Children in QF F Lounge as OWE

[ajw373]

Thanks for your feedback.... my circumstances are similar to yours - so looks like i may not be in a good position (unless of course EK rules are different from OW rules... but prima facie... they are not...)

The thing is there are no OneWorld rules when it comes to children. Essentially you are reliant on member airlines having their own child policy, that they apply equally to OneWorld airlines, or alternately turning a blind eye. Don't think there is a definative answer.

Interestingly the same trip I mentioned above, on return before the Qantas flight we went to the CX lounge in BKK and had no issues getting in. Anecdotal evidence suggests CX doesn't count small children as guests, but by the same token there is nothing formally written anywhere either to say this, nor say what the age cut-off may be.

So like many things lounge related, unless you are easily offended by the word NO, it cannot hurt but to try.

 

[ermen]

Quick update.

In summary: I managed to get into the F lounge. Gentleman guarding the doors downstairs thought perhaps I may not be able to get in but to check with the desk.

Lounge angels (who were lovely) were a little apprehensive when they found out I was going in under BA OWE rules (they mentioned one guest only). They did not care about the infant but asked how old my elder child was to which I said 3. They then said that was fine but it could be a bit of a problem once they are past 3...

So I am appreciative to the F lounge staff for showing some common sense (ie <3 count as helpless infants! ) but fully expected to be rejected in future once child turns 4... so... did anyone mention a status run to get my daughter to OWE status

On a separate note, my F lounge time was cut short because MEL could not print my child's and my boarding pass for some reason (bags were checked through) :evil: so had to basically wait outside until the counter opened c.3.5hrs to 4 prior to checkin!

 

[Flywithd]

Quick update.

In summary: I managed to get into the F lounge. Gentleman guarding the doors downstairs thought perhaps I may not be able to get in but to check with the desk.

Lounge angels (who were lovely) were a little apprehensive when they found out I was going in under BA OWE rules (they mentioned one guest only). They did not care about the infant but asked how old my elder child was to which I said 3. They then said that was fine but it could be a bit of a problem once they are past 3...

So I am appreciative to the F lounge staff for showing some common sense (ie <3 count as helpless infants! ) but fully expected to be rejected in future once child turns 4... so... did anyone mention a status run to get my daughter to OWE status

On a separate note, my F lounge time was cut short because MEL could not print my child's and my boarding pass for some reason (bags were checked through) :evil: so had to basically wait outside until the counter opened c.3.5hrs to 4 prior to checkin!

Good on you for getting in. I was in the Syd F lounge last week and saw a family with 4 children in there who were pretty loud and bouncing around the seats in an area towards the library.

 

[2tall4Y]

An update from the NRT First Class Sakura lounge in the satellite terminal. The lounge angel at the Sakura lounges in the main terminal first declined us entry, stating one guest only and referred us to the QF lounge. As we were making our way to the satellite terminal, the angel chased us down and apologised profusely for not realising we were flying J and pointed out we can access either of the Sakura business class lounges. We headed to the joint entrance to the Sakura lounges in the satellite terminal and I handed our BPs together with my QF FF card - the lounge angel took a while, before stating that we could only access the business class lounge, but then offered us 'today only' access to the first class lounge after I pointed out my daughter is only 4. So the rules are able to be bent, even in Japan (we were likely helped by there being only about 10 people in the lounge)

Thank you for the thorough response amaroo - I will adjust my expectations accordingly, as we won't have any onward connections in F to help us out (flying AY out of NRT and QF out of HND, both in J). Will also track down your TR to see what we will be missing out on

 

[ermen]

An update from the NRT First Class Sakura lounge in the satellite terminal. The lounge angel at the Sakura lounges in the main terminal first declined us entry, stating one guest only and referred us to the QF lounge. As we were making our way to the satellite terminal, the angel chased us down and apologised profusely for not realising we were flying J and pointed out we can access either of the Sakura business class lounges. We headed to the joint entrance to the Sakura lounges in the satellite terminal and I handed our BPs together with my QF FF card - the lounge angel took a while, before stating that we could only access the business class lounge, but then offered us 'today only' access to the first class lounge after I pointed out my daughter is only 4. So the rules are able to be bent, even in Japan (we were likely helped by there being only about 10 people in the lounge) 

So to be clear it was you, your partner and your kid (4 yo)...
Good to know that they can bend the rules for the 4yo... it's always the kid lounge access policy which creates the biggest problems for families travelling together...

 

[2tall4Y]

Yep, it was my wife, my 4-year old daughter and I.

I agree that lounge access for families is annoying. I guess most on this forum are used to QF's very generous child lounge access policy, and when we experience OW rules strictly applied it is a pain. I am sure karma will see us denied entry into the first class lounge at HND on the way home

So to be clear it was you, your partner and your kid (4 yo)...
Good to know that they can bend the rules for the 4yo... it's always the kid lounge access policy which creates the biggest problems for families travelling together...

 

[Kceips]

As a fellow AFF'er I hope you get in.... as a BAEC member I'm compelled to say suck eggs given the attitude that BA have for kids.

May Nestor be kind to you.

I was surprised last year that our 3 children (aged between 10 and 15) were allowed into BA lounge in Gatwick. Both Mr Spieck and I QFF gold.
We entered the lounge handed our 5 boarding cards (smiled nicely) and the lounge angel hesitated for a moment, said something about us being allowed two guests and then let us in!

 

[2tall4Y]

As I predicted, no luck getting into the first class lounge at HND . Without any prompting, the check-in agent pointed out that while I had access to the first class lounge I could only take one guest and the message was identical at the (joint) entry into the JL lounges. I did point out that my daughter is only 4 years old and got a 'thanks for you understanding' for my trouble. Relative to NRT, the check-in and lounge staff at HND seemed better drilled in knocking back QFF WPs & above attempting to access the first class lounge with their families in tow...

That said, I thought the Sakura lounge was very good for a business class lounge, with good food and drink offerings (even with the lack of dessert options - the only thing I saw was a fruit salad made from canned fruit!). The upstairs section was almost deserted for the hour or so we spent there before boarding QF26, and it's possible my impression may not have been so favourable had I visited at a busier time.

Yep, it was my wife, my 4-year old daughter and I.

I agree that lounge access for families is annoying. I guess most on this forum are used to QF's very generous child lounge access policy, and when we experience OW rules strictly applied it is a pain. I am sure karma will see us denied entry into the first class lounge at HND on the way home 