QF Gold - express path card - SYD

[Ade]

Hello fellow AFF'ers,

As QF Gold, is one entitled to receive express path cards (inbound and outbound) out of SYD?

By entitled, I mean is ex-path part of the perk of being QF Gold, similar to having your bags tagged as business/priority, without asking

My recent experiences have been varied in this regard ;

1. Departing SYD in Aug 2019, was handed outbound ex-path card at check-in desk
2. Departing SYD in Sep 2019, was NOT handed outbound ex-path card at check-in desk
3. Arriving into SYD, was NEVER handed inbound ex-path card (except when flying premium)

What has been everyone else's experience?

Cheers, Ade

 

[opusman]

No, it's not a stated benefit of Gold.

 

[Ade]

No, it's not a stated benefit of Gold.

Thank you, @opusman . If I may ask, is it a stated benefit for Platinum?

Reason I ask, there were a few Platinum in my flight last night, seated in Y. Sometime after departure, they were individually handed out inbound ex-path cards. It was more like, the cabin manager comes to their seat and says a few words, and silently hands an ex-path card

 

[opusman]

I don't think so. Express departure from some airports is a OW benefit for Platinum, and QF will give you an express departure card if you check-in using the F check-in but as far as arrivals goes I think you just have to be lucky. I've missed out on an express arrival card in the past because they hadn't loaded enough and gave them all to the F pax first!

 

[sostopher]

As a WP, I've asked the CSM on board the aircraft for them and they're happy to give them out. Gold I'm not sure, but I have previously received them when I was Gold as well. It may just depend on who you have on the day.

 

[Daver6]

A OWE stated benefit is fast track security lanes. I guess that's open to interpretation what that really means.

 

[Ade]

A OWE stated benefit is fast track security lanes. I guess that's open to interpretation what that really means.

Absolutely agree with you. It's open to interpretation of the airport authority or those running the airport.

The day before yday, I departed from DEL (Delhi, India) to Colombo (CMB) and the airport neither had fast track security lanes nor "ex-path type" queue for frequent flyers. There was an exclusive queue for F and J passengers only.

I asked UL check in staff if there were any fast track lanes and pointed out to the OW benefit (totally understanding that it's based on the airport), the staff hadn't heard of such a OW benefit and said that they had no idea

Similar experiences in CMB, no separate queues for frequent flyers based on their alliance statuses

 

[Hvr]

The oneworld site doesn't show express lanes as a Sapphire benefit.

Frequent Flyer Perks: oneworld Emerald & oneworld Sapphire

Enjoy airport lounge access, priority boarding and other benefits with oneworld Priority, the frequent flyer benefits from the oneworld. Exceptions may apply.

www.oneworld.com

 

[drron]

Definitely the airports can over ride any OWE benefits.The last time we left HND the fast track line has a banner up with eligible loyalty cards.Proudly displayed is a QF plat card and a BAEC gold card.So mrsdrron and I fronted up to the fast track and were denied access.Put our cards next to the image on the banner-No,no you are flying JAL so not allowed.So if I have a BA gold I am only allowed fast track security if flying BA whereas mrsdrron can only use it if flying QF.
So went to the JAL desks and they said that is right.
Did email both JAL and HND management.Got replies which added up to nothing.

 

[Ric]

IME, Golds are not entitled to express cards for for outbound and inbound.
Platinum are given both.
Though on the odd occasion, check in staff can offer express card outbound to Golds but always says to keep quiet about it.

 

[Ade]

Platinum are given both.

Thanks for that piece of information. Makes sense why P's are offered ex-path. However, not sure why the P's on last night's flight were missed and were offered the ex-path cards in the flight ...

 

[Kangol]

Thanks for that piece of information. Makes sense why P's are offered ex-path. However, not sure why the P's on last night's flight were missed and were offered the ex-path cards in the flight ...

You might be getting arrival and departure mixed up.
WP are offered arrival express path cards in flight because they don't have arrival express path cards for the destination airport at check in.
At least that's my experience for arriving into Australia and arriving into non-Australian ports with an express lane.
Not to mention if there were passengers connecting from a non-QF check in port, they would miss out if that were the case.

 

[Ric]

Thanks for that piece of information. Makes sense why P's are offered ex-path. However, not sure why the P's on last night's flight were missed and were offered the ex-path cards in the flight ...

Inbound express cards are always given in-flight. Outbound should be given at check in.

 

[Mike65]

I have a collection of both at home which you are welcome to. I always seem to get them both outbound and inbound (ex Melb). The reason I have a collection is that they are rarely of any use. Many times, the "express" queues are longer than the standard ones. Case in point last week arriving into Melb 6am on EK, I followed the express path and joined a lengthy queue, just as a groundstaff came over saying and I quote: "airlines are giving out so many express cards that you would be better off in the regular queue. It's not our fault - it's the airlines". A whole bunch of us quickly exited the queue and sure enough got quickly through the regular automated queues.
Outbound, it generally makes little difference which queue.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I think if you’re Gold and receive an inbound express card then you’re either lucky, have a nice crew or (more likely) there’s not many Platinum or P1s onboard.

When I check in at ADL for an overseas itinerary (95% of my travel) I have to get my outbound express cards for SYD or MEL at the Qantas Club. ADL checkin stopped distributing outbound cards at least 18 months ago.

 

[WLGFlyer]

I've noticed that the Express Path entitlement is now printed on the boarding pass / shows up on digital boarding passes. Is this the case for Golds or only Platinum and above?

 

[dajop]

Well as as SG, every time I take EK to/from MEL I get an express pass. And every time I take QF I don’t. Very simple.

Although it barely makes a difference Inbound, Murphy’s Law usually is the overriding factor outbound - express pass only ever seems to be of value when I don’t have one.

 

[jpp42]

I've never understood the point of inbound express cards at airports with the automated gates (I've flown into MEL, BNE, a few times and SYD many times). There is never any queue at the actual gates - the only queues can be at the kiosks but never more than 2-3 minutes. Unless you have a passport that isn't eleigible for those gates (a small minority of QF elites I'm sure), then the "Express" Lane is almost certainly slower than the automated gates.

Outbound is a different story though. The SYD outbound Express Lane is operating again and definitely helps with the security queues at peak times.

As an aside I flew SQ as VA WP recently (SYD-SIN) and the outbound Express path entitlement was printed on my BP rather than a separate card. This seems like a good idea to avoid people trading / selling the cards.

 

[Ade]

I've noticed that the Express Path entitlement is now printed on the boarding pass / shows up on digital boarding passes. Is this the case for Golds or only Platinum and above?

Really ?? This is the first time I'm hearing about this ? Has anyone had ex-path entitlement printed on their BP? May be someone who has can post a pic ? (of course after masking out personal information & bar/QR codes)

 

[Hvr]

I've never understood the point of inbound express cards at airports with the automated gates (I've flown into MEL, BNE, a few times and SYD many times). T

Because if the queues to get through Customs are long the Express pass will get you to the head of the queue and through quite quickly. Even travelling HLO you still need to go through Customs and I've happily used my card to go past hundreds of people on occasions.

At MEL they are generally very good ensuring that only people with the Express pass get through.