QANTAS Lounge access and boarding pass details

[MikeG]

In the past I've been pulled up at Q-Lounge entry with a Qantas boarding pass with my QFF (Red) listed and my AA Platinum card held alongside it, being told that I need the AA-Platinum on the boarding pass to get access to the lounge.

I begrudgingly agreed to the change, and as smalltalk asked if the chap would be happy to change it back when I left? He stopped for a second, and then said "Yes, I guess I can do that"

Is this a pointless rule of the Q-Club, or was this youngish chap just being officious?

Thoughts?

I currently have AA-Platinum, but I'm building up QFF points for a family OS trip in 2019.

I get automatic QFF points from my credit cards etc, and hence building up AA points is not such a good option - or is it???

Mike

 

[clazman]

Did he change it back?

 

[serfty]

There is a rule regarding crediting to the program that you are using to gain lounge access - this is when using EK or QF credentials only.

Some lounge agents confuse oneworld access with this and can be difficult to argue with.

As noted this is generally easily circumvented in the rare occasion it happens.

See here for Melbourne QP access:

The Qantas Club | Lounge Locations | Australia | Melbourne Domestic

The Qantas and Emirates member access rules have a carat (^) noted in the text which indicates the following footnote:

^ Lounge access eligibility is based on the class of travel, Qantas club membership or the Frequent Flyer Membership tier for your next onward flight.

"Frequent Flyer Membership tier for your next onward flight" means the tier the member has in the FF program being credited to by the member for the flight.

There is no such ^ when it comes to the "Eligible oneworld Status" section.

 

[RichardMEL]

From the QF lounge point of view it isn't THAT pointless in my view.

If one is accessing a lounge based on partner status then they want that on the BP to scan and thus charge that partner for the entry (this is not relevant if getting in on class of service).

 

[MikeG]

Did he change it back?

I didn't end up changing it back, as I was in a rush.

 

[MikeG]

There is a rule regarding crediting to the program that you are using to gain lounge access - this is when using EK or QF credentials only.

Some lounge agents confuse oneworld access with this and can be difficult to argue with.

As noted this is generally easily circumvented in the rare occasion it happens.

See here for Melbourne QP access:

The Qantas Club | Lounge Locations | Australia | Melbourne Domestic

The Qantas and Emirates member access rules have a carat (^) noted in the text which indicates the following footnote:"Frequent Flyer Membership tier for your next onward flight" means the tier the member has in the FF program being credited to by the member for the flight.

There is no such ^ when it comes to the "Eligible oneworld Status" section.

Interesting, so he was just a bit green. Next time I can direct him to the entry rules... Thanks

 

[NM]

My case is the reverse (Gold in both QFF and AA at the moment, and wanting to build up AA to achieve LTP). So I always have the QFF details in the booking, which gives me best seating selection options and permits lounge access. Then at the lounge service desk I ask them to change to my AA FF details and reprint the boarding pass so I have it printed on the pass in case there are any issues later. So far that process has been solid for me.

So in you case, I would have AA details in the original booking, allowing best seat selection and lounge access, then at the lounge ask to change to my QFF number and re-print the boarding pass.

Once you have entered the lounge by means of FF status on you boarding pass, they won't kick you out because your reprinted BP does not permit lounge access - at least that is my experience.

 

[MikeG]

Sounds like a good strategy

 

[MikeG]

To change the topic ever so slightly, am I better off building up AA FF points or QF FF points for a USA trip in 2019? Platinum runs out in 2018 and I doubt I'll be making enough flights to keep it... Thoughts? Can QANTAS FF points be transferred to AA FF?

 

[RichardMEL]

To change the topic ever so slightly, am I better off building up AA FF points or QF FF points for a USA trip in 2019? Platinum runs out in 2018 and I doubt I'll be making enough flights to keep it... Thoughts? Can QANTAS FF points be transferred to AA FF?

No you can't transfer points.

What would be the (A)advantage of going for AA points for this proposed trip? For domestic upgrades or something?

If you mean to redeem an AAward to the US or within then yes, that would make sense as it would be cheaper than using QFF.

If it's only one trip vs a move over to the US or to the AAdvantage program I'm not certain what the benefit would be?

Also note if one has QF status during that trip you can, of course, use a QFF Gold or Plat to access AA lounges on domestic flights, unlike AA status.. which may be of benefit (plus the free bag allowance and priority etc)

Also the current DSC (or potentially more next year) may assist in retaining QF status into 2019.

some thoughts from me anyway

 

[Danger]

Interesting, so he was just a bit green. Next time I can direct him to the entry rules... Thanks

In my experience, that won't work. Qantas agents who insist on the number being on your boarding pass won't budge. Fortunately, there are ways around their ignorance.

My case is the reverse (Gold in both QFF and AA at the moment, and wanting to build up AA to achieve LTP). So I always have the QFF details in the booking, which gives me best seating selection options and permits lounge access. Then at the lounge service desk I ask them to change to my AA FF details and reprint the boarding pass so I have it printed on the pass in case there are any issues later. So far that process has been solid for me.

I did this for several years. However, instead of changing it back at the desk I would phone QF to do it. In four or so years of doing it I found only one QF agent who was competent enough to do the change. It's such a small thing but every other agent seemed to simply add my AA number, rather than add it and remove my QF number. The flight would then credit to QF, on occasion even when the AA number was printed on the boarding pass.

In later years I did use the RJ or AY websites to change the number but that method eventually stopped working for me.