CX Lounge entry denied (SFO)

[DC3]

Thanks, both. I didn't even think to look of the QF web site Sounds good - that's the end with the Qantas sign outside as well.

Crossing fingers for CX lounge entry, although the AMEX Centurion lounge looks OK as well ( thanks OBB )

It was Aisle 12, when I was there in July.

Edit: I visited both lounges, Centurion first, as it's way over the other side near Gate 74

 

[RooFlyer]

Tonight it was whichever aisle is closest to the south-end customs

Tonight's log: (its a Sunday)

6:45pm .. agents appear, put stuff out, change the electronic signs from "Closed" to "Economy ... Business ..." etc. I ask "Are you open"? Answer - "No, just getting ready... we open at 7:45pm .." And then they all disappear. :evil: I suspect some-one's just 'clocked on'.

7:05pm... surprise! Agents re-appear and business check in started at 7:10pm.

As an aside; security: geez, why can't airports in the same country standardise if they want packs and carry-ons in a plastic tub, or straight on the conveyor belt ... shoes loose or in a container etc...

7:25pm I arrive at CX lounge and am checked in and have a G&T in hand by 7:30. there are about 4 others in the lounge.

 

[RooFlyer]

There is a nice chatty guy on the desk, so I asked him what the drill was. He was definitely aware that it was an issue.

According to him, the number of non CX pax they allow is dynamic, based on the number of CX pax expected, as of late afternoon. I asked what the typical number was and he didn't want to say, but eventually "it might be 10, it might be 25 ... it depends".

He expressed some anguish at this policy, saying it was very hard to refuse Emerald pax when the place was obviously only half full, but apparently the policy comes for "on high" and numbers are monitored, so they have little discretion.

My take? I'm Ok with a policy of "our airline passengers come first", especially as this is both a Business and First lounge. But then again, I'm in here now ...

Food schedule: Tonight at least, the Deli should open at 9:00pm, followed shortly thereafter by the noodle bar. He said (for my benefit) that he hoped the 'top chef' was going to be on tonight.

This lounge agent in the 'angel' category, rather than 'dragon' (it might be different for the pax that get refused later!!)

 

[RooFlyer]

Just to add ... when I checked in at 7:25pm, I saw no reference to a "list" of pre-approved names.

 

[MaxwellSmart]

Tonight I was denied entry. 20:30. The Dragon (D) kept repeating that later they had 2 full Cathay flights. The lounge was empty, but, according to the D, the arrival of many Cathay Passengers was imminent. I was told that only a limited number of Qantas passengers were allowed entry and that my name wasn't on the list that had been provided.

I went to the KLM lounge. The only food they had was a baked vegetable salad and bread. What minimal offerings that were provided previously, had been ravished. The lounge was full.

I sat near the front and my anger grew. How dare they refuse a OWE Emerald. I was very hangry. I decided to leave and storm the Cathay Lounge again. This time, I encountered a different Dragon. A younger one. The older D who I previously encountered was cleaning nearby and made a special point of informing the younger D that I had been denied previously.

I went to work. After some pert interrogation I was granted entry. I used some BS and told the younger D that I should be on the list of names given my status. Her response was that tonight Qantas had not given her a list of names.

According to the younger D, Cathay has 2 flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Exposing the older D's lie. And food is served from 22:05.

Success wasn't easy.

 

[hutch]

Tonight I was denied entry. 20:30. The Dragon (D) kept repeating that later they had 2 full Cathay flights. The lounge was empty, but, according to the D, the arrival of many Cathay Passengers was imminent. I was told that only a limited number of Qantas passengers were allowed entry and that my name wasn't on the list that had been provided.

I went to the KLM lounge. The only food they had was a baked vegetable salad and bread. What minimal offerings that were provided previously, had been ravished. The lounge was full.

I sat near the front and my anger grew. How dare they refuse a OWE Emerald. I was very hangry. I decided to leave and storm the Cathay Lounge again. This time, I encountered a different Dragon. A younger one. The older D who I previously encountered was cleaning nearby and made a special point of informing the younger D that I had been denied previously.

I went to work. After some pert interrogation I was granted entry. I used some BS and told the younger D that I should be on the list of names given my status. Her response was that tonight Qantas had not given her a list of names.

According to the younger D, Cathay has 2 flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Exposing the older D's lie. And food is served from 22:05.

Success wasn't easy.

Full of class.

 

[Flying mermaid]

If you are flying Qantas out of SFO in J, would the same quota restrictions apply, or would all QF J passengers wanting to access be allowed in to this lounge - does anyone know?

 

[Sdtravel]

I believe regardless of status or travel class the same quota or restrictions apply. So being QF J would make no difference.

