Which Lounges?

[ReLoad]

Hi All,
I have a trip coming up in May and am a little confuzzled about which lounges to use on some of the legs.
I am a QF SG, travelling in whY.

QF9 MEL-SIN-LHR - MEL is the QF J lounge, but what about in SIN, last time i used the J lounge there it was packed, are there any other options?
BA LHR-CPH connecting from the above flight, leaving from T5.
AY CPH-HEL-PRG -unsure about these two lounges?
BA PRG-LHR is there even a OW lounge in PRG? Arrives LHR T3
AA LHR-JFK Connecting from the above flight in T3

Many thanks for any tips or pointers!

 

[Fantic125]

This may help (or not).

LoungeExpert - Airport Lounge Expert

 

[markis10]

The one world website lounge finder is good value:

Lounge access - oneworld

PRG has three third party lounges, I would expect the BA one to be the only one you can access:

[h=2]ABC Lounge[/h] Location details: Airside
Opening hours: Daily: 24 hrs
Operated by a third party on behalf of: British Airways

• Business Centre
• Free Wifi
• Food and Beverages
• Showers
• Wheelchair Access

[h=2]Harmony Lounge[/h] Location details: Terminal 2, transit area, after security 1st floor
Opening hours: Daily: 06:45-21:00; Sat 06:45-19:00
Operated by a third party on behalf of: Finnair, Iberia

[h=2]Menzies Lounge[/h] Location details: Tranzit area
Opening hours: 06.00-24.00
Notes: Check-in at the main check-in area
Operated by a third party on behalf of: S7 Airlines

 

[nlagalle]

Hi All,
I have a trip coming up in May and am a little confuzzled about which lounges to use on some of the legs.
I am a QF SG, travelling in whY.

QF9 MEL-SIN-LHR - MEL is the QF J lounge, but what about in SIN, last time i used the J lounge there it was packed, are there any other options?
BA LHR-CPH connecting from the above flight, leaving from T5.
AY CPH-HEL-PRG -unsure about these two lounges?
BA PRG-LHR is there even a OW lounge in PRG? Arrives LHR T3
AA LHR-JFK Connecting from the above flight in T3

Many thanks for any tips or pointers!

OK there is a BA/OW lounge in PRG - it's shared so can get busy. It's nothing to write home about though. also when I took that flight it departed and arrived back into T5 and not T3.

The CX lounge in SIN is nothing to write home about too - its also used by Priority Pass. I'd try your luck at the QP J lounge.

 

[ReLoad]

Thanks for the advise everyone! much appreciated.

Thanks for the heads up Nlagalle, i'm now curious to see about that PRG-LHR flight, it says T3 arrival, as I have a 1.15 hour transit, there is no way ill be able to swap terminals in time.

[TH="class: label"]Flight:[/TH]
[TD="class: value"]BA0853 Non smoking[/TD]

[TH="class: label"]Operated by:[/TH]
[TD="class: value"] British Airways [/TD]

[TH="class: label"]Departing from:[/TH]
[TD="class: value"]Prague Terminal 1
Sat 12 May 2012, 08:25
[/TD]

[TH="class: label"]Arriving at:[/TH]
[TD="class: value"]Heathrow (London) Terminal 3
Sat 12 May 2012, 09:35
[/TD]

[TH="class: label"]Number of stops:[/TH]
[TD="class: value"]0
[/TD]

[TH="class: label"]Flying duration:[/TH]
[TD="class: value"] 2hrs 10mins
[/TD]

[TH="class: label"]Aircraft type:[/TH]
[TD="class: value"] Airbus A320 jet
[/TD]

 

[medhead]

For mine in SIN the QF J lounge is the pick. Based on using the J lounge in 2005 and 2007, and the CX and QF F lounges last year.

I found the CX lounge to be quiet. QF F lounge has champers of course.


Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Kefci2000]

Interesting I flew Praque ex LHR to Geneva last October and both flights were T5 so no issues

 

[tuapekastar]

Based on experience of the AA F lounge at LHR T3, I'd use the BA J lounge there if I could. It is not as aesthetically pleasing as the BA T5 J lounges due to the physical constraints and age of the building, but I think the food/bev would be better than AA J lounge (it's certainly better than the AA F lounge). I think there is a CX lounge here too, but reports have not been encouraging.

 

[ReLoad]

Based on experience of the AA F lounge at LHR T3, I'd use the BA J lounge there if I could. It is not as aesthetically pleasing as the BA T5 J lounges due to the physical constraints and age of the building, but I think the food/bev would be better than AA J lounge (it's certainly better than the AA F lounge). I think there is a CX lounge here too, but reports have not been encouraging.

Given i'm on an AA flight, will BA let me in? I've been in that lounge before, back in 2003/2004 (is it the one with the spa/awesome showers downstairs?)

 

[Princess Fiona]

Given i'm on an AA flight, will BA let me in? I've been in that lounge before, back in 2003/2004 (is it the one with the spa/awesome showers downstairs?)

Yes, OW Sapphire or above will get you into any OW J lounge.
I agree with Tuapekastar's comments and also don't rate the CX F Lounge either ( so would doubt the J Lounge is any better)
Definitely do a little lounge tour if you want to ( I like a wander if I have time) but the BA Lounge will be streets ahead of the competition

 

[ajw373]

OK there is a BA/OW lounge in PRG - it's shared so can get busy. It's nothing to write home about though. also when I took that flight it departed and arrived back into T5 and not T3.

The CX lounge in SIN is nothing to write home about too - its also used by Priority Pass. I'd try your luck at the QP J lounge.

I am confused, I thought if the lounge the airline used was a 3rd party lounge and the passenger is travelling in economy (as the OP mentioned), then access is not granted based on OneWorld status, instead only to those with status on the airline or business class passengers. So based on that a QF SG travelling in Y would be turned away in Prague as it is a 3rd party lounge.

I know when I lived in the UK and I went to Vienna and Dublin on BA (back when they flew there clearly) and as a Qantas Platinum could not get access to those lounges. Most other ports I flew to in my time I was in business so it was never an issue elsewhere.

 

[Simo]

SIN CX lounge is a joke.

Try and use the QF lounge if possible.

Limited in every way.

 

[Kefci2000]

I am confused, I thought if the lounge the airline used was a 3rd party lounge and the passenger is travelling in economy (as the OP mentioned), then access is not granted based on OneWorld status, instead only to those with status on the airline or business class passengers. So based on that a QF SG travelling in Y would be turned away in Prague as it is a 3rd party lounge.

I know when I lived in the UK and I went to Vienna and Dublin on BA (back when they flew there clearly) and as a Qantas Platinum could not get access to those lounges. Most other ports I flew to in my time I was in business so it was never an issue elsewhere.

I was only SG when I used this lounge last October.....no issues and even guested a QF Silver member who was directed to lounge incorrectly by checking staff....

 

[elbarto]

AY, BA & IB all use the Novia lounge at CPH which is pretty ordinary to be honest. Just a few drinks and a minimal selection of cold cuts and nibbles. They do let QF Club members in on BA tickets.

 

[JohnK]

SIN CX lounge is a joke.

Why? There is hardly any difference between the Skyview Lounge and the QF Business Lounge. Does the QF Business Lounge have some special drinks not available in the Skyview Lounge? Are the showers better? The food is certainly not better and at least the Skyview Lounge has something available all the time.

I actually think the Skyview Lounge has much better options, is open 24 hours and is much quieter than the Qantas Business Lounge. And if it means avoiding the row of children hogging all the desktops then all the better....

 

[Hvr]

Why? There is hardly any difference between the Skyview Lounge and the QF Business Lounge. Does the QF Business Lounge have some special drinks not available in the Skyview Lounge? Are the showers better? The food is certainly not better and at least the Skyview Lounge has something available all the time.

