Lounge Access Help Desk

[admin]

Background to this thread
We have noticed an increase in the posting of questions regarding what Airport Lounges are available at specific airports when travelling on specific airlines. While one can be assured of access at the airline lounge when travelling on that airline (provided you have Lounge membership), thing start to get complex when travelling on a codeshare or partner airline.

Posting Guidelines
Please post your questions about Lounge access in this thread. Be sure to include the airline you are travelling on, the airport (and terminal, if known), and any Airline Status or Airport Lounge membership programs you have.

When answering questions, please include the original question. This will assist in readability and management of the thread.

(Special thanks to Princess Fiona for suggesting this new thread.)

 

[SYD]

Thanks for your reply I have tried to enter the Qantas FF details in but it just defaults back to my AA member number. I'll ask at check in at AMS

Yeah, some FF programs lock reward bookings. SQ is notorious for that. I was surprised that UA let me put my VA number in a reward booking.

Meanwhile, I noticed on the Oneworld.com website that the DOH North lounge is open (there might be a review somewhere). It appears to be a combined Plat/Gold lounge - so possibly slightly better than the South Gold lounge.

Maybe someone else here can elaborate? Although, I’d probably go to the lounge closest to my departure gate.

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks for your reply I have tried to enter the Qantas FF details in but it just defaults back to my AA member number. I'll ask at check in at AMS

Try going to the Finnair website / manage booking. You may be able to change your FF# there.

 

[Notyourbag]

Looking for clarity if Qatar Platinum's can bring 1 guest or 3 (same as VA Platinum's) into VA lounges. Can't find the number of guests referenced.

 

[flyingfan]

Can someone explain what the protocol is here please? If I wanted to guest someone into the QF lounge, for example, exactly how would that person identify themselves to me? Do I need to pretend they're an old friend? Does it ever get questioned by staff?

To answer without taking the other thread off topic, previously I just said I’d meet people at a certain landmark near the lounge at a certain time, or have them PM me (I don’t usually give out my number at first). You don’t usually have to pretend, if you’re guesting someone in just present your boarding pass/card while with your guest and maybe say “with a guest” if clarification is needed (some lounges also need them to scan their pass?).

Hasn’t been questioned by staff but might be if it looks very odd, eg you’re standing at the entrance specifically looking around offering to guest total strangers in!

 

[flyingmachine]

From what I understand - it seems OW Sapphire or above + business class travellers on OW airlines can go to any OW lounge (except for a handful of lounges)?
Is there anything we can do if the dragons refuse entry at the lounge?

I was flying out of LIN recently flying AY in business (and QF gold) and saw there was a BA lounge at the airport - but they refused to let me in saying that there was an "arrangement" for AY passengers to use a third party lounge at that particular airport. I don't quite understand why they wouldn't let anyone entry. They were very obviously not full and I thought they got reimbursed whenever passengers use the lounge?

 

[Princess Fiona]

From what I understand - it seems OW Sapphire or above + business class travellers on OW airlines can go to any OW lounge (except for a handful of lounges)?
Is there anything we can do if the dragons refuse entry at the lounge?

I was flying out of LIN recently flying AY in business (and QF gold) and saw there was a BA lounge at the airport - but they refused to let me in saying that there was an "arrangement" for AY passengers to use a third party lounge at that particular airport. I don't quite understand why they wouldn't let anyone entry. They were very obviously not full and I thought they got reimbursed whenever passengers use the lounge?

To answer your question
No there is nothing you can do.
One World lounge access isn’t quite as clear cut as the rules make it sound.

It’s actually pretty common to get refused access at small outstation lounges based on “capacity” and it’s for this reason that the airlines have separate third party arrangements at these ports, eg. The AY example at LIN.
There are numerous others that I have encountered through the years.

 

[SYD]

To answer your question
No there is nothing you can do.
One World lounge access isn’t quite as clear cut as the rules make it sound.

It’s actually pretty common to get refused access at small outstation lounges based on “capacity” and it’s for this reason that the airlines have separate third party arrangements at these ports, eg. The AY example at LIN.
There are numerous others that I have encountered through the years.

CX Lounge at SFO was a classic example that has its own thread here somewhere….

 

[flyingmachine]

To answer your question
No there is nothing you can do.
One World lounge access isn’t quite as clear cut as the rules make it sound.

It’s actually pretty common to get refused access at small outstation lounges based on “capacity” and it’s for this reason that the airlines have separate third party arrangements at these ports, eg. The AY example at LIN.
There are numerous others that I have encountered through the years.

Thanks that makes sense
Was an interesting experience... I was told it was a "policy" and then when I pushed further they pulled out the oneworld lounge policy which said that I should be allowed in. And then they didn't have another explanation but still said no

 

[SYD]

Just checked in for a BA flight tomorrow (Club Europe) from LHR T5 and the website was suggesting chilling in the Concorde Room! Should I ignore that suggestion or am I missing something?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just checked in for a BA flight tomorrow (Club Europe) from LHR T5 and the website was suggesting chilling in the Concorde Room! Should I ignore that suggestion or am I missing something?

