Does anyone know of an Asian or Middle Eastern airline that has a program similar to Qantas Club?

Does anyone know of an Asian or Middle Eastern airline that has a program similar to Qantas Club? If Virgin Australia had a better international lounge network, I'd join in an instant.

It's mostly a good international network and reciprocation I'm after. Like how you can use Qantas lounges if you are flying Qantas, Emirates, JetStar or American Airlines.

If you simply want lounge access, you are probably better looking at Priority Pass - which outside Australia has pretty good coverage.

Paid lounge programs from airlines are really the domain of the US and Australian airlines.

Elsewhere the lounges are pretty much reserved for First and Business passengers, or elite frequent flyer members.

Thanks moa999,

I've used Priority Pass in the past and it's worked well. The only issue you can run into is if the lounge is on a different terminal then your departing flight, as you are aparently not allowed airside in international terminals you aren't departing from.

Not that I know of.

For the Asian mob like CX, SQ, MH, TG, JL, NH, CZ, etc., none of them have paid club memberships like QP. In fact, CX requires you to pay to earn status credits, and SQ has one of the world's stingiest FFPs.

I also believe that the Middle Eastern bunch, e.g. don't have paid-club programs either.

In fact, I'm inclined to think that the only paid-club program outside the States is actually QP, and it's probably the best one to boot for reciprocation and international network (especially when there was reciprocal access with BA), as most of the Stateside ones seem to mostly be internal.

So yeah, QP is actually an exception rather than the rule - so no, I really can't find an equivalent Asian/Middle Eastern program.

Thanks watson374,

It seems odd that CX would ask for extra cash to earn status credits. I thought they were to be used as a tool for encouraging more business.

Marco Polo Club apparently has some nominal fee. I think it's a one-off joining fee of USD 50.

I'm not aware of any Paid Lounge Membership offered by Asian or Middle Eastern carriers.

However, United & Air Canada have paid memberships which allow you to access any Star Alliance Gold lounge (when travelling on Star Alliance), as stated on the Star Alliance website:

Eligible Paid Lounge Membership Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers' owned Business Class lounges2.

• Eligible Paid Lounge Membership Customers include: United Club, Air Canada Maple Leaf Club - Worldwide
• Customer must present a valid eligible paid lounge membership card which displays the Star Alliance Lounge Logo
• Customer must also present a boarding pass for travel on a Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport
• Customer is entitled to one guest

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the heads up. Air Canada's option looks good. For $665 CAD you get access to what looks to be a generous chunk of StarAlliance lounges. (I especcially like how I may be able to choose from SG, NZ and UA lounges at Melbourne international) as UA's lounge is a little below par.

I wasn't able to see if the $550 USD United Club membership would get me the same worldwide acceptance as the Air Canada one.

Unfortunately I do not have any experience with either of these paid United Club or Maple Lounge memberships, but I'd suggest that AC would be more widely accepted as you've found.

Another alternative with be Priority Pass membership, which may fit your flying patterns better as it doesn't restrict access based on the airline you're flying.