Denied Flounge access [SYD, WP on JL-NO Invite]

[nonpop]

I could be mistaken thinking I had access rights for some reason.

Turned up at the Syd Flounge. Was flying J on JAL. Am a QF WP.

Was told I could not access. I queried the fact that I was flying on a oneword carrier and I was QF Platinum / OWE.

Response was "no you don't have access. You need the invitation slip you should have got when you checked in".
I didn't recall cellecting the invite slip, but found it stuffed in my passport. Only then was I allowed access.
I was then told " Qantas charge back the entry to JAL".

Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club lounges

If I got it wrong, I stand corrected in advance.

 

[dfcatch]

I would have thought the same as you.

But it seems you are allowed access - they just want the pass.

Fair enough IMO.

 

[nonpop]

I would have thought the same as you.

But it seems you are allowed access - they just want the pass.

Fair enough IMO.

At first I indicated I did not have the slip (as i didn't recall getting it) and produced my QF WP card.
Again, I was pointed to the door. The invite should be irrelevant as one would think scanning the BP would do the trick along with the WP card.

 

[amaroo]

Interesting - I've departed SYD many times on BA and I believe I've never ever received an invite for the Flounge upon checking in.....just walked in, showed the BP and went up the escalator.

FWIW, I have been sent back to the front desk within BA LHR T3 Flounge when attempting to enter their somewhat depressing dining room....even though I was already in the lounge, holding a F BP on a BA flight they still wanted me to walk back to the counter to get a hand written invite for our party of 5......it wasn't worth the hassle - pretty disappointing all round.

 

[samh004]

Sort of odd, perhaps because JAL insists (I don’t know this for a fact) on giving out invitations they need to have them handed back, incase someone without appropriate status tried to gain access.

 

[simongr]

I always get them when I fly CX but I intentionally never hand them in and don't recall being asked for them. I just show the BP - hmm some odd things around the lounges at the moment...

 

[SeatBackForward]

Perhaps a vision of Qantas' approach to being in the Oneworld alliance?

 

[MatF]

I'd be interested in how much they charge JAL ...

 

[Danger]

I could be mistaken thinking I had access rights for some reason.

Turned up at the Syd Flounge. Was flying J on JAL. Am a QF WP.

Was told I could not access. I queried the fact that I was flying on a oneword carrier and I was QF Platinum / OWE.

Response was "no you don't have access. You need the invitation slip you should have got when you checked in".
I didn't recall cellecting the invite slip, but found it stuffed in my passport. Only then was I allowed access.
I was then told " Qantas charge back the entry to JAL".

Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club lounges

If I got it wrong, I stand corrected in advance.

I think you've been dealt a rough hand.

Regardless of whether or not you were given an invitation, the oneworld lounge access rules permit you entry to any F lounge based on your oneworld Emerald status. If QF want to charge a carrier for that benefit, whatever. But the oneworld website makes no reference to having to provide an invitation.

If you'd ultimately been denied entry because you didn't provide an invite then I'd be very unhappy about it.

 

[tallboy]

I think you've been dealt a rough hand.

Regardless of whether or not you were given an invitation, the oneworld lounge access rules permit you entry to any F lounge based on your oneworld Emerald status. If QF want to charge a carrier for that benefit, whatever. But the oneworld website makes no reference to having to provide an invitation.

If you'd ultimately been denied entry because you didn't provide an invite then I'd be very unhappy about it.

Agreed, and IIRC (unless this has recently changed) when flying QF out of Narita JAL allows QF WPs access to their nice F Lounge without an invitation ~ and QF have their own J Lounge within the same terminal...

 

[dfcatch]

Agreed, and IIRC (unless this has recently changed) when flying QF out of Narita JAL allows QF WPs access to their nice F Lounge without an invitation ~ and QF have their own J Lounge within the same terminal...

Yes - but in fairness - you were given access, in accordance with the lounge access policies.

Whether QF asks to see just the BP or the BP and the invitation is up to them.

Had you not been given an invitation and subsequently were denied entry - well then we would be having a different conversation.

It is well known for QP members (in know it's not the F lounge), flying internationally have to present their card at Checkin as well as the lounge - and sometimes you are issued an invitation.

LAX TBIT was notorious for that - it was like lounge-roulette as to which lounge you would be given an invitation for .

As an SG/WP I have received various lounge invitations at Checkin around the world too.

As a WP you were entitled to access, and you got it.

 

[simongr]

In fairness as a QF WP carrying a boarding pass with the same on it I wouldn't be happy to be stopped going into the lounge.

