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oneworld lounge access
Can someone clarify a question for me (have been unable to find this via searching).
I will be flying on a oneworld flight in International First Class. If I don't like that airline's lounge, can I use another oneworld lounge in the same terminal? Star have this policy but not sure about oneworld (their website wasn't of help either). I don't have status on oneworld .. so don't know if that will make a difference ... Thanks in advance for your assistance |
Originally Posted by Humshee
Can someone clarify a question for me (have been unable to find this via searching).
I will be flying on a oneworld flight in International First Class. If I don't like that airline's lounge, can I use another oneworld lounge in the same terminal? Star have this policy but not sure about oneworld (their website wasn't of help either). I don't have status on oneworld .. so don't know if that will make a difference ... Thanks in advance for your assistance |
The official policy is that you cannot; F access is only to the lounge of that airline. Unofficially many lounges allow access, but it varies by airline and airport. If you specify which airport and airline we might be able to speculate on how likely it would be. In general BA is the hardest and CX is the easiest. I am fairly sure that the hosting lounge does not get reimbursed for an F admission (while they do get paid for a Oneworld status admission), so they really are doing this as a favour and to be gracious.
Star and OW differ in lots of policies; this is one of them, and baggage allowance is another. Gets confusing sometimes. |
Originally Posted by Humshee
If I don't like that airline's lounge, can I use another oneworld lounge in the same terminal?
I've tried a number of times and have and been denied access by BA, EI, and CX at a variety of airports. However, if the lounge is empty and the attendant is friendly, you may be able to talk your way in. |
Originally Posted by rikahlberg
Probably not. The airlines don't in practice generally allow passengers on partner airlines use their lounges -- even if you have top-tier OneWorld status (Emerald).
I've tried a number of times and have and been denied access by BA, EI, and CX at a variety of airports. I notice though that your profile says AA Plat, which is OneWorld Sapphire, not Emerald. In this case you would be refused access to F lounges, but you would have access to J lounges (with the same exception for North American flights). |
Originally Posted by christep
This is just wrong - as a OneWorld Emerald you have access to any OneWorld airline lounge (F or J) when flying on a OneWorld airline from that airport that day. I have never had any difficulty at all with this (except once with FinnAir in Helsinki, where they took some persuading). The only exception is for AA EXPs flying on "domestic" North American flights.
I notice though that your profile says AA Plat, which is OneWorld Sapphire, not Emerald. In this case you would be refused access to F lounges, but you would have access to J lounges (with the same exception for North American flights). The only exception to this is when there are capacity issues and this is even clearly stated on the oneworld website. There are permanent capacity issues at airports like CDG so if you flying BA into LHR, with anything except BA membership, you won't get into the lounge. Fortunately these exceptions are few and far between. CX and QF are pretty open and as long as you wave a F or J International boarding pass even without having any status, they will let you in. Unfortunately there is nothing on the oneworld site stating the full lounge access policy. |
Originally Posted by Traveloguy
I am going to agree with christep on this one. With status there is no problem at all with getting into any OW lounge when flying any OW member airline. Where things are a little grey is when one has no status.
ONEWORLD LOUNGE FACILITIES oneworld™ Lounge Access The oneworld™ alliance airlines provide access to over 300 lounges of a high level.You may have access to different types of lounges, depending on your membership status or the flight ticket you are traveling on. International First Class travelers The First Class and Business Class lounges of any of the oneworld alliance airlines may be used when traveling same day on an International First Class ticket on a oneworld operated and marketed flight. Please show a valid ticket and/or boarding card when entering the lounge. One guest is permitted. * * Guests must be accompanied by the eligible member and must be traveling on the same flight. International Business Class travelers The Business Class lounges of any of the oneworld alliance airlines may be used when traveling same day on an international Business Class ticket on a oneworld operated and marketed flight. Please show a valid ticket and/or boarding card when entering the lounge. No guests permitted. |
Good to see that someone has finally found a common policy document. Shame this cannot be found on the OneWorld website as it has answered a lot of questions that have been posed recently in this forum as well as the BA and QF forums on lounge access. Seems that as per usual the BA lounge dragons are the most restrictive and often the ones to bar access against common policy.
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The requirement to show a valid ticket would seem to rule out access to most lounges; you would have to have a paper ticket, or an e-ticket that includes a sector on the airline whose lounge you are trying to access (otherwise the computers at the lounge won't see the ticket). If AY really wanted you to have lounge access, then the boarding pass would be all that is required. Adding the ticket requirement effectively removes the benefit; an interesting way to do business.
