Qantas now selling Qantas Club Passes [until 31-12-2012]

[Kaldemir]

I think the main problem for QF would be that they won't be able to sell 1 year Qantas Club memberships anymore. Individual membership including joining fee is $855.. You can buy 19x$45 single entry passes for the same money. Really. If you fly frequent enough to use the club for 20 times or more, you're already close to gold and won't need QC, if you fly less then you just get a one off pass...

 

[defurax]

I think the main problem for QF would be that they won't be able to sell 1 year Qantas Club memberships anymore. Individual membership including joining fee is $855.. You can buy 19x$45 single entry passes for the same money. Really. If you fly frequent enough to use the club for 20 times or more, you're already close to gold and won't need QC, if you fly less then you just get a one off pass...

If I'm correct the QC membership will give them access to the QF (QF shared) lounge in LAX, SIN, HKG, DXB, etc. These passes are only for DOM lounges.

 

[Kaldemir]

If I'm correct the QC membership will give them access to the QF (QF shared) lounge in LAX, SIN, HKG, DXB, etc. These passes are only for DOM lounges.

For international flights priority pass is cheaper and doesn't restrict you to one airline. Also for the US the AA 30 day pass is a good option.

Maybe selling entry for extra guests at the lounge door would make sense. Would stop people from asking if they can bring in extra guests..

 

[harvyk]

I think the main problem for QF would be that they won't be able to sell 1 year Qantas Club memberships anymore. Individual membership including joining fee is $855.. You can buy 19x$45 single entry passes for the same money. Really. If you fly frequent enough to use the club for 20 times or more, you're already close to gold and won't need QC, if you fly less then you just get a one off pass...

You want to rethink your maths on that? Lets assume that over the course of a year, you do 10 SYD-MEL vv trips on red-e-deals. That will not only relieve you of all 19 passes (plus one flight of no access) it will also only net you a total of 200SC's, which isn't even PS, let alone SG.

 

[straitman]

We do?

I've never had a problem with it

Did you mean premium boarding?


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Glad to see you are paying attention because I am obviously not :!:

 

[medhead]

Speaking from experience, back in the days prior to status, I've used the priority lines a few times when I was not meant to. They checked me in and didn't say anything about this was not the line to be in, each time it was only as I was leaving the checkin desk I realised it was not the pleb line. So really I expect that anyone could use a J line at any time without too many problems (obviously if every one did they may start questioning things).

And my dad got rudely attacked by some complete sod who "thought" I was using the priority check in when I shouldn't have been, in their opinion.

 

[samh004]

And my dad got rudely attacked by some complete sod who "thought" I was using the priority check in when I should have been in their opinion.

Always remember lining up at the Air NZ J line in BNE Int back when I had Star Gold with my sister as my dad parked the car. Absolutely massive Y line, and the rude staff rudely suggested I was in the wrong line, until I flashed my Star Gold card, that shut her up!

How people look has no bearing on what line or lounge they use, I'd hope that is recognised these days.

 

[richie9x]

If I'm correct the QC membership will give them access to the QF (QF shared) lounge in LAX, SIN, HKG, DXB, etc. These passes are only for DOM lounges.

I didn't even pick that up that they were domestic only passes. They aren't really that much benefit. Maybe for some one with a long domestic connection they might be worthwhile. Or if they wanted to have a shower after connecting from an international flight. But for most airports would be better off spending your money at a food court or cafe.

 

[MrJetset]

I'm sure that those that buy them will get their $45 worth... How much is a beer at one of the bars at SYD T2/3?

Unsure why they restricted it to domestic. AA, UA etc. all sell passes for their international lounges, and I'm sure this will soon occur.

 

[harvyk]

I'm sure that those that buy them will get their $45 worth... How much is a beer at one of the bars at SYD T2/3?

Unsure why they restricted it to domestic. AA, UA etc. all sell passes for their international lounges, and I'm sure this will soon occur.

Don't know exactly the price of a beer, but I suspect it is somewhere between $7 to $10... So realistically you'd need to down 5 beers to get the price down to the more expensive end of the scale out in the terminal...

