Article: No Qantas International Lounge Access for Oneworld Business Class

[AFF Editor]

No Qantas International Lounge Access for Oneworld Business Class is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

No Qantas International Lounge Access for Oneworld Business Class

Business Class passengers departing from Australia on Oneworld airlines other than Qantas are being refused access to the Qantas First Lounges, despite

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can discuss this topic or leave a comment below.

 

[henrus]

I can see the frustration but this is fair enough.

Whilst the Qantas first lounge is open, normal rules for that lounge apply however as QF have shut their business lounge they're using the first lounge as a contract lounge for their pax who'd normally use the business lounge.

If other oneworld/partner airlines wish to do the same they need to work out a deal with Qantas (the first lounge operator) to also use the first lounge on a contract basis whilst the business lounge is shut or they are more than welcome to work out a contract with a cheaper lounge in the terminal (eg Plaza Premium).

This is no different from when QF shut their LAX lounges and allowed their own passengers to use the Star Alliance lounge (but those on other oneworld airlines were left with nothing) or when Qantas was using the Air New Zealand lounges last year but again this didn't apply to other oneworld partners.

 

[Pushka]

No Qantas International Lounge Access for Oneworld Business Class is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

No Qantas International Lounge Access for Oneworld Business Class

Business Class passengers departing from Australia on Oneworld airlines other than Qantas are being refused access to the Qantas First Lounges, despite

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can discuss this topic or leave a comment below.

An enhancement perhaps. Will this also apply to sad Adelaide airport which only has the QP for all departures, for those flying on non Qantas One World airlines?

 

[henrus]

An enhancement perhaps. Will this also apply to sad Adelaide airport which only has the QP for all departures, for those flying on non Qantas One World airlines?

Not an enhancement, this is just the way the oneworld lounge contracts operate. For that matter it's not just a QF or oneworld related event...

For example in Tokyo, ANA (star alliance) has shut their business lounge and uses the first class lounge for everyone, as a result SQ (the only other star alliance airline operating) has updated their agreement with ANA to allow access to the first class lounge for their passengers.


Other oneworld airlines in Sydney and Melbourne are free to do the same but I suspect the cost increase isn't worth it hence it's cheaper for Qatar to offer a $50 food voucher instead.

Regarding Adelaide, for oneworld departures outside of the regular QP hours (eg late night Qatar flights) it's up to Qatar and Qantas to reach an agreement to keep the lounge open (which tye do). Similarly non oneworld airlines (at ADL this includes Air NZ, China Southern, Malindo and Singapore Airlines) are free to reach an agreement to accept their passengers. Air NZ use the QP and SQ use the VA lounge.

 

[SYD]

Hi Matt,

Not directly related to OW PAX, but one correction, apparently “The House” in SYD is open according to @Nathant123 who passed through the other day:

Lounge options SYD international airport?

Hi all, Thought I’d ask the question here as I can’t find much info online. I’m flying out shortly on a Etihad business ticket from Sydney and it looks like the house lounge at the airport has not reopened. Are there any lounge options as a VA platinum flying out of Sydney at the moment? I...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Guvner]

VFTW (Gary) has now picked this up: Link

 

[Robert K]

SYD is so dead these days you kinda don't need a lounge. just pretend the whole terminal as the lounge!

 

[mitch_scott]

I’m flying Qatar business next week as a Qatar Platinum member. Will let you know how I go

 

[AFF Editor]

Hi Matt,

Not directly related to OW PAX, but one correction, apparently “The House” in SYD is open according to @Nathant123 who passed through the other day:

Lounge options SYD international airport?

Hi all, Thought I’d ask the question here as I can’t find much info online. I’m flying out shortly on a Etihad business ticket from Sydney and it looks like the house lounge at the airport has not reopened. Are there any lounge options as a VA platinum flying out of Sydney at the moment? I...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Thanks for that. I've updated the article.

I’m flying Qatar business next week as a Qatar Platinum member. Will let you know how I go

If you have Oneworld Emerald, you should be fine to get into the Qantas First Lounge based on your status.

