EK lounge access for QF status pax discussion [where/when? where/when not?]

[Austman]

The response from Qantas Customer Care:

We contacted Emirates to confirm access for their lounge in Beijing and confirmed what you found is true. Our passengers must be on an Emirates flight number to access their lounge.​

 

[cambriamarsh]

The response from Qantas Customer Care:

We contacted Emirates to confirm access for their lounge in Beijing and confirmed what you found is true. Our passengers must be on an Emirates flight number to access their lounge.​

Interesting that QF didn’t seem to know!

 

[me-h]

I’m flying out of Madrid for the first time on Sunday night and wanted to check with folk here that my understanding of my lounge options is correct and that I’m not missing something. I’m WP status with qantas, and have used qantas points for J reward flights this trip with Emirates. I enjoyed the qantas first lounge in Syd and the Emirates first lounge in DXB on way over here.

Im flying out of T4S so as I understand it, ordinarily on a OW flight I’d use the Velázquez lounge, but I’m thinking because I’m on an Emirates flight with an EK ticket number, I wouldn’t be allowed in this lounge and I’ll instead need to use the lounge Emirates partners with at T4S, which appears to be the Neptuno/ Aero lounge. Is this correct, or am I allowed in both? Any better options? Big thanks in advance for any helpful advice

 

[me-h]

I meant Aena of course! Knew it was something like that

 

[kermatu]

Sorry I can’t help you on the specific lounge you can access. But one thing I can say for sure having been in a couple of Madrid lounges is lower your expectations massively. They will not be anything like the Qantas or Emirates first lounges.

The lounges I’ve been in (a few years ago now) were fine, but nothing more than simple, comfortable seats, basic finger foods and soft drinks / wines / beers.

Personally I wouldn’t make additional time for the lounge experience. But enjoy your J EK flight!

 

[justinbrett]

I was in the Iberia Dali lounge last year (flying to Paris) and thought it was really good.

It was early in the morning so don’t recall the alcohol on offer but it had a great range of breakfast pastries.

 

[justinbrett]

Im flying out of T4S so as I understand it, ordinarily on a OW flight I’d use the Velázquez lounge, but I’m thinking because I’m on an Emirates flight with an EK ticket number, I wouldn’t be allowed in this lounge and I’ll instead need to use the lounge Emirates partners with at T4S, which appears to be the Neptuno/ Aero lounge. Is this correct, or am I allowed in both? Any better options? Big thanks in advance for any helpful advice

You are correct, the QF/EK partnership is completely outside of the ow alliance and therefore you do not have access to ow lounges. Your status is only good for EK lounge access.

 

[me-h]

Thanks justinbrett for the confirmation. And thanks kermatu- yeah I’d assumed they’d be more like a regular lounge than the first ones I’d tried. Flying home in J will be good. I actually flew over on the Syd-DBX leg in First (using points again) which was my first time in that class - pretty amazing flying experience!

 

[tyrolean]

I recently had a flight MUC-DXB-MUC in Economy. It was booked by a congress organizer (as I was invited).
On the way to DXB I could use the EK Lounge without any problem. Luggage was tagged as priority and I got Fast track passes for the immigration.

On the way back I wanted to use the F-Lounge in DXB with a friend. We were turned away quite harsh.
The first argument was:
- You need a QF Ticket for Lounge access.
I responded that this is not true.
- Then they told us that we won't get lounge access with that ticket, as it was discounted.
They were very rude and turned us away.
I did not know what kind of ticket we were on...

 

[serfty]

They were very rude and turned us away.
I did not know what kind of ticket we were on...

That is very strange and concerning.

Presumably you are QF WP and by anything published should have had lounge access on an EK*EK flight.

Please take it up with Qantas and post back here their response.

 

[calmelb]

That is very strange and concerning.

Presumably you are QF WP and by anything published should have had lounge access on an EK*EK flight.

Please take it up with Qantas and post back here their response.