I personally can't think of a single time prior to getting QP access that I'd spend anywhere near $45pp at the airport (on food and drinks, DF not included) prior to traveling. I think the most expensive meal I've had at an airport was at SFO, and even then it capped out at $30 for dinner plus a couple of drinks.

 

[NM]

Whether $45 is good value or not is for each person to decide on each occasion that may want to visit a lounge. To me, the point here is that Qantas is now providing this OPTION for people who may want to consider it. Nobody is forcing passengers to pay this fee, but they do have the option if they perceive it represents reasonable value. If they do not perceive it to be reasonable value then take the money and spend it at the food court/pub, which is another viable option available for consideration.

 

[serfty]

Some other things simply can't be easily priced.

Say six people are travelling together, one is WP, another QP - for them there's a three guest allowance - such a purchase enables all six to use the lounge rather than one of the 4 NB's drawing the "Short Straw".

Of course, there's always the annual "Guest Card" for $335¹.

¹ NZ$315 for NZ residents & A$240 for non Oz/NZ residents

 

[11sjw]

At $45 per visit I'd want to make sure I was in the lounge a good 90min prior to my flight.

Given the pricing of food at PER domestic (circa $10 for a mediocre sandwich) I can see how QF come up with the $45 mark.

 

[harvyk]

Whether $45 is good value or not is for each person to decide on each occasion that may want to visit a lounge. To me, the point here is that Qantas is now providing this OPTION for people who may want to consider it. Nobody is forcing passengers to pay this fee, but they do have the option if they perceive it represents reasonable value. If they do not perceive it to be reasonable value then take the money and spend it at the food court/pub, which is another viable option available for consideration.

I suppose if it was too cheap (say it cost $15 instead of $45) we'd all be complaining that it devalues the exclusivity of the place (although at MEL on a Friday night, it sure doesn't feel exclusive)...
I'd guess they have put a price point on it which ensures that even though it's within the reach of every man and his dog, the average non FF person won't see the value in it and thus it still keeps the QP's "exclusive", but it can be purchased by those who want to "splash out a bit".

Whilst we here are very blasé about the whole thing, I remember prior to joining QFF wondering what was through those darkened glass doors, and if nothing else I would have probably purchased one just to see how the other half lived.

 

[lovestotravel]

Also keep in mind it's a $200 purchase, that would deter some people as well

I much prefer this idea over Virgin blindly status matching anyone

 

[MrJetset]

$45 for QF, $50 USD for AA and $50USD for UA for one time access are all around the same price point. The others, however, can be used for International lounges.

I recently travelled with a group of mates, and I was the only one with status. We were on separate flights and I convinced them all to buy the AA one month pass for $99USD. It got them access to QF lounges in MEL, SIN, LAX as well as some BA lounges in Europe and every airport we flew to in the US.

 

[userlame]

You are aware that if you have status, you can bring your +1 in, leave the lounge (with your +1 inside), then go back in with a new +1. Rinse and repeat until you've got everyone in.

Not that I'd condone such a thing.

 

[Ewing]

You are aware that if you have status, you can bring your +1 in, leave the lounge (with your +1 inside), then go back in with a new +1. Rinse and repeat until you've got everyone in.

There is a much easier way which I will not post about here.

 

[deejo77]

I assume the answer is going to be yes in this instance but if you were flying from JFK to SYD with a connecting flight to BNE which has a 6.5hr wait time then these would be worth the money. At present I would try and get the 3 adults in and hope they don't ask for a pass for the 2.5yr old. I think 1 adult would be there the whole time and the other 2 adults and child will be going to the Museum and be back in time to spend at least 2 hours there. Would the lounge be a little quiet as it will be Easter Monday?

 

[harvyk]

There is a much easier way which I will not post about here.

Well 2 other ways I can think of is

1. Ask a solo traveler if they'd mind guesting you in.

or

2. Wait for a big group of people to turn up (say more than 4 people, it works even better when they don't all know each other), and walk in with them. It's pretty rare that lounge dragons check every boarding pass when a group of people walk by, so they are likely to assume that you are a guest of one of the members, or even miss that they didn't check your boarding pass.