BA lounge access guidelines
Mar 12, 2013, 6:39 pm
#1
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
BA lounge access guidelines
Note: This thread contains obsolete information and has been superseded by the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...uidelines.html thread.
i Preface
Firstly, we'd like to extend a warm welcome to our new members. We've created this short guide with you in mind which we hope covers all the basics you need to know about where and when you can enjoy the spoils of lounge access whenever you are travelling on BA and/or a oneworld partner airline.
The guidelines on lounge access are divided into two main categories: 1) access qualified by status, and 2) access qualified by class of travel
The guidelines on lounge access are divided into two main categories: 1) access qualified by status, and 2) access qualified by class of travel
ii Contents
Last edited by Prospero; Oct 4, 2017 at 3:36 pm
Mar 12, 2013, 6:39 pm
#2
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
Lounge access overview
Lounge access when travelling on redemption tickets
When travelling on a redemption ticket, the lounge access rules apply (whether it be based on FFP status or class of service) as they normally do when travelling on a ticket paid with cash.
Lounge access and operational upgrades
If you're fortunate enough to receive an operational upgrade at the airport, BA typically allows you to use the lounge matching the upgraded class of travel. So, when you find yourself as the lucky recipient of an op-up from Club World to First, first pat yourself on the back, then find a friend, then immerse yourselves in the splendour of the Concorde Room
Lounge access overview | Access qualified by status | Access qualified by class of travel | Lounge database
Last edited by Prospero; Aug 26, 2015 at 5:33 am Reason: Update rules for GGL/CCR card holders
Mar 12, 2013, 6:39 pm
#3
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
Access qualified by status
Summary
When travelling on a oneworld marketed and operated flight:
Taken from the oneworld website: Emerald or Sapphire level top-tier members of oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programmes have access to almost 550 departure lounges across the globe, no matter which oneworld airline you are flying. In all cases, lounge access eligibility is based on:
Guesting privileges qualified by status
With regard to oneworld lounges, once again the guesting rules are relatively straight forward.
When it comes to the extra provisions BA offers its own customers at its own lounges, the rules are slightly more complicated
Lounge access overview | Access qualified by status | Access qualified by class of travel | Lounge database
When travelling on a oneworld marketed and operated flight:
BA Gold (oneworld Emerald)
Members (plus one guest) have access to all available and accessible oneworld first and business class departure lounges
BA Silver (oneworld Sapphire)
Members (plus one guest) have access to all available and accessible oneworld business class departure lounges
BA Bronze (oneworld Ruby) and BA Blue
Members are not granted access according to their tier but may still have access to departure lounges depending on their class of travel that day.
Members (plus one guest) have access to all available and accessible oneworld first and business class departure lounges
BA Silver (oneworld Sapphire)
Members (plus one guest) have access to all available and accessible oneworld business class departure lounges
BA Bronze (oneworld Ruby) and BA Blue
Members are not granted access according to their tier but may still have access to departure lounges depending on their class of travel that day.
Taken from the oneworld website: Emerald or Sapphire level top-tier members of oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programmes have access to almost 550 departure lounges across the globe, no matter which oneworld airline you are flying. In all cases, lounge access eligibility is based on:
Departing carrier - you must be flying on your next onward segment, on the same day, on a flight marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline,
AND
Frequent flyer tier status - you must present a current frequent flyer card equivalent to oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status,
OR
Class of travel (see below) - you must produce a First or Business Class boarding pass for the journey's international segment on the same day.
AND
Frequent flyer tier status - you must present a current frequent flyer card equivalent to oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status,
OR
Class of travel (see below) - you must produce a First or Business Class boarding pass for the journey's international segment on the same day.
Guesting privileges qualified by status
With regard to oneworld lounges, once again the guesting rules are relatively straight forward.
BA Gold (oneworld Emerald)
Members may invite one guest into a oneworld first class or business class lounge. Both the member and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier.
BA Silver (oneworld Sapphire)
Members may invite one guest into a oneworld business class lounge. Both the member and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier.
Members may invite one guest into a oneworld first class or business class lounge. Both the member and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier.
BA Silver (oneworld Sapphire)
Members may invite one guest into a oneworld business class lounge. Both the member and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier.
