Qantas Club..What to Expect?

[Jake Smith]

Hi all,

Just got a new job and with it came the option to purchase heavily discounted Qantas Club membership $380 a year & no joining fee. Is it worth the complimentary drinks and refreshments, extra allowance, check in and what not...i think you can access the lounge when flying Jetstar is that right?
Main Question is what to expect in the lounge

Is it mostly for older crowd (mid 30's plus)..im guessing i would be the youngest their im only 22 but with this job and living away from family id be flying pretty often at least 8 or 10 times a year.

Hope the lounge is not one of those "look at me" ive made it types... full of stuck up and up tight people, Just looking for quiet place to relax while waiting for my flight.

Any info or advice would be great..Thinking of Virgin Australia too might suit the younger crowd being me?

 

[straitman]

Hi all,

Just got a new job and with it came the option to purchase heavily discounted Qantas Club membership $380 a year & no joining fee. Is it worth the complimentary drinks and refreshments, extra allowance, check in and what not...i think you can access the lounge when flying Jetstar is that right?
Main Question is what to expect in the lounge

Is it mostly for older crowd (mid 30's plus)..im guessing i would be the youngest their im only 22 but with this job and living away from family id be flying pretty often at least 8 or 10 times a year.

Hope the lounge is not one of those "look at me" ive made it types... full of stuck up and up tight people, Just looking for quiet place to relax while waiting for my flight.

Any info or advice would be great..Thinking of Virgin Australia too might suit the younger crowd being me?

Hi Jake Smith,

Welcome to AFF.

The lounges (QF & DJ) are not stuck up at all and are a 'quiet place to relax while waiting for my flight.' as you put it.

There are some here who could not imagine life without lounge access but IMHI it is not quite that extreme. On most occasions they simply make life that little bit easier and shield you from the great 'unwashed' masses.

 

[Daver6]

Definitely not stuck up crowd. You also won't be the youngest either. If you are travelling as much as you say, I'd say go for it.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi Jake Smith,

Welcome to AFF.

The lounges (QF & DJ) are not stuck up at all and are a 'quiet place to relax while waiting for my flight.' as you put it.

There are some here who could not imagine life without lounge access but IMHI it is not quite that extreme. On most occasions they simply make life that little bit easier and shield you from the great 'unwashed' masses.

+1 I would also add that there is a wide variety of ages and stages in both the QF and DJ Lounges. Flying 8-10 times per year, with the added perks I would consider it money well spent.

 

[markis10]

Depends on when you travel as to how quiet they are, sometimes the terminal or even the gate can be better, but if your doing a monthly trip it's a no brainer, and tax deductible in most instances.

 

[bodog]

Just looking for quiet place to relax while waiting for my flight

Hmm... Sydney Qantas Club (QP) first thing in the morning and late afternoon would struggle to be described asa "quiet place" - but the complimentary bar helps the relaxation

In terms of "look at me" types - not going to happen - everyones either too busy or trying to catch a bit of a break - QP is hardly exclusive - you pay your money and you're in!


and at 22 you wouldn't be out of place

Definitely recomend the QP membership though

 

[markis10]

I should add that of you are flying that much then try some tips mentioned in various threads to get status, then one day you will get this message!

 

[simongr]

I simple economic terms if you do 10 trips per year then that is $40 per trip - would you spend that much at a food establishment?

What are your trips planned to be? If you pan it correctly and get the right tickets then those 10 trips might get you qantas gold which gives you free lounge access.

 

[toowongman]

Do it. When the unforeseen occurs at the airport you have somewhere to relax and sit it out in relative comfort. Plus you can meet new people, network etc.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Despite its name, its not some exclusive club (thats reserved for the Chairmans Lounge - but thats a totally differetn topic). IIn my opinion its just another part of the airport terminal, but where they offer you snacks, drinks and Wifi because you're either flying with them a lot, or have paid slighty more to get access to it.

Its by no means, some uppity posh "oooh look at me" club.

