British Airways - Lounge Access JNB

[Sprucegoose]

Good Question.

In JNB QF uses the BA lounge and Plats can only access the J side and not the F side, which i thought was quite poor form. does anyone know the rules here?

they are very snotty about all this!!!

cheers
SPRUCE

 

[Dave Noble]

Is it an actual BA lounge or is it a 3rd party lounge?

Dave

 

[NM]

Is it an actual BA lounge or is it a 3rd party lounge?

Dave

According to the OneWorld web site's "search for a OneWorld Lounge", its a BA Terraces Lounge. The BA web site also lists it as a Terraces Lounge.

But it makes no mention of a First Class lounge. If the F section is part of the BA Terraces lounge, then I see no reason why standard OneWorld lounge access rules would not apply.

 

[Sprucegoose]

yes its F on the left and J on the right.

Agree - emerald should be allowed in F.

 

[Danger UXB]

Qantas code share JNB to PER uses SAA Baobab lounge in int departures .I have just returned and had no problem there. I think JNB to SYD uses BA lounge. Spruce were you on the PER flight? could be a reason for their snotty attitude
Cheers Danger UXB

 

[Sprucegoose]

Qantas code share JNB to PER uses SAA Baobab lounge in int departures .I have just returned and had no problem there. I think JNB to SYD uses BA lounge. Spruce were you on the PER flight? could be a reason for their snotty attitude
Cheers Danger UXB

Quite so, but you can buy SAA or QF tickets on both services. On this occassion i was on a QF ticket, J class to SYD. The reason snotty guards gave me was the F section is reserved for BA customers only when i proceeded to enter F section of the lounge.

poor Form BA is all i can say.

 

[Evan]

hmmmm, ok, when i was there mid year last year i went left... and i thought that was the J lounge... i think they may have been doing some renovation recently also ?
I thoguht it was a combined J and F lounge, maybe i was in the F side and never noticed J (yes i am WP so i would have been allowed)
E

 

[NM]

Quite so, but you can buy SAA or QF tickets on both services. On this occassion i was on a QF ticket, J class to SYD. The reason snotty guards gave me was the F section is reserved for BA customers only when i proceeded to enter F section of the lounge.

poor Form BA is all i can say.

If the flight was operate by SAA, even if purchased from QF using a QF flight number, it is not a OneWorld flight and hence the OneWorld lounge access rules do not apply to the BA lounge at JNB. If you were on the QF flight number operated by QF to SYD, then you would be entitled to access the BA F Lounge under the OneWorld lounge access rules.

 

[Dave Noble]

Indeed as NM said

For lounge access

(a) it must be an actual one world lounge - not a contracted lounge... which it sounds that it was
(b) The flight number of the ticket must be that of a oneworld carrier
(c) The flight must actually be operated by a OneWorld carrier

If any of the above are not met, then there is no lounge access

SAA flight number on QF operated flight - no access
QF flight number on SAA operated flight - no access
QF flight number on QF operated flight - should get access to both the F and J lounges

Which of the cases applied? If it was either of the 1st 2 cases then there was no entitlement to access the J side even. If it was a QF marketed and operated flight, a call to BA customer relations might be in order

Dave

 

[adrian]

I passed through this lounge a couple of times last year, and from memory, I was told by the BA that it was an exception to all the other BA lounges.... weird.

I am AA EXP Emerald, and I was flying business class IB to MAD, and they use the 3rd party contracted lounge. I tried to use the Terraces lounge instead (either of them), but was told that I couldn't in this case, that they were somehow different from all the other BA lounges around the world. I am happy to be corrected, but as an Emerald, I was pretty sure that I had access to any of the other OneWorld lounges, subject to capacity controls. For instance, I always use CX at LHR T3, instead of AA, even though I am usually on AA, and never have a problem with access.

 

[NM]

I passed through this lounge a couple of times last year, and from memory, I was told by the BA that it was an exception to all the other BA lounges.... weird.

