Is A3 using OA flight numbers to deny *A benefits?
Jun 24, 2017, 8:01 pm
#61
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: USA, JPN, GBR
Programs: A3, AA, AC, AS, DL, NH, SQ, SK, UA; BW, CP, HH, IHG, MB
Posts: 1,955
These are not returning pax that can be made loyal to the brand by offering lounge access. So why would you expect Aegean to offer lounge access (at 20 euro per visit!) to these pax, while the fare often is much less than that? Airport fees (especially in ATH) are incredibly high and offering lounge access to one-time visitors would simply be a loss making business.
The arguments are interesting, but people seem to be missing something here - A3 is the one operating these flights. A3 owns OA, they own the aircraft, employ the crews and sell the tickets. It is simply not the same thing as Eurowings or some of the other examples.
The really stupid thing in all this is that one can't use the lounge connecting on the way in, but they can use it heading back out. MSC allows for people to avoid bag fees, if that is properly handled, but that is about it.
OA exists only on paper, and to operate Q400s on PSOs. The idea of OA as a mainline carrier is simply laughable.
The really stupid thing in all this is that one can't use the lounge connecting on the way in, but they can use it heading back out. MSC allows for people to avoid bag fees, if that is properly handled, but that is about it.
OA exists only on paper, and to operate Q400s on PSOs. The idea of OA as a mainline carrier is simply laughable.
In any case, regardless of the reasons for doing this, I wonder if it might actually drive business away from A3/OA. Personally, if I were a member of a non-A3 *A program and found out post-travel that I didn't get *A benefits, I'd find a way to connect elsewhere to my Greek destination rather than use A3/OA, just like I'd avoid Eurowings/Thai Smile/Scoot (and I just realized, SilkAir too). If I'm not going to get any benefits, I might as well fly with someone else and get miles/points - whether that's with OW, ST, or some other partner of whatever other airline program I'm a member of.
Jun 25, 2017, 9:45 am
#63
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, TK*G E+, ALL/Accor Plat
Posts: 644
Is the above a form of Greek irony (or sarcasm) that I do not understand. The A3 lounge at ATH is a total disaster and rates no more than 2 out of 10. The LH lounge is not perfect but is far better and, in my opinion, rates 6 out of 10.
I went into both lounges on Friday at 9.00 am. In the LH lounge, I had a fantastic breakfast with freshly pressed juices and a wide selection of food. By contrast, the A3 lounge was a disgrace with every table uncleared and all the narrow selection of food exhausted. This is a typical situation and Aegean should be embarrassed.
My belief is that the operating carrier in *A pays for lounge access and A3 loses money when their flyers systematically use the LH lounge (as many do).
I went into both lounges on Friday at 9.00 am. In the LH lounge, I had a fantastic breakfast with freshly pressed juices and a wide selection of food. By contrast, the A3 lounge was a disgrace with every table uncleared and all the narrow selection of food exhausted. This is a typical situation and Aegean should be embarrassed.
My belief is that the operating carrier in *A pays for lounge access and A3 loses money when their flyers systematically use the LH lounge (as many do).
Jun 25, 2017, 10:04 am
#64
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,925
Jun 25, 2017, 10:17 am
#65
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
Is the above a form of Greek irony (or sarcasm) that I do not understand. The A3 lounge at ATH is a total disaster and rates no more than 2 out of 10. The LH lounge is not perfect but is far better and, in my opinion, rates 6 out of 10.
I went into both lounges on Friday at 9.00 am. In the LH lounge, I had a fantastic breakfast with freshly pressed juices and a wide selection of food. By contrast, the A3 lounge was a disgrace with every table uncleared and all the narrow selection of food exhausted. This is a typical situation and Aegean should be embarrassed.
My belief is that the operating carrier in *A pays for lounge access and A3 loses money when their flyers systematically use the LH lounge (as many do).
I went into both lounges on Friday at 9.00 am. In the LH lounge, I had a fantastic breakfast with freshly pressed juices and a wide selection of food. By contrast, the A3 lounge was a disgrace with every table uncleared and all the narrow selection of food exhausted. This is a typical situation and Aegean should be embarrassed.
My belief is that the operating carrier in *A pays for lounge access and A3 loses money when their flyers systematically use the LH lounge (as many do).
Jun 25, 2017, 5:25 pm
#66
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
Programs: COdbaUA 1K MM, AA EXP, Bonbon Gold, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, NEXUS and GE
Posts: 5,843
I was under the impression that the member's carrier reimbursed the lounge operator for each lounge visit... It doesn't really make sense that A3 would pay, say UA, for a UA *G to use the A3 lounge.
^
In any case, regardless of the reasons for doing this, I wonder if it might actually drive business away from A3/OA. Personally, if I were a member of a non-A3 *A program and found out post-travel that I didn't get *A benefits, I'd find a way to connect elsewhere to my Greek destination rather than use A3/OA, just like I'd avoid Eurowings/Thai Smile/Scoot (and I just realized, SilkAir too). If I'm not going to get any benefits, I might as well fly with someone else and get miles/points - whether that's with OW, ST, or some other partner of whatever other airline program I'm a member of.
