Hi Dr_Azz, and welcome to Australian Business Traveller!
There are a couple of key differences between Qantas Club and Virgin Australia Lounge membership: Qantas Club works globally wherever Qantas flies its own aircraft (including within Australia plus in LA, NY, Dallas, Shanghai, Dubai, London, Hong Kong, Singapore and so on), whereas Virgin Australia Lounge membership covers Australian domestic flights but only works internationally before selcted flights to/from New Zealand.
Qantas Club also gets you priority check-in privileges when flying with bags plus a boosted baggage allowance when flying in economy with Qantas, whereas Virgin Lounge does not offer these.
That said, if you'll mostly be flying with Virgin Australia (especially domestically), it may prove the better option!
It should also come down to what product you prefer more, the virgin or qantas product. Personally i prefer the qantas product as they have a much larger international network than virgin, although virgin's international network is growing.
Also, given your level of expected travel, you will most likely hold platinum status in no time, allowing you access to the lounges without paying. If you are not locked into one airline it might be worth sticking with one airline for the first year and building up status with it, the change your lounge membership the next year to the other airline and build up status with the other. my back of envelope calculations say you could hold gold status with both airlines
I have to say: You ABT members are amazing. I'm going to enjoy being part of the community! You've each given me something to consider. Have a great afternoon all.
If you have to go internationally via SYD, (no QFint flights from ADL), haven't checked where you live, QF's bus uses the internal road, and drops you off at a non too well known zone at SYDint terminal, the VA's bus drops you off outside the terminal, out the front, quite a walk if your transfer/transit times is not that much.
Also, you earn more SC by flying QF than flying VA, ie, I fly a lot to NZ, and J with QF earns me 80 QF SC from the east coast, but only 60 VA SC from the east coast to NZ.
Treshold to reach and keep PS and SG with VA are lower, but if you have tried both, you will find QF better.
The lounge food is better domestically and you have access to QF's or access associated lounges internationally.
No sleigh aganist the Koru lounges, but VA does not have any of its own lounges internationally.
Even flying domestically, as a QF SG I have been given an empty seat next to me many times, more than the squashed VA.
VA fares are cheaper, but for comparison, QF is better.
My bet would be VA. Because of your trips to singapore you should sign up to kris flyer to have points avalible with them which would also be good to get to europe with points that are then useable in domestic and trans tasmanian travel.
Unless you move the KF points earned to VA (18 months validity of points), or use KF by the time its due, its life span is 3 years.
QF's partner MH's lifespan for its points is 18 months. QF also is 18 months, but for QF, if you join EDR (Woolworths reward card), you can keep your QF account active. OR put CC spends into the QFF scheme.
VA points also expire, but you can pick up a cheaper VA parther CC to keep the VA acocunt active.
Earnings on MH or any OW partner will earn less points and status credits than flying QF itself.
QF and VA have their affliations with various CC companies too, both Visa/Mastercard/AMEX/Diners. Points earn on them are quite low for the cheaper CC.
On the BNE - SYD - BNE flights I have done with hand luggage on QF I've had no problem moving to an earlier flight by simply asking at the lounge or the checkin desk. Only once recently have I been knocked back becasue a flight was cancelled. Its a small unpublished benefit but a good one. (Status - QF Club Lifetime Silver if that matters)
Dr_Azz
Dr_Azz
Member since 28 Jul 2015
Total posts 6
Hayden: no. It'll be my choice also.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
Hi Dr_Azz, and welcome to Australian Business Traveller!
There are a couple of key differences between Qantas Club and Virgin Australia Lounge membership: Qantas Club works globally wherever Qantas flies its own aircraft (including within Australia plus in LA, NY, Dallas, Shanghai, Dubai, London, Hong Kong, Singapore and so on), whereas Virgin Australia Lounge membership covers Australian domestic flights but only works internationally before selcted flights to/from New Zealand.
Qantas Club also gets you priority check-in privileges when flying with bags plus a boosted baggage allowance when flying in economy with Qantas, whereas Virgin Lounge does not offer these.
That said, if you'll mostly be flying with Virgin Australia (especially domestically), it may prove the better option!
For more information about the Qantas Club, you'll find our AusBT guide here: The ultimate unofficial Qantas Club guide and FAQ
(Unfortunately we don't yet have a Virgin Lounge guide, but you can find the benefits on VA's own website.)
Hayden
Hayden
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Jan 2015
Total posts 94
It should also come down to what product you prefer more, the virgin or qantas product. Personally i prefer the qantas product as they have a much larger international network than virgin, although virgin's international network is growing.
Also, given your level of expected travel, you will most likely hold platinum status in no time, allowing you access to the lounges without paying. If you are not locked into one airline it might be worth sticking with one airline for the first year and building up status with it, the change your lounge membership the next year to the other airline and build up status with the other. my back of envelope calculations say you could hold gold status with both airlines
Dr_Azz
Dr_Azz
Member since 28 Jul 2015
Total posts 6
I have to say: You ABT members are amazing. I'm going to enjoy being part of the community! You've each given me something to consider. Have a great afternoon all.
Andrew Barkery
Andrew Barkery
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2011
Total posts 433
I would aim for QF and SG or higher.
If you have to go internationally via SYD, (no QFint flights from ADL), haven't checked where you live, QF's bus uses the internal road, and drops you off at a non too well known zone at SYDint terminal, the VA's bus drops you off outside the terminal, out the front, quite a walk if your transfer/transit times is not that much.
Also, you earn more SC by flying QF than flying VA, ie, I fly a lot to NZ, and J with QF earns me 80 QF SC from the east coast, but only 60 VA SC from the east coast to NZ.
Treshold to reach and keep PS and SG with VA are lower, but if you have tried both, you will find QF better.
The lounge food is better domestically and you have access to QF's or access associated lounges internationally.
No sleigh aganist the Koru lounges, but VA does not have any of its own lounges internationally.
Even flying domestically, as a QF SG I have been given an empty seat next to me many times, more than the squashed VA.
VA fares are cheaper, but for comparison, QF is better.
Bizflyer
Bizflyer
Lufthansa - Miles & More
Member since 29 Jul 2014
Total posts 46
My bet would be VA. Because of your trips to singapore you should sign up to kris flyer to have points avalible with them which would also be good to get to europe with points that are then useable in domestic and trans tasmanian travel.
Andrew Barkery
Andrew Barkery
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2011
Total posts 433
Unless you move the KF points earned to VA (18 months validity of points), or use KF by the time its due, its life span is 3 years.
QF's partner MH's lifespan for its points is 18 months. QF also is 18 months, but for QF, if you join EDR (Woolworths reward card), you can keep your QF account active. OR put CC spends into the QFF scheme.
VA points also expire, but you can pick up a cheaper VA parther CC to keep the VA acocunt active.
Earnings on MH or any OW partner will earn less points and status credits than flying QF itself.
QF and VA have their affliations with various CC companies too, both Visa/Mastercard/AMEX/Diners. Points earn on them are quite low for the cheaper CC.
henrus
henrus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Oct 2013
Total posts 766
On the BNE - SYD - BNE flights I have done with hand luggage on QF I've had no problem moving to an earlier flight by simply asking at the lounge or the checkin desk. Only once recently have I been knocked back becasue a flight was cancelled. Its a small unpublished benefit but a good one. (Status - QF Club Lifetime Silver if that matters)