Originally Posted by
ChocolateFactory
SK removed third-party lounges a while ago? IIRC, when SK was still part of *A, you would not get access to partner lounges (PriorityPass etc.) when flying SK as EBG, but you would get access to the same lounge when flying LH with e.g. A3 Gold.
We're talking about LH here though. LH gave access to contract lounges to all *G (including EBG until Saturday) until now. This is the first exception so far as far as I'm aware.
Originally Posted by
ChocolateFactory
*A Gold only gives you access to *A lounges (run by *A carriers), third party lounges have always been a bonus. Up to the operating carrier whether they want to pay for it or not.
We've discussed this in another thread recently, but irrespective of what the formal rules are, the practice has been for operating airlines to give access to contract lounges to all *G members. Should that be removed, the lounge access benefit loses the point as you wouldn't get it at vast majority of airports when flying across the alliance. The "access to 1500 lounges" would become something like "access to 50 lounges". Not really worth chasing the status, nor much incentive for loyalty.