to the Qantas International Business Lounge in Sydney in December flying SQ.

I had a glass of champagne, 6 Crown Lagers, 2 (full) plates of smoked salmon (they had to bring a fresh platter twice ), a couple of soft drinks and a couple of bottles of water. Conservatively that would be at least $50 value possibly more.