As a *G do I get lounge access on a flight operated by AI Express
 

I am planning to book an Air India ticket, however the flight is operated by Air India Express. The route is DOH to BOM.

Do I get lounge access in DOH as I am a Star Gold?

I have tried to search through FT, but could not find any information. Can someone with more experience, help me out?

Thanks in advance

i think air india express is still excluded from all star alliance benefits....

there has been some talk for the last few years to include ai express but i don't think that has happened yet....

Hi Keyser,
Thanks for the message. Its a pity AI express is excluded.

I fly Alliance Air all the time. I get lounge access. Just no points.

Alliance Air is the regional airline of Air India, and AI Express is a different airline altogether. Like Thai and Thai Smile.

AI Express (IX) is a completely different operation and not part of the *A, so you get zero bennies. Alliance Air (9I) is a subsidiary of AI that operates flights on behalf of AI, so its a full fledged *A flight.

An LCC joining an alliance is counterproductive. Thai smiles is joining *A as connecting partner, so that is probably what IX is after too.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Express to provide *G benefits. Maybe in a couple of years they may join the Thai Smiles move, but there may be some different market dynamics involve that extend keeping Express as something different than Smiles becomes for Thai and *G.

I think IX wants to get the connecting traffic benefits and that's what is/was driving them to seek *A partnership. Perhaps becoming a connecting partner like Juneyao?

Alliance has never given me any points. Only lounge access. And only in one direction. Outstations have no lounges. Hell some have no seats.

I just asked the question, as I wasnt sure whether booking an Air India ticket (with AI numbers, but operated by AI express) entitles me for a lounge. but from the above discussion it seems - the answer is NO. thanks for all the inputs

i've been reading about this for about 3 years now & i'm sure we will still be talking about this 3+ years from now....i don't expect it to happen anytime soon, if at all....

i fly alliance air between del-ixd-del over 20 times a year....i always get points & lounge access (in del)....the only thing they don't give me is additional baggage allowance since the flight is operated by an atr....

Maybe my fare class is too low. I am booking this flight now and it appears no one is on it for a flight in the first week of September.