ckpeter

Inspired by the thread started by serfty, I noticed that, in the latest revision of the oneworld web site, the lounge policy now seems to allow any guest for elite member. The language of requiring the guest to depart on an Oneworld flight has disappeared. It now states, for elite members:

Compared to the guest allowance for first class passengers:

This is the old language, as previously posted on the forum:

Does anyone have any experience on whether this language change now allows non-OW guests to enter the lounge?

Awesom Andy

I'm not sure if that is really the case, although when I entered The Pier in HK as a Sapphire with my friend, I simply said that we were together, and they let us through without checking my friend's BP.

serfty

There is another change that I have only just noticed. See here: (Lounge access - oneworld)
It is now stating "marketed or operated". It used to state "operated and marketed"; see here:
Qantas and AA both contradict this "marketed or operated":
Admirals Club ( R ) Lounge Access
oneworld Airlines Member (Qantas lounge access)

serfty

It would seem the wording on the page has changed again, and it is now marketed and operated.

In fact it is even more specific than it had been:One thing that seems to have slipped is that there is no longer any mention of guests needing to be travelling oneworld flight number and carrier.

ckpeter

Interesting change of language, again.

I wonder what's behind all the changes? While lounge access policy can be quite complicated in some special cases, the previous language was already quite clear about having oneworld flight number and metal. I wonder what cause the change to "or" and subsequent revert to "and".

chriseng

Can anybody report whether they have been able to get a non-OW guest in when your own entrance was based on tier status?

The wording does seem to be explicitly different on http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access/

oneworld lounge access for frequent flyers by tier status

• Emerald and Sapphire members may invite one guest to join them in the lounge.

oneworld lounge access for First Class or Business Class travellers

• First Class passengers may be accompanied by one guest travelling on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld airline.

swy

I just made AA EXP but the card got sent to my US address and I won't have it for my upcoming trip. I have my AA PLT card though.

Do I need to show the physical card -- Will I be able to use CX and JL F lounges with either purchased Y or Y award ticket (on OW airlines of course)?

Thanks!

correctioncx

I actually got stop before at the QF f class lounge as my guest was travelling on mU although on a QF code. But luckily as a CX dm I am entitled to bring 2 guest irrespective of what airline the guest is travelling on so the CX cso called and allowed my guest to go in

Himeno

Depending on when you got the new status and if it has updated through to other OW members systems yet, the new status should be printed on the boarding pass.
If they ask for your card, show them the one you have, tell them you don't have the new one yet and they'll scan it through the computer.

swy

Thanks! It would be about ~2 months between when I crossed EXP and my next flights, so hopefully that's enough time.

ernestnywang

Sometimes you need to ask the airlines to remove and re-add your FF number so the new status can be reflected.

swy

(follow-up) I have an award flight on Dragonair. I called Asiamiles (Chicago) to make sure they have me as oneworld emerald so that I can use the F lounge, etc. I told the agent that I am "oneworld emerald." The agent repeated after me "oneworld emerald" and sounded confused. I told him I am oneworld emerald through AA executive platinum and he sounded more confused. So I asked him to confirm that I can use the first class lounge and he told me that I can't. I asked him a few more questions and eventually he put me on hold, came back after a couple of minutes, and told me that I can use the first class arrival lounge. I asked him what about the departure lounge? He answered no, while sounding like he's reading off some printout.

sigh... I imagine it will probably work out at the airport, but still...

headinclouds

Call the airline directly which operates your flight. Have them check that you FF # is in the system. Your status is there in the booking.

ernestnywang

1. AM does not have an office in CHI, and AM does not handle anyone but CX members. If you called the AM hotline and you chose English you may very well had a Filipino agent, who is likely less experienced.
2. I would suggest you to call CX reservation to see if your EMD status is reflected.
3. You will be able to use both the F departure lounge and the arrival lounge (if arriving at HKG).

swy

(follow-up) The lounge issue was a non-issue once I got to the airport.

(not sure if I should hijack the thread here) However, my Asia Miles account didn't have middle name, while my passport did, and the first group of agents wouldn't issue me a boarding pass. Instead, they asked me to call Asia Miles to have them add my middle name on the ticket. I spent like an hour but couldn't reach anyone (a combination of my cell phone/SIM issue, Skype weirdness, sucky airport phones, sucky Asia Miles phone services...). Eventually I went back to the desk, and a different set of agent helped me to call Asia Miles and they couldn't get it resolved either, but they were willing to check me in and there were no problem at the passport control at all. It's kind of frustrating and I was lucky that I got to the airport really early...