When it comes to the extra provisions BA offers its own customers at its own lounges, the rules are slightly more complicated
BA Gold Guest List members
Concorde Room Card holders
BA Gold members
BA Silver members
BA Ruby and Blue members
- BA Concorde Room:
Member flying BA First plus two guests. - BA owned First lounge:
Member plus two guests when all are flying BA irrespective of class of service - BA owned Club lounge:
Member plus two guests when all are flying BA irrespective of class of service - BA Departure Spa treatments:
Member plus two guests when all are flying BA long haul - BA First pre-flight dining:
Member flying BA First plus two guests - BA Club pre-flight dining:
Member flying BA Club World plus two guests - BA Arrivals lounge:
Member plus one guest (both flying BA long haul)
Concorde Room Card holders
- BA Concorde Room:
Member plus one guest when flying BA. The CCR card is not valid for entry to any other lounge
BA Gold members
- BA Concorde Room:
No access by virtue of status but may be afforded access qualified by class of service - BA owned First lounge:
Standard oneworld rules apply - BA owned Club lounge:
Standard oneworld rules apply - BA Departure Spa treatments:
Member has access when flying BA long haul. No guests - BA First pre-flight dining:
Member has access when flying BA First. No guests - BA Club pre-flight dining:
Member has access when flying BA First or Club World. No guests - BA Arrivals lounge:
Member has access when flying BA long haul and further access to the inner Concorde Room when flying BA First. No guests
BA Silver members
- BA Concorde Room:
No access by virtue of status but may be afforded access qualified by class of service - BA owned First lounge:
No access by virtue of status but may be afforded access qualified by class of service - BA owned Club lounge:
Standard oneworld rules apply - BA Departure Spa treatments:
Member has access when flying BA First or Club World. No guests - BA First pre-flight dining:
Member has access when flying BA First. No guests - BA Club pre-flight dining:
Member has access when flying BA First or Club World. No guests - BA Arrivals lounge:
Member has access when flying BA Club World or First and further access to the inner Concorde Room when flying BA First. No guests
BA Ruby and Blue members
- BA Concorde Room:
No access by virtue of status but may be afforded access qualified by class of service - BA owned First lounge:
No access by virtue of status but may be afforded access qualified by class of service - BA owned Club lounge:
No access by virtue of status but may be afforded access qualified by class of service - BA Departure Spa treatments:
Member has access when flying BA First or Club World. No guests - BA First pre-flight dining:
Member has access when flying BA First. No guests - BA Club pre-flight dining:
Member has access when flying BA First or Club World. No guests - BA Arrivals lounge:
Member has access when flying BA Club World or First and further access to the inner Concorde Room when flying BA First. No guests
Lounge access overview | Access qualified by status | Access qualified by class of travel | Lounge database
Last edited by Prospero; Mar 16, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Mar 12, 2013, 6:39 pm
#4
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
Lounge database
Lounge access overview | Access qualified by status | Access qualified by class of travel | Lounge database
Last edited by Prospero; Jun 14, 2015 at 7:12 am Reason: widget refresh
Mar 12, 2013, 6:39 pm
#5
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
Access qualified by class of travel
oneworld rules relating to lounge access when travelling in mixed cabins, whilst generous, are slightly more onerous than BA's, in that when travelling short haul in economy on a flight marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline, lounge access is granted on the condition your same day connecting flight is/was long haul, premium cabin, marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline. BA for example will permit lounge access to passengers without status, travelling in economy (Euro Traveller or UK Domestic) connecting to/from a Club Europe flight.
In practice the same day connection requirement is loosely applied. For example lounge access may be granted when connecting from an overnight flight. The general acceptance is so long as your departing flight occurs on the same day as your previous flight arrived you will be granted access during your transit.
Passengers arriving into LHR having flown in First Class with an onward connection on BA at T5 may use the Concorde Room providing:
Lounge access during transit when transferring from one class of service to another - the basic premise seems to be the most substantial part of the journey guides the transit access. Here are a few scenarios describing the rules in play:
Scenario 1
Transit from a non-qualifying long haul flight to a qualifying short haul flight
Scenario 2
Transit from a non-qualifying long haul flight to a non-qualifying short haul flight
Scenario 3
Transit from a qualifying short haul flight to a non-qualifying long haul flight
Scenario 4
Transit from a qualifying short haul flight to a non-qualifying short haul flight
Scenario 5
Transit from a qualifying short haul flight to a qualifying long haul flight (mixing classes)
Scenario 6
Transit from a qualifying long haul flight to a non-qualifying short haul flight
Business UK lounge access
BA operates an all economy class service on its UK domestic routes. While the service on board remains undeniably economy class, fully flexible ticket holders are entitled to enjoy the use of business class lounges before boarding their domestic flight. The applicable booking classes are J and Y. If you don't know your precise booking class, don't worry. If your ticket is eligible your boarding pass will be marked with "BUSINESS UK" on the long stub.
