Quick question - I am traveling in February to Dublin on EI (an AA codeshare) and I am an EXP. Normally I would use the AA Flagship Lounge (the one at K19), but I have never departed from the International Terminal at ORD. So, is there and EI lounge that I would have access to or is there a BA First/Terraces Lounge that I can use?

There are BA biz and first lounges in Terminal M. The first class lounge has a dining room.

Actually the Business lounge has the dining rooms. The 1st lounge is across the corridor and is smaller , brighter and imo nicer.

Dave

Is the ORD BA lounge like the one at JFK where you have to be travelling in BA Club World or BA First to use the dining room? At JFK, if you are travelling on CX, you are not allowed to use the dining room.

That is why ONEWORLD should be called NONEWORLD. Cathay passengers can use the lounge but cannot use the dining room! IMHO this is red tape at its worst. They actually have a person to stop the cathay passengers from crossing over to the dining area. The salary paid for the extra person would be much more than the cost of a few passengers using the dining room.

[This message has been edited by drbala (edited 11-04-2002).]

The dining is provided as pre-flight dining for BA 1st / Business passengers not as snacking area for all lounge users. Unless travelling on BA in the appropriate cabin, then you are ineligable to use the dining rooms.

Dave

Well, upon my first visit to the BA Terraces Lounge at JFK before my flight on CX, I was a bit disappointed to find out that I was ineligble to grab dinner in the dining room. I was then even more disappointed to find out that the business class side does not offer any sandwiches, unlike the BA Terraces lounge at LHR T4.

But now that I think about it, this policy is not too unreasonable. BA passengers look forward to a relatively short flight (7 hours) where they need to get some sleep before a busy work day the next morning in London. Because of the short flight time, in order to maximize sleeping time, it's practical to offer pre-flight dining in the lounge for BA passengers (and also breakfast in the arrivals lounge at LHR T4).

For CX passengers, we have 20 hours of flight time which means plenty of time to sleep (and enjoy the best business class inflight service in the oneworld alliance). Moreover, we look forward to essentially two dinner services, one full dinner on the way to YVR, and one late evening (or rather early morning) supper immediately upon leaving YVR.

Quite frankly, the policy that prohibits CX passengers to use the dining room doesn't irk me that much. The lounge itself is very much appreciated with it's excellent facilities (showers, computer terminals, luggage hold, full self-serve bar, etc.) It's a nice place to relax as we anticipate the wonderful food on CX.

This must be a new policy. My wife and I travelled JFK-HKG on CX last year. We took advantage of the dining room (though nothing to write home about) and there was no question as to why we were there.

The policy isn't new, the dining is a benefit for the BA premium passengers. Their not noticing you was a bit of luck for you

Dave

Dave --

We were told to use the dining room by the BA staff. They checked our boaridng passes and all! I guess we were just lucky!

--Jim

it had always been like that.
pre-flight dining is only for BA passengers.

but you lose nothing as the food was just as terrible as in flight.
(think about cheap college dorm buffet with limited selection).

however, this policy is very considerate for you . what i mean is:
if you are on CX, you should save your stomach for something than deserves the name "food"

[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 11-07-2002).]

I had always thought pre-flight dining was only for BA pax. A couple of months ago I was flying QF in first JFK-LAX. I asked the lounge attendant if I could use the pre-flight dining facility and she said no problem. I guess it just depends who is manning the door on a particular day.