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.)

 

[JessicaTam]

Just want to report back on the outcome. I manage to click over to Gold on time, but when checking in at Itami (Osaka) I was given 2 board passes. Itami to Tokyo as Rubby and Tokyo to Syd as Sapphire. I told the check-in lady to reenter my QF number but it did not seem to work. She was very polite, but rather unhelpful as her English was limited. After a little while I gave up. Nevertheless, I went to the lounge and tried my luck again. The lady at the lounge spoke much better English and after a long phone call to possible her boss, she invited me to the lounge. She latter went to me to explain that she called QF customer service and they verified my Sapphire status and that she apologised for taking so long. Nice service, Japanese style and no cutting corner.

Glad to hear it worked out.

 

[Antoallison]

Just wondering about the rules and if I need to be on the same flight to hopefully be a 'guest' before my PER - SYD flight, - Delta flight DL7282 (operated by Virgin) this Sunday 8/8/2016 - 11.55pm departure ?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just wondering about the rules and if I need to be on the same flight to hopefully be a 'guest' before my PER - SYD flight, - Delta flight DL7282 (operated by Virgin) this Sunday 8/8/2016 - 11.55pm departure ?

Who is guesting you into where ?

 

[Antoallison]

Who is guesting you into where ?

no one ... yet .... I was just wondering about whether I should even post a request.

Are the rules in most lounges that any member of a Lounge willing to invite me to be a guest - would need to be on the same flight, airline ?

- presuming there would only be a very remote chance that any other AFF member would be flying that metal at that time on that day also.

 

[TomVexille]

no one ... yet .... I was just wondering about whether I should even post a request.

Are the rules in most lounges that any member of a Lounge willing to invite me to be a guest - would need to be on the same flight, airline ?

- presuming there would only be a very remote chance that any other AFF member would be flying that metal at that time on that day also.

Virgin domestic lounges don't require the guest to be on the same flight, or even be travelling for that matter.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: I'm in the QF Lounge thread

Does MEL QF F really open at 04:15:



What time can you check in MEL for 93?

Edit: And what time can you check in for 94 ex LAX pls?

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: I'm in the QF Lounge thread

Does MEL QF F really open at 04:15:

View attachment 76134

What time can you check in MEL for 93?

Edit: And what time can you check in for 94 ex LAX pls?

I had a quick look here but couldn't see the earliest times - just the cutoff time.
Check in Options | Qantas

From memory the A380 flights' airport check in is 3 1/2 hours before departure. You can check in online between 2-24 hours before. If you have checked luggage you will be limited by the airport check in time for bag drop.

 

[JessicaTam]

Virgin domestic lounges don't require the guest to be on the same flight, or even be travelling for that matter.

And the same goes for QF domestic lounges.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: I'm in the QF Lounge thread

Tks JT - I was on QF site today and up popped live chat - I spoke to Matthew and he tells me YES QF F opens at 04:15 - wasn't that long ago I was standing outside door til 06:00 ticked over to get in

He also tells me check in opens 3hrs pre dep - 06:15? Hopefully the QF sperts'll chip in with confirmation.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: I'm in the QF Lounge thread

Tks JT - I was on QF site today and up popped live chat - I spoke to Matthew and he tells me YES QF F opens at 04:15 - wasn't that long ago I was standing outside door til 06:00 ticked over to get in

He also tells me check in opens 3hrs pre dep - 06:15? Hopefully the QF sperts'll chip in with confirmation.

While the QF chat person might be correct (chances are they must get something right at some time?) - I'll roll this one out again... airline office staff are excellent for fares and ticketing.... anything else airport or operational you should go somewhere that knows. Like AFF.

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: I'm in the QF Lounge thread

I have opened a box of 'original' BBQ shapes.

I can happily report that they are correct with their labelling. My local Coles regularly has plenty of the 'new improved' on the shelf whilst the 'original' are thin on the ground.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Re: I'm in the QF Lounge thread

I'll be connecting in BKK next month.

Arriving on SQ at 20:00 Sat
Departing on TK in J at 10:55 Sun (next day)
Separate ticket

I'm planning on staying at one of the airport hotels, but not bothering to head in to Bangkok given the arrival time. So I wouldn't mind doing a mini lounge crawl before heading landside, and sleeping in the next morning!

