platinum - thrown out of galleries first at heathrow, waiting for explanation

[vaccav]

Dave .....Yes .... they were being asked if they were travelling in First.

 

[ajw373]

Hmmm....

I've had some troubles at Heathrow too. I was in the First lounge at T5 (travelling bus class), - I had accessed the lounge area ok. When I went to eat in the nice restaurant at the far end, they wouldn't let me in as i didn't have a first class boarding pass. When I showed them my CL card, they then let me in.

Whilst sitting in there eating there were 5+ passengers who came to eat and were turned away because they didn't have a first class boarding ticket. IE they were in the first lounge, they were travelling business, their status (wp?) had let them into the lounge ...... but they were getting turned away from the restaurant. The main problem, of course, was the embarrasment this causes the person concerned.

I think that T5 is still ironing out a some wrinkles in the way they operate. Embarrassing the most loyal customers is, I'm sure, a wrinkle that they'll sort out as it's can't be senior mgmt's intention to do this.

Odd never had a problem getting a table and never questioned about weather I am flying first or not. What is even odder is you would think that most people flying first would be using the concorde room anyway, which is a dedicated first class lounge, so it really makes no sense at all that BA would care what class you are in determining weather you can use certain facilities within a lounge.

 

[jpk]

There was no sign there.
And there was no request to get a voucher or anything from front desk.
It was just person after person being turned away.

That dining section in the T3 F lounge is for F pax only (I think in the evenings), as there is no CCR it's attempting to replicate that somewhat. I agree there should be some signage to avoid confusion & embarassment.

 

[ajw373]

That dining section in the T3 F lounge is for F pax only (I think in the evenings), as there is no CCR it's attempting to replicate that somewhat. I agree there should be some signage to avoid confusion & embarassment.

Except the person reporting this was talking about T5.

 

[jpk]

Except the person reporting this was talking about T5.

Post 73 he corrected to say it was actually T3. Think that might be confusing a few people...

 

[JetLagged]

That dining section in the T3 F lounge is for F pax only (I think in the evenings), as there is no CCR it's attempting to replicate that somewhat. I agree there should be some signage to avoid confusion & embarassment.

Strange, I've used the so-called restaurant section while travelling in J - no questions asked, since I had already been vetted by the BA lounge Dragons, I suppose.

Mind you, the offering in T3 is minute (in terms of both food, service and decor) compared to T5 - and not even a barista in sight for a good cup of coffee, still the whirring machine-made one. As for 'breakfast' - standard English fry-up in the main.

Mind you again, the rest of the lounge area isn't bad at all!

Come on BA-QAN - surely the First Lounge in T3 can be much better than that!

 

[anat0l]

I haven't been to the T3 BA/QF lounges before. Is it wholly BA operated or BA/QF jointly operated? And is it still the older Terraces furnishings or is it the new Galleries?

Mind you, the offering in T3 is minute (in terms of both food, service and decor) compared to T5 - and not even a barista in sight for a good cup of coffee, still the whirring machine-made one. As for 'breakfast' - standard English fry-up in the main.

There is no (human) barista at T5 either - just rely on the machine. Mind you, the only QF lounges I know that have human baristas that make real barista coffee is the QF F Lounges in SYD and MEL. The domestic J lounges do have a human barista in the peak morning hours, but they aren't really doing much except pushing a button on a machine (which you could do by yourself).

English fry-up is pretty standard; more extensive than a QF spread.

Come on BA-QAN - surely the First Lounge in T3 can be much better than that!

If it's BA wholly operating the lounge - keep dreaming.

If it's BA/QF joint operated, then I'd still doubt QF creating a lounge similar to that of the quality in SYD and MEL, considering their pattern of lounge quality in any port except for SYD and MEL, especially international. With a new lounge similar to the QF F Lounges in SYD and MEL, it would need to be quite a big lounge; also, the BA CCR would get a run for its money, and BA (as well as some of the BAEC flyers) mightn't be happy about that.

 

[simongr]

I have been to the T3 F lounge a few times now. I think it is a reasonable lounge (better than the Admirals club though a little busier). I have once tried to access the restaurant but was politely advised that it was only for F pax. No embarrassment there.

Main issue is that the Champagne and white wines are generally too warm.

 

[anat0l]

I have once tried to access the restaurant but was politely advised that it was only for F pax. No embarrassment there.

Oh well - this is something I never heard of before. So you can get into the lounge as a ow Emerald but not into the lounge unless you're flying F.

Is that any oneworld F or only BA F, or only BA/QF F?

And is it my understanding from some others that the restaurant doesn't offer much? Is it waited service or self-serve?

 

[simongr]

It is waiter service. I do not know whether QF F are permitted entry.

There are lots of these quirks around - even in QF world.

Kerbside check in in Sydney - only for F pax (except for F pax upgraded on points) - unless you are CL.

Spa treatments - only bookable for F pax (except for F pax who upgraded on points).

