LHR departure experience as WP travelling in Y on QF. What a fail.

[Austman]

A series of awkward moments and disappointments. What a fail Qantas!

1. The QF check-in does not actually open when the QF website says it will - with just 2 x departures - both at night, early check-in (5 hours before is advertised) might suit many.

2. The AA/QF kiosks cannot even re-print a BP even though I had checked-in on line (but was in a hotel with no printer immediately available). So I went looking for a service desk (I had carry-on only), but there was none to be seen for QF.

3. WP Y class passengers are not allowed to use the express departure lane in LHR T3 even though the QF check-in staff said I could (just show your FF card/BP were the instructions) - it's very embarrassing when you hold up pax behind you as you try and are then refused.

4. The BA 1st class lounge refuses to allow you into the dining room section (it's only for QF F (and maybe J?) class they say - but not for Y) - great when a 22:30 departure means it's exactly what you need. There is a general lounge menu for some dishes - but I was told a few times the proper dining room opens at 18:30.

5. The Emirates Lounge refuses you entry totally - "other Emirates lounges might be OK but not LHR" was their embarrassed reply - they suggested I use "another Star Alliance lounge"! (showing, clearly that they had no clue even about oneworld) . So much for the QF promised "higher standard of offering to FF-ers".

Gee, how much more can be refused here? It was a pretty poor experience all round. And a HUGE difference to how it happens in the AUS->UK direction!

On a side note - why oh why can't I get another copy of my international BP once I've checked-in on line? I had access to a printer later but the QF website always says "As you have already checked-in please go to an airport check-in desk." or similar...

 

[MH_fan]

That really is terrible! I can't believe you were refused entry in the express departure lane AND the BA First class dining room AS WELL AS the EK lounge!

 

[Austman]

I went to the CX 1st class lounge. Not great by HK standards but at least I was warmly welcomed!

 

[Austman]

The showers in the CX lounge are much better than BA's (I peeked at BA's). I suspect the CX food isn't as good. I didn't stay in the BA lounge to try.

What is it with BA at LHR T3? As far as I could see there were no BA flights even departing... Just JL and QF... And QF WPs get refused in a section of the lounge? The dining room had ZERO persons using it when I tried to go in.

 

[Hvr]

The oneworld site mentions fast track security for Emerald level flyers but when you look at the airports listed LHR isn't there. Not really a benefit then. In fact the number of airports listed is quite small.

 

[madrooster]

A series of awkward moments and disappointments. What a fail Qantas!

1. The QF check-in does not actually open when the QF website says it will - with just 2 x departures - both at night, early check-in (5 hours before is advertised) might suit many.

2. The AA/QF kiosks cannot even re-print a BP even though I had checked-in on line (but was in a hotel with no printer immediately available). So I went looking for a service desk (I had carry-on only), but there was none to be seen for QF.

3. WP Y class passengers are not allowed to use the express departure lane in LHR T3 even though the QF check-in staff said I could (just show your FF card/BP were the instructions) - it's very embarrassing when you hold up pax behind you as you try and are then refused.

4. The BA 1st class lounge refuses to allow you into the dining room section (it's only for QF F (and maybe J?) class they say - but not for Y) - great when a 22:30 departure means it's exactly what you need. There is a general lounge menu for some dishes - but I was told a few times the proper dining room opens at 18:30.

5. The Emirates Lounge refuses you entry totally - "other Emirates lounges might be OK but not LHR" was their embarrassed reply - they suggested I use "another Star Alliance lounge"! (showing, clearly that they had no clue even about oneworld) . So much for the QF promised "higher standard of offering to FF-ers".

Gee, how much more can be refused here? It was a pretty poor experience all round. And a HUGE difference to how it happens in the AUS->UK direction!

On a side note - why oh why can't I get another copy of my international BP once I've checked-in on line? I had access to a printer later but the QF website always says "As you have already checked-in please go to an airport check-in desk." or similar...

Quite interesting. I departed LHR T3 as a WP 2 weeks ago...

1. Check in was open at 4:30pm with staff wandering around the start of the queues
2. The kiosks are hit and miss - I tried 3 kiosks before it would print BPs for me
3. Fast track is available for WP's in any class - they have a folder at the fast track desk that details they need to see your WP card. They weren't sure if I was eligible and pulled out the folder to check (fair enough)
4. I've always been under the impression the dining room was for F pax only which is fair enough (similar to EK not allowing free day spa access in DXB to WP's not in F)
5. QF has specifically made an exception that QFF's can only access the LHR EK lounge when flying on EK metal and not QF metal. See Qantas | Lounge Eligibility and Access under Access to Partner Lounges - I found this out the hard way like you did and checked the QF site after. They had changed it sometime mid April as that clause was not there in early April.

 

[dairyfloss]

4. The BA 1st class lounge refuses to allow you into the dining room section (it's only for QF F (and maybe J?) class they say - but not for Y) - great when a 22:30 departure means it's exactly what you need. There is a general lounge menu for some dishes - but I was told a few times the proper dining room opens at 18:30. ...

This one seems to be common in some other BA lounges... I'm SG, and was travelling in Y from PHL to LHR on BA with my boss, who is QF WP. We entered the 1st lounge, and shortly afterwards, sat down for what looked to be a lovely meal in the small 1st dining area. The server gave us menus and some great wine, and all looked to be going swimmingly, until the lounge manager came over and asked to see our BPs... the result - 1st dining is only for F passengers. If we were in J, he would have escorted us next door to the J lounge buffet, but then said that the J buffet area was only for passengers holding J BPs - No Y access, regardless of status! We stayed in the F lounge, and ate all their cucumber sandwiches.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The AA/QF kiosks cannot even re-print a BP even though I had checked-in on line (but was in a hotel with no printer immediately available). So I went looking for a service desk (I had carry-on only), but there was none to be seen for QF.