 

[RooFlyer]

FM, I think it depends if this list of QF 'approved' pax exists or not. It's been quoted as having been used by Dragons a number of times here, but when I used the lounge there was definitely no list referred to. I suspect it is a mythical list used as a reason not to admit 'surplus' pax.

I believe there is a floating quota of non CX pax allowed per night. If you are early you'll get in; if you are late, you won't get in. In the middle it's s cough shoot.

 

[kreuky]

There is definitely a list - I have seen it - they grabbed my BP and compared it to the list on the table. (they probably hide it now) From memory, I know if definitely contained names of Chairman's Lounge members (had a heading "QF Chairman's lounge" and then the names, and possible a Platinum One heading with names too. Some days there might not be any CL or WP1 members, so maybe there is no list provided to them by QF and they just let the first 20 in as previously mentioned in this thread.

 

[texter]

I went to work. After some pert interrogation I was granted entry. I used some BS and told the younger D that I should be on the list of names given my status. Her response was that tonight Qantas had not given her a list of names.

According to the younger D, Cathay has 2 flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Exposing the older D's lie. And food is served from 22:05.

Success wasn't easy.

Out of interest, what was your technique? This must imply the dragons have some discretion who they will admit?

 

[Barks]

Both my partner and I (both QF plats) were granted entry this past Sunday 2nd Oct, no problems. There was absolutely nobody in the lounge when we arrived at around 8:15pm, in fact, we actually had to go looking for a lounge dragon to let us in?! The noodle bar, sandwich/deli bar and hot food didn't start service till 9:45pm at which time the lounge was about quarter full with what seemed like mostly QF passengers.

 

[MH_fan]

When does check-in at SFO open?

 

[RooFlyer]

Qantas? 7:45pm officially, but: from post # 142

Tonight's log: (its a Sunday)

6:45pm .. agents appear, put stuff out, change the electronic signs from "Closed" to "Economy ... Business ..." etc. I ask "Are you open"? Answer - "No, just getting ready... we open at 7:45pm .." And then they all disappear. :evil: I suspect some-one's just 'clocked on'.

7:05pm... surprise! Agents re-appear and business check in started at 7:10pm.

 

[serfty]

7:30pm for those in exit row seas or who need to check luggage at SFO

San Francisco International Airport Guide | Qantas

 

[RooFlyer]

Out of interest, what was your technique? This must imply the dragons have some discretion who they will admit?

As noted above, it was explained to me by a helpful guy on the desk that the number of non CX pax admitted is variable, based on who is flying with them that night and might reasonably be expected to attend the lounge. There also appears to be a specific list of QF pax, supplied by QF, as to who should be admitted, but I didn't see or experience this when I went there. I guess if there is expected to be capacity for 'many' non CX pax, no 'admission list' is necessary and they do a first come, first served basis for non CX pax, up to their limit.

(BTW, although a lounge can exclude anyone on 'capacity' grounds (genuinely or for convenience), QF nominating some, and not nominating others (therefore excluding them) appears to be a breach of oneWorld lounge admission rules?)

 

[MH_fan]

Qantas? 7:45pm officially, but: from post # 142

Thanks. So getting there at 7pm is not unreasonable then.

 

[Sdtravel]

(BTW, although a lounge can exclude anyone on 'capacity' grounds (genuinely or for convenience), QF nominating some, and not nominating others (therefore excluding them) appears to be a breach of oneWorld lounge admission rules?)

I've asked the call centre who checked with management and called me back to confirm no such policy or list exists. No one knows what im taking about.

They are technically not excluding you as pax are rejected with the capacity constraints line. QF not including you on the non existant / non official list doesn't count. One could say the list is people the capacity constraints dont apply to not a list of 2ho to let in. But since it doesn't exist there is no broken rule.

 

[serfty]

What other answer(s) could you have expected?

They are not 1) likely to know the (unoffoical) working of a remote port with at most one flight out per day and 2) confirm such in the remote event that they did know.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've asked the call centre who checked with management and called me back to confirm no such policy or list exists. No one knows what im taking about.

They are technically not excluding you as pax are rejected with the capacity constraints line. QF not including you on the non existant / non official list doesn't count. One could say the list is people the capacity constraints dont apply to not a list of 2ho to let in. But since it doesn't exist there is no broken rule.

I think you are being a bit dogmatic based on what a call centre and their 'management' told you (as opposed to those of us who have actually been at the lounge and talked to the staff there). As I wrote, I wasn't excluded, and I saw no 'list'; I got there very early. But as you'll read up-thread, others have definitely seen the list, including what's written on it.

One of the reasons people come to AFF is that they get the benefit of real passenger experiences, to filter the all too frequent BS or ignorance of airlines/call centres. If we believed everything we are told about lounge access by the airlines and the lounge dragons, we'd spend a lot of time in Starbucks.