Domestic lounge when you aren't travelling
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 779
Domestic lounge when you aren't travelling
Im dropping my dad at Sydney domestic for a flight to Melbourne. He has no status.
Im OW Emerald with AA. I'm not travelling.
Can we use the lounge either because it's in the entry rules or by asking nicely?
Im OW Emerald with AA. I'm not travelling.
Can we use the lounge either because it's in the entry rules or by asking nicely?
Last edited by creampuff; Jan 2, 2017 at 9:08 pm Reason: B
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Location: YLMQ
Programs: QF Gold, WY Gold
Posts: 682
Sadly, not possible.
Shame because other way around would be fine. On several occasions I've taken my wife and kids with me into the J & QC lounge when only I'm travelling for a drink and to watch the planes.
Shame because other way around would be fine. On several occasions I've taken my wife and kids with me into the J & QC lounge when only I'm travelling for a drink and to watch the planes.
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
#4
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
While the answer is no for your EXP status, QFF WP status would allow this -- a benefit of QF status vs the "equivalent" AA status. Hence why I have both
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,422
A Platinum member has to be travelling that day in order to use a lounge
#6
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF SG, LH SEN, OZ D+, HH D, SPG P
Posts: 14,343
I would strongly advise against it. Airlines have been prosecuting people who did this and did win in court.
Correct. About 10 years ago? IIRC, it actually took us some writing to QF Management to get at least lounge use on arrival back as part of the benefits.
Correct. About 10 years ago? IIRC, it actually took us some writing to QF Management to get at least lounge use on arrival back as part of the benefits.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
Seems like the burden of proof would be on the airline to prove the person had no intention of using their refundable ticket. Then again there is nothing in the terms of conditions saying you have to fly using a refundable ticket, hence it being "refundable."
Americans do it all the time here in the States to bypass TSA checkpoints to access lounges and no airline has ever wasted their time going to court about it. Just my two cents and a suggestion i guess.
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,422
Whether there it is likely to be prosecuted doesn't make using the services when having no intention of paying for it any better does it?
Suggesting what would seem to be nigh on fraudulent seems to be rather poor
Suggesting what would seem to be nigh on fraudulent seems to be rather poor
#9
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: RSW
Programs: QF WP LTG
Posts: 252
IMO this is quite possible. As a QF WP entering the lounge I've only ever had to flash the card, never an actual BP (not in the last few years anyway), even when guesting. Admittedly I've never tried this as an AA EXP however if I were in your situation I'd give it a go. If you are questioned and get denied, big deal. If you don't try you'll never know.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 779
IMO this is quite possible. As a QF WP entering the lounge I've only ever had to flash the card, never an actual BP (not in the last few years anyway), even when guesting. Admittedly I've never tried this as an AA EXP however if I were in your situation I'd give it a go. If you are questioned and get denied, big deal. If you don't try you'll never know.
However for this upcoming SYD-MEL trip, I've decided to go ultra cheap and I've bought my dad a ticket on Jetstar
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,422
Even if you could get in, it would seem better to just drop off closeish to departure time and not worry about a lounge which is going to be in a different terminal to which he is departing from
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,518
All the joy of the SYD T3 QF lounge quickly evaporates when you leave the lounge and trek over to T2 and go through security (again) and mingle with the VA, TT and JQ riff-raff. Allow minimum of 20 min after leaving the T3 lounge to joining the T2 queue for your JQ flight. And remember that scrum for overhead space - no priority boarding ..
#13
#14
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Programs: QF Platinum One (LTG), UA Plat IHG Plat
Posts: 5,836
However in practice it seems flashing the card has been enough with no actual proof of travel. However there's always the chance, that an agent may want to scan the card and then when they find there's no current day flight associated with it then things could get tricky.
I've always used when flying, or after arrival from a flight, and I've never actually seen an agent scan a card, but it is absolutely their right to do so to validate same day travel.
Of course this only relates to QF Platinum/Platinum One. Another OWE could not do this.
#15
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NSW
Programs: QF P1 + LTG VA Plat, AA nothing, HH Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 764
IME various QF Dom J Lounges go through phases of actually scanning cards/ BP. The OP might or might not get lucky. I just wouldn't risk the embarrassment. If I'm at the airport, not flying and need to use the lounge to go to the bathroom or print something off I just show my card and ask politely. I have never been refused access in these circumstances.