Qantas club: Is it worthwhile joining

[jodaly]

Hi there,

I was hoping for a bit of advice on whether to retain my newly purchased Qantas Club membership or ask for a refund.

My wife, 3yo daughter and I are flying to the US with Qantas ( A380 yay!) later this year and had bought Qantas club membership presuming that we would have access to the lounge when we arrive at LAX to survive the layover between flights. We will be continuing on to Austin with American Airlines probably. i was hoping my wife and daughter would have access to the Club lounge as guests.

I also have two other domestic qantas flight this year but overall we dont fly more than about 3-4x per year.

So my questions are, under these circumstances and in practical terms rather than theoretical:
1. Can we get access to a QC lounge when we arrive at LAX or otherwise would we have access to an american airlines lounge given that they're partner airlines? I presume we would only have access if we're continuing on with american airlines. On speaking to QC enquiries they said that access was not guarantted and subject to the lounge not being overcrowded .
2. Does having QC membership provide access to American Airlines lounges across the US, obviously presuming we're travelling with AA
3. Given all of this is it worth paying the $550 for QC when we may not have access to those critical legs of the journey i.e. layover in LAX and the internal US domestic flights?
4. Are there any other factors I need to consider?


Thanks for any info you can provide.

Oliver

 

[notzac]

Qantas Club will give you access to the QP when you're flying QF/JQ, the Admiral's Club when flying AA and Terraces lounges when flying BA. In theory the rules state you may only have one guest, but I can't see one of the AAngels knocking you back on account of a 3 year old child. BA dragons are quite possibly a different story altogether

Only you can decide if it's of value, of course.

Edit: where are my manners? Welcome to AFF, jodaly!

 

[albatross710]

3. Given all of this is it worth paying the $550 for QC when we may not have access to those critical legs of the journey i.e. layover in LAX and the internal US domestic flights?
4. Are there any other factors I need to consider?

Consider the membership saving available through this website. http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/aff-qantas-club-membership-13234.html

 

[drron]

Welcome Jodaly.Your QP will get you access to the AA lounges in the USA when travelling on AA.You should have no problems getting your 3 year old in.Their Admirals club is not as good as the QP but with your QP membership you will get free drink coupons-if not offered ask for them.Also I have never been knocked back asking for extra coupons.
So from your post I guess it is going to be worth it for you seeing that was why you joined in the first place ie getting lounge access on this trip.

 

[11sjw]

Firstly Welcome aboard.

Secondly as others have said technically you can get you plus one in. I've never been knocked back with our 3 yeard old at BA, AA or Qantas.

IMO well worth the $$.

 

[harvyk]

First, welcome to AFF,

Second as others have said, QP membership will get you in no problems.
In regards to a 3yo, provided they are not screaming their lungs out, they will be allowed in. The childs age probably wouldn't even be asked.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The other option would be to buy a day pass to the Admiral's Club - USD50 per entrant (I wonder if the 3yo would be free?). This will allow you access to the AA club at LAX prior to you domestic connection. (You could always buy one on the return as well to use at LAX.)

Of course the other advantage of QF club membership would be the QF club check-in, but not sure if this would be worth the extra $$.

(nevermind... just saw from other posts the OP has already bought membership... I thought he was still contemplating it!)

 

[medhead]

Children 3 and under are allowed in and are not considered to be a guest.

Fly - The Qantas Club - Benefits

 

[ric_melb]

Given you already bought the Qantas Club membership, and in view of the positive responses here re lounge access, keep the membership and enjoy it.

Benefits include:

Lounge Access.
Priority Check In.
Priority Baggage Ticketing.
Extra Baggage Allowance.
In my experience access to better seating.

 

[mbeder]

Anyone need a Complimenray Invitation to the QC (expires end December 2010)? I don't have any need for it and would be happy to mail it someone who can use it.

 

[reductionist]

From the Qantas web site:

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.