 

[PineappleSkip]

J with no lounge access seems to be a trend. Flew out of GYD in LH J a while back and was told no lounge access, no voucher, no nothing, becausd LH had no contract. I paid to sit in the Somethingorother lounge.

 

[Cddc]

Can confirm, colleague and his wife flew last week, full fare paid J class AA, neither has status with AA or QF, and was turned away from the QF Sydney first lounge and waited in the terminal instead. Was more upset with QF than AA. Surely where OW rules say that you are entitled to a business lounge but the airline that normally operates that lounge has, for operational reasons, decided to substitute for a different lounge, for its own passengers, this would apply across the spectrum. I highly doubt the first lounge would be providing the normal 'first' experience whilst it in dual use. To add insult to injury colleague said the lounge looked empty when he was denied entry and was told that if he was QF gold status he would have been allowed entry, even if flying economy with AA.

 

[dylarr]

SYD is so dead these days you kinda don't need a lounge. just pretend the whole terminal as the lounge!

The QF F lounge in SYD was quite busy when I used it last Friday morning.

Granted, the remainder of the international terminal was like a ghost town.

 

[Sydney_Mike]

I am on the same page as the rest of the respondents. Where a passenger is entitled to access under the host carrier's rules, it is up to that host to negotiate an alternative when their own facility is closed. If it is under the pretext of a refit, the closure should be relatively quick if the job is managed properly.

If it is penny pinching due to lower than expected traffic, then suck it up. The airfare charged has not been reduced to offset the lack of available amenity associated with that class of travel.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Welcome to AFF, @Sydney_Mike . long may you post!

 

[justinbrett]

On one hand I have no sympathy as the other carriers should cough up and pay QF more.

On the other hand, having used the Flounge a few weeks ago, it's not really a Flounge at all at the moment.

I expected them to just divide into two sections and restrict the food options for the Jlounge. That's really the only thing that makes it slightly better than a normal Jlounge.

 

[Ktan89]

I flew CX J out of Sydney 25 Dec and there was no lounge access.

 

[Princess Fiona]

QF is under no obligation financially, contractually or otherwise to offer F Lounge access to all OW J pax.
Doesn’t matter what they offer their own pax and FF.

It’s up to the OW airlines flying out of Australia to sort out what lounge access or alternative compo they are providing to their J pax.
Nothing stopping them coming to a contractual arrangement with QF for F Lounge access.

They need to make sure that their check-in staff are aware of what those options are if any and advise their passengers accordingly.

Likewise QF needs to ensure that all of their F Lounge staff are aware of the OW airlines and rules of access to the Flounge, so that any passengers trying to access the lounge via class of service in OW Business are politely advised that the business lounge is currently closed.
Confusing messaging about “Xx airline isn’t in OW” is unlikely to inspire confidence in their staff or application of rules.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Are there any group rules preventing OW airlines paying Premium Plaza for access???

I'd think it likely it could be cheaper for airlines to pay Plaza Premium than handing out $50 vouchers (if that's what they are doing instead).

Not that there is much room from memory.

 

[henrus]

Are there any group rules preventing OW airlines paying Premium Plaza for access??

Not at all.

Japan Airlines is paying for Plaza Premium and even well before covid British Airways was using The House as their preferred lounge.

I'd think it likely it could be cheaper for airlines to pay Plaza Premium than handing out $50 vouchers (if that's what they are doing instead).

I am under the impression that the $50 vouchers are more expensive than actual access to Plaza premium but maybe Qatar was unable to strike a deal (they're good at stuffing up deals - just google Qatar A321neo to find out what I mean).

Not that there is much room from memory

You are right there isn't much room upstairs but 95% of those using the Plaza premium are actually just admitted to the Plaza premium lounge at the desk and then told to walk back and take the lift downstairs to the skyteam lounge. The skyteam lounge is shut but as it's run by the Plaza premium they've been using it as overflow space.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Are there any group rules preventing OW airlines paying Premium Plaza for access???

Even before Covid, Finnair directed J PAX out of HKG to the Plaza Premium Lounge; presumably a better deal from them than using the Wing, the Pier etc. Of course being OW the smart move was to ignore the direction and hang out in a CX lounge.

Cheers skip