One ticket for lounge access and one ticket for flying
Jul 31, 2019, 3:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BA Gold, Tesco, Nectar
Posts: 313
One ticket for lounge access and one ticket for flying
A question:
Lets say I am desperate to try GF T5 and book LHR-EDI with BA, but I actually intend to fly LHR-CDG on Air France.
Lets say I use my BA boarding pass to go through T5 security, spend some time in GF. I then check in online for the airfrance flight, and have an e-boarding pass. This is all ofcourse Hand baggage only.
I'm guessing I would then go to T5-T3 connections. But would the Air France BP actually get me through connections or work at the plane's gate, given its not been scanned at security?
In that case I'm guessing one would have to come clean and go to airfrance operations to enable "ready to fly" on the AF ticket.
Lets say I am desperate to try GF T5 and book LHR-EDI with BA, but I actually intend to fly LHR-CDG on Air France.
Lets say I use my BA boarding pass to go through T5 security, spend some time in GF. I then check in online for the airfrance flight, and have an e-boarding pass. This is all ofcourse Hand baggage only.
I'm guessing I would then go to T5-T3 connections. But would the Air France BP actually get me through connections or work at the plane's gate, given its not been scanned at security?
In that case I'm guessing one would have to come clean and go to airfrance operations to enable "ready to fly" on the AF ticket.
Jul 31, 2019, 3:19 pm
#3
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Posts: 64,020
Yeah it could be done, you'd need to build in a transit ride to T5C and a second run through security. And two bus rides to T4 during the tunnel work. But the SkyTeam lounge in T4 (where does T3 come into this?) is one of their better lounges, ok, not as good as GF, and is accessible on Priority Pass.
I do see some wacky ideas about lounge access in this forum, and this is right up the list, I have to say.
I do see some wacky ideas about lounge access in this forum, and this is right up the list, I have to say.
Jul 31, 2019, 3:19 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
I'd strongly question why you'd want to do this, but since you've asked the question, yes, I think this should be possible:
- Go through T5 security and into GF, using your BA boarding pass.
- When you've done whatever you wanted to do in GF, take the T5 transit train to satellite C.
- Stay on the train at C, and you'll flow into the arrivals stream.
- Follow the purple signs to Flight Connections, showing your AF boarding pass to whoever is interested (note that you're heading for T4, not T3 as in the OP!)
- Get treated as if you were a genuine connecting passenger transferring onto your AF flight.
Jul 31, 2019, 3:27 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Brighton UK
Programs: BAEC-Silver, AMEX-BA Prem' Plus & Standard, Accor Gold, HH-Silver, IHG,IBIS On Business
Posts: 955
Can I just also add a reminder to canx your LHR-EDI ticket. 1. So it doesn't get charged ( i'm presuming your planning on booking fully flex?) but more importantly so that there isn't a plane load of pax sat on the plane waiting for you to turn up. I imagine this is within your plans but all the same please do remember to do so.
Jul 31, 2019, 3:50 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BA Gold, Tesco, Nectar
Posts: 313
Thanks for humouring me guys.
The question is more for a general scenario I have pondered at times:
There are many Oneworld hubs where booking a Oneworld carrier is not economic for the desired itinerary. However it seems in some cases that throwaway tickets are practical/cost effective when considering the amenties at certain outstations (eg HKG massage/cabana for OWE in any cabin) and how cheap some throwaway tickets can be.(Also I may not stay OWE, so I want to experience the lounges at least once while I can)
The question is more for a general scenario I have pondered at times:
There are many Oneworld hubs where booking a Oneworld carrier is not economic for the desired itinerary. However it seems in some cases that throwaway tickets are practical/cost effective when considering the amenties at certain outstations (eg HKG massage/cabana for OWE in any cabin) and how cheap some throwaway tickets can be.(Also I may not stay OWE, so I want to experience the lounges at least once while I can)
Jul 31, 2019, 3:59 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,780
Thanks for humouring me guys.
