EK Gold denied access to QF lounge in MEL

[zachary.august]

I've heard some rumblings that there is a change within the partnership coming soon that apparently relates to reciprocal benefits.

 

[kpc]

I've heard some rumblings that there is a change within the partnership coming soon that apparently relates to reciprocal benefits.

Red Roo...you have been very quiet on this thread!! What's up?

 

[Danger]

I've heard some rumblings that there is a change within the partnership coming soon that apparently relates to reciprocal benefits.

Within the EK partnership?

 

[Rourke]

This is definitely the new policy, to force people to change their FF number to EK if they want to enter the QP using their Skywards status. I was stopped again at MEL domestic yesterday, and complained when they said I would have to change to an EK number - not as big a deal this time, as it was a codeshare flight. The first receptionist tried to convince me that this was not a new policy, and that the 15 previous times that someone had just written down my Skywards number on their sheet labelled "Emirates Skywards" they were all making a mistake. Hmmm.

I tried hard with the lounge manager; she explained that every time an Emirates flyer enters the Qantas lounge they get to charge Emirates $170 (!), and vice-versa when a Qantas flyer goes into the EK lounge. I gather Qantas is haemorrhaging money through this arrangment! Emirates has been rejecting their written-down lists and insisting on the ticket code, so I should take it up with them. I kinda see her point now. Anyway, won't be long before I'm QF Gold and have to stop juggling cards, I just feel sorry for others who are now getting ripped off when Qantas still haven't changed the text on their website anywhere.

 

[eastwest101]

Thanks for coming back with more info Rourke - but I would imagine that the majority of QF and EK status pax and QFF/Skywards members would think - so what - we don't care what commercial arrangements are made between QF and EK management - if they want to argue over money then thats their business/problem - but it is up to them to provide accurate and timely information about reciprocal lounge access to their own customers.

I assume there is no problem getting multiple boarding passes issued for EK/QF codeshare flights to sidestep this problem anyway - I can see a lot of BPs being re-issued in the lounge after lounge access is obtained....

This looks like the LHR QF vs BA Galleries lounge access debacle all over again......

 

[Ansett]

This looks like the LHR QF vs BA Galleries lounge access debacle all over again......

Was going to post the same comment and also are the wheels coming off of the agreement already or well atleast coming lose?

 

[ashleyn]

This looks like the LHR QF vs BA Galleries lounge access debacle all over again......

Was going to post the same comment and also are the wheels coming off of the agreement already or well atleast coming lose?

I think they got wobbly when QR joined OW.

 

[Danger]

I think this is issue is going to be a big problem.

 

[GalaxyNexus]

As a customer I adhere to whatever benefit is published on Qantas/Emirates websites. No such terms and conditions (crediting to status FF) exists as far as I can see. This is no different than false advertising, utter rubbish.

Whatever commercial agreement under the hood between the two airlines is none of my business. Either you provide the service as advertised or you change the published benefits. What a joke!

 

[castie]

Priority Privileges

Our partnership with Emirates gives you more flights and more choice. As a Gold Frequent Flyer, you can enjoy additional privileges when you fly with Emirates* between and within Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Australia.
When you travel as a Qantas Gold Frequent Flyer member (with your Frequent Flyer number in your Emirates booking), your Gold status will be recognised, providing you with access to the following benefits when you fly with Emirates.

Seems pretty clear the other way around no?
"Traveling as" to me means my ticket matches my gold status.

http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/privilegesGold#in-the-lounge

 

[castie]

Just checked and Emirates have it too.

If you are flying on the joint Emirates-Qantas network, you will continue to receive your Emirates Skywards tier privileges. Please remember to book on flights with an Emirates code (EK flight number) to keep collecting Tier Miles. Your membership number cannot be amended once you have checked in or completed your travel so please ensure to quote your Emirates Skywards membership number to earn Miles and take advantage of your benefits.

Membership Benefits | Membership Tiers | Emirates Skywards

Am I missing something?

Both programs seem to spell out that their benefits are only good if you are traveling as that status member.
Emirates even say it must be quoted to earn miles and benefits!

 

[GalaxyNexus]

This seems to have been recently updated. The version from two months ago did not have this "with Emirates" tab with those conditions (hence the confusion since I don't remember seeing these clauses before).

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Gold Benefits

 

[Danger]

This seems to have been recently updated. The version from two months ago did not have this "with Emirates" tab with those conditions (hence the confusion since I don't remember seeing these clauses before).

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Gold Benefits

Wow. Very well spotted.

 

[Princess Fiona]

So it's all becoming a little bit clearer now. The wording inserted "with your frequent flyer number in the booking" is the clincher.
http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/privilegesPlatinum#with-emirates

Besides the Lounge charging issues, this seems designed to stop cannibalisation of the respective FF programs.

 

[Kieran2274]

Couldn't agree more.
IIRC the Qantas/Emirates Alliance is supposed to afford reciprocal lounge access with a couple of exceptions (Americas, New Zealand and South Africa) of which Melbourne is neither.
AFAIK there has never been anything published stating that Lounge Access is dependent on which program the flight is crediting to.
Urgent clarification needed and if a mistake has been made a swift apology to the OP and some staff education.
Perhaps the staff have been outsourced from BA?
*runs*

It does seem odd - given I've been travelling on EK metal lately via QF booking - that I've had a few glitches that I wouldn't have thought shouldn't have happened given the QF/EK alliance and clear rules regarding reciprocal lounge access.

My EK boarding passes printed my QF flight numbers (in addition to the EK ones) and did include my QFF number but not my status level (I believe this is because the EK system doesn't handle title differences as well as the QF system - on all international flights I'm just plain old Mr, whereas my QF profile has always had my formal title - QF handles this same person, different hats issue well, but EK system flags 'not named passenger' even though it's only the title that differs).

Even though the lack of printed status level shouldn't be an issue (after all, as a First pax my current Gold QFF is neither here nor there), it seems to cause problems at some lounges. The MEL FLounge, not at problem at all. For a brief stop at the QF First (in name only) AKL Lounge, to say hello to a friend, the Lounge Dragon acted very strangely (but ironically, after much fuss, said "We don't get EK first pax in here, because the EK lounge is so much better" lol). And comparing my greetings when just travelling on a straight EK flight (no Qantas code share) to when travelling through EK lounges as a QF booked pax, I have to say it was much warmer as a EK standard pax.

Had to have a little chuckle to myself about it all - only minor PITAs, but perhaps signs the alliance isn't quite there yet.