TBIT 'Qantas' Business Lounge - extremely confused, as are staff

[dfcatch]

I wanted to report back on further discussions.....

I am confident that the misinformation provided to staff has been fully corrected, and I doubt that there will be further issues going forward.

When the connector to TBIT opens up, I think there will be an increase in the number of AA elites correctly turned away.

I am led to understand that management has no plans to seek policy exemptions for the TBIT lounges that would see QF elites (for example) having access restricted.

I am also of the understanding that management has confidence in the design capacity of the lounges, and this should not present a problem for non-AA elites accessing them prior to AA domestic flights which are typically not in the evening peak.

It was certainly an unfortunate turn of events that occurred, but I have confidence that management is keeping a close oversight to ensure there is no repeat.

 

[RooFlyer]

I wanted to report back on further discussions.....

.

All really appreciated. Many thanks.

Edit: BTW did the OP's situation - AS flights - get a consideration, do you know? Not his specific one, but AS flight gets etc?

 

[dfcatch]

TBH - my discussions centered around non-AA elites on AA flights.

 

[grussellt]

I wonder if QF might be able to say "mea culpa" on behalf of staff and actually respond to customers who made a formal complaint.............unless, of course, they have already done so.

 

[grussellt]

A post on today's Australian Business Traveller:

It seems like the problem still exists!!! BA Gold (oneworld Emerald) denied entry into the LAX first lounge yesterday. They stated I needed to be on a international flight or a domestic flight over 5hrs, very confused. Pointed out the oneworld rules but they didn't accept that response. I dont really understand why this is so hard for them. At least the cops weren't called on me.

And so it goes on!

 

[dfcatch]

A post on today's Australian Business Traveller:

It seems like the problem still exists!!! BA Gold (oneworld Emerald) denied entry into the LAX first lounge yesterday. They stated I needed to be on a international flight or a domestic flight over 5hrs, very confused. Pointed out the oneworld rules but they didn't accept that response. I dont really understand why this is so hard for them. At least the cops weren't called on me.

And so it goes on!

That would be very disappointing if true.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Oh no!!! Not again. What's with the "domestic flight over 5 hours" nonsense ???

 

[dfcatch]

Oh no!!! Not again. What's with the "domestic flight over 5 hours" nonsense ???

For AAdvantage members in an AA lounge, the 5 hour rule is what defines a domestic/non-domestic flight for the purposes of lounge entry.

(Link on AA.com somewhere).

Again - this is as relevant as the BNE weather forecast.

The only thing that matters is the QF entry policies.

If anyone knows the person who was denied - feel free to have them contact me and I'll follow up.

But I'd need a specific instance in order to do so.

 

[Sdtravel]

Oneworld clarifies Qantas lounge access rules in Los Angeles - Australian Business Traveller

Here is the chain. At the bottem on the comments section

 

[grussellt]

This thread has had almost 20,000 views and, now, 250 posts. How hard can it be to fix this problem of interpretation of lounge entry rules? Come December 19 American Airlines recommences flights to Sydney and this is from LAX. I hope we don't get multiple complaints about "why wouldn't they let me in the lounge".

 

[moa999]

Is the AA flight from TBIT or T4?

 

[grussellt]

Initially it will leave from T4 but AA will get four extra slots at TBIT next year so there are suggestions that AA will then use TBIT for LAX-SYD. Either way passengers should still be able to use the QF (One World) lounges.

 

[dfcatch]

Initially it will leave from T4 but AA will get four extra slots at TBIT next year so there are suggestions that AA will then use TBIT for LAX-SYD. Either way passengers should still be able to use the QF (One World) lounges.

This flight wouldn't be an issue as the staff have always (even through this c*up) been allowing International pax in.

 

[grussellt]

As long as they allow in International pax arrivals who have an onward flight domestically.

 

[dfcatch]

As long as they allow in International pax arrivals who have an onward flight domestically.

Yes - this also has not been an issue.

The issue has only been for pax traveling on a domestic itinerary without a same-day international connection (in most cases).

 

[grussellt]

According to the ABT article pax turned away included:

"Among those turned away at the door: Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers travelling on Qantas partner and Oneworld member American Airlines' domestic flights, along with AA’s own business class and first class passengers with a domestic connection before or after their long-haul international flight."
However they don't supply any numbers and I'm sure QF don't keep numbers on how many pax they reject. As long as the lounge staff get it right from now on!

 

[Himeno]

Initially it will leave from T4 but AA will get four extra slots at TBIT next year so there are suggestions that AA will then use TBIT for LAX-SYD.

AA already has access to those 4 TBIT gates and have been using them for domestic services. AA flights to LAS, SFO and MIA have been using those gates often. That is a large part of the reason why there has been problems accessing the TBIT lounges.

 

[dfcatch]

According to the ABT article pax turned away included:

"Among those turned away at the door: Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers travelling on Qantas partner and Oneworld member American Airlines' domestic flights, along with AA’s own business class and first class passengers with a domestic connection before or after their long-haul international flight."
However they don't supply any numbers and I'm sure QF don't keep numbers on how many pax they reject. As long as the lounge staff get it right from now on!

The issue primarily has NOT been those with international same-day connections. There may have been some isolated incidents in the c*up; but by and large - it was those without an immediate LAX based International connection that had the problems.

I'm basing that on my first-hand hearing of the script being read regularly by the lounge staff.

 

[serfty]

The issue primarily has NOT been those with international same-day connections. There may have been some isolated incidents in the c*up; but by and large - it was those without an immediate LAX based International connection that had the problems.

I'm basing that on my first-hand hearing of the script being read regularly by the lounge staff.

To be clear, the situation for denied access most definitely should relate to AAdvantage elites (or those without status) on AA domestic itineraries only.

However, the lounge staff continue to deny access to Elites of other *O frequent flyer programs such as in this post in the last hours from a BAEC Gold:

LAX - TBIT oneworld Lounge Access (Combined thread) - Page 7 - FlyerTalk Forums

Obviously, the staff education is not adequate.

 

[dfcatch]

To be clear, the situation for denied access most definitely should relate to AAdvantage elites (or those without status) on AA domestic itineraries only.

However, the lounge staff continue to deny access to Elites of other *O frequent flyer programs such as in this post in the last hours from a BAEC Gold:

LAX - TBIT oneworld Lounge Access (Combined thread) - Page 7 - FlyerTalk Forums

Obviously, the staff education is not adequate.

It's not an excuse - But I wonder if he had his EXP number in the booking.

Despite being BA Gold, if his AA number was on the BP, then that is what the Lounge Dragon sees when they scan the BP. And in fairness, they would have to manually change the FF number in the Lounge Access field to allow the BA Gold entry.

Doesn't mean he should have been denied - but potentially easy to see how it could have occurred.