First Lounge Guests

[Ontime]

I am flying First with Qantas from Sydney and am wondering if anybody can clarify the guest access. I have a friend who will be flying Singapore airlines and having read the rules it says I can bring one guest with me. I notice that for entry to the Business Class lounge it says the guest must be flying on a Qantas marketed and operated flight and British Airways is excluded. No such stipulation is included in the First entry rules.

Has anyone any experience with this.

 

[straitman]

You can guest one person so long as they are travelling on the same flight as you.

 

[harvyk]

Your guest needs to be flying on the same flight as you.

 

[TonyHancock]

I think if you are a QF WP not flying in QF F, then your guest must be on the same flight. If you are flying F "one guest" is "permitted". There doesn't seem to be a stipulation on that guest traveling with you.

I have certainly guested someone into the QF/BA LHR T3 F lounge who was not on the same flight when I have flown QF F. (They were on a BA flight though.)

 

[Princess Fiona]

AFAIK you cannot be in the F Lounge either on your own merits or as a guest flying SQ unless you are a CL member.
Mind you I could be wrong

 

[TonyHancock]

I hadn't really paid much attention to the table previously, but the distinction between domestic and international lounge access is interesting. I suppose that anyone you guest into an international lounge pretty much must be traveling somewhere.

 

[arrow]

I hadn't really paid much attention to the table previously, but the distinction between domestic and international lounge access is interesting. I suppose that anyone you guest into an international lounge pretty much must be traveling somewhere.

View attachment 8506

To be honest this issue is frustrating.

I have raised it with the Qantas F Desk the last time I flew (was flying F and tried to guest a friend traveling on United Airlines, initally they refused and then when I showed them the web page, they eventually let her in).

After that incident, I asked them to clarify it and provide an update, but the policy access on the page remains unclear.

 

[serfty]

Since the OP is flying F, these are all incorrect:

You can guest one person so long as they are travelling on the same flight as you.

Your guest needs to be flying on the same flight as you.

AFAIK you cannot be in the F Lounge either on your own merits or as a guest flying SQ unless you are a CL member.
Mind you I could be wrong

---

Guest Access is actually specific on the web site - it's just stated in a convoluted manner.

To Summarize:

First Passenger can have one guest - no flight stipulation for Guest

Emerald (Non QF) can have one guest - Guest must be travelling oneworld flight number and metal (not necessarily with Member).

QF WP (QF Emerald) can have one guest  - Guest must be travelling with QF WP member

The problem is that lounge agents confuse these different rules: (http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/qantas-club-lounge-access/global/en)

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR]
[TH="width: 150"]Class of Travel[/TH]
[TH="width: 350"]International First Lounge[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Qantas International First[/TD]
[TD]Next onward flight that day must be on a Qantas or British Airways flight number.
One guest permitted.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR]
[TH="width: 150"]Member Type[/TH]
[TH="width: 350"]International First Lounge[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Platinum[/TD]
[TD]Next onward flight must be on a Qantas, Jetstar Airlines[SUP]+[/SUP] or oneworld flight number.[SUP]#
[/SUP]One guest allowed and must be travelling with the member.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR]
[TH="width: 150"]oneworld status[/TH]
[TH="width: 350"]International First Lounge[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Emerald​

[/TD]
[TD]Next onward flight that day must be on a oneworld operated and marketed flight[SUP]#[/SUP].
One guest allowed. Must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight[SUP]#[/SUP][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Note: an operated flight refers to the actual aircraft or 'metal' on which you fly.
[SUP]#[/SUP] Next onward flight that day must be on a oneworld Airline Members operated and marketed flight.
Note: a oneworld marketed flight refers to a flight with a oneworld flight number, eg QF1 or AA222. A oneworld operated flight refers to the actual aircraft or 'metal' on which you fly, eg Finnair aircraft.
[SUP]^[/SUP] A Qantas marketed flight refers to a flight with a Qantas flight number eg. QF545. A Qantas operated flight refers to the actual aircraft or ‘metal’ on which you fly eg. Qantas aircraft
[SUP]**[/SUP]Valid in Qantas operated lounges branded as the Qantas Club and joint Qantas/British Airways, and Qantas/American Airlines lounges. It is not accepted in associated and partner airline lounges (including British Airways or American Airlines[SUP]®[/SUP] Lounges and other oneworld lounges.)
[SUP]+[/SUP] Jetstar Airlines refers to Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) and Valuair (VF).

