If I may add a data point, I upgraded my mom last Monday July 03 to Business Class on her AF011 flight. It was originally an award ticket in Economy and when I did the OLCI, a seat in J was available to buy for $650, so I gladly paid for it to offer her some more comfort.

She asked me with a big smile, when I told her, whether she would then have access to the lounge, which I replied with a very certain reassurance that she would.

At JFK, she would drop her luggage and the agent handed her the boarding pass and we headed towards security. As I said goodbye and gave her some last instructions (sleeper service in the lounge), I saw on her BP that it was written "Business Light" and instantly freaked out because I vaguely remembered that Business Light fares do not include Lounge Access.

I ran back to the check-in counters and asked whether she can go to the lounge because of her Business Light mention. They all looked at me with big eyes as if I were an alien (from outerspace) and said "Of course, Business is Business". I inquired about the "Light" and they seemed even more confused and nowhere knowledgeable. I let it go and told my mom to just go and make no fuss nor mention about it. She was admitted to the lounge without issue.

Retrospectively:

• I realize now that there should not have been any issue from the beginning for her to get into the lounge, since U.S. bound flights are not (yet) subjected to the new Light fare rules.
• However, it seems strange that they mention the "Business Light" on her BP since those fares are not supposed to exist (yet) on TATL flights.
• It also seems that by default, OLCI upgrades to J are now considered as "Business Lights" and not regular/standard Business. Grim perspective on what's to come.

This mention in the FAQ (the page is no longer accessible by the way) is therefore good news if OLCI still includes Lounge Access, but I am wondering how long this will last since OLCI upgrades seem to be in Light. Also, what does it mean if Lounge is included? That you are only restricted in terms of luggage franchise?

Also, side question with still no answer (unless I missed an episode) is whether AFKL will follow DL's steps in making the cheapest Awards tickets by default as a "Light" fare or a Standard.

vinnyc