Change/Clarification of oneword based lounge access

[serfty]

This is relevant to Qantas Fliers.

If not Sapphire/Emerald and travelling Business/First, you have access to the lounge of the operating carrier, but you may no longer access any of the equivalent lounges that another oneworld carrier may provide.

For example an AA Gold travelling First Class on an AA flight from LHR T3 only has access to the AA F/L there, not the BA Galleries First, nor the CX lounge.

Lounge access - oneworld

oneworld lounge access for First Class or Business Class travellers

Indulge yourself before departure in a wider range of airport lounges when you fly First Class or Business Class with a oneworld member airline.

When you fly First or Business Class with a oneworld member airline, you are free to enjoy that airline’s First or Business Class lounge (depending on which class you are flying) before departure, regardless of your frequent flyer tier status.

This lounge access also applies when you connect from a domestic or intra-European segment to or from a oneworld longhaul First or Business Class flight.

You can also invite one guest to join you in the lounge, provided he or she is departing on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld member airline.

Emerald or Sapphire may still access any of the First or Business class lounges respectively.

oneworld lounge access for frequent flyers by tier status

Enjoy exclusive access to premium airport lounges around the world as an equivalent oneworld Emerald or Sapphire frequent flyer member. Members of oneworld airline frequent flyer programmes with the equivalent of oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status can use any lounge offered by any oneworld airline when departing on any flight marketed or operated by any oneworld member airline, no matter in which cabin class they are flying. ...

Qantas gold elites cannot access the the Qantas Domestic Business lounges based on status, but (by omission) sapphires of other oneworld programs may.

... Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold members cannot access Qantas Domestic Business Class Lounges.

 

[markis10]

Qantas gold elites cannot access the the Qantas Domestic Business lounges based on status, but (by omission) sapphires of other oneworld programs may.

In theory...............

 

[mannej]

Is this a positive change?

 

[Danger]

Qantas gold elites cannot access the the Qantas Domestic Business lounges based on status, but (by omission) sapphires of other oneworld programs may.

I'm confused. I thought it was clear that oneworld Sapphires cannot access the QF lounge.

I am oneworld Sapphire with AA so if I was to lose my oneworld Emerald with QF, could I continue to use the QF domestic Business lounge?

 

[dfcatch]

I'm confused. I thought it was clear that oneworld Sapphires cannot access the QF lounge.

I am oneworld Sapphire with AA so if I was to lose my oneworld Emerald with QF, could I continue to use the QF domestic Business lounge?

No - I don't interpret it that way.

The OW designators at the lounge entrances are pretty clear.

IMO - I have no problem with this.
QF should have simply called the J lounge something else to avoid confusion.

Sapphires have access to the QP / Int J lounge which is the equivalent anyway of what others provide for Sapphires.

Back on topic - thanks Serfty for the COS changes.

Probably a fair classification IMO.

 

[serfty]

I'm confused. I thought it was clear that oneworld Sapphires cannot access the QF lounge.
...

Going by this page, you are correct: Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club lounges

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re-vamped website could prove a bit sticky for J Lounge Agents. The OW site used to say " Qantas Domestic Business Lounge is not part of One World " or words to that effect. The QF website still states that no access to Dom J Lounge by status unless OWE.

 

[casanovawa]

Sort of hard to see how its positive as not sure because i have never flown J before, but when flying in J and F did passengers get access to any OW equivalent lounges and now you only get access to the airline your flying unless you have OW status??

In effect it sounds like something is being taken away, and so unless your very altruistically viewing it from an airlines point of view, as a customer it looks like you may have lost some options especially if airports where you regularly fly had poor lounges on the airline you chose/had to book and now you can't walk down to the next better lounge...

And are the airlines all starting to look at their lounge policies and cut back, ala BA gallery lounges??

 

[Danger]

No - I don't interpret it that way.

The OW designators at the lounge entrances are pretty clear.

IMO - I have no problem with this.
QF should have simply called the J lounge something else to avoid confusion.

Sapphires have access to the QP / Int J lounge which is the equivalent anyway of what others provide for Sapphires.

Back on topic - thanks Serfty for the COS changes.

Going by this page, you are correct: Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club lounges

Agreed. I also have no problem with only Emeralds getting access and have also noted the emerald logo on the door. However, this from serfty got me confused:

Qantas gold elites cannot access the the Qantas Domestic Business lounges based on status, but (by omission) sapphires of other oneworld programs may.

 

[Stephen65]

So an NB or PS flying J on QF out of HKG is restricted to the QF lounge and can't do a lounge crawl through the four CX lounges but an SG or better flying any class on the same flight can still access all five lounges?

If this is correct then it's a slight devaluation of the J class tickets for pax with low status.

 

[mannej]

So an NB or PS flying J on QF out of HKG is restricted to the QF lounge and can't do a lounge crawl through the four CX lounges but an SG or better flying any class on the same flight can still access all five lounges?

If this is correct then it's a slight devaluation of the J class tickets for pax with low status.

That is how I read it. Not happy missing out on the CX Lounges in HKG.

What can you do?

 

[dfcatch]

If you're flying J/F internationally then you stand a good chance of achieving status.

And if it's just your once a year flight - then I'm sure any J/F lounge would be ok.

 

[simongr]

I think this is a big change for those affected but something of a win for OWE/OWS. In theory the better lounges should be emptier. It might also explain part of the rationale for the new F lounge at HKG for QF.

I don't think it is a positive move for OW overall.