Two examples I can easily think of where treatment of pax in relation to premium services is different even though you think it would be the same.

 

[cmon0005]

Spa treatments - only bookable for F pax (except for F pax who upgraded on points).

Do you mean if you upgraded to F from J on points you can't goto the Spa in the F lounge?

 

[anat0l]

Do you mean if you upgraded to F from J on points you can't goto the Spa in the F lounge?

No, anyone who is entitled to use the F Lounge may use the spa.

But only booked QF F pax can call ahead and prebook an appointment at the spa. Everyone else will need to see the spa attendant upon arriving at the lounge and chance a spot in the schedule.

QF F pax who were the result of an upgrade from J to F can't really book ahead as they only know they are F at best 24 hours in advance (and more commonly only at check-in).

 

[Flashback]

Do you mean if you upgraded to F from J on points you can't goto the Spa in the F lounge?

It means that you can only ask once you arrive in the lounge, you can't prebook and thus are not guaranteed a treatment.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

It means that you can only ask once you arrive in the lounge, you can't prebook and thus are not guaranteed a treatment.

There must be variations in how this is handled.

I've upgraded to F a number of times, and received calls from the First Lounge in the morning, offering kerbside luggage handling, pre-checkin and whether I'd like to book a spa treatment.

 

[anat0l]

I've upgraded to F a number of times, and received calls from the First Lounge in the morning, offering kerbside luggage handling, pre-checkin and whether I'd like to book a spa treatment.

Well, that's pretty cool then.

At least we have precedent. I didn't even know that they called you (rather than the other way around).

 

[jamesatfish]

Well, that's pretty cool then.

At least we have precedent. I didn't even know that they called you (rather than the other way around).

On all the occasions I've been flying QF F out of Sydney, I've been called by the Qantas First Host on duty (I have the mobile number saved in my phone now) and asked if I need assistance transferring from the Domestic terminal, or if I'd like to make a Spa booking. The call has always been the day before travelling.

I've only ever had one J > F upgrade out of Sydney, and that upgrade didn't clear until about 2am the morning of a 1pm flight. Obviously I didn't get a call on that occasion.

On the times we've used the F lounge for other reasons (usually flying F on British Airways) again no call from QF (obviously) but no problems making a spa appointment upon arriving at the lounge.

 

[Danger]

Kerbside check in in Sydney - only for F pax (except for F pax upgraded on points) - unless you are CL.

I have used the kerbside check-in travelling domestic JQ in Melbourne. Seriously, why can't there be some consistency? No wonder people don't know what they're entitled to and what they're not. Isn't the rule simply if you're oneworld Emerald you can use F check-in, regardless of class of travel? Perhaps the QF website should add a *, #, ~, + (assuming they have any symbols left) pointing out the limitation.

Consistency!!

 

[anat0l]

I have used the kerbside check-in travelling domestic JQ in Melbourne. Seriously, why can't there be some consistency? No wonder people don't know what they're entitled to and what they're not. Isn't the rule simply if you're oneworld Emerald you can use F check-in, regardless of class of travel? Perhaps the QF website should add a *, #, ~, + (assuming they have any symbols left) pointing out the limitation.

Consistency!!

I have never been able to get kerbside check-in for JQ, even if I'm flying Star Class. Not that I'd bother - it isn't a big deal.

oneworld Emeralds (including QF WPs) can use F check-in regardless of travel class. But it seems that kerbside meet & greet is a separate service in SYD for only QF F pax (other people need to go into the terminal and walk to the First check-in area). In MEL, it's rather trivial because the check-in area is directly adjacent to the kerb; simply pull up and walk in.

In fact, kerbside meet & greet isn't mentioned at all on the QF website (especially not in the information about QF F service). Neither is any information that if you book with QF F, you will get a call from the First host.

 

[dfcatch]

I have used the kerbside check-in travelling domestic JQ in Melbourne. Seriously, why can't there be some consistency? No wonder people don't know what they're entitled to and what they're not. Isn't the rule simply if you're oneworld Emerald you can use F check-in, regardless of class of travel? Perhaps the QF website should add a *, #, ~, + (assuming they have any symbols left) pointing out the limitation.

Consistency!!

Melboune F Check In is kerbside.

In Sydney, the F Check In is actually part of the main check in hall. So for F pax they will meet you at the kerb. So in effect, being consistent with Melbourne.

 

[djfuzz]

I have used the kerbside check-in travelling domestic JQ in Melbourne. Seriously, why can't there be some consistency? No wonder people don't know what they're entitled to and what they're not. Isn't the rule simply if you're oneworld Emerald you can use F check-in, regardless of class of travel? Perhaps the QF website should add a *, #, ~, + (assuming they have any symbols left) pointing out the limitation.

Consistency!!

I thought JQ and QF used different check-in systems, hence no curbside (or any) check-in when using JQ.

How did it all work when you did it Danger?