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Originally Posted by number_6
The requirement to show a valid ticket would seem to rule out access to most lounges; you would have to have a paper ticket, or an e-ticket that includes a sector on the airline whose lounge you are trying to access (otherwise the computers at the lounge won't see the ticket). If AY really wanted you to have lounge access, then the boarding pass would be all that is required. Adding the ticket requirement effectively removes the benefit; an interesting way to do business.
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Originally Posted by Traveloguy
QF are pretty open and as long as you wave a F or J International boarding pass even without having any status, they will let you in. Unfortunately there is nothing on the oneworld site stating the full lounge access policy.
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Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
International QF lounges only, or same journey international BP at domestic lounge. Domestic BP at domestic QF lounge does not give access, unless you also have Qantas Club membership or OW Sapphire or Emerald status.
I do wish Qantas would allow domestic Business class passengers with access to the lounge. That certainly is one policy that could do with a little enhancing (in the positive way of course). |
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
International QF lounges only, or same journey international BP at domestic lounge. Domestic BP at domestic QF lounge does not give access, unless you also have Qantas Club membership or OW Sapphire or Emerald status.
Dave |
Thanks for the clarification. Without the international BP you would need the ticket to verify eligibility.
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Originally Posted by christep
This is just wrong - as a OneWorld Emerald you have access to any OneWorld airline lounge (F or J) when flying on a OneWorld airline from that airport that day. I have never had any difficulty at all with this (except once with FinnAir in Helsinki, where they took some persuading). The only exception is for AA EXPs flying on "domestic" North American flights.
I notice though that your profile says AA Plat, which is OneWorld Sapphire, not Emerald. In this case you would be refused access to F lounges, but you would have access to J lounges (with the same exception for North American flights). Which lounges have folks been able to get access to on status alone? |
Originally Posted by rikahlberg
...Which lounges have folks been able to get access to on status alone?
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Originally Posted by rikahlberg
Nice theory, hasn't worked in practice for me. You guys must really be good at talking your way in to lounges. (I just dropped from EXP to Plat on AA this month.)
Which lounges have folks been able to get access to on status alone? |
Er, everywhere - I have never ever been refused access to the lounge which the OneWorld rules say that I am entitled to as a OW Emerald, which is any OW lounge at that airport.
I've been in ACs in many US airports, the AC at NRT, the FLs at ORD, LAX, LHR. Pretty much all of CX's lounges worldwide. BA/QF lounges at LHR, LGW, SOU, JFK, SFO, LAX, BRU, SYD, SIN, MEL, and others. AY at HEL. EI at LHR, DUB... [This is by no means a complete list] Obviously this is only when flying on a OneWorld marketed and operated flight that day from that airport (except for CX J lounges which I can access any time). |
Originally Posted by christep
Er, everywhere - I have never ever been refused access to the lounge which the OneWorld rules say that I am entitled to as a OW Emerald, which is any OW lounge at that airport.
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Third that, never had any problem either.
Regarding entry based on intl F/J boarding pass, it is normally allowed, however, I think only AY and CX have written policies allowing this. |
Never had access refused, but had some interesting conversations with AC agents in the US a few years ago. And there is the famous set of dragons at the BA MIA lounge.
But 99% of the time, no problems whatsoever. |
Originally Posted by Swanhunter
Never had access refused, but had some interesting conversations with AC agents in the US a few years ago. And there is the famous set of dragons at the BA MIA lounge.
But 99% of the time, no problems whatsoever. If no BA lounge, any other OW lounges in MIA? |
Originally Posted by skye1
...If no BA lounge, any other OW lounges in MIA?
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Originally Posted by skye1
...If no BA lounge, any other OW lounges in MIA?
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Originally Posted by Dave Noble
You do not need an International BP per se. As long as the domestic sector is part of an international itinerary, then access is permitted. It doesn't have to be the same day as the international flight
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Originally Posted by number_6
The AC in terminal A in MIA is actually a better lounge than the BA Terraces (which is definitely the worst Terraces in the world, which I can now say as I have finally visited all of the Terraces branded lounges). So the lounge situation in MIA is greatly improved in the past year (with the opening of the new ACs inside security in D and A). Also MIA has quite good coffee inside the ACs, and the bars are stocked with Galliano and Campari (unlike some other ACs).
