sxc

@dougzz yes - and I also wonder what deal QF struck with CX to change their default lounge from BA.

KARFA

Generally BA don't let AA passebgers in and only allow BA ones. The lounges at PHL aren't big as you noticed. There is a thread on it somewhere.

Geordie405

Just as a very small data point here, I think it's a fair proposition to say that a lot of people would never think of using another airline's lounge. I was flying SIN - HKG with a colleague and he had absolutely no idea he could use the Qantas lounge in SIN rather than the default CX one. He was pleasantly surprised at the news.

Rami Tamimi

+1.

This is very true. The issue is that a lot of people base their opinions only on their experiences. Even if someone flies a few times a month, their "sample size" is way too small to make any meaningful representation of the true picture....you need to see the statistics for that. I was surprised as to how few pax enter lounges "they are not supposed to be in" (this is not specific to CX LHR).

Not only do the partner airline pax bring some extra revenue (I will repeat again that in oneworld it's the operating airline that pays for access), thereby reducing the total costs of operating the lounge, but they actually justify airlines to build slightly bigger lounges, which is a net gain for everyone


PS: If we are talking about the CX LHR lounge, AA pax represent a much higher share of total pax than BA.

muishkin

Hmm I am not so sure about that. Over the last few visits, I've encountered BA and Finnair (based on conversations overhead) flyers but no AA flyers. I am not saying you are wrong. I am just saying it's not a foregone conclusion that most of the non-CX "intruders" are AA flyers.

Egoldstein

This. Most people think that you can only use the lounge of the airline you are flyng. And then, there's some trepidation that the lounge manager of the airline you are not flying and do not have a frequent flyer card with might turn you away.

If it weren't for reading FT, I would not have known that I could use the CX J lounge when flying BA out of terminal 3. Went last month for the first time and was very impressed. It wasn't crowded at all, despite a CX flight for HK departing, and the dimsum were fabulous.

smokie36

Does the CX J lounge have champers that I don't have to spend 20 mins chasing down a member of staff to enjoy?

subject2load

No. Don't risk it.

It's a closely-guarded secret that the BA lounge at T3 is vastly superior to CX's.

Please, please stick to BA's

Howard Long

Oh dear! Were you at the bar, or somewhere else? Certainly you have to be sure the right individual is there, there only seems to be one person on shift who knows how to mix, and he/she might be on a break. I've had negronis, vodka martinis, espresso martinis, all reasonably good, certainly not weak.

dylanks

On Saturday I tried the AA T3 F lounge for the first time and was pleasantly surprised at how attentive the service was and how decent the food selection was. It was quite empty as it was between banks of flights. Upon checking in I was asked if I wouldn't prefer the BA lounge but I was visiting with a fellow FTer flying on AA.

I then went to the Elemis spa for a booking i had reserved in advance, then took a quick peak in the BA F lounge, which looked fairly crowded so I headed over to the CX lounge which was busy until QF10 departed after which it was very quiet.

One thing I've noticed about the CX lounge is that the meal portions keep shrinking. For example the amount of fish in the fish and chips has decreased from 3 to 2 to now 1 fairly small piece of fish. I could always order more and it's probably a good way to avoid waste, but it's still interesting. Once the QF lounge opens I imagine the CX lounge will be pretty empty except during CX peak flight times.

Also the bar area in the CX F lounge does mention the bar service in the J lounge should you want a proper mixed drink.

Wembleygal

Perhaps just bad luck on that day... no worries, still going back in a couple of weeks time, but in the morning, so just Moet

Howard Long

1010101

I have been told the fee is only payable once, to the first lounge you go to.

Either way, CX makes a lot of money on its lounges. They wont be restricting access any time soon.

I have noticed this too and not just in LHR. It's part of the overall cost cutting i suppose. I prefer self serve buffets for this reason, you're not restricted to the miserly portions the staff serve you.

mmxbreaks

It's only the one type now... More cost cutting.

mmxbreaks

This.

The fish and chips is still one of the best things in any lounge anywhere though.