Family guesting into Melbourne First lounge

[GSP]

You could try your luck getting all three of you into the F lounge and if that doesn’t work, guest one into the J lounge and one into the F lounge.

Passes won't work with MAH flight. Only QAN and Jetstar and a few other randoms.

 

[liamg]

Last year, I was not able to bring both my husband and my 11yo daughter into the SYD QF FLounge before a JL flight to Tokyo (they were both SG at that point, we were all flying in J). I was told because Qantas don't codeshare on that flight, only two of us could enter - Oneworld rules being enforced. Have not had this issue flying on QF flights.

Unless you have a favourable staff member on the desk, you are not likely to be able to bring two guests in to the FLounge before a Oneworld partner airline flight.

In October I’m flying on the same JL flight with my wife and six month old. Will the infant count as a guest? Surely not.

 

[mannej]

Sorry to keep this going, but reading again it appears that this child counts as guest policy also applies to the international business lounge too. Is that right?

In that case, I have effectively NO lounge access at all, because I obviously can't leave either of my family members outside.

Is there a way around this (either by arrangement with the lounge, or by changed flights? I know I could book all QF, but frankly that is a TERRIBLE option. That would mean a 16hr travel time, rather than 7 for the direct ADL-MH flight, much more cost, and a horrible Jetstar final leg from Singapore.

Lounge access when travelling with my daughter is the No. 1 reason for chasing QF status in the first place. Nothing worse than waiting with kids at the gate.

If my reading is correct, and I can't access the lounges, then QF is basically forcing me to fly direct with MH. The QP in Adelaide will wave me in, and I have never previously had any difficulty taking my family into the MH lounge in KL, even when I was only OW Sapphire.

One more ... As QF silver my wife each can get a lounge pass, but I can't find a clear answer whether they can use that for the int business lounge if we are flying out on MH. Is there a rule about that?

1) It is O* with the policy and not QF, they are more generous compared to the O* policy and it is this discrepancy that causes the issue. Whether it is applied consistently or not is a different issue.

2) The passes are crystal clear for O* access, they don’t provide access for non-QF O* flights

 

[Mattg]

Thanks Mattg. I was really hoping to avoid that. It adds 4 hours and a stop to the travel time, and I didn't enjoy my last time on Jetstar 3K. That was a few years ago, though. Has it improved?

It also means a 6.30am first flight.

I realise this, but I think it's the only way you can all get into the Flounge. If you don't wish to do that, you might as well fly ADL-KUL direct on MH and forgo the lounge in Melbourne.

 

[AdamR]

2) The passes are crystal clear for O* access, they don’t provide access for non-QF O* flights

The passes might be clear, I have never seen one. The web page isn’t clear because it only refers to “eligible flights", but doesn't define the term. I assume that comes up when you request a pass.

 

[AdamR]

I realise this, but I think it's the only way you can all get into the Flounge. If you don't wish to do that, you might as well fly ADL-KUL direct on MH and forgo the lounge in Melbourne.

Thanks Mattg. Unfortunately there is no direct flight on the day we need to travel, so we have to go via Melbourne, Sydney or Perth. It would be a much easier decision if it was between a 7 hour flight and a 16 hour trip.

 

[AdamR]

Good news, finally.

My Amex Explorer gives 2 passes in the AMEX Lounge in Melbourne. So at least I have a backup if we can't talk our way into either of the QF lounges.

As an aside, the QF booking difficulties continue -- practically, the only way I can book all QF/3K flights on the out leg is through Qantas. If I do that, then the MH direct return leg doubles in price. I'll talk to my travel agent and see if she can do better. While I might be able to justify the longer and less direct out-bound tip to get Flounge access, there is no point at all in the cost and trouble on the return trip, especially since there is a 7hr direct flight option that day.

 

[Katie]

In October I’m flying on the same JL flight with my wife and six month old. Will the infant count as a guest? Surely not.

From the Oneworld site, you should be OK. Infants under 2 years are not counted as an additional guest:

Airport Lounges: oneworld Lounges & Airport Lounge Access

Enjoy airport lounge access at nearly 700 airport lounges worldwide through your oneworld Priority tier. Exceptions may apply.

www.oneworld.com

Under Oneworld lounge access for infants and children:

Infants under 2 years will not be counted as a guest when travelling with an eligible adult customer​

 

[flyingfan]

Thanks all. It is disappointing if we can't all get into the F lounge, but Katie has confirmed what I feared.

I'm at the MEL lounge now so thought I'd ask although Katie has already provided the right answer - when not flying QF, the plat can only bring one guest (child or not) under OW.