And, milksheikh, no. Qantas doesn't fly to Anchorage. The rule DN cited (which is correct from my experience) is for the Qantas Club. AA's policy is limited to international premium class on the day of travel. So if you were flying LAX-ORD-LHR all in first class, you should, in theory, get access in Los Angeles. But in practice, results occasionally vary. |
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Originally Posted by milksheikh
To verify that I am understanding this correctly, if I fly ANC-DFW-BOS as part of a *ONE* RTW ticket, I should have access to the Admirals Club at DFW (being an AA Plat = OW Sapphire), even though my previous international segment was several days earlier and my next international segment is several days away?
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Originally Posted by number_6
No, I don't agree with that interpretation. The actual rule is in AA CoC and requires same-day international flight for AC/FL access if you do not have non-AA OW status. So in your example, you are not entitled to AC access at DFW. It is not really subject to interpretation, but it is such a rare condition that the AC might let you in as a favour if you ask nicely. Pushing it will get the real rules applied and not let you in.
oneworld benefits are available to qualifying passengers and eligible guests on scheduled flights that are both operated and marketed by a oneworld member airline. Eligible passengers have access to either the Admirals Club lounge or Flagship Lounge facility (where available) on the day of their departure. oneworld passengers qualify based on either class of service or frequent flyer status as shown below: [charts not quoted] *AAdvantage Executive Platinum® and AAdvantage Platinum® members must be departing on a oneworld operated/marketed flight that day. Excludes AAdvantage members traveling on solely North American itineraries. North America is defined as U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), Bermuda, The Bahamas, and the Caribbean. |
Originally Posted by milksheikh
...A RTW ticket is not a "solely North American itinerary", so by literal interpretation of this policy, I should be entitled to access at DFW, no? Or is this just wishful thinking...
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Viajero got it in 1. Now if the rules had said "ticket" instead of "itinerary", then you'd be golden, but those sneaky OW airlines don't miss a trick when phrasing their rules.
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Originally Posted by christep
This is just wrong - as a OneWorld Emerald you have access to any OneWorld airline lounge (F or J) when flying on a OneWorld airline from that airport that day. I have never had any difficulty at all with this (except once with FinnAir in Helsinki, where they took some persuading).
In WAW it was impossible to get in the AY contract lounge with AA PLT and AY flight. Afterwards AY custservice said I should have been given access, but no explanation of what went wrong, whether they will fix it, or any attempt to compensate. |
Originally Posted by Pets
What persuading was necessary?
This was at the same time as they insisted on getting an open-dated paper coupon stickered before they would accept it for the flight on which I had a reservation (the only time in the whole OneWorld empire that I have had to do that in over 100 coupons). |
Originally Posted by christep
This was at the same time as they insisted on getting an open-dated paper coupon stickered before they would accept it for the flight on which I had a reservation (the only time in the whole OneWorld empire that I have had to do that in over 100 coupons).
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Update: the oneworld website now has a written policy on this.
Lounge Access by Class of Travel Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status. (First Class passengers may be accompanied by one guest travelling on a oneworld sold/operated flight). Customers flying in Economy class on the domestic or intra-European segment to connect to or from a oneworld longhaul First or Business Class flight can also use the lounge applicable to the class in which they are travelling the longhaul segment. Exception: American Airlines AAdvantage members, regardless of their tier status, may not use lounges when travelling on solely North American itineraries (defined as within or between the USA, Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean). In these cases, access rules are governed by American Airlines' own rules (ie paid lounge-access membership). |
Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status... If you are a top-tier member of one of our frequent flyer programmes, you will have access to any of these lounges... |
Originally Posted by Viajero
Yes, it is the same text that has been around for some time in the OW Planner; but note the following (emphasis is mine):
and now compare it with access by status rules (same source): As you can see there is a difference, and at least one airline (CX) has stated that in their view access by Class, without status, is only available to pax flying that particular airline (CX), not -any- OW airline. |
Originally Posted by alect
Why would the OW site state that a CX pax flying in F is entitled to get into the CX F lounge? Isn't that just redundant. It has nothing to do with OW - CX already provides for that. This may rely too much on the legal reasoning that words should be given some effect, but if the statement is interpreted to apply to premium pax for the airline running the lounge it would have no effect - thus the words need to be interpreted to have some effect/meaning. Ofcourse legalese (or logic) doesn't necessarily have any connection to OW.
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Originally Posted by bensyd
I've looked high and low on that page where does the comment about CX pax flying F come from????
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