Lounge access on code share flight
 

I have booked HKG-SGN business class on VN, but the flight looks likely to have been cancelled. In case VN rebooked me on another VN flight but code shared and operated by CX, will I be able to use CX lounge in HKG? Not sure if my CX DM status matters much in this case.

If you are flying on a CX flight (with a CX flight number on the ticket = no problem
If not then try your luck !

What if the flight number on my ticket isn’t CX, and if I am in J class, which lounge will I be entitled?

You should at least have access to whichever lounge VN offers to its J pax, but I admit I cannot find the information at the moment.

ernest - it seems that there is no lounge!
I find this rather odd and perhaps it is just difficult to find the information..
Should I find it I will post the info.

For a CX flight, the boarding pass you got at the airport will show "CX xxx sold as VN xxxx".

Per lounge admittance rule (Lounge Admittance | Travel Information | Cathay Pacific), as standard benefit for DM, it says you have access to F lounge + 2 guests when "Departing on Cathay Pacific, oneworld carrier or codeshare** flights only".
The footnote for "**' is "** Lounge access is limited to lounges operated by CX only." In the lounge admittance rule, it did not specify the flight needs to be both operated and marketed by CX or oneworld carrier. I think you will have access to lounge without an issue.

I had a flight with CX ticketed via LX last December. With EMER I used F checkin and lounge, no question asked, standard benefits applied.

Sorry, I misread it. For CX GO/DM, access to CX lounge at HKG is granted when travelling on a CX-coded flight even if not operated by CX. If VN protects you on a VN prime flight (meaning the CX code is no longer on your reservation and ticket), you will only have access to the lounge used by VN (provided in J), if one is offered.

I called CX twice and I got two different outcome. One is the same as Xuukgo while the other is the same as Ernest’s. I think bases on the rules, Ernest is correct, but in practice, pax usually check in with the operating carrier as the ticketing carrier most often doesn’t even have counter opened if they don’t have flights that day. And at this case with CX in HKG, I am not sure if they will issue a PP lounge pass on behalf of VN, so just letting the eligible pax using CX J lounge seems more sensible.

VN just changed my flight, and it is VN xxxx operated as CX xxx.

Pax always check in at the operating carrier.
You will have a CX BP and can use the CX lounge based on your status.
Entering your status might be a problem though. Make sure you carry a DM card.

Pax always check in at the operating carrier.
You will have a CX BP and can use the CX lounge based on your status. You could even check-in at the F counters.

Thanks for the advice, and I am glad I don't need to use PP lounge. From this Q&A exercise with CX customer service, I find they are really all over the place. There was one even told me I could only check in at VN counter because their job was only to fly me to the destination and nothing else. This is amazing!

If it is operated by CX (VN*/CX), and you are in J, yes you can definitely use the CX J lounge at HKG. I do not think you are entitled to the CX F lounge (DM benefit), though please do report back.

Holy...

Were you able to select your seat at booking or need to wait till online check in or at airport? I can't reserve my seat and both airlines put the blame on others. VN: We can't select seats on CX flights. CX: Please call VN and it is none of our biz as your ticket isn't start with 160 and none of the flights are CX inventory. What's my top concern is my 3 yr old kid would end up sitting alone and the purser come to me if he is causing issue. I told CX about this but they didn't seem to bother much.

Maybe, try to obtain the CX booking reference and use that to access the booking ? This reference is probably different from the VN one you already have.

I got CX booking reference from VN's manage booking page already, but still no luck either when calling CX or on CX's website. CX's stance is none of my biz, why calling me, my job is to take you there and that's it

First, I assume you have tried to put the CX (Amadeus) record locator on CX's website, but you could not select seat on CX MMB, right? I would try that first if you haven't.

I am actually not sure if the codeshare agreement between CX and VN is free sale or block seat. There are some instances where advance seat selection is indeed technically impossible or limited, such as some of the QF/CZ and CI/KL code-share flights.

Indeed, when trying to pull out the VN*/CX on Sabre (the system also used by VN), a seat map is not generated.

The last thing I may try is to use some other sources to get the seatmap of the CX flight (CX online booking, EF, KVS, or you can put the flight number and date here), find the desirable seat number, and call VN and ask VN to request the specific seat directly (using the "RQST" command if they use a command-based system), instead of trying to open the seat map to select seat (which they can't).