^
In any case, regardless of the reasons for doing this, I wonder if it might actually drive business away from A3/OA. Personally, if I were a member of a non-A3 *A program and found out post-travel that I didn't get *A benefits, I'd find a way to connect elsewhere to my Greek destination rather than use A3/OA, just like I'd avoid Eurowings/Thai Smile/Scoot (and I just realized, SilkAir too). If I'm not going to get any benefits, I might as well fly with someone else and get miles/points - whether that's with OW, ST, or some other partner of whatever other airline program I'm a member of.
Is the above a form of Greek irony (or sarcasm) that I do not understand. The A3 lounge at ATH is a total disaster and rates no more than 2 out of 10. The LH lounge is not perfect but is far better and, in my opinion, rates 6 out of 10.
I went into both lounges on Friday at 9.00 am. In the LH lounge, I had a fantastic breakfast with freshly pressed juices and a wide selection of food. By contrast, the A3 lounge was a disgrace with every table uncleared and all the narrow selection of food exhausted. This is a typical situation and Aegean should be embarrassed.
My belief is that the operating carrier in *A pays for lounge access and A3 loses money when their flyers systematically use the LH lounge (as many do).
I went into both lounges on Friday at 9.00 am. In the LH lounge, I had a fantastic breakfast with freshly pressed juices and a wide selection of food. By contrast, the A3 lounge was a disgrace with every table uncleared and all the narrow selection of food exhausted. This is a typical situation and Aegean should be embarrassed.
My belief is that the operating carrier in *A pays for lounge access and A3 loses money when their flyers systematically use the LH lounge (as many do).
As for the payment, it is settled based on the carrier bequeathing the status. When I go to the A3 lounge, UA pays A3. When my wife goes, AC pays.
Jun 26, 2017, 5:58 am
#67
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 687
\In any case, regardless of the reasons for doing this, I wonder if it might actually drive business away from A3/OA. Personally, if I were a member of a non-A3 *A program and found out post-travel that I didn't get *A benefits, I'd find a way to connect elsewhere to my Greek destination rather than use A3/OA
Really stupid, as the flight is booked on Aegean as OA operated by A3.
Jul 1, 2017, 3:46 am
#68
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,341
I've booked VIE-ATH-RHO with the domestic flight coded A3 (Aegean Airlines operated by Olympic Air). Will I be able to use the Lufthansa Lounge with that ticket?
Jul 1, 2017, 5:39 am
#69
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,576
Jul 1, 2017, 6:07 am
#70
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,341
Jul 1, 2017, 8:00 am
#71
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,576
These are "code shares", OA flights with an OA code, code-shared by A3. Thus, since the planes are non *A (being wet-leases, they count as bona fide OA, thus not *A) you get no *A benefits. If the reason for this is saving costs, as many here believe, sending people to the LH lounge rather than their own one, would just increase cost for A3. They can't be that stupid and not have found out after more than a year of doing this.
Jul 11, 2017, 12:36 pm
#73
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 137
Forgive me if this question has already been answered, but the A3/OA situation is a bit confusing with regards to *Gold recognition.
1. I have a flight from ATH-JTR booked on a GoLight fare. OA flight number, but operated by A3. I think I understand that we will not receive *G benefits (Checked luggage, lounge, etc).
2. I have a return flight from JTR-ATH-LHR. JTR-ATH is A3 flight number operated by OA. ATH-LHR is A3 flight number operated by A3. Will we receive *G benefits on these flights? Will I need to pay to check luggage through to LHR?
Thanks!
1. I have a flight from ATH-JTR booked on a GoLight fare. OA flight number, but operated by A3. I think I understand that we will not receive *G benefits (Checked luggage, lounge, etc).
2. I have a return flight from JTR-ATH-LHR. JTR-ATH is A3 flight number operated by OA. ATH-LHR is A3 flight number operated by A3. Will we receive *G benefits on these flights? Will I need to pay to check luggage through to LHR?
Thanks!
Jul 11, 2017, 2:47 pm
#74
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LEJ BRU
Posts: 1,166
Forgive me if this question has already been answered, but the A3/OA situation is a bit confusing with regards to *Gold recognition.
1. I have a flight from ATH-JTR booked on a GoLight fare. OA flight number, but operated by A3. I think I understand that we will not receive *G benefits (Checked luggage, lounge, etc).
2. I have a return flight from JTR-ATH-LHR. JTR-ATH is A3 flight number operated by OA. ATH-LHR is A3 flight number operated by A3. Will we receive *G benefits on these flights? Will I need to pay to check luggage through to LHR?
Thanks!
1. I have a flight from ATH-JTR booked on a GoLight fare. OA flight number, but operated by A3. I think I understand that we will not receive *G benefits (Checked luggage, lounge, etc).
2. I have a return flight from JTR-ATH-LHR. JTR-ATH is A3 flight number operated by OA. ATH-LHR is A3 flight number operated by A3. Will we receive *G benefits on these flights? Will I need to pay to check luggage through to LHR?
Thanks!
2. a. JTR-ATH no, ATH-LHR yes
b.yes
