Originally Posted by Hagbard Viking
Right, but according to
http://www.skyteam.com/EN/benefits/skyteam_lounges.jsp:
SkyTeam member airlines operate over 340 lounges worldwide.
• All First and Business Class passengers have access to these exclusive facilities.
So, it's not a SkyTeam Elite benefit but rather something that's available to everyone paying for F or C...
Yes, that's correct, there is no benefit with regard to lounge access for someone with SkyTeam Elite status. The same rules, F or C ticket requirement, apply to SkyTeam Elites which are applicable to everyone.
SkyTeam Elite Plus status, on the other hand, grants access to these lounges without regard to class of service flown so long as the flight is in conjunction with a same day international flight.
In addition, SkyTeam members have rules specific to their individual programs which permit their own elites access to member-operated lounges which are different from SkyTeam rules. For example, a DL PM can access DL CRCs on a purely U.S. domestic itinerary - access is granted based on comp membership in the CRC program and not SkyTeam Elite Plus status. I believe AF F+ Rouge members have access to AF lounges on purely domestic French itins based on Rouge status, not SkyTeam Elite Plus status.