 

[Danger]

To be honest this issue is frustrating.

Guest Access is actually specific on the web site - it's just stated in a convoluted manner.

I know we disagree on this one, serfty, but I find the rules governing lounge access to be very confusing and far from straight-forward.

 

[serfty]

I know we disagree on this one, serfty, but I find the rules governing lounge access to be very confusing and far from straight-forward.

I think the problem is there are so many scenarios. The rules for a guest to the First lounges are there and they are specific.

What I have done in my earlier post is stripped most of parts out leaving only those that specifically relate to the access for a Guest of a passenger who is eligible to be using a Qantas First Lounge.

To re-iterate:

• First Passenger can have one guest - no flight stipulation for Guest
  
• Emerald (Non QF) can have one guest - Guest must be travelling oneworld flight number and metal (not necessarily with Member)
• QF WP (QF Emerald) can have one guest - Guest must be travelling with QF WP member

 

[N860CR]

Interesting point would be it that was Qantas' intention when writing the policies. It's clear as written, but aparently not as applied!

 

[wandersen]

The rationale is that someone travelling in first may have a minder, an assistant or other pleb that they need in the lounge that is not travelling with them.

 

[Kangol]

The rationale is that someone travelling in first may have a minder, an assistant or other pleb that they need in the lounge that is not travelling with them.

So how can this assistant get airside if they are not travelling and don't have a BP?

 

[Kangol]

I think the problem is there are so many scenarios. The rules for a guest to the First lounges are there and they are specific.

Interesting, there may often be overlaps with regard to eligibility.. eg. travelling F and being a OWE (QF or not), you can still bring in a guest travelling on SQ as you are an F pax. Thing is, staff may see OWE on your BP and not allow said guest in.

Or, you may hold both QF WP and AA EXP but choose to credit your QF flight to QFF (not travelling in F). Guest is on a separate BA flight and since your BP says WP they don't let your guest in because they are not travelling with you. But, if you flash your AA EXP card then they are allowed access.

Such madness! I wonder why they have different rules anyway - oneworld contractual agreement I guess?

 

[serfty]

...
Such madness! I wonder why they have different rules anyway - oneworld contractual agreement I guess?

I have postulated in the past the the first two relate to oneworld contracts and Qantas would only have the third admission criteria if they could. However the third exists because Qantas can do what they like with their 'own' elites, just like AA do with theirs in relation to A/C access.

 

[wandersen]

So how can this assistant get airside if they are not travelling and don't have a BP?

Book a refundable ticket? On Jetstar or the cheapest carrier? I remember this discussion on the BA FT board a few years ago. A BA Rep came online and said F passengers have liberal guest access for this very reason - i.e. so that they can bring their assistant in.

 

[serfty]

Book a refundable ticket? On Jetstar or the cheapest carrier? I remember this discussion on the BA FT board a few years ago. A BA Rep came online and said F passengers have liberal guest access for this very reason - i.e. so that they can bring their assistant in.

Or amybe simply arranged it though the channels that exist.

 

[anchew]

Has anyone tried guesting someone (while not flying F) who's on a different QF/JQ flight?

 

[serfty]

Has anyone tried guesting someone (while not flying F) who's on a different QF/JQ flight?

Yes, there are quite a few anecdotes which basically amount to mixed results.

 

[TonyHancock]

Has anyone tried guesting someone (while not flying F) who's on a different QF/JQ flight?

Whilst not quite to this criteria I have guested someone flying BA into the LHR T3 BA/QF lounge when flying QF F myself. The lounge dragons took no interest in my guest's flights.