lounge in Melbourne not code-shared?
 

I'm sitting in Melbourne Qantas J lounge not feeling too impressed. Flying on QF9 to Dubai, I was hoping to check out both Qantas n Emirates J lounge.

My expectation of qantas lounge wasn't high in terms of food, and i certainly wasn't proven wrong. No warm food option except soup for dinner. So i thought i will go check out Emirates lounge as my previous experiences with Emirates lounge in other parts of the world were always positive and food offering always top notch.

I was surprised i was a REFUSED entry, as apparently I'm only entitled to use Qantas lounge as the flight is operated by Q. I questioned the receptionist a few times and she was insistent thats the way it works.

So begrudgingly i return to Q lounge, not that it's a bad place to hang out as it was spacious and with pretty good alcohol options, but the lack of warm food is puzzling.

Certainly makes me less likely to fly Q international in the future, esp if there are Code-shared flights operated by Emirates.

This is my first time flying Qantas J long distance, and unless things change in the future Im likely to shun it in the future.

Now hoping for better food on board their A380...

I stand corrected, there's one hot food option of beef i red wine sauce, with potato. Would like to have more option, but hey it's better than nothing.

Has anyone been on Qantas flight and not allowed in Emirates lounge?

The EK lounge in MEL has a habit of incorrectly denying people access based on the fact they are on QF metal. It's been documented before on other forums, possibly on FT as well.

You're only QF PS (no lounge access) and EK Silver (lounge access only in DXB) so you're accessing the lounge based on class of service.

Class of service follows similar rules to the oneworld class of service rules.

That means those flying EK metal in J can use the QF lounge and vice versa.

See here for the QF J lounge rules: http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...unge/global/en

EK are not OW.

You are also referring to the QF lounge rules and not EK. Lounge access based on elite status is completely reciprocal (in Australia, DXB and a few other ports).

Which program are you crediting to?

It should not matter about FF program - according to the Qantas web site, COS based lounge access is indeed reciprocal.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...ang:en#lounges


There are no Caveats:

Emirates confirms this at least for Dubai:

http://www.emirates.com/au/english/h...ounges-in-duba

Elsewhere they "recommend" that one stays with the lounge of the operating carrier if both lounges exist at the airport:

http://www.emirates.com/au/english/h...s-lounge-and-a

Actually that wording doesn't actually state that a passenger can choose what lounge that they wish to use, just that they have access to lounges - the OP was granted access to a lounge, just not the one he wanted to use

My understanding is that the passenger should be able to choose ( same as I recently chose to use a Qantas lounge in AKL rather than the EK one ) but I don't see that statement as being clear that the choice should be there

This is something over which I would contact customer relations ( as I had to do recently when EK staff in AKL invented rules )

You are correct ...

Yes I agree, but I have read several reports of EK/QF directing pax to lounges based on the program they are crediting to.

I have seen that happen where access is being requested by status and was , according to customer service, not what they are supposed to do

e.g. Passenger in business class on EK flight with a non status EK FF number in booking but presenting a current Qantas Gold card

Agent stated that could get access for self by virtue of being in business class, but no guest access. Agent was insistant that the status needs to show on the boarding pass and can't just enter based on having the membership card

Qantas customer service have stated that this is incorrect though

EK lounges at SYD/MEL are frequently over-crowded hence EK has a protective attitude towards lounge occupancy. Since EK does not have an F lounge their J lounge has to be better; QF instead has invested in having a separate F lounge at MEL which has great food and drink and much nicer than the EK J/F lounge. Because of this the QF J lounge suffers as it isn't their top lounge but I find it nicer than an Air NZ lounge that I have gone into in the past decade -- so not that shabby. Interesting difference in approach, EK choosing a downgraded F lounge and upgraded J lounge, while QF choosing a "one of the 10 best F lounges in the world" F lounge at MEL (SYD is similar). As for lounge hopping, status is the only sure way (enough status and you can do whatever you want, whenever you want, though not many of us get that much status).

Status is not the only way.

If holding QF status, booked on an EK flight and not having the QF status showing on the boarding pass ( e.g. having an EK number in the booking ) there are some EK agents who will not permit access on status

EK staff are being protective in a manner contrary to the entitlements of QF members ( as confirmed by QF when such issue was raised ).

The lounge criteria states passengers have access to Qantas and Emirates lounges, not Qantas or Emirates lounges.

This implies passengers can choose which one they want. Lounge crowding may be an issue restricting access, but i would expect this to be explained where appropriate.

They do have access to Qantas and Emirates lounges. There is nothing actually stating that the passenger can choose

As far as it goes, if raising the issue with QF, I doubt that QF would disagree that the passenger is supposed to have the choice and that agents at the lounge are not acting correctly; my point was simply that the statement quoted was not something that explicitly supports it

as I said, it is implied the passenger can choose. You don't actually have access if a lounge agent can say 'no'.

there is no other way to read the provisions unless you take a restrictive view, but I think it unlikely that would be supported by any contractual interpretation (and this is a contractual issue as you have paid for lounge access as part of your ticket).