On a side note - why oh why can't I get another copy of my international BP once I've checked-in on line? I had access to a printer later but the QF website always says "As you have already checked-in please go to an airport check-in desk." or similar...

At the hotel if you were you using your laptop you can always save a pdf copy of your boarding pass & also email it to a webmail address so you can print it out later on at a net cafe or anywhere else that has a printer.

Did the hotel not have a business centre with a printer?

 

[drewbles]

The showers in the CX lounge are much better than BA's (I peeked at BA's). I suspect the CX food isn't as good. I didn't stay in the BA lounge to try.

What is it with BA at LHR T3? As far as I could see there were no BA flights even departing... Just JL and QF... And QF WPs get refused in a section of the lounge? The dining room had ZERO persons using it when I tried to go in.

I typically head to AA's Flagship Lounge for a Shower. The lounge itself is below par, but the showers are great =)

 

[cirqueboy]

I am about to find out about the express lane for departure in a few days. I had no problems with the express immigration lane coming in a few days ago. The signage clearly states OWE & OWS. We just showed our cards and no problem

 

[simongr]

Quite a poor sequence of events. The dining room is clearly marked as F pax only - I have never been able to access it in J.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Quite a poor sequence of events. The dining room is clearly marked as F pax only - I have never been able to access it in J.

BA have recently (beginning of May) changed catering contractors, the dining mix up was likely due to the new staff not knowing the normal rules.
As you state, the dining room can only be used by F passengers at night for pre-flight dining.
During the day any passengers in the lounge can eat there as the menu is the same cooked to order menu available throughout the lounge.

 

[simongr]

Thanks PF - I was not aware of that. Generally I have been on the evening flight(s) ex-T3. The one time I had the lunch time flight to HKG I didnt even try to go into the dining room. I had forgotten about the cooked to order food which renders the dining room a little bit pointless.

 

[amaroo]

4. The BA 1st class lounge refuses to allow you into the dining room section (it's only for QF F (and maybe J?) class they say - but not for Y) - great when a 22:30 departure means it's exactly what you need. There is a general lounge menu for some dishes - but I was told a few times the proper dining room opens at 18:30.

It's only F and it's still a right royal PITA to enter. We were traveling F with BA and were refused access as the front desk failed to provide written invitations ......showed the bloke the BP's that any moron working in a lounge could see was a BA flight, metal & F however, it wasn't good enough for the jack booted gulag gatekeeper.

Went & got the hand written invitations entered the lounge & they wanted the 5 of us to sit at three different tables:evil: (the place was empty) It was the straw that broke my back & I responded with harsh words that saw the table arrangement sorted and we sat down for a pretty underwhelming meal.

You didn't miss much!

 

[ajw373]

The oneworld site mentions fast track security for Emerald level flyers but when you look at the airports listed LHR isn't there. Not really a benefit then. In fact the number of airports listed is quite small.

That must be a recent thing, never had a problem when I lived in the UK. I note that London Gatwick isn't listed either, but as a lowly gold I got access to their priority screening gate 2 weeks ago when travelling on Emirates with a Qantas flight number.

OP as for being refused in the dinning room, it has been like that since the T3 (and T5) lounges opened, first class passengers only. That said I think you would have been better off renaming in the lounge and eating from the buffet and if you look they do have menu's outside the dinning room for items not on the buffet that are available to non first class passengers. Would have been better than going to the CX lounge. With Emirates I would be complaining about that one, as you should have got in.

 

[ajw373]

I am about to find out about the express lane for departure in a few days. I had no problems with the express immigration lane coming in a few days ago. The signage clearly states OWE & OWS. We just showed our cards and no problem

When you are talking about the signage are you talking express immigration or outbound security? If outbound security you are right they do have signs saying OWS and OWE can use it. If immigration then next time I better have a closer look as I thought it was invite, through a card given by the airline only.

 

[elbarto]

When you are talking about the signage are you talking express immigration or outbound security? If outbound security you are right they do have signs saying OWS and OWE can use it. If immigration then next time I better have a closer look as I thought it was invite, through a card given by the airline only.

There's no outbound immigration at LHR though.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

This thread reminds me why all my international travel now is on Star Alliance. There's a general consistency there as Star Gold which QF with Emirates as well as its pro-forma OW membership doesn't seem to replicate anymore.

 

[ajw373]

There's no outbound immigration at LHR though.

Correct, though if you read my post I was talking about immigration and security outbound as two separate points. Though must say when I lived in the UK and used T3 there were quite often immigration agents manning the desks just past security checking passports. Never understood why it was just T3, but guess it just added to the inconsistencies that make Heathrow what it is.

 

[elbarto]

Correct, though if you read my post I was talking about immigration and security outbound as two separate points. Though must say when I lived in the UK and used T3 there were quite often immigration agents manning the desks just past security checking passports. Never understood why it was just T3, but guess it just added to the inconsistencies that make Heathrow what it is.

I've seen those desks, but never seen them manned. I figured that they were just a relic from the days when (if) they outbound immigration that BAA/UKBA was too lazy to remove.