Last time I had an issue with lounge access on EK (or the fact I was underage and due to flying J in Australia I was entitled to a food voucher) I emailed EK customer care, told it was a Qantas booked ticket so speak to them, then Qantas said it was an Emirates flight so you have to bring it up with them. Neither of them wanting to address the situation (keeping in mind I was a WP at the time too)

 

[blaz]

My understanding is that if your Qantas flight is also regarded as a EK no., then they are obliged to let qualifying gold/platinum/business/first class passengers in. You can double check this on the flight information boards.

 

[agentgerko]

Just another one of dozens of reasons why these alliances, partnerships and codeshare agreements do absolutely nothing for the passenger and are purely to increase revenue for the airlines. In the case of lounges, we've gone from the days where every online airline had its own lounge to the current situation where there are only one or two airlines lounges, and maybe one or two privately owned lounges, at each airport and, if you're lucky enough to be allowed in, you'll find yourself crowded in with passengers from a dozen or more other airlines.

 

[blaz]

Having said that, lounge supervisors are only human, and occasionally get things wrong. Ask to speak to someone else. They hate this, but I love it when they are informed that they have misunderstood the rules.

 

[williamsf1]

Don't forget EK will also reject you if try and use 2 cards for the same flight.

Example
if you are trying to earn EK points on the flight and you have no status, but you want to use your QF P card for the benefits they will either make you remove the EK number or turn you away.

Lounge benefits will be granted based on the frequent flyer number quoted in your booking

 

[kermatu]

Ask to speak to someone else. They hate this, but I love it when they are informed that they have misunderstood the rules.

Agree but not always possible. Auckland now just has one agent on the desk in the late morning period. Only other staff are kitchen and wait staff.

 

[Beano]

Flying on a Qantas ticket and used the Emirates lounge at Sydney International recently, no problems. Flight was Qantas and leaving from the gate outside the lounge (not the usual Qantas gate which is at the other end of the terminal). Food and drinks better than Sydney International Qantas Business Lounge but not First lounge which I can use. (PS spent most of my time in Q first lounge then to Emirates to meet a friend travelling to another destination). Best of both worlds!!

 

[JohnPhelan]

The response from Qantas Customer Care:

We contacted Emirates to confirm access for their lounge in Beijing and confirmed what you found is true. Our passengers must be on an Emirates flight number to access their lounge.​

Yes, that's the situation, but that doesn't really help. WHY is the question, and - more to the point - what is QF doing to fix this?

The QF-EK alliance team needs to deal with EK to fix it, and get PEK added to the list of allowable lounges, as it should be there, based on the terms of the agreement.

 

[siri]

Emirate and Qantas partnership was never went smoothly and lots of QF fliers had, raw end of the deal. We also pressure QF to stop using Dubai as a stop over and put back spore, at last now things are not that bad.
Dubai lounges are nice and access to direct flights from lounge is also great. But airport is a terrible place since the moment you land you have security gates direct from the flight.. I haven't seen this in any airlines since normally security is at the final point if there is any.. Also being a QF platinum with Bus class ticket, Dubai security told me ( more than one occasion) iam not qualified to go to 1st lounge which I told him he was wrong and you should be better train and learn about airline rules.. If you challenge they let you go.. In one instance at Schipol, I was discouraged to go to Emirate lounge saying its under construction, I told him I will check and although there was construction on its path lounge was not... These people are so arrogant and does not have any decency or manners since they think money or oil give them the rights to abuse process... Last 3 yrs I avoided flying emirates and glad QF ditch their port when you go to london...

 

[teamrhino]

Sorry, I’m with the airlines on this one.
When flying with a P class or J class ticket , there is never an issue , nor should there be!
However how many time have you entered said lounges and unable to get a seat or found them crowded with pax who are simply there because of their card status and not their ticket status!
I agree that it should be clearly stated in the rules and perhaps airlines will change the rules so that lounges can be used by premier pax rather than freeloaders!! Ouch , too confronting??