Also you mention 8~10 times a year, what kind of flights? short domestic? longer domestic? International? Economy or business? You know that with Qantas, if you earn 700 status credits a year, you become a Gold Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club access is complimentary then.

 

[chrisb]

I wish I had a photo from the Perth qantas club at 6am. It's a wall of Fluro with young FIFO workers. I bring up the standard with my jeans and sneakers.


With 10 returns a year I'd recommend it. For me, it's the shower on a Friday afternoon before a 5 hour flight to Perth that makes it worthwhile. (Vodka helps too)

 

[tallie]

I think for that price it is worth it. Especially if you are doing 10 return trips a year. I got it before going on a round the world trip with Oneworld when I was 23 and it was of great value for delayed flights and somewhere to escape the madness. Domestic trips were then a bonus. I also could then get to the airport earlier to grab an exit row seat and then had somewhere to hang out comfortably. I have now learnt some tricks to secure exit rows before i get to the airport.

It is great when flying Jetstar as well because you get access to QP if the are open.

Depending on how much you like drink, the QP can be a great place to start for you and a friends on those weekend trips away.

 

[marks]

It is tax deductible for work... case closed.

I never questioned in it my first year when I went to Fiji with (my now wife) girlfriend. Just got off a bus, where a dozen other buses had dropped off at the same time for the aussie flights back. Moving past 1000 people trying to check in with attendants on "fiji time" and to the business class check in. Checked in within 2 minutes and straight to immigration before the pack was priceless!

You will have these moments. Running late. Delayed connections. Departure at "0'dark in the night".

Cheers.

 

[Mal Ware]

Is it just me or do the Barista's in the Qantas club make the cappuccino about 2 or 3 degrees lower than your average Gloria Jeans etc?


Have noticed this at both Brisbane and Perth, I don't like my coffee burning my lips but on the other hand I should not be able to skull it either lol.

Anyone else noticed this or are my old lips beginning to numb and I am slightly senile?

 

[get me outta here]

And, if you do make it to Gold, the membership goes on to 'hold' until the day that you for what ever reason you no longer qualify for gold+, and then the membership will come into play again. Plus, if you stay up at gold for a while, they are likely to give you another year at gold to entice you back anyway.

 

[Champo]

Access to Q lounge is available flying Jetstar, however, sometimes the lounge, e.g. Adelaide closes after the last Qantas flight so if your Jetstar flight is later you will not have the full access. A little arithmetic re frequency of use - Say you used it 10 times a year it would cost you $38 per visit but if you take a guest with you it would work out at $19 per visit which would be quite reasonable value. If you are travelling for business your $380 could be significantly less as a tax deduction

 

[casanovawa]

Yeah if your in the 30% tax bracket that brings it down to around $270 or so, and on 10 trips you will probably use it at least twice, once in the flight out and once on the flight back if there are no other connections so even with just 20 uses that's about $13 or so a visit... Doesn't take much to eat in the terminal to equal that although the food offerings in the QP often aren't that exciting... Then there is a nerve steadying beverage as well... The showers can be especially good if on long flights or international flights....

 

[donlee]

I first joined the Qantas Club at age 24 and have never looked back. It makes travel so much more pleasureable. The expedited check-in and business facilities including wifi more than make up for the cost IMHO. Why not try it out for a year and see how you like it?

 

[Simo]

Qantas Clubs are a place to escape the masses.

I have also found them handy when there is a delay as you can sometimes get information a bit more freely.

Food is not great but if you need to a quick snack or a few beverages to make the journey a bit more pleasant go for it.

 

[nowmedia]

In my younger days I was always late for flights. Now I'm always on time and still get on the plane last due to announcements in the club!

If there are ever any flight cancellations or changes there are staff to sort it out usually without a fuss. You want find that outside.

Ive just started using the Virgin Lounge. Much of a muchness but the make your own toasted sandwiches are a fun change from the monotony of the QF Club food.

Coming back from London a shower in the Club at Singapore is worth the cost of the annual fee alone!