(I'd post a link but my post count isn't high enough. Just check the "Lounge Access" page under the Qantas Club section on the Qantas web site)

The Qantas web site doesn't mention anything about exceptions due to overcrowding or whatever.

4. Are there any other factors I need to consider?

It's worth noting that the priority baggage tagging mentioned above only applies to QF domestic flights.

With a 3yr old in tow I think you'll find QC a much better place to wait for your flight, particularly if you are faced with a flight delay or something like that. The regular departure lounges can be hell places to try and keep a child calm and quiet.

Priority check-in is also a bonus. My 2.5yr old niece goes nuts if she's forced to wait with me while I stand in any kind of queue.

If your wife becomes pregnant again and you do any kind of travel she'll probably appreciate being able to sit down somewhere comfortable at the airport. Flew to HKG with my pregnant sister last month. Being able to guest her into QC made the whole experience a lot better for her.

Also, if either of you fear flying (like me) you'll find it helps calms the nerves a bit.

 

[drewbles]

From the Qantas web site:



(I'd post a link but my post count isn't high enough. Just check the "Lounge Access" page under the Qantas Club section on the Qantas web site)

The Qantas web site doesn't mention anything about exceptions due to overcrowding or whatever.


It's worth noting that the priority baggage tagging mentioned above only applies to QF domestic flights.

With a 3yr old in tow I think you'll find QC a much better place to wait for your flight, particularly if you are faced with a flight delay or something like that. The regular departure lounges can be hell places to try and keep a child calm and quiet.

Priority check-in is also a bonus. My 2.5yr old niece goes nuts if she's forced to wait with me while I stand in any kind of queue.

If your wife becomes pregnant again and you do any kind of travel she'll probably appreciate being able to sit down somewhere comfortable at the airport. Flew to HKG with my pregnant sister last month. Being able to guest her into QC made the whole experience a lot better for her.

Also, if either of you fear flying (like me) you'll find it helps calms the nerves a bit.

Note that Qantas Club Queues and the ability to use Business check-in (where no Qantas Club Queue exists) is going and will only be a benefit for international travel.

Also note the new checked luggage allowances for flights from 1 June booked after 1 December this year at Fly - Baggage - Checked Baggage

QF have the right to refuse entry to guests due to lounge overcrowding (and it's been exercised before) but they usually will allow the member in. BA have also been known to refuse guests and only allow one travelling member, although that is also at their discretion.

 

[ashsta77]

Anyone need a Complimenray Invitation to the QC (expires end December 2010)? I don't have any need for it and would be happy to mail it someone who can use it.

Hi. Definitely interested if it's still available.
Travelling MEL-SYD-LAX in December.
Just sent a PM.

Ash

 

[Sprucegoose]

Given you already bought the Qantas Club membership, and in view of the positive responses here re lounge access, keep the membership and enjoy it.

Benefits include:

Lounge Access.
Priority Check In.
Priority Baggage Ticketing.
Extra Baggage Allowance.
In my experience access to better seating.

Does anyone know where the seating ranks, above PS and below SG??

 

[drron]

Does anyone know where the seating ranks, above PS and below SG??

When I have my QFF number in I am down the back-even with the unaccompanied kids.if my AA number,several rows closer to front.I would think it fits in between NB and PS.

 

[nonpop]

I have a spare single pass expires 31st Dec 2010.
Am also happy to post to anyone within AU.
PM me ... first in best dressed.

Now that I've hit Gold (thanks to eveyone with their SC maximisation tips) I'm happy to 'give back' a little.

 

[straitman]

I have a spare single pass expires 31st Dec 2010.
Am also happy to post to anyone within AU.
PM me ... first in best dressed.

Now that I've hit Gold (thanks to eveyone with their SC maximisation tips) I'm happy to 'give back' a little.

nonpop.

I'm glad you can give a little back.

I'm equally sure you will have a taker very quickly.

 

[JohnK]

Interesting that the OP has not logged in to AFF since posting this thread.

Good to see that people are giving out complimenary Qantas Lounge passes.