Qantas Club Lifetime Membership Benefits Removal

[Blackie67]

Hello folks,

I am hoping someone can help me. I purchase a Qantas Club Lifetime Membership around 2001. At the time, the benefits included priority baggage. The last three times I have travelled domestically and internationally I did not get priority baggage. When I contacted the airline about this, I was informed that my membership did not include priority baggage. I tried to have the matter escalated and was met with stony silence of course. I persevered and was eventually told to 'contact frequent flyer'. I have to say the corporate customer is the worst I have ever experienced. I took the matter to the Airline Customer Advocate. They made contact and I received a reply, which was an image on two lines from a document:

'...it's always been a condition of membership that Qantas could change the benefits:
9. Termination
9.1 Qantas expressly reserves the right to terminate or materially alter any Benefits, or any aspect of
the operation, of The Qantas Club at any time, without notice
By using the card and /or PIN members the customer agreed to be bound by these Terms and
Conditions, so we do not agree with her statement that we are 'unable by law to remove or modify
any benefits'.'

Under law of contract, when you take out a lifetime contract and pay for that contract up front, parties to the contract cannot vary that contract without mutual consent. I have never received a single piece of correspondence from Qantas telling me they were removing benefits from my membership. In reading through other comments in this forum, it seems as they no longer offer the Lifetime Club Membership category they simply omitted it from their systems and their database.

I am hoping someone has a copy of the original contract for Lifetime Club Membership or can guide me to a copy of if dated 2001. I remain unconvinced that they have the legal right to remove benefits from the Lifetime category. Have others experienced this? By joining together we may make greater inroads.

Hopeful

Leharna

 

[SirGeoffrey]

I bought my lifetime QC membership as a 30 year old and wrote it off as a tax deduction, so it cost me about $1900 after tax. I’m now 55 and don’t care about priority baggage, as it was always a crock anyway.

 

[kpc]

I bought my lifetime QC membership around 2002 for around $2000 on some discounted corporate rate, and tax deducted it over 4-5 years at per my accountant's advice. I thought it was a great deal at the time. I achieved lifetime Qf Gold in 2018, and applied to Qf for a prorata refund...it was denied!...so not such a great deal at all especially as I have been QF Gold or higher since 2005!

 

[drron]

I became a LTQC back in the days of the switch from Flight deck to QC occurred.I think it was ~ $1000 for LTQC back the.But members of the RACP got exceptional offers fot LTQC and LT Golen wings.I went with QC LTQC for the princely sum of $450.It was a no brainer.Mrsdrron was joined up with LTGW.Not such a great result.
I still carry around my first LTQC card which is navy blue.I used to have to point out it said lifetime.It also got me admitted into an Alaska lounge as it was not amongst the images of QFF cards they had.They assumed it was a special class of membership possibly due to a couple of hints dropped.
I still credit it as they continue to lengthen my life span when my new digital card appears.

 

[Captain Halliday]

The revival of this thread has me wondering if QF might offer LTPS, LTSG or LTWP for sale as a short term cash grab.

I’m not sure if this is even possible under the OW agreement.

But given the balance sheet, I’d be stunned if they hadn’t at least done the modelling.

I’m not suggesting they should, and I’m sure they have plenty of other revenue generating gimmicks they would go to before this one.

Just wondering out loud.

 

[ABC]

The revival of this thread has me wondering if QF might offer LTPS, LTSG or LTWP for sale as a short term cash grab.

I’m not sure if this is even possible under the OW agreement.

But given the balance sheet, I’d be stunned if they hadn’t at least done the modelling.

I’m not suggesting they should, and I’m sure they have plenty of other revenue generating gimmicks they would go to before this one.

Just wondering out loud.

I doubt they would get away with being so blatant, as if they did that they would reap the cash benefits whilst other OW airlines could pick up the cost, as the operating airline (rather than the Frequent Flyer scheme) pays for lounge access etc as far as I recall in OW.

QF probably could be a bit more creative though to bring in revenue from those chasing Lifetime Status who are willing to pay for it by perhaps offering Status Credits with direct purchases of Qantas Points. I think Finnair did something similar in their scheme recently where you got Tier Points (their equivalent to Status Credits) when you purchased points.

 

[Maca44]

I have had LTQC since 1994, and have had many benefits from doing so. I got the great deal as I was LT with Golden Wings.
The sad part about it is that although QF can't fly me overseas at the moment, they do know when I am going to die.
My digital lifetime card shows that it will expire Nov 2049, so have to make a lot of plans before then

 

[OTJones]

Hello folks,

I am hoping someone can help me. I purchase a Qantas Club Lifetime Membership around 2001. At the time, the benefits included priority baggage. The last three times I have travelled domestically and internationally I did not get priority baggage. When I contacted the airline about this, I was informed that my membership did not include priority baggage. I tried to have the matter escalated and was met with stony silence of course. I persevered and was eventually told to 'contact frequent flyer'. I have to say the corporate customer is the worst I have ever experienced. I took the matter to the Airline Customer Advocate. They made contact and I received a reply, which was an image on two lines from a document:

'...it's always been a condition of membership that Qantas could change the benefits:
9. Termination
9.1 Qantas expressly reserves the right to terminate or materially alter any Benefits, or any aspect of
the operation, of The Qantas Club at any time, without notice
By using the card and /or PIN members the customer agreed to be bound by these Terms and
Conditions, so we do not agree with her statement that we are 'unable by law to remove or modify
any benefits'.'