Business UK ticket status also applies to domestic flights when purchased in conjunction with a premium class international ticket, whether that be connecting to or from a Club Europe, World Traveller Plus, Club World or First flight. Note, with premium class redemptions Business UK typically do not apply to UK Domestic connections. However, you will be granted access before boarding your domestic flight on presentation of your same day onward (or preceeding) business or first class boarding pass.
Guesting privileges qualified by class of travel
With regard to oneworld lounges, the guesting rules are relatively straight forward.
When it comes to the extra provisions BA offers its own customers at its own lounges, the rules are slightly more complicated. Again, listed below are the qualifications by class of travel (which may be trumped by your status)
Lounge access overview | Access qualified by status | Access qualified by class of travel | Lounge database
In practice the same day connection requirement is loosely applied. For example lounge access may be granted when connecting from an overnight flight. The general acceptance is so long as your departing flight occurs on the same day as your previous flight arrived you will be granted access during your transit.
Passengers arriving into LHR having flown in First Class with an onward connection on BA at T5 may use the Concorde Room providing:
- The incoming flight was operated by BA. This excludes BA codeshare on another oneworld partner metal
- And/or, the departing flight is operated by BA and the class of travel is First
Lounge access during transit when transferring from one class of service to another - the basic premise seems to be the most substantial part of the journey guides the transit access. Here are a few scenarios describing the rules in play:
Scenario 1
Transit from a non-qualifying long haul flight to a qualifying short haul flight
Scenario 2
Transit from a non-qualifying long haul flight to a non-qualifying short haul flight
Scenario 3
Transit from a qualifying short haul flight to a non-qualifying long haul flight
Scenario 4
Transit from a qualifying short haul flight to a non-qualifying short haul flight
Scenario 5
Transit from a qualifying short haul flight to a qualifying long haul flight (mixing classes)
Scenario 6
Transit from a qualifying long haul flight to a non-qualifying short haul flight
Business UK lounge access
BA operates an all economy class service on its UK domestic routes. While the service on board remains undeniably economy class, fully flexible ticket holders are entitled to enjoy the use of business class lounges before boarding their domestic flight. The applicable booking classes are J and Y. If you don't know your precise booking class, don't worry. If your ticket is eligible your boarding pass will be marked with "BUSINESS UK" on the long stub.
Business UK ticket status also applies to domestic flights when purchased in conjunction with a premium class international ticket, whether that be connecting to or from a Club Europe, World Traveller Plus, Club World or First flight. Note, with premium class redemptions Business UK typically do not apply to UK Domestic connections. However, you will be granted access before boarding your domestic flight on presentation of your same day onward (or preceeding) business or first class boarding pass.
Guesting privileges qualified by class of travel
With regard to oneworld lounges, the guesting rules are relatively straight forward.
Travelling first class
The ticket holder may invite one guest into a oneworld first class or business class lounge. Both the first class ticket holder and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier.
Travelling business class
No guests
The ticket holder may invite one guest into a oneworld first class or business class lounge. Both the first class ticket holder and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier.