1. Which *A lounges are recommended? I've heard the EVA lounge is the less well known gem...
2. Which of the TG lounges will I have access to on account of flying *A J, but not on TG metal?
3. If SQ in SYD can check me through on the TK itinerary, will I have access after arriving in BKK on Sat, given it's not technically "same day"?
4. If SQ won't do that, is there a transfer desk at BKK that can issue boarding passes (and handle luggage)?
5. Anyone happen to know when TK check-in opens in the morning, should I need it?

Thanks in advance, and I do realise the last questions are not strictly lounge access ones...

 

[Chrizztofa]

Re: I'm in the QF Lounge thread

I'll be connecting in BKK next month.

Arriving on SQ at 20:00 Sat
Departing on TK in J at 10:55 Sun (next day)
Separate ticket

I'm planning on staying at one of the airport hotels, but not bothering to head in to Bangkok given the arrival time. So I wouldn't mind doing a mini lounge crawl before heading landside, and sleeping in the next morning!

1. Which *A lounges are recommended? I've heard the EVA lounge is the less well known gem...
2. Which of the TG lounges will I have access to on account of flying *A J, but not on TG metal?
3. If SQ in SYD can check me through on the TK itinerary, will I have access after arriving in BKK on Sat, given it's not technically "same day"?
4. If SQ won't do that, is there a transfer desk at BKK that can issue boarding passes (and handle luggage)?
5. Anyone happen to know when TK check-in opens in the morning, should I need it?

Thanks in advance, and I do realise the last questions are not strictly lounge access ones...

I'm not a Star flyer so will qualify my comments below, but from my research:

1 and 2. The Star website indicates the following lounges are available for you:

Thai Royal Silk Lounge (Concourse C) - Open 05:00 to 02:00
Thai Royal Silk Lounge (Concourse E) - Open 05:00 to 02:00
EVA Air Lounge (Concourse F) - Open 09:20-16:25 daily and 00:20 to 02:30 T/W/F/Sun. This means this won't be an option upon landing and you may only have limited time here in the morning as it opens late.
Singapore Silverkris Lounge (Concourse A) - Open 06:30 to 23:30

3. The Star website is silent on this, but other sites indicate it needs to be a same day boarding pass. You'll have an issue since arrivals is on level 2 and you must clear security before gaining access to departures and lounges on level 3. How do you intend to exit the airport once you're on the departures level?

4. There is a transfer desk to issue boarding passes on level 3 (past transfer security). This may not be manned though when you get there - last year I transited BKK on separate tickets (3K -> QR) and was told to come back to get my boarding passes three hours before departure. I was able to access the CX lounge in the meantime using my paper itinerary.

However, in my case, QF checked my bag through onto 3K and QR so I did not have to collect my bags. If SQ won't check you through, I presume you'll need to exit the airport in BKK.

5. The Turkish Airlines website indicates check-in opens 2 hours before departure. No experience about whether this is accurate for BKK, however.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Thanks Chrizztofa!

I should've mentioned I did look at the Star Alliance website first and found the same thing you did... not sure how accurate it is though. I've read that TG don't honour the alliance rules and reserve some of their lounges for passengers flying TG metal only. Has anyone had recent experience on the ground?

In fact, these two pages give contradictory access rules flying J, but non-TG:
Thai Airways International - Inflight Service
Wordwide Lounges | On Ground | Thai Airways

Good point about the separate departure/arrival levels and where the transfer desk is... I made the (incorrect) assumption that it was like SIN where they're all on the same level. Silly of me! :-|

I imagine if I make it through transfer security to the departure level, but find that the transfer desk is unmanned, then there'd be some way to exit the airport again (to collect bags, etc). There must be people who fail to transfer for whatever reason and need to go back out to do full check-in?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks Chrizztofa!

I should've mentioned I did look at the Star Alliance website first and found the same thing you did... not sure how accurate it is though. I've read that TG don't honour the alliance rules and reserve some of their lounges for passengers flying TG metal only. Has anyone had recent experience on the ground?

In fact, these two pages give contradictory access rules flying J, but non-TG:
Thai Airways International - Inflight Service
Wordwide Lounges | On Ground | Thai Airways

Good point about the separate departure/arrival levels and where the transfer desk is... I made the (incorrect) assumption that it was like SIN where they're all on the same level. Silly of me! :-|

I imagine if I make it through transfer security to the departure level, but find that the transfer desk is unmanned, then there'd be some way to exit the airport again (to collect bags, etc). There must be people who fail to transfer for whatever reason and need to go back out to do full check-in?

