Note that even if you have a paid Qantas Club membership, you can still only enter the lounge when you have a departure on a Qantas flight (and AA lounges when flying with AA and BA lounges when flying with BA). So if "pumping miles to UA", then I assume you are not flying on QF, AA or BA, so no lounge access will be available even with a Qantas Club membership.

Valid point, but he's Premier Exec so should have access to lounges when flying United.

Wow, really? So individuals pay nearly $800/year and you can only enter when you fly with them? That's a bit rough. As a RCC member (inferior, admittedly) i use the domestic lounges regardless of who i fly with (thats what i pay for, i.e. lounge access).

It's only really domestic i'm looking for a lounge in. I guess i'll have to wait and see how much i fly with them to decide if its worth it.

Not quite, currently $405 a year but there's a one off joining fee which is what bumps it high the first year. $730 will get you 2 years renewals.

We also used to be able to say "and they're just pacific peso's not real dollars" but that doesn't apply any more

The only way to get anytime access to Qantas Club (and international business class lounges) is to hold Platinum FF status with Qantas. Then you also don't need to pay the Qantas Club annual fee or joining fee.

Sure, why not. He can transfer his Amex card here and then sign up for another Amex card with a bonus offer (if he wouldn't have a credit histrory).


There is a reason why UA looses money and QF makes money....

If your employer pays, then you don't have to worry about the price anyway. Just take it and be happy. If he doesn't pay, you might still be able to salary sacrifice the fee so you will get a rebate of up to 46%. Annual renewal rates are about $350-400 p.a. even without a company discount.

For roughly $365 I'd expect them to do a hell of a lot to justify a 'joining fee'. Talk about a rort!

I cannot see how their membership access policy would cause them to loose (sic) ( or even lose) money.

Dave

Sorry guys. Didn't mean to get all UA-fanboy on you!

@IMOA: Perhaps the exchange rate is part of the shock? Another example, i was just in Jerusalem drinking $7US beers! Tourist (and non-happy hour) prices admittedly, but the exchange rate does make the rest of the world seem a hell of a lot more expensive nowadays.

@NM: Is this true for OW Sapphire as well?

@Enigma & Dave: It does seem a bit like residuals from the old monopoly mentality i remember so well from particular Australian companies (e.g. getting screwed by Telecom aka Telstra).

@DownUnderFlyer: To be honest i don't know UA's current financial status. I lived in Munich before moving to the US 3 years ago. Before arriving i had a lot of criticism for the US carriers (e.g. compare UA to LH. "No back seat TV! What are they living in the stone-age?!?"). But UA has really inspired a sense of loyalty in me, from what some here are calling generous, but i've just come to expect. Moving countries means i'm considering moving loyalties, for my own convenience of course. But hopefully not at the expense of going back to getting screwed every time i turn around!

Or perhaps i'll just need to reset my expectations.

Only QF Platinum get anytime lounge access.

QF Gold and other OW Sapphire/Emerald members only get access when departing on a OW flight.

AA Admirals Club members get access when departing on AA or QF

Qantas Club members get access when departing on a QF, BA or AA flight

Dave

Yeah. So as Enigma said, if i fly *A (international) i'll have their lounges, and if i get Qanats club membership through work and fly the friendly skies that's no problem either. It's really only if i choose to get a real cheap domestic flight on another carrier that i'll have nowhere to rest my weary bones while at the airport. Oh well.

This is true. Also if you fly QF/AA to USA you will still have lounge access by virtue of the QF Club membership / AA Platinum status

Based on what seems to be your travel plans, I would be suggesting migrating to AA for membership and using OW since you should be able to maintain a decent status and get decent mileage earning whilst splitting domestic and international across the alliances you could end up worse off due to lower status

In the end, its your choice and only you can decide which you want to do

Dave

Yep the exchange rate is part of the shock, particularly when comparing prices between the two countries you need to also imagine giving yourself a 30-40% raise to make the comparison "fair". Personally I'm with dave noble here, transfer to AA, do a challenge to get plat, fly qantas and send points to AA. Best of both worlds.

Enigma - Decent facilities, open bar, to be honest the better question is how do american airlines justify their annual fees for what are nothing more than glorified bus shelters

That's an incorrect and unfair characterization.

is it?

FWIW, it is spelt characterisation in these parts.