Does anyone have a definitive answer to the following:
When travelling in F or J on a Oneworld carrier, are you able to use the F/J Lounge of any of the Oneworld carriers operating from the same terminal?
At the time of travel I had Silver (Sapphire) status of Exec Club.
I recently travelled BA F class HKG - LHR. The 'designated' BA lounge there is the QF/BA Joint lounge. Reading on several threads that as being a OW F class passenger I could use any OW F class lounge I made haste to the Cathay F class lounge - and was flatly refused entry. I was told that entry is not decided by class of travel but by Oneworld Status.
Yesterday I returned from Tokyo - Narita, again in F. BA uses the American Airlines Admirals lounge as the 'designated' lounge there. So I thought I would try my luck at the JAL First Class Lounge. I was ready and waiting for rejection but was welcomed in with open arms!
So...which policy is correct? And if class of travel DOES entitle you to any F class OW lounge does anyone know where there is a source, perhaps that I could print and carry with me when I travel?
I've had a look at the Oneworld website and the wording of the lounge access policy is a little ambiguous. It really could be read either way. It does say you have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of tier status. Cathays interpretation was that meant that a F class lounge had to be provided and it was - the QF/BA lounge. Their interpretation was that it doesnt state in the rules that you have access to 'any' Oneworld Lounge when one is already offered.
Generally if you have the corresponding OW tier then you are allowed in providing you are on a OW flight. However, they sometimes refuse entry due to capacity issues.
CX were right to turn you away, but you could have used their business lounge due to the Sapphire status.
I can imagine JAL let you in due to their JV with BA?
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I don't have personal experience of this, since I get in on status, but I think you were incorrectly declined at that CX First lounge, but it doesn't surprise me, there is a high throughput of staff on the lounges. I was nearly turned down on a Royal Jordanian flight, on the basis they are not oneworld. And yes the boarding card had the relevant oneworld symbol on it.
That said, if they were directing you to the Qantas F lounge in HKG, they were doing you a favour, since that is currently the best lounge in HKG. The new First lounge is apparently a few weeks off completion.
But can a BA F class passenger departing say LHR T3 to Singapore (with zero tier status) use the Cathay F lounge if they wanted?
Yes, I have done so before I had any BA status. The F ticket lets you in. (It's not as nice as the BA lounge so if you are turned away it will be a blessing rather than a insult!)
You can also use the AA lounge but the F part has a limited opening as it was closed when I tried. The AA J lounge is poor.
And when I flew TG F they tell you to use the T3 SAS J only lounge but you can walk along the corridor and use the Singapore F lounge. Not spectactular but they serve champagne.
Does anyone have experience with using the CX lounge in FRA when travelling in CE without any status?
It's better than the designated JL lounge, better food and drinks, but it is only open at limited times, mid-morning I think, check on the OW or CX site for times.
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Re. the HKG lounge situation the OP described, is what the CX lounge attendant did really correct?
I ask because I was mistaken once last year when as a (statusless then) Club World flyer (HKG-LHR) I thought I could only access the QF business lounge and not any of the CX (Wing, Pier or Cabin business lounges). However soon after on here I found they open access to all premium passengers as long as its OW carrier
e.g. for the Pier and Wing F lounges you need to be a F class passenger and that is defined in Note 2 as "Departing on Cathay Pacific, Dragonair or oneworld carriers flights only" so that should include BA surely?
EDIT: this board moves so fast, similar points already made above by a few others
Last edited by nh1980; Jan 4, 13 at 9:45 am..
Reason: Was a little late with this one!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenpen
And when I flew TG F they tell you to use the T3 SAS J only lounge but you can walk along the corridor and use the Singapore F lounge. Not spectactular but they serve champagne.
I had precisely the same experience. At check-in I was told explicitly I could not use the SG Flounge but the dragons thought otherwise.
They have tolerable champagne and serve proper meals. However, it also has a huge and loud television dominating the entire Flounge. Totally ruins it. After being served my dinner I headed for the relative peace of the SAS lounge.
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Just to clarify, under oneworld rules, you can access any oneworld lounge applicable to your class of travel if travelling on a oneworld carrier operating from the same terminal.
The exception to this is most domestic AA flights (excluding transcontinental), which do not grant access to AA lounges unless you have non-AA status, regardless of travel class.
So yes, oneworld F departing LHR T3 can access any T3 oneworld lounge (BA, CX, AA).
