Q - Lounge access for QF plat with BA and AA

[Myrna]

This question may have been asked before but I could not find the answer. Sorry!

1. LHR T5 lounges: We have booked flights with BA from LHR to the US in Y+. Hubby is a QF plat, and I am a QF gold. I think we should be able to access BA lounges in Terminal 5 - Galleries Club lounge (like QF Club / Business lounge). But, I am not sure if we can go to Galleries First lounge (like QF First lounge). Does anyone know?

2. DFW lounges: Which lounge is better? BA Executive Club or AA Admiral? I guess if we fly BA, AA will not let us into their lounge? We had been to a very few AA lounges before and they were fairly meagre. But, DFW is AA's hub, so am wondering if their lounge there is any better than their lounge in LAX.

3. AA lounges when flying instant upgrades. Some years ago, we did one run on AA on instant upgrade and did not go to any AA lounge because that ticket code did not allow lounge visits. We will be doing some runs in a few months, will we be able to go to AA lounges by hubby showing his QF plat card?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TonyHancock]

1. As long as you are traveling together your hubby's WP status will gain you access to the BA F lounge at T5. (It is non too shabby either.)

2. Difficult to say really. The Admirals Club lounges (and there is more than one at DFW) are more spacious, but the combined QF/BA lounge has a better food offering (just!!)

3. QF WP status gets lounge access with AA.

 

[Myrna]

1. As long as you are traveling together your hubby's WP status will gain you access to the BA F lounge at T5. (It is non too shabby either.)

2. Difficult to say really. The Admirals Club lounges (and there is more than one at DFW) are more spacious, but the combined QF/BA lounge has a better food offering (just!!)

3. QF WP status gets lounge access with AA.

Thanks, Tony, for your reply.

1. It will be nice to get into BA F lounge at T5. I have not been there before, but have heard about it.

2. Maybe we will go to the QF/BA lounge at DFW - not heard good thing about AA lounges in general, particularly when they ration drink with one coupon (we are not drinkers)

3. Good, hope we can go to AA lounges (at least for cleaner toilet than outside, and no queue) even though we are on instant upgrade tickets (and not on real F tickets!)

 

[TonyHancock]

2. Maybe we will go to the QF/BA lounge at DFW - not heard good thing about AA lounges in general, particularly when they ration drink with one coupon (we are not drinkers)

Whilst you may be offers one or two vouchers when you enter you can go back and get mote vouchers.

 

[drewbles]

Whilst you may be offers one or two vouchers when you enter you can go back and get mote vouchers.

What he said

I recall during an extended delay at LAX before I was a WP I was on my 5th or 10th drink chit and the AAngel said to me "here you go Mr drewbles! Careful we don't have to roll you on board now!" and gave me a big smile and wink.

AA love to practice the irresponsible service of alcohol (it's almost like they're apologising for the coughpy on board service you get in whY or short haul F!)

 

[Myrna]

Whilst you may be offers one or two vouchers when you enter you can go back and get mote vouchers.

Right! Thanks, Tony.

 

[Leumas]

If you aren't drinkers, the vouchers aren't really an issue. I think soft drinks (or non-alcoholic drinks) are free anyway.

 

[Myrna]

If you aren't drinkers, the vouchers aren't really an issue. I think soft drinks (or non-alcoholic drinks) are free anyway.

Thanks, Leumas. How many Coke can I drink? Juices or ginger beer will be nice

 

[moa999]

At DFW if you have time between transfers go sample a few lounges, the AirTrain makes it easy to get around the airport.

 

[serfty]

While softdrinks are complimentary in the AC's, some have expresso coffee available over the bar at cost - the vouchers can be redeemed for this I believe.

Also note that at LHR, BA have three levels of lounge: Club (Business/Sapphire), First (Emerald) & Concorde (BA First Passengers & Über BAEC Gold).

 

[amaroo]

As a WP you get access to AA Flagship lounge where there is no drink chit system....so if you are doing a run you might come across one.

 

[NM]

Who are flying with from DFW? Note that the BA lounge is at Terminal D and is only open prior to BA flight departures. AA has lounges in multiple terminals as they operate from three different terminals at DFW. Even though you can move between terminals air-side at DFW, I still aim for the lounge in my departure terminal.

AA only allows lounge access based on travel class for international flights (or if you have a connecting international flight that day). For domestic, with a very few trans-continental exceptions, a first class ticket does not get lounge access. You get lounge access based on OneWorld FF status. AAdvantage Platinum and Exec Platinum status does not get domestic lounge access with AA.

 

[drewbles]

Thanks, Leumas. How many Coke can I drink? Juices or ginger beer will be nice

House spirits and beers are now also complimentary however tips are still required in general. If you want the nicer stuff, just keep asking for the chits. They're more than apply to supply them

 

[juddles]

To the vice-stricken amongst us, DFW AA lounges also have smoking room. Very rare in the USA these days.

 

[Kangol]

AAdvantage Platinum and Exec Platinum status does not get domestic lounge access with AA.

That's what I found strange, to get to Plat or EXP with AA you need to do some serious flying, can't believe they don't offer complimentary lounge access for their top tiers.
Haven't looked into the equivalent FF programs for other oneworld carriers (CX, BA etc) but one would think that at sapphire/emerald level, complimentary lounge access would be a given..?

 

[Hvr]

While softdrinks are complimentary in the AC's, some have expresso coffee available over the bar at cost - the vouchers can be redeemed for this I believe.

At SFO in the last few days I have redeemed a drink chit for a very nice hot chocolate.

 

[Myrna]

Thanks all, for your tips! Hot chocolate, yum! We will use hubby's QF plat card to get us into AA lounges. However, some of run flights will be very early in the morning so I am not sure if we will make good use of the lounges - most of the runs we do will take the whole day, just to change planes to max on the SC points.

 

[NM]

That's what I found strange, to get to Plat or EXP with AA you need to do some serious flying, can't believe they don't offer complimentary lounge access for their top tiers.
Haven't looked into the equivalent FF programs for other oneworld carriers (CX, BA etc) but one would think that at sapphire/emerald level, complimentary lounge access would be a given..?

AA wants them to purchase AAdmirals Club membership. Membership can be purchased with AAdvantage miles so those that really want lounge access can get it. For me, my QF Lifetime Gold card comes out when I want AA lounge access .

 

[drewbles]

At SFO in the last few days I have redeemed a drink chit for a very nice hot chocolate.

Strange. You shouldn't need to have. They're complimentary

 

[beardoc]

So for those of us that don't drink alcohol, what drinks are the chits good for that aren't complementary?

I've just given my vouchers away to other people in AAdmirals Lounges - I haven't had a use for them.