Ernest, thank you for your RQST suggestion, that seems to be the last thing I could do. I have tried to put the CX (Amadeus) record locator on CX's website, but whaI I could only do is to select my meal. Seat selection and adding CX FFP isn't allowed. I have EF and let me call VN to request the seats I want. I don't care what seats to get as long as they are in a pair or opposite to each other in the same aisle for flat bed J.

In terms of codeshare agreement, I find VN can only sell at-most two J and four Y seats on any CX flights, so I am not sure this is free sale or block seat. I did ask VN and they just mentioned the number of seats they could sell was capped. But in my case, they managed to get three J seats for me but needed to split booking.

I don't have any experience on VN*/CX specifically, but you might also want to try putting in the CX (Amadeus) record locator on AT (Royal Air Maroc)'s website. I generally find AT's website capable of getting seats selected on other oneworld carriers that use Amadeus (so everyone except AA and AS). A code-share PNR might come with other limitations (perhaps AT won't have access), though.

I don't know where that limitation comes from, either, but suffice to say there's some kind of limitation. I've also seen cases where the CX flight still has J seats, but not the VN* flight, suggesting even if it is not block seat, it is at least NOT last seat availability. The J2 Y4 restriction is also seen my end, although as you said, one can book additional seats afterwards.

I am back and let me share with you my experience on this VN/CX code share drama

Outbound online check-in:
CX freaked me out on this as they didn't allow me to check in, so I gave them a call. The result was a complete freak out as the agent said my booking had issue and I might not even board the plane. Ran to VN office the next day and they said no issue at all. I even put them on conference call and the CX agent kept blaming VN for their wrong doing. It was a complete disaster. Magically within the 24 hours prior departure, I could check in at CX website, so not sure if this check-in time frame aligning to VN's 24 hours online check in practice.

Outbound seat selection:
As I had no way to input my MPC number, so I couldn't select any seats, but the system already allocated a pair of seat for me and my child.

Airport check-in:
As I was told my booking having certain issues, I arrived at the airport 3 hours ahead. No issue at all. I could check in at the F desk

Wing F lounge access:
Despite my flight was marketed by VN, I was able to enjoy full F benefit

This part is the important data point. Thanks for reporting back!

Reviving this thread with a related question. I am on a Cathay Ticketed flight operated by Qatar from SEZ to MEL via DOH and HKG. I am happy with the lounge access arrangements in HKG but confused about DOH! I am OneWorld Emerald and the ticket is booked as Business Essential (P Class). Will I get into the Al Mourjan Lounge or should I be aiming for the Platinum/Gold lounges? I note Qatar P class doesn't grant access to Al Mourjan but I am unclear as to if it makes a difference that I am on a Cathay ticketed flight operated by Qatar.

Flew DXB - HKG - HAN on a J ticket from CX. I was denied access to The Pier lounge at HKG because my outgoing flight was not CX or Oneworld despite being a codeshare (CX operated by VN). Was really looking forward to using one of the Cathay lounges. Oh well.

access is only excluded for QR issued Business "Lite" fares, so you should be able to

Did you point out it is a CX code flight?

Do you have CX status? CX Diamond/Gold shall grant you access if I understand correctly.
Other OW Emerald/Sapphire status, afaik, probably no access, the flight needs to be marketed AND operated by oneworld.

Thanks for reporting! The conclusion therefore is that you get CX lounge access if the flight is operated by CX, whether marketed by CX or VN, but not if the flight is operated by VN (unless you are a CX élite).

Neither https://www.skyteam.com/en/lounges/l...irportcode=HKG nor https://www.vietnamairlines.com/tw/e...airport-guides makes clear which lounge VN uses at HKG. I assume it would be Plaza Premium, but there is no clear indication. I would imagine you have access to whichever lounge VN sends its own J pax to.

I can report back that this was indeed the case. Access to Al Mourjan was no problem :tu:. Really liked the new Garden Lounge

That's exactly what I was told when I tried to access The Pier on a SFO-HKG-CNX J itinerary last month with the HKG-CNX flight being on HKExpress. Didn't matter that it was a CX codeshare sold as a single ticket or that I'm OWE. They said access only if I was a CX elite.

Asked CX WhatsApp if I'll get lounge access for my upcoming flight with UO (biz class booking AKL-HKG-CRK), and I was told No even if I am GO.

Assuming you bought the HKG-CRK under CX code, https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...dmittance.html makes clear you have lounge access as GO (or even SL), since the HKG lounge is operated by CX.