TG is pretty consistent with honouring lounge access in line with star alliance rules. The one exception is the spa, which is only available to TG F and J class passengers (60 or 30 minute treatments respectively). TG's 'lounge D' is another potential on the list. It supposedly limits access to business class passengers only (any star airline is ok though), not star gold (which would be outside star rules). But many have reported that this isn't always strictly enforced. (SQ is similar restricting access to its business class lounge in SIN to J class only, not star gold.)

TG's F lounge is open to all F pax (unlike Lufthansa's or Swiss').

 

[theoracle30]

Hi! Quick access question regarding JQ access in CNS.

My 4 friends are flying PER-CNS arriving 5am and then CNS-KIX at 1pm (8 hr stop), both Jetstar. They will have QC access passes for Cairns and have decided to spend most of the time in the domestic QC before heading over to International T1 at 11am.

The problem is we're told JQ domestic in Perth can't check in their luggage or print out their CNS-KIX boarding passes. When they arrive in CNS, they'll have to collect their luggage and put it into lockers.

My question is - without having onwards boarding passes (which wouldn't be available until 11am check-in), can they still access the CNS QC lounge?

The QC passes state on the back 'onward travel that day must be QF or JQ'. They will have proof of onward travel with printed e-ticket itineraries, but no boarding passes yet.

Will they be able to get access?

Thanks, BL

 

[JessicaTam]

Hi! Quick access question regarding JQ access in CNS.

My 4 friends are flying PER-CNS arriving 5am and then CNS-KIX at 1pm (8 hr stop), both Jetstar. They will have QC access passes for Cairns and have decided to spend most of the time in the domestic QC before heading over to International T1 at 11am.

The problem is we're told JQ domestic in Perth can't check in their luggage or print out their CNS-KIX boarding passes. When they arrive in CNS, they'll have to collect their luggage and put it into lockers.

My question is - without having onwards boarding passes (which wouldn't be available until 11am check-in), can they still access the CNS QC lounge?

The QC passes state on the back 'onward travel that day must be QF or JQ'. They will have proof of onward travel with printed e-ticket itineraries, but no boarding passes yet.

Will they be able to get access?

Thanks, BL

It will depend on the staff at the day. I have visited a QF lounge before using the booking info as checkin hadn't opened, but it took a bit of convincing.

 

[kevrosmith]

Hi! Quick access question regarding JQ access in CNS.

My 4 friends are flying PER-CNS arriving 5am and then CNS-KIX at 1pm (8 hr stop), both Jetstar. They will have QC access passes for Cairns and have decided to spend most of the time in the domestic QC before heading over to International T1 at 11am.

The problem is we're told JQ domestic in Perth can't check in their luggage or print out their CNS-KIX boarding passes. When they arrive in CNS, they'll have to collect their luggage and put it into lockers.

My question is - without having onwards boarding passes (which wouldn't be available until 11am check-in), can they still access the CNS QC lounge?

The QC passes state on the back 'onward travel that day must be QF or JQ'. They will have proof of onward travel with printed e-ticket itineraries, but no boarding passes yet.

Will they be able to get access?

Thanks, BL

Give the Cairns Qantas Club a call and ask them... Phone number in the link. Note the name of the staff member. If it's not a good answer the first time, HUACA on a different time and see if you get a different staff member.

The Qantas Club | Lounge Locations | Australia | Cairns Domestic

Personally, I'd probably catch the transfer bus or taxi into town and have an enjoyable breakfast and stroll along the Esplanade.

 

[theoracle30]

It will depend on the staff at the day.

Give the Cairns Qantas Club a call and ask them...

Thanks both of you I called up and they said as long as we have proof of onwards travel, through a printed itinerary, they should be allowed in.

 

[BD1959]

Personally, I'd probably catch the transfer bus or taxi into town and have an enjoyable breakfast and stroll along the Esplanade.

Must say I'd much prefer this to 6 hrs in the CNS QC - which is OK but nothing as good as some fresh air and a stroll in the sunshine.

Some nice cafes/restaurants on the Esplanade - or the market on the Sunday.

Regards,

BD