Family guesting into Melbourne First lounge

[AdamR]

I will be travelling ADL-MEL-KUL in October and would like to try out the first lounge for the first time. Just reached platinum recently.

I will have my wife and 13yo daughter with me. As I read the rules, I can bring them both in if travelling on a QF flight. However, the planned flight would be QF for the domestic leg, and MH direct to KL. The rules say only one guest in first for Oneworld flights. The plan is to book through qantas, but I don't think there is a code share.

Can someone let me know the likelihood of getting both into the first lounge at lunchtime on a Wednesday in those circumstances? How closely are the rules followed?

Thanks, Adam

 

[justinbrett]

For international I thought it was one guest only even on Qantas. But Qantas doesn’t consider a 13yo a guest.

 

[mannej]

For international I thought it was one guest only even on Qantas.

QF has a much more generous policy regarding children compared to O*, as the 13 yo wouldn’t count as a guest according to QF admission rules.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

There shouldn’t be a problem with your daughter gaining access.

 

[RooFlyer]

Your admission to the First lounge is via your status; as others say, one adult guest allowed if flying with you and child under 18 doesn't count as guest, so you are good to go.

Try to get there early to get a table for lunch.

 

[sudoer]

Here's the policy you're after: Eligibility and access | Qantas

 

[Katie]

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.

This is from the Platinum benefits page:
Guest access

​

• When travelling on a flight with a Qantas (QF) or Jetstar (JQ) flight number on your ticket Qantas International Lounge access is also provided to one guest and up to two children (aged 4 - 17 years)35 who are travelling with you on the same flight that day.​
• When travelling on a flight with a oneworld member airline flight number on your ticket Qantas International Lounge access is provided to one guest who must be travelling that day on a oneworld member airline marketed and operated flight.​
• When travelling on a flight with an Emirates (EK) or China Eastern (MU) flight number, Qantas International Lounge access is provided to one guest who is travelling with you on the same flight.​

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.

 

[Katie]

Your admission to the First lounge is via your status; as others say, one adult guest allowed if flying with you and child under 18 doesn't count as guest, so you are good to go.

RooFlyer, children under 18 are counted as guests for non-QF and non-JQ flights. I found out the hard way last year.

 

[RooFlyer]

RooFlyer, children under 18 are counted as guests for non-QF and non-JQ flights. I found out the hard way last year.

Damn. And I did check the access rules page! Obviously not the right one. Apologies to the OP

 

[Katie]

Oh, and while we thought about leaving Miss 11 in the JLounge while we went to the FLounge, we decided against it.

On the up side, while the breakfast was not of the calibre we were expecting, we ran into @anat0l in the JLounge.

 

[Katie]

Oh, and I didn't mean to pick on RooFlyer by only quoting his post. I thought about quoting them all, but that seemed over the top for conveying a message!

 

[RichardMEL]

Just a note.. if you're on the day MH flight then no issue.. if on the late night redeye to KUL then note the F lounge closes 11pm and basically all MH folks get put into the J lounge....

 

[AdamR]

Thanks all. It is disappointing if we can't all get into the F lounge, but Katie has confirmed what I feared. The QF options to KL are not good (especially starting in ADL). I would happily book a direct-to-KL codeshare from SYD or MEL if there was one - does anyone know of one on another airline? I really want to visit the F lounge.

 

[AdamR]

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.

 

[AdamR]

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?

 

[HockeyMonkey]

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.

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.

 

[Mattg]

Why not book ADL-MEL-SIN-KUL with Qantas, flying QF35 or QF37 from MEL-SIN (and then connecting on 3K or MH to KUL)?

Qantas doesn't codeshare on Malaysia Airlines flights to/from Australia.

 

[justinbrett]

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?

Years ago this would have worked - now they only work with QF or JQ flights, as far as I’m aware.

 

[Mistress]

The only lounge all 3 of you would have access to would be the MEL QF domestic lounge after your flight as QF allows WP to enter domestic lounges after a flight. At least you could get something to eat/drink before heading into International terminal.

 

[AdamR]

Why not book ADL-MEL-SIN-KUL with Qantas, flying QF35 or QF37 from MEL-SIN (and then connecting on 3K or MH to KUL)?

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.