And I would never rely on an "implication" if trying to assert that something is being done against the rules : where there is ambiguity or reliance on implication , would not work well to convince an agent that their procedure is wrong I posit

I do think that it is EK agents following rules incorrectly or the documentation provided to EK agents being ambiuous or incorrect ( same as requiring that for access via status, that the status show on the BP - which QF states is incorrect )

The best that can be done is to take it up with QF Customer Service to address and verify that QF concurs that the passenger can choose the lounge

All I am saying is that the document does not state that the passenger can choose and something more authoritative would be something I would be looking for

How about going back to the QF lounge and nicely asking the desk staff would they mind ringing the EK lounge and telling them the rules say they have to let you in ? ;)

It's MEL T2. Why go back downstairs to the QF J lounge, when you can go next door to the QF F lounge and ask the staff there to come talk to the EK lounge staff.

Just got back from the Emirates Lounge in Melbourne for being QF Gold.

My trip report: http://www.theshutterwhale.com/blog/...bourne-airport

http://static.squarespace.com/static.../?format=1000w

They don't let QF Gold into the Emirates Lounge at LHR (right next to the QF departure gate). Instead you're invited to walk back to the QF/BA Lounge (10 minutes each way at a brisk walk) if there is a delay at the gate.

As the projected delay was 20 minutes, I declined, and of course it turned into an hour, but always announced in increments as "twenty minutes".

There have been a few posts confirming that at LHR the lounge access (at least to the EK lounge) is strictly on the basis of the operating carrier - it would help if they it clear that this was a requirement rather than a 'recommendation'

Marc You were very lucky indeed
 

Marc'

You were very lucky indeed as I have have been knocked back as well, being a QF Gold flier. The excuse I was given was that they could not log into the QF system. Their lounge does look very nice but EK is hit and miss with the Amsterdam lounge being an absolute shocker (limited grog, no hot food and miles from the gate) and Dusseldorf being fantastiic for ony about 10 passengers (maybe the Etiyad/Air Berlin competition focusses the mind) .

Yes, the guy at the gate even suggested I go to the Emirates lounge when the delay was announced. I walk over there and it's, "No, only if you're traveling First Class".

Rules is rules of course, but they seem happy to let you think you can use Emirates lounges with being too clear about it.

Rehashing an old thread rather than starting a new one.

The other day I was transiting through MEL and thought I would check out the Emirates lounge. I was travelling with Qantas in J and hold Gold status with Qantas. To my surprise I was denied access - the staff member insisted that I needed to be booked on an Emirates code share flight.

Reading this thread it looks like others have been denied for the same reason. I've been into other Emirates lounges when travelling on Qantas without a hitch. Is it hit or miss whether you get into the MEL lounge depending on who is manning the front desk? I'm travelling through BNE soon and would like to check out the Emirates lounge there - any experiences of accessing that lounge as a Qantas passenger?

You do not need to be booked on a codeshare, but it does seem that the agents will only allow those booked on a flight where a codeshare exists

What flight were you booked on and did it have an Emirates code share?

Last month I flew out on QF37, in economy, on QF code, and no problems at all as a Gold QFF.

QF79 MEL-NRT. Not sure about the code share but don't think so.

Whether it is correct for them to do so or not, I have come across the agents at the Emirates lounge checking whether the flight is one that offers a EK codeshare when deciding on access

MEL-NRT is not one of the flights with a codeshare, so can understand why admittance was denied

I am not sure that this is supposed to be how Ek determines how access should be granted

Lounge access is only on routes where the qf/EK partnership applies... so you can't use the EK lounge in Australia before a QF flight to the USA for example. Their partnership doesn't extend to the usa... and I guess a code share is a good way of working that agreement out? Same with other flights around the world, just because EK has a lounge in a particular port it doesn't mean QF pax can automatically use it. .

Not according to the Qantas Gold tier benefits page

I have seen agents looking to limit access, but does not seem to be in line with Qantas's listed benefit

Either poor wording by Qantas or incorrect interpretation by the EK lounge staff but I have seen QF passengers denied access, AKL and SYD, with the reason being that the QF/EK partnership not including the flight (in the AKL case it was an FJ codeshare to NAN so I assume that was completely legitimate) SYD was to HND so similar to the reported cases in MEL.

From speaking to Qantas customer service, I believe that the issue is with Emirates's lounge agents putting additional rules in place that are not actual rules

I have seen the agents using the codeshare rule , but I am fairly sure that the Qantas website is correct and that the lounge agents are incorrect

So the situation is not dissimilar to trying to argue with a security agent about the item they want to throw out is actually OK to carry on.

I don't know - I have never had that situation occur ; I have only had a case where I was surprised that such an item I had would be prohibited, but the security agent was able to obtain documentation that supported his position

If the agents say that the rule is X, they are unlikely to change from it.

I was getting at, IMHO, incorrect interpretation of documentation. In my case it was scissors at TPE needing “rounded blades”. Only those with rounded cutting edges were allowed - which means (to the security guy) that all scissors were trashed. Mine had rounded ends and were OK everywhere else. The security guy got his supervisor who agreed with the junior’s opinion. Next adjudication would have been with guys with big guns.

It doesn't sound like the agents were incorrect - rounded tip is not the same as a rounded blade

The guys were quoting an English translation of the rules originally in Chinese.
Rounded blades on scissors make them blunt objects and ineffective for achieving their implied purpose (ie cutting things). Notwithstanding, an argument would have only led to tears (mine) and a visit to a very ugly holding cell off the airport. The argument that SYD, LAX, DFW, NRT and HND security said they are "OK" failed to impress.

And rounded blades are on items.

That other airrports allowed them is irrelevant. different places have different rules. Taipei is none of Australia , USA or Japan so would not expect that to hold any weight. There are, for example, surgical items with rounded blades - and this is different to having rounded tips