I actually think the Skyview Lounge has much better options, is open 24 hours and is much quieter than the Qantas Business Lounge. And if it means avoiding the row of children hogging all the desktops then all the better....

Actually you can get Vegemite in the Qantas lounge and that tips it for me. Especially when I've gone without for a while.

 

[dfcatch]

Why? There is hardly any difference between the Skyview Lounge and the QF Business Lounge. Does the QF Business Lounge have some special drinks not available in the Skyview Lounge? Are the showers better? The food is certainly not better and at least the Skyview Lounge has something available all the time.

I actually think the Skyview Lounge has much better options, is open 24 hours and is much quieter than the Qantas Business Lounge. And if it means avoiding the row of children hogging all the desktops then all the better....

Maybe it's time of day dependent, but this was absolutely the opposite of my experience.

I found the QF J lounge the best option - hated the Skyview, couldn't even get a seat.

Found the QF lounge quiet, good food, clean showers etc.

This was on an 8 hr transit.

 

[drmikki]

HEL has two FinnAir lounges - Schengen and non-Schengen. The one for non-Schengen/longhaul also has a spa attached which I believe is free for Platinums but pay for everyone else (including non-status pax)... Both Schengen and non-Schengen lounges were clean, functional and had some food available - from memory it was a small spread of cold cuts etc at the smaller Schengen lounge and a wider range including hot food (I think!) at the non-Schengen lounge. Free wifi, can't comment on the drinks sorry!

Although probably no use to you in this case, please note that status passengers at HEL T1 have a priority security line entering the terminal- it only mentions FinnAir Gold/Platinum on the signage but they waved me thru as a QF Gold, whilst turning others back to the normal line (yes, it's policed, hurrah!)

And as a QF gold I could access the third party OW lounges in Y class - not PRG (I got the train instead of flying!) but WAW. Obviously YMMV

 

[beardoc]

HEL has two FinnAir lounges - Schengen and non-Schengen. The one for non-Schengen/longhaul also has a spa attached which I believe is free for Platinums but pay for everyone else (including non-status pax)... Both Schengen and non-Schengen lounges were clean, functional and had some food available - from memory it was a small spread of cold cuts etc at the smaller Schengen lounge and a wider range including hot food (I think!) at the non-Schengen lounge. Free wifi, can't comment on the drinks sorry!

The Schengen-side Finnair lounge was good in HEL - basic food, free drinks and very pleasant. I did like the seats and they had induction-based phone chargers built into the benches - just ask at reception for a charger. I spent much of the time wondering what it would be like at the Spa around in the non-Schengen side, though. Didn't matter though - there are lots of saunas to visit in Helsinki.

 

[ohm]

The Schengen-side Finnair lounge was good in HEL - basic food, free drinks and very pleasant. I did like the seats and they had induction-based phone chargers built into the benches - just ask at reception for a charger. I spent much of the time wondering what it would be like at the Spa around in the non-Schengen side, though. Didn't matter though - there are lots of saunas to visit in Helsinki.

SPA: Haven't been there for a bit over 12 months but spa very nicely appointed - all new two years ago (as was the lounge - all in extended section)with excellent view of tarmac from the pool and the nearby lounges. For those who are only transitting or those who are not already over all the Finnish saunas there a four different types plus some other facilities. Do offer treatments but you pay for them.

LOUNGE: At that timed served a pre-boarding buffet style evening meal after 9pm(??) for those on flights to Asia for pax wanting to sleep immediately. Also good view of tarmac here from elevated section. Wi-fi good and because newly built lots of power points that were very useful for long transit. Don't recall wines clearly which means they were either so good that I have forgotten or they were fairly average.

If transitting from Schengen flight to non-Schengen airport is very easy and quick to navigate allowing maximal time for relaxation. This results in seemingly impossible MCTs but it all seemed to work.