 

[mannej]

If you're flying J/F internationally then you stand a good chance of achieving status.

And if it's just your once a year flight - then I'm sure any J/F lounge would be ok.

Having accessed the J-Lounge in HKG by virtue of QP, it will be an underwhelming experience considering that I have been looking forward to trying out the CX products on offer.

Agreed higher status should have better lounges etc, but it does put a dampener on what my partner and I had planned (Yes I am being selfish here​)

 

[Princess Fiona]

If you're flying J/F internationally then you stand a good chance of achieving status.

And if it's just your once a year flight - then I'm sure any J/F lounge would be ok.

I have some personal experience of this when it would in fact make a difference which lounge you were permitted into ( admittedly not recent).
In 2009 during my ascent from QP NB to WP I flew QF J into LHR and out on BA CE to BCN, T3. I had heard that as the BA lounge was newly opened at that time there was no showers. Emailed QF to ask about CX access/ showers etc and not given any useful info. Anyway I chanced my arm at the CX lounge as I badly needed that shower after 24 hours and was politely but firmly refused entry on the basis of my (lack of) status. I now know of course that my QF J boarding pass should have got me in there.

I agree its unlikely the infrequent J/F flyers will be bothered but there may be genuine exceptions ( lack of facilities etc) at non-home airport lounges etc that will disadvantage that airlines Premium customers.

 

[simongr]

but it does put a dampener on what my partner and I had planned (Yes I am being selfish here​)

You should be selfish - the only person(s) important and relevant in your journey are you! Like I said - I do not view this as a good move by OW. It doesnt seem unlikely that a similar move for status pax will be coming down the line and that will ensure I never fly QF through HKG.

 

[JetLagged]

Not sure whether this is OT or not, but had a nice experience the other day. Was travelling from SFO to BOS, with a transit stop in Chicago. Traverlling on AA-First (i.e. J upgrade), with partner back in super economy (long story). We walked up to the Admiral's Lounge and the very nice lady there asked me 'Sir, wouldn't you prefer the F-lounge: the drinks are free there, etc.'

Now, we had made use of the Flag-ship lounge in SFO (not large but definitely efficient. Mind you, open bar at 8am was not on the most 'need-to' lists), but in Chicago there had been no indication of where the F-lounge was and had been some time since we'd been in the US, so didn't know the differenential, and besides, the last time in the US I wasn't a WP).

Anyway, turned out he flagship lounge was right next to our boarding gate, so was very helpdul. And the staff there was fantastic - could easily teach the lounge in MEL a thing or two about customer service. They did things with a smile, and Sonia kept coming over to us offering food. She was a real gem, and made sure we mentioned that to the front desk staff on our way out.

Overall, travelling LAX-SFO-BOS on AA was a very posiitive experience - a BIG improvement overall from out last experience. Seems like recent report in the SMH has it right on arilines waking up to the need for good customer service, especially for their premium customers.

 

[Stephen65]

Having accessed the J-Lounge in HKG by virtue of QP, it will be an underwhelming experience considering that I have been looking forward to trying out the CX products on offer.

Agreed higher status should have better lounges etc, but it does put a dampener on what my partner and I had planned (Yes I am being selfish here​)

We got to HKG early just so we could do a crawl through the Cabin, Pier and the Wing before finishing in the QF lounge. The Wing was overcrowded due to refurbishment so it was hard to compare but the Cabin and the Pier are better lounges than the QF J lounge. It's not that the QF lounge is bad (though its not as good as the QF J lounge in Singapore) its just that its considerably smaller, duller and has no views while the CX lounges are excellent for size, food, drinks, layout and views.

We'll be OK with this change because I am SG but otherwise I would be annoyed if restricted to the QF lounge. The other way to get into the CX lounges is to have an Amex plat charge or centurion card and take up CX on their free gold status offer but it seems that will only be four one year.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I think this is a fair and reasonable restriction. If you have no OW status and hence not a frequent flyer, and you choose to fly airline A. Why should you expect to be allowed access to airline lounge B.

Let's say you chose A as it was cheaper, and their lounge is not as good as lounge B, well that's the price you pay so to speak.

As others have posted, most J/F pax should easily reach OWS/E status, especially if they lurk around AFF lol.

 

[simongr]

We got to HKG early just so we could do a crawl through the Cabin, Pier and the Wing before finishing in the QF lounge. The Wing was overcrowded due to refurbishment so it was hard to compare but the Cabin and the Pier are better lounges than the QF J lounge. It's not that the QF lounge is bad (though its not as good as the QF J lounge in Singapore) its just that its considerably smaller, duller and has no views while the CX lounges are excellent for size, food, drinks, layout and views.

I oft refer to the QF J lounge in HKG as the dungeon...

I think this is a fair and reasonable restriction. If you have no OW status and hence not a frequent flyer, and you choose to fly airline A. Why should you expect to be allowed access to airline lounge B.

Let's say you chose A as it was cheaper, and their lounge is not as good as lounge B, well that's the price you pay so to speak.

As others have posted, most J/F pax should easily reach OWS/E status, especially if they lurk around AFF lol.

I think this is an erosion of benefits. I think it should have had some prior notice. Some people may have chosen to fly OW knowing that they would have lounge access at certain ports of a certain standard. The idea of one world is on some levels one seamless airline and this goes against that.

I wondered if this could be another BAEC issue but given you have to be flying BA to use BA's premier lounge I guess not.