CX Lounge entry denied (SFO)

[mviy]

I got into the lounge when I was in SFO but was not impressed that dinner wasn't served on the flight. If I hadn't been in the CX Lounge I would have been starving and supper without a decent lounge offering for dinner beforehand would have been far from satisfactory in J.

Seriously considering doing something like MEL-SYD-SFO-LAX-MEL next time I go to SFO even though I think on most counts a connection in AU would be a lot easier. If they fix the lounge access issue and stop using the 747 with Skybed Mark I seats and I think QF's offering out of SFO will improve dramatically.

 

[SYD]

If they fix the lounge access issue and stop using the 747 with Skybed Mark I seats and I think QF's offering out of SFO will improve dramatically.

Lounge yes. But normally SFO is refurb'd 747 with SB MkII. If it was an old bird, did you look for a 1st Class seat in the nose?

 

[madrooster]

Seriously considering doing something like MEL-SYD-SFO-LAX-MEL next time I go to SFO even though I think on most counts a connection in AU would be a lot easier. If they fix the lounge access issue and stop using the 747 with Skybed Mark I seats and I think QF's offering out of SFO will improve dramatically.

You should do MEL-LAX vv. on QF95/QF96 if you can (from Dec 2017), so MEL-LAX-SFO-LAX-MEL.

 

[mviy]

Lounge yes. But normally SFO is refurb'd 747 with SB MkII. If it was an old bird, did you look for a 1st Class seat in the nose?

They changed it from a refurb to non-refurb about four days out and I got upgraded about a day out. I had just reached SG for the first time on my flight to the US which was in a refurb.

Too late to be able to change for a nose seat but I did get an exit row. I was still thrilled to have a business seat (certainly much better than the PE I'd booked - I've still never flown PE - but another passenger nearby was less than impressed after purchasing an expensive business ticket to get an angled flat seat.

I've since been in the nose on a refurb 747 on a different route. Getting upgraded a day earlier as a WP (subject to sufficient upgrade availability) is a nice benefit. I was able to change my seat to one in the nose then.

You should do MEL-LAX vv. on QF95/QF96 if you can (from Dec 2017), so MEL-LAX-SFO-LAX-MEL.

I find the A380 is quite good (it has the Mk II) and once they refurb those they'll get the new seats too. Considering the A380 is being pulled off the LHR flight from MEL next year I think I'd probably prefer to connect to an A380 flight as I will likely have limited opportunities to fly on it again unless QF hopefully (but unlikely) does a backflip of some sort.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I've gone back to flying via LAX.

I tried the SFO route last year. While I did manage to get into the CX lounge (which was quite lovely), the aircraft and service in both directions in revenue J was terrible.

Was there a different offering in non-rev?

 

[serfty]

... does anyone dare to go to this blog post and kindly ask the author what they were smoking or how much they're getting bribed for that write up?

Perhaps they have been numbed by what is generally available in lounges run by USA airlines.

 

[SYD]

No probs getting in tonight (Friday). Me (WP) + partner (SG) travelling in J. Checkin opened just before 7:30pm. I asked the checkin agent if CX will let us in. He shrugged and said we use AF but you can try. That didn't sound promising and we made a beeline to the lounge. No issue, no hesitation. Although Friday night there is only one CX departure.

Lounge was empty but many QF PAX (> 10) trickled in. Including a fairly loud guy who might spoil it for the rest...

Food offering looked a bit Spartan on arrival but noodle bar opened fairly early 8ish. Some plates of hot food came out around 9pm when they opened the larger section.

But most importantly - the ability to have a shower after a long day is soooo good.

Note: as I noticed on a previous visit the Departures board in the CX lounge doesn't list QF and they don't call the flight.

 

[mviy]

Although Friday night there is only one CX departure.

When I next go to SFO I plan to fly home on a night when there is one CX departure and try to arrive early to maximise my chances of entry to the lounge.

 

[Flying mermaid]

It is pretty random. Master FM always flies back on a Friday evening and gets there early. he has got in as a gold flying economy, but been denied entry for capacity reasons when flying J. Just depends how full the Qantas flight is and how many status people and probably the mood of the lounge angel.