Under law of contract, when you take out a lifetime contract and pay for that contract up front, parties to the contract cannot vary that contract without mutual consent. I have never received a single piece of correspondence from Qantas telling me they were removing benefits from my membership. In reading through other comments in this forum, it seems as they no longer offer the Lifetime Club Membership category they simply omitted it from their systems and their database.

I am hoping someone has a copy of the original contract for Lifetime Club Membership or can guide me to a copy of if dated 2001. I remain unconvinced that they have the legal right to remove benefits from the Lifetime category. Have others experienced this? By joining together we may make greater inroads.

Hopeful

Leharna

Hi Leharna, I purchased LTQC in 2001 also, unfortunately I have looked everywhere for my original contract but to no avail to having found it, a couple of country moves have cused the loss, but I have noticed the reduction of benefits, even being sent guests passes are no more, which happened each year, I would be keen to obtain a copy of the original copy of contract for that year too, i would also activate a legal challenge to sort it out due to your reasoning, regards,
Phill.

 

[aus_flyer]

Hi Leharna, I purchased LTQC in 2001 also, unfortunately I have looked everywhere for my original contract but to no avail to having found it, a couple of country moves have cused the loss, but I have noticed the reduction of benefits, even being sent guests passes are no more, which happened each year, I would be keen to obtain a copy of the original copy of contract for that year too, i would also activate a legal challenge to sort it out due to your reasoning, regards,
Phill.

Guest passes became redundant because you can now take in a guest without handing over a pass.

 

[Retired1]

Guest passes became redundant because you can now take in a guest without handing over a pass.

Guest passes became redundant because you can now take in a guest without handing over a pass.

I purchased my lifetime membership in 1996 and feel there should be an acknowledgement of this by Qantas with a special lifetime memberdhip card and an extra benefit such as two guests per visit. It feels like there is absolutely no appreciation by Qantas that one made a substantial investment in the Qantas Club at that time. The Qantas Club was proactively canvassing for Lifetime Members back then.
Now it seems my membership is possibly perceived as of no real value to Qantas as I reach my senior years - Not nice.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Retired1

 

[whughes3]

Now it seems my membership is possibly perceived as of no real value to Qantas as I reach my senior years - Not nice.

Spot on.

 

[p--and--t]

Now it seems my membership is possibly perceived as of no real value to Qantas as I reach my senior years

Spot on to the accountants- absolutely, 23yrs later and you still have the benefits (cost to the bottom line every time you enter) and not adding to the current bottom line.

(BTW: I bought 2 in 2006 at discounted company rate - partner and I, IMHO one of the best decisions I ever made)

 

[aus_flyer]

I purchased my lifetime membership in 1996 and feel there should be an acknowledgement of this by Qantas with a special lifetime memberdhip card and an extra benefit such as two guests per visit. It feels like there is absolutely no appreciation by Qantas that one made a substantial investment in the Qantas Club at that time. The Qantas Club was proactively canvassing for Lifetime Members back then.
Now it seems my membership is possibly perceived as of no real value to Qantas as I reach my senior years - Not nice.

You feel undervalued because Qantas isn’t giving you extra benefits that were not previously offered?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Just noticed a reply to this and it occurred to me that there might now be a new remedy under recent unfair contracts legislation.

 

[Unhappy Member]

Closing a lounge is not the only reason for a refund. They also allow a refund for changes "that deprives the Member substantially of the intended use of the membership". Up to the OP if this change substantially changes their intended use.

How long is a lifetime?

I can tell you how long "a lifetime" is. I took out one of the original LIFE memberships issued in about 1980 or so. Naturally I did not keep the set of T&C's that prevailed at the time, but I was informed recently that my membership with lapse after 50 years. This will happen in the next few years.!

 

[luckypierre]

I can tell you how long "a lifetime" is. I took out one of the original LIFE memberships issued in about 1980 or so. Naturally I did not keep the set of T&C's that prevailed at the time, but I was informed recently that my membership with lapse after 50 years. This will happen in the next few years.!

Ok that makes sense my “lifetime” QC membership expires when I’m 87. Hopefully it’s not a “Logan’s Run” scenario

 

[drron]

Welcome to AFF @Unhappy Member . I got my LTQP in the 80s It does appear that it is for 60 years as my expiry my expiry date was listed a few years ago was 2047. Not a problem as I would be 101.
however went to my account just now and there is absolutely no mention of my LTQP. I am only listed as a Bronze member.
Oh QFF you truly are hopeless.

 

[Retired1]

You feel undervalued because Qantas isn’t giving you extra benefits that were not previously offered?

No, not at all. I just feel that recognition, at least, could be shown with a ‘Lifetime Member’ card (digital or otherwise). Qantas wanted lifetime members in the past and actively marketed fir them.

 

[luckypierre]

No, not at all. I just feel that recognition, at least, could be shown with a ‘Lifetime Member’ card (digital or otherwise). Qantas wanted lifetime members in the past and actively marketed fir them.

Qantas Club is showing on my Digital Card with an expiry of December 2047, same expiry year as the good doctor Ron

 

[Retired1]

Qantas Club is showing on my Digital Card with an expiry of December 2047, same expiry year as the good doctor Ron

Yes mine too - but not my point