Nope ignore.
Unless you are CK, GGL or Premier you will be chilling in the Galleries F if WP or any of the other T5 lounges if below WP

 

[SYD]

Nope ignore.
Unless you are CK, GGL or Premier you will be chilling in the Galleries F if WP or any of the other T5 lounges if below WP

Exactly. I’m happy with the F checkin zone and direct lounge access but bemused by the CR suggestion!



Absolutely nothing on the BP to suggest anything other than OWE…

 

[albatross710]

I have transferred a lounge pass to a family member. When we try to link it to their upcoming JQ CNS-BNE departure the booking doesn't appear. There is the standard 'catchall' message about capacity constraints.

Is it normal for Cairns lounge to deny pax to avail of lounge passes?

 

[duanemiller]

Hey team. Trying to decipher VA's international partner airline lounge benefits. I have some upcoming flights and wondering which lounges I can (and should) use with my seat class and status? I believe sometimes there might be more than one option? My itinerary is (all on Velocity business reward seats and holding Velocity Platinum status)...

MEL-AUH-AMS flying EY
Which lounges can I access in MEL and AUH?
Is it Swissport - Aspire only in MEL?
Is it Etihad Business and First Class lounges in AUH? I believe I've been able to access the Etihad First Class lounge in AUH using my platinum status even though I wasn't flying in that class.

AMS-DOH-MEL flying QR
Which lounges can I access in AMS and DOH?
I can't work out what is available in AMS for QR.
Does my Velocity Platinum status similarly get me into the Al Safwa First Lounge like I can with Etihad or is that a unique perk? Otherwise I'm guessing it's the Al Mourjan Business Lounge? There's also a Garden Lounge?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[MR76]

Just looking for some insight here. I am looking to qualify for *Gold later this year via Asiana and would like to use lounge access on on a trip to HND via SIN on SQ in March 2024. Once I qualify for *Gold, does anyone know if I need to continue to credit the Asiana program to to be visible on the boarding pass (with the *Gold details) or can I credit another program and just show the Asiana *Gold card to gain lounge access?

Thanking you in advance.

 

[Scozzy]

Hi,
I found an old locked thread on this subject, but thought I would ask anyone who has recently has flown on QF71 which lounge you had access to.
My app is saying T4 domestic club lounge but I am hoping its is the international lounge in T3 that is used for QF9/10.
I am flying Economy but have QC.

Thanks!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hey team. Trying to decipher VA's international partner airline lounge benefits. I have some upcoming flights and wondering which lounges I can (and should) use with my seat class and status? I believe sometimes there might be more than one option? My itinerary is (all on Velocity business reward seats and holding Velocity Platinum status)...

MEL-AUH-AMS flying EY
Which lounges can I access in MEL and AUH?
Is it Swissport - Aspire only in MEL?
Is it Etihad Business and First Class lounges in AUH? I believe I've been able to access the Etihad First Class lounge in AUH using my platinum status even though I wasn't flying in that class.

AMS-DOH-MEL flying QR
Which lounges can I access in AMS and DOH?
I can't work out what is available in AMS for QR.
Does my Velocity Platinum status similarly get me into the Al Safwa First Lounge like I can with Etihad or is that a unique perk? Otherwise I'm guessing it's the Al Mourjan Business Lounge? There's also a Garden Lounge?

Thanks for the advice.

MEL-AUH-AMS
MEL is Aspire
AUH is EY First

AMS-DOH-MEL
AMS QR use the Aspire Lounge
DOH Access to either of the AM Business lounges. QR do not do Status based access to F except for their own elites.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Even domestic pax don't have access to the international lounge on QF9/10. It's the main domestic lounge.

No longer the case. Domestic pax on QF 10 do have access. They make an announcement in the J lounge advising that it’s open and encouraging them to go there.

 

[SYD]

No longer the case. Domestic pax on QF 10 do have access. They make an announcement in the J lounge advising that it’s open and encouraging them to go there.

Plus QF71 PAX to SIN (as per OP) would have access anyway now that it’s the “International Biz” lounge. Not just the “transit” lounge.

 

[MR76]

Just looking for some insight here. I am looking to qualify for *Gold later this year via Asiana and would like to use lounge access on on a trip to HND via SIN on SQ in March 2024. Once I qualify for *Gold, does anyone know if I need to continue to credit the Asiana program to to be visible on the boarding pass (with the *Gold details) or can I credit another program and just show the Asiana *Gold card to gain lounge access?

Thanking you in advance.

I found the answer to my question via the star alliance site. For those interested, see below:

As a Star Alliance Gold customer travelling in any class on a Star Alliance member airline operated flight, you have access to any member airline lounge at the airport where your flight departs, if the following conditions are met:

• You present your boarding pass of a Star Alliance member airline operated flight which departs at the same day as your visit or latest by 05:00 AM the next morning.
• If your boarding pass does not carry the Star Alliance Gold indicator, you will need to also show your valid Star Alliance Gold card.
• The lounge displays the Star Alliance Gold logo at the entrance.

 

[justinbrett]

Plus QF71 PAX to SIN (as per OP) would have access anyway now that it’s the “International Biz” lounge. Not just the “transit” lounge.

For some reason I was thinking QF71 was domestic - I need more coffee