I am AA EXP Emerald, and I was flying business class IB to MAD, and they use the 3rd party contracted lounge. I tried to use the Terraces lounge instead (either of them), but was told that I couldn't in this case, that they were somehow different from all the other BA lounges around the world. I am happy to be corrected, but as an Emerald, I was pretty sure that I had access to any of the other OneWorld lounges, subject to capacity controls. For instance, I always use CX at LHR T3, instead of AA, even though I am usually on AA, and never have a problem with access.

Given that the BA JNB lounge is included in the OneWorld web site's lounge search page, I do not believe OneWorld consider that lounge to be an exception to the OneWorld lounge access policy. I suggest you ask BA in the UK (not just the lounge) why their JNB lounge is different and why you were denied access.

 

[Danger UXB]

Pulled this off the qantas web site under qantas club access

The British Airways Galleries Lounge located on the Upper level of Main departure lounge at the Northern end near Carol Boyes Duty Free will be made available for all eligible customers departing on QF64 to Sydney. The oneworld access policy applies for emerald and sapphire oneworld members when using the British Airways lounge.

Looks like a call to BA is in order to get those South Africans in order before World Cup 2010!!
Cheers Danger UXB

 

[sweens]

I fly the JNB-SYD on QF 64 reguarly...heres my input.

Late last year they built a new BA lounge at JNB both J & F. QFF used to have to use the SAA lounge or the BA J lounge down stairs.

In November 08 on QF 64 in J ,I was pleasently surprised to be directed at check in to the new lounge...upon arriving at 1600 for the 17.50 departrure I saw that it was J to the right & F to the left.

As a WP I naturally suggested to the BA staff that F was for me...the reply was no you only have access to the J. I natuarlly debated this as it was a BA lounge on a QF service 64 I was WP & flying J.

The answer was no and also I was informed that the F lounge only opens at 16.30 I assume for the later departing BA service to LHR.

After 5 minutes stand off and me requesting names of staff etc, I proceeded to the J Lounge. At 16.30 I decide to have another crack at F and yes they gave me access may be I wore them down even though at first they where totally inflexible.

I visited again last month again QF64 on a F ticket (upgraded by points) and at 16.30 I was granted access...I did spend the previous 20 minutes in J.

I hope this helps.

 

[HardieBoys]

Just got back from JNB: went to use the BA lounge, and was told that only the Business section was open, but that I could use the First lounge when it opened at 16:30. I had a look in both sections, and didn't think there was much difference, to be honest.

I did like the free wifi in both sections, as well as the colour printers. Food was good: pasta, salads, wraps, fruit.

 

[browski]

You can use either lounge if flying on the JNB-Syd flight. However, it is unlikely the door attendants will be aware of this; they would not understand why you would like to use the BA lounge when you already have access to the other one. I persisted and was allowed access, but that was given as a "concession", not because they thought I was truly allowed in there. The irony of course, is that the BA lounge was nothing special - from what I recall, it was windowless and felt claustrophobic.

 

[NM]

The ironly of course, is that the BA lounge was nothing special - from what I recall, it was windowless and felt claustrophobic.

But BA FLounges generally have a decent scotch available!

 

[sweens]

The only difference that I could see between the F lounge & J lounge was that the F lounge had a better choice of food...soup, salad & pasta.

The J had sandwiches and fruit only... on the beverage selection F had a nice cold bottle of Veuve Clicquot plus all that J had & J stuck to the normal selection of beers and limited spirits plus South African reds & whites...I did not checkout the scotch.

F is smaller than J and normally only has 2 or 3 people in it when I am there...I am sure it fills up later with the BA flight to LHR.

Therefore if you do not have a laptop the PC's are much more available.

 

[Evan]

But BA FLounges generally have a decent scotch available!

BA does have good scotch in there Flounges

Not to mention i love Bollinger, and atleast in LHR BA has stocks in the Flounge. Then again that Sauvigon-Blanc that is served in the MEL QF Flounge does appeal to my tastes. I usually have atleast 3 or 4 glasses to ensure i sleep well on my flight

All this aside i go back to JNB to finish off xONEx in early July so i will try and remember to take note of what the situation is.

E

 

[HardieBoys]

The F lounge has windows that look out onto the terminal, specifically, the Ferrari shop. The furniture seemed to be much the same as the Business lounge.