Frequent Flyer Programmes: Why I Prefer an Airport Lounge to a Plastic Chair

Collecting airline miles is nice. But after decades of travelling, I’ve discovered that the real luxury isn’t necessarily sitting at the front of the aircraft. Sometimes it’s simply having somewhere comfortable to sit before you board.

There are queues. There are delays. Some airports make finding a free seat feel like winning the lottery. And there is always somebody having a very loud telephone conversation about something nobody else needs to hear.

Then, of course, there are the prices of food and drinks at airports.

For the cost of an ordinary sandwich and a coffee, you sometimes wonder whether you could have bought a small restaurant somewhere in Southeast Asia.

The secret? Frequent flyer programmes.

It’s Not Just About Collecting Miles

When people hear about frequent flyer programmes, they usually think of collecting miles for free flights.

I still remember my journey to Tahiti in 1999, when I used Airpoints to upgrade my long-haul flights with Air New Zealand.

That journey came with plenty of its own worries, including an unpleasant health scare before departure. Travelling in business class didn’t solve my problems, but it certainly made dealing with them at 35,000 feet a little more civilised.

There is something rather comforting about worrying in a seat that actually reclines properly.

But airline miles are only half the story. The other half is frequent flyer status.

Qatar Airways and the Art of Making Airports Bearable

Let’s take Qatar Airways as an example.

Their frequent flyer programme, called Privilege Club, has four membership tiers: Burgundy, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Joining the programme is free.

Now, before you start imagining yourself being carried through Doha Airport on a golden throne, I should mention that simply joining doesn’t automatically give you all the benefits.

You have to earn status. Qatar Airways uses two different types of points.

Avios are the reward currency you can collect and spend on eligible flights, upgrades and other benefits.

Qpoints help determine your membership status.

Why Silver Can Already Make a Difference

Let’s be realistic. Most of us won’t become Platinum members overnight. And unless you’re flying constantly, chasing the highest membership tier can become an expensive hobby.

But Silver status can already make travelling considerably more pleasant.

At the time of writing, Qatar Airways lists benefits including priority check-in, priority boarding, additional baggage allowance and eligible lounge access.

The extra baggage allowance can be particularly useful. After all, travelling with just one suitcase sounds wonderfully sensible until you’ve spent a few weeks somewhere and discovered things you absolutely must bring home. Suddenly, that carefully planned luggage allowance becomes less a realistic limit and more a suggestion.

And don’t even get me started on shopping in Asia. But for me, one of the most attractive benefits is access to airport lounges.

Doha Airport: Where Waiting Becomes Rather Pleasant

After hours in transit, my back is complaining and my internal clock has given up trying to decide which country we’re in.

At Doha’s Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways offers lounges for eligible Privilege Club members, with facilities that vary by membership tier.

Some lounges have dining facilities, showers, and quiet areas, though the exact facilities vary depending on which lounge you’re entitled to use.

You don’t necessarily need champagne, a personal butler, or someone to announce your arrival with a trumpet. A comfortable chair, something good to eat, and a bit of peace can be luxuries in themselves.

And What About Your Travelling Companion?

Now, this is something worth checking carefully before you get too excited. Lounge access for yourself doesn’t always mean complimentary access for your travelling companion.

With Qatar Airways, the privileges depend on your membership tier, the specific lounge and the applicable access conditions.

Silver membership provides eligible members with access, while Gold and Platinum offer additional guest privileges.

There are also separate guest lounge passes associated with qualifying membership tiers. So, before promising your partner a wonderful afternoon of comfortable chairs and complimentary refreshments, check the rules.

Otherwise, one of you might be relaxing in a lounge while the other sits outside next to a vending machine. Not exactly the romantic travel experience you had in mind.

Gold and Platinum: Things Get Even More Comfortable

The more qualifying flights you take, the more opportunities you have to progress through the membership tiers.

Gold and Platinum status offer additional privileges, potentially including greater baggage allowances, more generous lounge access and other travel benefits.

These benefits aren’t really free in the sense that they appear out of nowhere. You’ve earned them by spending money on flights and remaining loyal to an airline or its partners.

So I wouldn’t recommend booking unnecessarily expensive tickets to earn a few extra points.

That would be like spending €500 at a supermarket to get a free shopping bag. A lovely bag, perhaps, but hardly a financial triumph.

Airline Loyalty Is Useful, but Don’t Let It Become an Obsession

I like frequent flyer programmes. I appreciate the benefits, and I certainly wouldn’t complain about a comfortable airport lounge or a business-class upgrade. But I don’t believe in unquestioning loyalty.

If another airline offers a considerably better connection, a much more convenient schedule or a significantly cheaper ticket, I would think carefully before paying extra to collect points.

My advice is simple: choose an airline that already makes sense for your travel habits, and then take advantage of the programme.

Not the other way around.

A Little Comfort Becomes More Important with Age

When I was younger, comfort wasn’t always a top priority.

I could tolerate long journeys, uncomfortable seats and ridiculous connections much more easily.

These days, I still love travelling, but I have become more selective about what I consider unnecessary suffering.

And perhaps most importantly, arriving at my destination feeling like a human being rather than a piece of misplaced luggage.

So, Is Joining a Frequent Flyer Programme Worth It?

In my opinion, absolutely — provided you approach it sensibly.

If you’re already travelling regularly with an airline, why not register for its programme and collect whatever benefits your journeys might earn?

Even if you never reach Gold or Platinum status, there may still be opportunities to use reward points.

Remember that airline programmes change their rules, qualification requirements, and benefits from time to time. It’s always worth checking the current conditions before booking.

The destination may be the reason for the journey, but no rule says you have to suffer on the way.

See you in the lounge. Or, if my membership has expired, perhaps somewhere near the charging sockets in the departure hall.

Check before you travel: Qatar Airways’ current membership-tier benefits and lounge-access information explain the applicable conditions. A status lounge benefit is not a promise of entry to every lounge at the airport.

For the reward-booking side of the story, read The Art of Collecting Airline Miles. For my 1999 upgrade memory, continue with The Tahiti Trip I Thought Might Be My Last.