You do indeed get complimentary QF Club access with Gold or Platinum. This is not just lounge access. It has just occured to me where one difference lies - QC members get access to US Airways lounges but OW members do not. This should be of some benefit, for those travelling in the States frequently.

The interesting thing is that the system shows multiple levels (this has been discussed before). I come up on the system as Qantas Club Silver, yet my dad comes up as Frequent Flyer Platinum. This does carry through to having a Qantas Club Platnium category as well. These could be people who either have too much money vis a vis sense and therefore pay any way (if they are allowed to?!) or those that have a life QC membership (which I can tell you from personal experience, means we also have more money than sense but in a different way).

Darren? Please explain!

And I can be so sure because I was in the PER Club today with my Dad who is a Platinum member.

BTW, has anyone noticed the new but subtle rule change to club access. There was a sign at both the checkin desk and at the QC sign at the escalator about it. Apparently, what the sign doesn't say but means is that it is now required that the person travelling has to be entitled to access (I don't even think they mention being a OW member but I could be wrong - they definitely mention both QC Member and Gold Frequent Flyer). I heard the people at the desk explaining to an entourage at the door that it was a new rule from the 15th (of September I guess) and it was because the lounge is technically a "departure lounge".

What gives with that rule? No longer will I be able to drop off colleagues at the airport and treat them to the club. Just because I got lucky with our company's stock and made enough to earn a QC membership doesn't mean they do. But at least this way they get to experience the ambience... And if I ever got set loose on potential clients as opposed to signed ones, it might be a nice touch to take them up too.

And there goes dropping off mates who are off somewhere and we want a few crownies to celebrate...