Travelling business class
No guests
When it comes to the extra provisions BA offers its own customers at its own lounges, the rules are slightly more complicated. Again, listed below are the qualifications by class of travel (which may be trumped by your status)
BA First ticket holders
Club World ticket holders
Club Europe ticket holders
Business UK ticket holders
- BA Concorde Room:
Ticket holder and one guest. Both must be flying BA - BA owned First lounge:
Ticket holder and one guest. Both the ticket holder and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier. - BA owned Club lounge:
Ticket holder and one guest. Both the ticket holder and guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight, though not necessarily on the same flight or same carrier. - BA Departure Spa treatments:
Ticket holder has access. No guests - BA First pre-flight dining:
Ticket holder has access. No guests - BA Club pre-flight dining:
Ticket holder has access. No guests - BA Arrivals lounge:
Ticket holder has access to the Arrivals lounge and inner Concorde Room. No guests
Club World ticket holders
- BA Concorde Room:
No access - BA owned First lounge:
No access - BA owned Club lounge:
Ticket holder has access. No guests - BA Departure Spa treatments:
Ticket holder has access. No guests - BA First pre-flight dining:
No access - BA Pre-flight Club dining:
Ticket holder has access. No guests - BA Arrivals lounge:
Ticket holder has access to the lounge. No access to the inner Concorde Room. No guests
Club Europe ticket holders
- BA Concorde Room:
No access - BA owned First lounge:
No access - BA owned Club lounge:
Ticket holder has access. No guests - BA Departure Spa treatments:
No access - BA First pre-flight dining:
No access - BA Club pre-flight dining:
No access - BA Arrivals lounge:
No access
Business UK ticket holders
- BA Concorde Room:
No access - BA owned First lounge:
No access - BA owned Club lounge:
Ticket holder has access. No guests - BA Departure Spa treatments:
No access - BA First pre-flight dining:
No access - BA Club pre-flight dining:
No access - BA Arrivals lounge:
No access
Lounge access overview | Access qualified by status | Access qualified by class of travel | Lounge database
Last edited by Prospero; Aug 26, 2015 at 5:26 am
Mar 14, 2013, 5:49 pm
#6
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
I've launched this as a beta. Please feel free to add your comments or suggestions.
Cheers
Cheers
Mar 14, 2013, 5:59 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,959
Looking good Prospero, although one thing I notice is that it seems to suggest Silvers and Bronzes/Blues can have a spa treatment as long as they are travelling longhaul irrespective of class of travel: surely it should be in CW or F only.
Last edited by FlyerTalker6245; Mar 14, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Mar 14, 2013, 6:02 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mostly London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Amex and some hotels
Posts: 1,318
^ Nice work.
A question (correction?)....
The grid shows that Blue/Bronze members are entitled to a 15 minute spa treatment when flying Long Haul irrespective of class of travel. Not sure this is correct? (If it is, it's hardly surprising there's never any treatments available).
A question (correction?)....
The grid shows that Blue/Bronze members are entitled to a 15 minute spa treatment when flying Long Haul irrespective of class of travel. Not sure this is correct? (If it is, it's hardly surprising there's never any treatments available).
Mar 14, 2013, 6:03 pm
#9
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
Thanks chaps. My error has been corrected ^
Mar 14, 2013, 6:09 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mostly London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Amex and some hotels
Posts: 1,318
Phew, thanks.
Maybe I'll be able to get a treatment now
Maybe I'll be able to get a treatment now
Mar 15, 2013, 2:25 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 15 minutes west of LHR, Stockholm, or somewhere inbetween.
Programs: BAEC Gold GGL, CCR, GfL, Mucci des Recherches des Consommations Exotiques.
Posts: 2,463
One correction, the CCR card allows one guest only.
A GGL can invite two guests in to other BA operated lounges, but only one to the CCR.
(You may at times get away with two guests, but the lounge access laminated card shows only one guest.)
bjorns
A GGL can invite two guests in to other BA operated lounges, but only one to the CCR.
(You may at times get away with two guests, but the lounge access laminated card shows only one guest.)
bjorns
Mar 15, 2013, 3:16 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,873
Arrivals Lounge with CCR card.
The lounge "access book" policy is that if you hold a CCR card and have arrived in CW or above then you can access the Concorde Dining Room.
The GGL line (after checking with a manager) has stated that with a CCR Card you can access the Concorde Dining Room irrespective of longhaul travel class from which you have arrived.
The lounge "access book" policy is that if you hold a CCR card and have arrived in CW or above then you can access the Concorde Dining Room.
The GGL line (after checking with a manager) has stated that with a CCR Card you can access the Concorde Dining Room irrespective of longhaul travel class from which you have arrived.
Mar 15, 2013, 3:30 am
#14
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Glossop
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 344
Is swapping guests allowed?
I have a CX gold card (from AMEX Plat) which allows me +1 lounge access. If I'm travelling with 2 people without access can I guest in one for a while then leave them outside and guest in the other?
I have a CX gold card (from AMEX Plat) which allows me +1 lounge access. If I'm travelling with 2 people without access can I guest in one for a while then leave them outside and guest in the other?
Mar 15, 2013, 3:57 am
#15
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,913