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.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...the difficulty is how some lounges are marketed with different labels making it unclear if they activate rules for QC, J lounge or Flounge.

In theory rules based on status or class of travel should be the same for any lounge you are eligible to enter. A Qantas platinum (entitled to a first class lounge) will still have the same guesting rights if they enter a business class lounge or Qantas club. An F class passenger will similarly have the same guesting rights for a qantas club, business or first class lounge.

 

[amaroo]

• Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:
  • First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when traveling between an international long haul* and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa). (* a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours)
  • Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
  • You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.

Does the above OW connecting rule work in this case? Trying to access JL F lounge in HND.

Travelling JL business class HND-SIN, connecting (same day) BA F SIN-SYD. I've got access as OWE with one guest however, I'm trying to get a couple of others in.

 

[Guvner]

Almost certainly in the USA they will be refused entry as not being over 21 and accompanied by an adult.

Not sure about the MEL lounges, but perhaps the same because they aren't accompanied and alcohol is available for self-serve.

The restriction is based on age, class of service is not a factor. .

Thanks, thought as much.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Does the above OW connecting rule work in this case? Trying to access JL F lounge in HND.

Travelling JL business class HND-SIN, connecting (same day) BA F SIN-SYD. I've got access as OWE with one guest however, I'm trying to get a couple of others in.

you can try for access... JL may argue that as you are at your point of origin, you aren't connecting 'between' flights at HND. Others argue that the rules must encompass the lounge at the point of origin otherwise the words 'vice versa' don't make sense.

Worth trying, but if they refuse you might have a tough time to argue against it.

I don't think you mean this, but platinum status and class of service guesting aren't compound. Your additional guests would need to be flying F ex SIN.

 

[BD1959]

So my very generous FIL has decided to fly 15+ relatives/kids to Whistler for a white Christmas.

i haven't received our tix yet, but we are flying to LAX (from Syd) on Qantas, then to Vancouver on AA.

Return it is both Qantas flights.

What is the easiest/most cost effective way to get lounge access for our flights out of Syd & LAX? We have a 5 yr old & 2yr old.

Other than forking out $510 for QC & whatever else additional cost for a partner club card? I only have 30k FF points (before these booked flights) and I'm pretty sure you cannot use points + pay, it is one or the other?

also, 'guest' is inclusive of child? Not just meaning adult?

thank you!

Hi Diana Hartog,

If you were to purchase QC Membership, note that AA count children as guests and so the whole family would not be eligible into AA Lounges at LAX or Vancouver, so only SYD outbound and LAX inbound; LAX inbound (according to the QF Website) only if the tickets your TIL have QF Flight number (they cannot be a AA flight number on Qantas metal).

Qantas Club Member

Next onward flight that day must be a Qantas^ or Jetstar Airlines+ flight number.

One guest allowed and must be travelling with the member on the same flight.

If this *is* a problem, then it may be cost effective - if you have an AMEX eligible card - to dump the QC purchase and access the AMEX Lounge at SYD for your outbound.

Regards,

BD

 

[amaroo]

you can try for access... JL may argue that as you are at your point of origin, you aren't connecting 'between' flights at HND. Others argue that the rules must encompass the lounge at the point of origin otherwise the words 'vice versa' don't make sense.

Worth trying, but if they refuse you might have a tough time to argue against it.

I don't think you mean this, but platinum status and class of service guesting aren't compound. Your additional guests would need to be flying F ex SIN.

Thanks MEL_Traveller

"vice versa" is the thing that's making me scratch my head. I'll give it a go and see what happens.

It's a family trip - all four of us are travelling JL HND-SIN in J and then BA SIN-SYD in F .... so we got that side of things covered.

 

[TomVexille]

Thanks MEL_Traveller

"vice versa" is the thing that's making me scratch my head. I'll give it a go and see what happens.

I think it's in reference to the transfer point. As in, the rules are in effect whether you are connecting to or from a long haul flight. I'm not sure if it applies at the point of origin, but I would definitely be trying it.

