Any confirmation on lounge access….
 

I’ve read different reports about lounge access - I’m trying to get some confirmation.

1 - I’m redeeming AA miles on Qatar ORD-DOH-JNB. I think I have access in DOH to a lounge, but I’ve seen differing reports….

2 - I think I have access to lounges in ORD but I’ve only done CX F redeeming AA miles so not sure about J.

thanks!

Assuming you're flying J (even on AA miles), you will have lounge access in ORD and DOH.

There have been a few reports of award tickets being incorrectly denied lounge access, but seems that's mostly at outstations and not in Doha.

I was denied access at DOH recently but I knew the rules and requested a manager who ultimately let me into the standard J lounge, not the inferior one where they send frequent flyers on Y tickets.

They tried to deny you on a J ticket?

QR has new restrictions on basic fares even for business class. I think awards aren’t impacted but many staff don’t know that.

There is really one one lounge open in DOH. the Al mourjan lounge. Which is one of the best bus class lounges in the world. Usually all J passengers on miles get in. I flew R class on QR recently but am EXP/ Emerald on american and they "granted" me access which is not typical.

folks on miles in Bus class always get in. their staff is usually well trained so perhaps a newbie manning the esclator.

Well it was an award J ticket and the lounge staff thought that just like the new QR basic paid business class fares, I wasn't entitled to lounge access but of course I ran out of patience with that ignoramus and demanded to speak to a manager who corrected his employee. :)

Do you also have PLT or above elite status, which should get you into a business class lounge also.

Theres two different J class lounges at DOH. The QR "Al whatever" which is what QR business class passengers not on "light" fares get. Theres also a generic J class lounge (although currently closed) those with OWS get in. If it was open OWS on light fare would be sent there. However since it's closed they're being allowed in the QR lounge.

The outstation that I heard the most regarding lounge denials on AAdvantage award tickets at outstations is San Francisco. I don't know why but they constantly seem to tell people that award tickets does not qualify for lounge access.

The OP would normally be entitled to the Air France Lounge in ORD ( contract lounge of QR in ORD ) and the Al Mourjan Lounge at ORD unless things change.
I haven't yet seen a negative experience at ORD about wrong interpretation regarding lounge access.

QR service is excellent when everything is simple and straightforward. As soon as you add a single wrinkle of complexity, it's a mess.