 

[NM]

So what happens if you checked-in online? or checked-in at another place like BNE for a connecting flight to SYD where they won't have the JAL lounge invitations?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I could be mistaken thinking I had access rights for some reason.

Turned up at the Syd Flounge. Was flying J on JAL. Am a QF WP.

Was told I could not access. I queried the fact that I was flying on a oneword carrier and I was QF Platinum / OWE.

Response was "no you don't have access. You need the invitation slip you should have got when you checked in".
I didn't recall cellecting the invite slip, but found it stuffed in my passport. Only then was I allowed access.
I was then told " Qantas charge back the entry to JAL".

Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club lounges

If I got it wrong, I stand corrected in advance.

I understand in some cases if pax were flying J or F on an airline that did not have their own branded lounge they may have an agreement with another airline for pax to use that lounge. Royal Brunei used to have such an arrangement whereby pax were given a voucher to hand in to QF so that could be charged back to BI.

I don't know if JAL have their own lounges at SYD & if not, have such an arrangement in place with QF for pax who may not have OWS or OWE status to gain entry to a lounge but do so because they're travelling in J or F cabin.

Wonder if the person on the F Lounge reception got confused with the other policy.

 

[NM]

I don't know if JAL have their own lounges at SYD & if not, have such an arrangement in place with QF for pax who may not have OWS or OWE status to gain entry to a lounge but do so because they're travelling in J or F cabin.

Wonder if the person on the F Lounge reception got confused with the other policy.

JAL use the QF lounges at SYD International Terminal. They do not have their own lounges in Sydney.

 

[DC3]

Yes - but in fairness - you were given access, in accordance with the lounge access policies.

Whether QF asks to see just the BP or the BP and the invitation is up to them.

As a WP you were entitled to access, and you got it.

But the awkward part was when nonpop was refused access, contrary to the lounge access T&C. It was only when the "invitation" was found that they relented.

 

[dfcatch]

I concur with Ozbeachbabe - let's pretend you were not WP (just JAL J). I suspect they just paid attention to the J on the BP.

Then you would absolutely need the invitation to get in.

Even as JAL F - the arrangement may be that you need an invitation.

Now as a WP - you are entitled to access whenever flying a OW carrier.

As I stated in post 2 - I would have though you would be fine.

Notwithstanding my further comments - you should not have been "refused" at any point.

But either they were treating you as a JAL pax who had no access without said invitation..... Or simply that is their system for other carrier's pax (BA excepted)..??

Either way - what's the big deal - if they want the invitation - give them the invitation. As long as you get in - then it's all good IMHO.

I agree with the discussion that it may not "make sense" - but I've required invitations from check in at lounges in the past - as long as I get in, I'm happy.

 

[DC3]

I feel for you in that awkward moment, nonpop. You weren't pretending not to be WP. You're a WP flying OneWorld and entitled to FLounge access.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

JAL use the QF lounges at SYD International Terminal. They do not have their own lounges in Sydney.

I concur with Ozbeachbabe - let's pretend you were not WP (just JAL J). I suspect they just paid attention to the J on the BP.

Then you would absolutely need the invitation to get in.

Even as JAL F - the arrangement may be that you need an invitation.

Now as a WP - you are entitled to access whenever flying a OW carrier.

As I stated in post 2 - I would have though you would be fine.

Notwithstanding my further comments - you should not have been "refused" at any point.

But either they were treating you as a JAL pax who had no access without said invitation..... Or simply that is their system for other carrier's pax (BA excepted)..??

Either way - what's the big deal - if they want the invitation - give them the invitation. As long as you get in - then it's all good IMHO.

I agree with the discussion that it may not "make sense" - but I've required invitations from check in at lounges in the past - as long as I get in, I'm happy.

If JAL are a fully fledged OW member (as opposed to FJ where you have to be booked on the QF codeshare flight not FJ flight nbr for Flounge access) whereby your status of OWS or OWE affords you lounge access then the QF F or J lounges at SYD International should not need a voucher from JAL at all as you should be granted access whether travelling in F, J or Y on JAL or any other OW carrier.

In any case if you were travelling JAL in J wouldn't the voucher only be valid for the QF J Lounge? I would think you would only be allowed to access the F Lounge with the JAL voucher if travelling in F. So if they did allow you to access the F Lounge, surely it would be due to your OWE status & if that is the case why do JAL need to be charged at all?

 

[Alanslegal]

Wow, talk about tough luck. Seriously, I thought a OW boarding pass and WP card would be sufficient. Do we all really have to carry a print out of the lounge entry conditions now?