 

[Tonkatough]

Just had an interesting experience at the CX lounge in SFO. Arrived into SFO from SYD with a long connection time to YVR on a QF marketed WestJet flight.
Went to the CX lounge to spend some time. No issues getting in using my WestJet boarding pass and QFWP card on a Friday at 11.00am.
Fed and showered then on returning my shower room key I must have come up against a different lady (probably the dreaded lounge dragon) who said “I’m sorry, we’re not an arrival lounge”. I said “I’m not arriving, I’m departing”. To which she said “we only take international departures”. To which I said “YVR is an international destination from SFO”.
There was further discussion, all in a nice manner. Seemed to be making up the rules as she went along. She would not budge but eventually ‘allowed’ me to stay.

 

[defurax]

Just had an interesting experience at the CX lounge in SFO. Arrived into SFO from SYD with a long connection time to YVR on a QF marketed WestJet flight.
Went to the CX lounge to spend some time. No issues getting in using my WestJet boarding pass and QFWP card on a Friday at 11.00am.
Fed and showered then on returning my shower room key I must have come up against a different lady (probably the dreaded lounge dragon) who said “I’m sorry, we’re not an arrival lounge”. I said “I’m not arriving, I’m departing”. To which she said “we only take international departures”. To which I said “YVR is an international destination from SFO”.
There was further discussion, all in a nice manner. Seemed to be making up the rules as she went along. She would not budge but eventually ‘allowed’ me to stay.

The Dragon was right. OneWorld access to the CX lounge is for OW marketed and operated flight. Westjet is not a OW carrier.
The international/domestic argument is baseless and not part of OneWorld rules.

 

[muppet]

The Dragon was right. OneWorld access to the CX lounge is for OW marketed and operated flight. Westjet is not a OW carrier.
The international/domestic argument is baseless and not part of OneWorld rules.

The outcome was right but the lounge dragon wasn't. Just because she stumbled on the correct decision doesn't mean she knows the rules.

It makes the issue worse because they're never able to explain why someone can't get in - so they confuse those of us arguing when we legitimately have access with those that shouldn't have access.

 

[Tonkatough]

I might add that when I enquired about possible WestJet lounges when transferring my bags, I was directed to the OneWorld lounges by the WestJet check-in agent.

 

[PeteL]

Rejected entry tonight into Cathay San Francisco lounge. Flying economy and QF gold so hopes weren't high. Attendant said only WP could get access. No arguments from my end.

 

[Sdtravel]

I thought it was only CL's & WP1's made the list. Didnt think WP's made the cut.

Those who do make the list. Do normal guesting rules apply? ie you can bring a guest.

 

[SYD]

I thought it was only CL's & WP1's made the list. Didnt think WP's made the cut.

Those who do make the list. Do normal guesting rules apply? ie you can bring a guest.

Yes. In my experience (several times but also travelling in J).

 

[Ewing]

Those who do make the list. Do normal guesting rules apply? ie you can bring a guest.

I've been there quite a few times now (including since my last post CX Lounge entry denied (SFO) where I said I now fly via LAX - ended up not happening ).

Never been denied, but I've only ever gone in as a WP flying J and travelling alone. Not sure if the no guest bit helps my case. Every time I've been in there I have seen others denied who have arrived after me.

 

[mviy]

I've been in as a SG (just qualified it after the flight over to SFO) flying J and as a WP flying J. Both times travelling solo and I think on nights where there was just the one CX flight to HKG leaving in the early hours of the following morning. Certainly this was the case when I flew as a WP.

At this time of year CX appears to now have 2 flights in the early hours of the morning on all nights but at off-peak times of the year at least in the past they didn't have 2 in the early hours of the morning every night.

With more CX flights there's more CX passengers eligible for access due to status or class flown and they're less willing to let lots of QF passengers in even though as a QF passenger you'd need to be leaving soon after the CX passengers start arriving.

 

[Sdtravel]

I'm traveling in Y as a WP in a few weeks on a Friday night so I think it's a CX double flight night.
Shall see if I can get a friend in with me or if we get turfed out to AF.

 

[Sdtravel]

Cross posting from another thread
Qantas offered Cathay SFO lounge to WP on check in

Made it in to the CX lounge as a WP tonight. 9pm arrival no issue.