 

[Longtoo]

QF Gold flying a QF marketed flight (Asian Metal), can i get access to the QF lounge in Sydney? I guest I can't use the OneWorld rule but can claim that QF Gold is equivalent to QF Club. Thanks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think it's in reference to the transfer point. As in, the rules are in effect whether you are connecting to or from a long haul flight. I'm not sure if it applies at the point of origin, but I would definitely be trying it.

the flip side argument put forward is that 'vice versa' doesn't make sense at the transfer point because going from short haul to long haul you'd have lounge access anyway. So the argument is that the 'vice versa' means something else, with some saying it can be construed in context to clued lounge at a point of origin.

 

[TomVexille]

the flip side argument put forward is that 'vice versa' doesn't make sense at the transfer point because going from short haul to long haul you'd have lounge access anyway. So the argument is that the 'vice versa' means something else, with some saying it can be construed in context to clued lounge at a point of origin.

I think the key word there is "between", but I'm not a lawyer (and I'm guessing neither was the person who wrote the rules). In amaroo's case I'd be arguing point #2

• Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think the key word there is "between", but I'm not a lawyer (and I'm guessing neither was the person who wrote the rules). In amaroo's case I'd be arguing point #2

while the word 'between' may be key, it could be read another way... that provided you have a flight between a long haul and short haul, or vice verse (short haul to long haul) you will have lounge access at all points of your itinerary, not just at the transfer point. This makes the 'or vice versa' effective and meaningful, and grants lounge access prior to the short haul at the point of origin.

I was inclined to think it was only at the connecting port 'between' flights... but am now in the 'undecided' camp. Still waits, mind you, for someone to confirm the policy either way. (many airlines have their own policies over and above oneworld so it really only gets tested in cases like the OP's)

 

[amaroo]

while the word 'between' may be key, it could be read another way... that provided you have a flight between a long haul and short haul, or vice verse (short haul to long haul) you will have lounge access at all points of your itinerary, not just at the transfer point. This makes the 'or vice versa' effective and meaningful, and grants lounge access prior to the short haul at the point of origin.

I was inclined to think it was only at the connecting port 'between' flights... but am now in the 'undecided' camp. Still waits, mind you, for someone to confirm the policy either way. (many airlines have their own policies over and above oneworld so it really only gets tested in cases like the OP's)

If my attempt ends up being the first "test case" on AFF ... I'll be happy to post the outcome on the 10th Jan 2017.

Thanks to MEL_T and TV in trying to decipher the clause.

 

[defurax]

QF Gold flying a QF marketed flight (Asian Metal), can i get access to the QF lounge in Sydney? I guest I can't use the OneWorld rule but can claim that QF Gold is equivalent to QF Club. Thanks.

All QF marketed flights give you access to the QF J lounge in SYD as a QFF SG.

 

[Longtoo]

Thanks defurax.

 

[serfty]

In practice, connecting here means two or more flights forming a journey - no more & no less.

e.g. If traveling *O with no status AAA-(Y)-xBBB-(J)-CCC and BBB-CCC is 5 hours or more then business lounge access is available at AAA.

 

[serfty]

I think it's in reference to the transfer point. As in, the rules are in effect whether you are connecting to or from a long haul flight. I'm not sure if it applies at the point of origin, but I would definitely be trying it.

Anecdotally, it refers to the entire journey, as in "when".

If it referred to the transfer point then "while" could be used.

i.e. " First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge while travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa)."

 

[rkfwombat]

Hi All,

I'm flying on SQ Melb to Singapore. I'm on a challenge with united and I'm therefore currently Premier Platinum. Is that going to get me lounge access or any other goodies I should ask for or look at? (platunum QF, first time straying )

 

[CFCHarry]

What happened with this in the end? My guess is that you would only have access to whatever lounge Emirates uses in Osaka

 

[amaroo]

In practice, connecting here means two or more flights forming a journey - no more & no less.

e.g. If traveling *O with no status AAA-(Y)-xBBB-(J)-CCC and BBB-CCC is 5 hours or more then business lounge access is available at AAA.

Thanks serfty -things are looking good for another family F lounge experience.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I'm researching lounge options for an upcoming trip and have found something I think is rather strange on OW lounge locator.

For LHR there are a range of lounge options listed, but the last one is the Skyteam lounge. Screenshot below. This makes no sense to me.

Is this an error, or does someone know an explanation?