BizClsDreaming

Correct. We got denied at DUB flying Y, then connecting at LHR in CW. Agents used the "it's a contract lounge" excuse. Might depend on the agents on the day....

nux

Before calling, do a check on BA.com for the seats.

That website does not show live availability and I have found it to show seats that are unavailable.

KARFA

The DAA lounge in T1 is listed on the oneworld lounge database so is a oneworld lounge.

http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access

So why wouldn't oneworld rules apply as usual?

A P Yu

Maybe lounge guardians not knowing the rules or having a bad day maybe

KARFA

Power cut?

orbitmic

The oneworld website lists the lounges that oneworld airlines use, regardless of the type of lounge they are - it does not make them oneworld lounges and the daa lounge is most definitely not one of them.

Ps: to illustrate my point, if you look round in some destinations, you'll see some AF or UA lounges listed.

nickerss

Ah, sorry. I was making the same assumption about the DAA lounge being a oneworld lounge.

flibbly

Indeed. When flying BOS-MAD on IB a few months ago I was a little perturbed to be directed to the AF lounge.

nickerss

Yep, AB send you to the AF lounge at TXL when flying to AUH (and maybe other destinations?).

Mattyb44

Ive heard about this redirect, but never experienced it. Last few times from TXL-CPH I had no issues usingthe BA lounge.

orbitmic

No worry at all, I just wanted to avoid any confusion. DAA means "Dublin Airport Authority" - it is just an airport lounge which contracts out to most airlines using the airport (including BA but also the likes of Cityjet, etc). The big exceptions are EI and EY which both have their own lounge (some US airlines might too, I'm not sure?).

In practice, all the airlines using the lounge will tell the lounge people who should be allowed in, the lounge staff will keep a tally, and DAA will send the bill to each airline at the end of the month (I presume it is every month, I have no idea!!) I have no idea how much airlines are charged per passenger, but you can buy access for €20 per person (€15 for concessions) so if I were to make a wild guess I would imagine, maybe €7 or 8 per pax?

My reasoning in saying that one is therefore not entitled to access in DUB if flying DUB-LHR in Y and without status while having a same day J trip on BA or any Oneworld airline is as follows:

- BA mention their lounge network as a whole including contract lounges, but they specify access is for flying BA F or J, BA Gold or Silver, or OW Emerald of Sapphire. They do not mention travelling in Y and connecting to a J or F flight: http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...&link=main_nav

- In addition, Oneworld specifies access to Oneworld lounges when connecting on same day J or F itinerary but there is a note on third party lounges, saying (quite criptycally admittedly) that "access to these lounges is restricted to eligible customers when travelling on specific oneworld airlines as shown in the lounge finder tool." To me, this suggests that for contract lounges, each specific airline defines the eligible customers when it comes to contract lounges, and thus the rules are more restrictive than for Oneworld lounges http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access

I would, of course, be more than happy to be proved wrong on my cautious interpretation, but the DAA lounge is definitely not a Oneworld lounge and whatever rule applies there would be the one that pertains to contract lounges.

orbitmic

That would be no issue. Oneworld rules are such that you are fully entitled to use the BA lounge in such a case while flying AB. But it does not prevent AB from using another lounge (in this case AF) as a contract lounge. This is where things become really complex when there is a Oneworld lounge in an airport but another Oneworld airline uses another lounge as contracted!

Same with some airlines at ORD using the AF lounge rather than the BA one. But while in the TXL case, the BA and AF lounges are of roughly similar standards (both mediocre at best), at ORD, the AF lounge is a clear step above the BA Club lounge so probably best to follow the contract route!

mikeyfly

Check there's availability on BA.com for Avios CW seats on the dates you need (lots in Jan, Feb, Mar) - then phone the call centre. For £810.00 plus 30,000 Avios - Club World return to Hong Kong. Normal price from UK on same date is £3,313.

Unbelievable!

BAGoldBoy

Prices in January-March in J seem to have come down again for OSL to SYD whereas other ex-EU flights still very high

OSL £4,091
AMS £7,096
DUB £7,168
BRU £7,107

for 2 pax before shareholder discount

stifle

In practice, it being Ireland, a polite request at check in would probably yield a lounge invitation.