.. However it seems in some cases that throwaway tickets are practical/cost effective when considering the amenties at certain outstations (eg HKG massage/cabana for OWE in any cabin) and how cheap some throwaway tickets can be.(Also I may not stay OWE, so I want to experience the lounges at least once while I can)
.. However it seems in some cases that throwaway tickets are practical/cost effective when considering the amenties at certain outstations (eg HKG massage/cabana for OWE in any cabin) and how cheap some throwaway tickets can be.(Also I may not stay OWE, so I want to experience the lounges at least once while I can)
Jul 31, 2019, 4:06 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: WAW ✈ LHR ✈ GLA
Programs: BA GfL/GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,504
Thanks for humouring me guys.
The question is more for a general scenario I have pondered at times:
There are many Oneworld hubs where booking a Oneworld carrier is not economic for the desired itinerary. However it seems in some cases that throwaway tickets are practical/cost effective when considering the amenties at certain outstations (eg HKG massage/cabana for OWE in any cabin) and how cheap some throwaway tickets can be.(Also I may not stay OWE, so I want to experience the lounges at least once while I can)
The question is more for a general scenario I have pondered at times:
There are many Oneworld hubs where booking a Oneworld carrier is not economic for the desired itinerary. However it seems in some cases that throwaway tickets are practical/cost effective when considering the amenties at certain outstations (eg HKG massage/cabana for OWE in any cabin) and how cheap some throwaway tickets can be.(Also I may not stay OWE, so I want to experience the lounges at least once while I can)
Jul 31, 2019, 4:15 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 181
Haven’t taken the transit in (probably...) years but I seem to remember a security check and someone going from one end to the other before it turned back around?
Can’t remember if this was at A or at C gates (or both), but if I haven’t just made it up then they would likely have everyone alight and so one wouldn’t be able to stay on.
Or was it all just a dream?
Can’t remember if this was at A or at C gates (or both), but if I haven’t just made it up then they would likely have everyone alight and so one wouldn’t be able to stay on.
Or was it all just a dream?
Jul 31, 2019, 4:25 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: WAW ✈ LHR ✈ GLA
Programs: BA GfL/GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,504
Haven’t taken the transit in (probably...) years but I seem to remember a security check and someone going from one end to the other before it turned back around?
Can’t remember if this was at A or at C gates (or both), but if I haven’t just made it up then they would likely have everyone alight and so one wouldn’t be able to stay on.
Or was it all just a dream?
Jul 31, 2019, 4:37 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Some airports are more diligent though (e.g. the transit at PEK T3 is fully inspected at both ends), so you might be thinking of somewhere else rather than just dreaming
Jul 31, 2019, 4:53 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BA Gold, Tesco, Nectar
Posts: 313
I'm extrapolating BAFT experience at LHR hypothetically with what could happen at HKG/KUL indeed. A throwaway ticket may be the best option for my upcomming itinerary, expecially given I may choose to not retain OWE for a long while - hence the desperation!
Jul 31, 2019, 5:03 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Sixt Gold
Posts: 418
I salute the spirit of the OP. I once entertained the idea of buying a BA ticket with no intention to fly just to spend a few hours in GF Champaining and plane watching before retiring in a LHR hotel and then get on my morning flight to the US....
If you have enough time and you are that keen on spending time in GF then go for it! Just make sure you leave on time (and without too much Champ in your veins) to go through the transit, transfer and security at T4!
If you have enough time and you are that keen on spending time in GF then go for it! Just make sure you leave on time (and without too much Champ in your veins) to go through the transit, transfer and security at T4!
Jul 31, 2019, 7:48 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,402
OP : each to their own of course, but I genuinely hope that your self-confessed sense of ‘desperation’ does not stem from any description of the GF lounge which you may have read on ba.com ; because if so (and assuming your wacky plan should somehow come to fruition), then I fear that your desperation might well be swiftly replaced by a mixture of regret and disappointment
