Change/Clarification of oneword based lounge access

[Reggie]

I always thought that a QF J ticket entitled you to access to the QF J lounge or the nominated lounge. I never knew you could access other one world J lounges. I don't see t as a loss of benefit, as the average Joe wouldn't have known this. A would class it more of a tightening of a loophole.

I did know that SG entitled you to access to all oneworld J lounges, and as WP access to the F lounges.

 

[Awesom Andy]

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

Not entirely a bad dungeon though, and it's completely empty some time. It was certainly quite nice being the only pax in the dungeon a few months ago, and i was on a $100 3K ticket... they even made me wonton noodles to the order. :shock:

 

[Timba-Jet]

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..

Valid point, reduction or withdrawal of benefits should be phased in with prior notice. That's if airlines think from the customers perspective.

 

[reductionist]

they even made me wonton noodles to the order. :shock:

Wait, I've never heard of this happening at the QF J lounge in HKG.

If you were the only one there I guess it would have been easier to do something to order than to do the regular food song & dance (which I don't really rate anyway)?

Back on topic. I think the Cathay lounges are a bit better at HKG. If I'd known about this loophole during my non-status days I would have totally used it.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

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 agree to a certain extent, but what if your doing a long haul sector (SYD-SIN/BKK-LHR) and lounge A doesn't have showers, but lounge B does? Too bad?

Doesn't Star Alliance have similar rules, mainly for their F Lounges?

 

[serfty]

There is no *G based access to the First Class lounges of Star Alliance airlines.

FWIW, here's what the oneworld lounge access page used to state for CoS¹ based access:

Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status. (First Class passengers may be accompanied by one guest travelling on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld airline).

The implication (and the reality) was that you could indeed lounge hop when without status and travelling Business/First.

FWIW, aside from a few specific restrictions, cross carrier CoS based access is a general benefit of *A. (Lounge Access Policy - Star Alliance)

¹ Class of Service

 

[Robert K]

has a non-status passenger ever been allowed in another carrier's lounge?

Access to oneworld lounges is a benefit of oneworld status holders, not premium class passengers.
i wouldn't classify this as an erosion of benefit, but a clarification.

 

[simongr]

It was definitely allowed by the scheme rules and the lounge access page for say the Wing F lounge on the Oneworld site says "Access for emerald or passengers flying first class" - it doesn't say "first class on CX/kA"

I also actually think that the *A policy is better - the pax paying premium $ get premium access. Yes I know this would restrict me to the J lounges but that is life.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Wait, I've never heard of this happening at the QF J lounge in HKG.

If you were the only one there I guess it would have been easier to do something to order than to do the regular food song & dance (which I don't really rate anyway)?

Back on topic. I think the Cathay lounges are a bit better at HKG. If I'd known about this loophole during my non-status days I would have totally used it.

Neither have I until that time. In fact, they had a small menu on a laminated A5 sheet of paper, with about 4/5 items. Can't remember what they are now, but it seems to me that it is possibly a permanent feature for the lone pax or 2 who drop by during off-peak times.

If I can get that every time, I would probably prefer it and the peace and quiet over the otherwise superior CX lounges.

Although, just out of interest, how many non-status J/F pax would actually know about the ability of using another OW airline's lounge in the first place? Of course most of us know about it here, but out in the general public? I have to say, a friend of mine was WP and transited through HKG a few times, but he only ever went to the QF F lounge, and never been to any of the CX ones.

 

[reductionist]

Although, just out of interest, how many non-status J/F pax would actually know about the ability of using another OW airline's lounge in the first place?

Yep, agree, a very tiny percentage I'd think.

In fact on my first J flight with QF I didn't even know I was entitled to lounge access at all! I was travelling with 3 other pax in J. One of us had a QP membership so we all fronted up to the QF J lounge and were turned away after the QP member asked if he could guest his colleagues in.

 

[Limewood]

So an SG can get into other OW lounges, I guess must have to be flying OW airline, can I take another in even if not SG (wife) flying Y on say AA?.

 

[serfty]

...
Now, we had made use of the Flag-ship lounge in SFO ...

I presume you mean LAX ...

As for ORD, the F/L is tucked away at the end of K pier - but a nice place to spend a transit, or even before yon flight. Most of the AA international and west coast flights depart from near there.

 

[Stephen65]

So an SG can get into other OW lounges, I guess must have to be flying OW airline, can I take another in even if not SG (wife) flying Y on say AA?.

You most certainly can. Lounge access via FF status (emerald or sapphire) includes the right to bring in a guest, as set out on the one world page:

Emerald and Sapphire members may invite one guest to join them in the lounge.


Incidentally given the change discussed in this thread the access rules for J/F passengers now look a little odd on that page as they start off by saying:

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 the effect of the change is the exact opposite - you cannot enjoy a wider range of lounges at all - you are limited to the applicable lounge of the airline you are flying with and thus have a narrower range of lounges than those with FF status access

 

[Limewood]

Thanks guys, yep Lax, Las vegas, Miami and NY next year, good woman likes her comfort (me too).

 

[Robert K]

if you don't have status, when you check in, you get a lounge pass that tells you which lounge it's for. So how could people have lounge hopped anyway.

 

[markis10]

if you don't have status, when you check in, you get a lounge pass that tells you which lounge it's for. So how could people have lounge hopped anyway.

By showing your J/F boarding pass.

 

[Stephen65]

if you don't have status, when you check in, you get a lounge pass that tells you which lounge it's for. So how could people have lounge hopped anyway.

I've never received a lounge pass when travelling on QF in J. Entry to QF and other oneworld J lounges is simply done by showing them your boarding pass.

 

[awilcockson]

By showing your J/F boarding pass.

Been there, done that. No status, flying QF J, and used my boarding pass to get into the CX lounge in HKG.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

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.

Were J/F pax allowed to take in a guest previously? I thought COS access was for the flying pax only previously...

 

[simongr]

if you don't have status, when you check in, you get a lounge pass that tells you which lounge it's for. So how could people have lounge hopped anyway.

CX in SYD give me a lounge pass every time I check in - I never use the lounge pass on principle (no idea what the principle is I just never use it). I have only been asked for my BP (which almost always has had my status printed on it) to access lounges.