The Business/First ticket...without lounge access
Oct 14, 2023 | 5:47 am
#106
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
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BA's network of lounges are, with just two exceptions, open to access on the basis of OneWorld status. All QR lounges are all closed to OneWorld status-holders, with the exception of some in Doha airport.
BA operates only two lounges off the OneWorld map. These cater exclusively for first-class and beyond-emerald passengers, one in London the other in New York. At both those locations there are also a number of BA lounges offering access to OneWorld F and J passengers and those with one-world status. Its wider network has a (much reduced!) scattering of BA-operated lounges all of which follow OneWorld rules. The airline's increasingly relying on lounge space operated by partner airlines or third-party providers, but OneWorld access rules regarding status seem to be maintained across these.
(having said that, I'm inevitably going to be pulled up by someone with far deeper knowledge of the subject
)
As far as I can make out QR provides lounge access for economy passengers with OneWorld status only in Doha. All the lounges it provides outside Qatar are restricted to revenue passengers travelling in business or first. But, like BA, it uses partner and third-party lounges at other airports. OneWorld partner lounges should be OK for status entry, but Im not sure about third-partes. Travelling QR as an Emerald-in-Y I was refused the splendours of the Garuda lounge at Jakarta because check-in had not provided me with an invitation, because of policy or by mistake I don't know.
BA operates only two lounges off the OneWorld map. These cater exclusively for first-class and beyond-emerald passengers, one in London the other in New York. At both those locations there are also a number of BA lounges offering access to OneWorld F and J passengers and those with one-world status. Its wider network has a (much reduced!) scattering of BA-operated lounges all of which follow OneWorld rules. The airline's increasingly relying on lounge space operated by partner airlines or third-party providers, but OneWorld access rules regarding status seem to be maintained across these.
(having said that, I'm inevitably going to be pulled up by someone with far deeper knowledge of the subject
)As far as I can make out QR provides lounge access for economy passengers with OneWorld status only in Doha. All the lounges it provides outside Qatar are restricted to revenue passengers travelling in business or first. But, like BA, it uses partner and third-party lounges at other airports. OneWorld partner lounges should be OK for status entry, but Im not sure about third-partes. Travelling QR as an Emerald-in-Y I was refused the splendours of the Garuda lounge at Jakarta because check-in had not provided me with an invitation, because of policy or by mistake I don't know.
at airports where qr uses a 3rd party lounge then status gets access to the same lounge business/first. I get access to Balero and Fantazja in WAW.
i do not believe there is anywhere that status has no access to a lounge, but it may not be a qr lounge.
Last edited by scottishpoet; Oct 14, 2023 at 6:18 am
Oct 14, 2023 | 10:14 am
#107
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Berlin
Programs: BAC Gold, Marriott LTP, QR Plat
Posts: 1,195
Oct 14, 2023 | 10:19 am
#108
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
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Tant pis, it's not an area that interests me too much. It's just mild irritation when I see QR's approach to the provision of OneWorld benefits justified on the basis of BA's Concorde Room
And, like poster Schwann, I, too, was the bearer of a business class boarding card stamped "no lounge access": fortunately Malaysia Airlines ignored that rudeness
Oct 14, 2023 | 8:43 pm
#109
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 3,103
BA claim to operate their own lounges at over 20 international destinations. Getting into one of those using non-BA oneworld status if flying on another oneworld airline is like winning the lottery - it's never happened for me. CX, JL, QF, AY, MH, IB, no problem. But I wouldn't put BA towards the top of the oneworld lounges happy family tree. And even with BA the direction of travel appears to be to close their own lounges and shift to third parties, with access only for their own passengers.
Yes QR protect premium travel in their very much smaller international network of lounges (only 4 locations outside of DOH), and choosing to book a P class ticket comes with its own well publicised restrictions. But their own passengers do always get a lounge based on oneworld status, even if it is a third party offering, just like BA.
I know people like to compare and contrast QR with BA, but I'm not sure they're really all that different in this instance
Yes QR protect premium travel in their very much smaller international network of lounges (only 4 locations outside of DOH), and choosing to book a P class ticket comes with its own well publicised restrictions. But their own passengers do always get a lounge based on oneworld status, even if it is a third party offering, just like BA.
I know people like to compare and contrast QR with BA, but I'm not sure they're really all that different in this instance
Oct 15, 2023 | 12:51 am
#110
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Uranus
Programs: Ann Summers Gold, Costa Cruises Bronze, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Caff Nero, Costa Coffee.
Posts: 6,223
No premium lounge access for QR Plats on P at outstation QR-operated lounges, but DOH is okay.I wonder if QR Plats at DOH will be redirected to AM during the AS closure or whether the lounge attendants PDAs will go into overdrive and redirect them to the status lounges.
Oct 15, 2023 | 1:18 am
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold/OW emerald, QR
Posts: 16,963
BA claim to operate their own lounges at over 20 international destinations. Getting into one of those using non-BA oneworld status if flying on another oneworld airline is like winning the lottery - it's never happened for me. CX, JL, QF, AY, MH, IB, no problem. But I wouldn't put BA towards the top of the oneworld lounges happy family tree. And even with BA the direction of travel appears to be to close their own lounges and shift to third parties, with access only for their own passengers.
Yes QR protect premium travel in their very much smaller international network of lounges (only 4 locations outside of DOH), and choosing to book a P class ticket comes with its own well publicised restrictions. But their own passengers do always get a lounge based on oneworld status, even if it is a third party offering, just like BA.
I know people like to compare and contrast QR with BA, but I'm not sure they're really all that different in this instance
Yes QR protect premium travel in their very much smaller international network of lounges (only 4 locations outside of DOH), and choosing to book a P class ticket comes with its own well publicised restrictions. But their own passengers do always get a lounge based on oneworld status, even if it is a third party offering, just like BA.
I know people like to compare and contrast QR with BA, but I'm not sure they're really all that different in this instance
The 4 QR premium business class lounges (DOH, CDG, LHR, BKK) are really top. The policy to close them to elite pax or super-discount J ticket allows QR to offer that kind of premium service. As a frequent J pax between CDG and Asia, that is a significant reason to choose QR over BA (I can access GF) or other airlines. It is a somewhat-unique policy but I like it.
The other policy difference, that may be more relevant to this thread, is to exclude lounge access to cheap J tickets. As mentioned in other posts, several airlines have followed that trend including AF and KL. I predict that more will follow. One obvious motivation, mentioned above, is that a lot of people use websites to compare flight cost across airlines. Now the fare comparison mixes apple and oranges as the difference in product is not only the quality of onboard products, but lounge, checked bags, advances seat selection, fare conditions, etc...
Last edited by brunos; Oct 15, 2023 at 1:28 am
Oct 15, 2023 | 1:28 am
#112
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 3,103
Okay, that clears up the rules then. No premium lounge access for QR Plats on P at outstation QR-operated lounges, but DOH is okay.
I wonder if QR Plats at DOH will be redirected to AM during the AS closure or whether the lounge attendants PDAs will go into overdrive and redirect them to the status lounges.
No premium lounge access for QR Plats on P at outstation QR-operated lounges, but DOH is okay.I wonder if QR Plats at DOH will be redirected to AM during the AS closure or whether the lounge attendants PDAs will go into overdrive and redirect them to the status lounges.
There is an outstanding question regarding temporary AM access at DOH for platinums on a P fare whilst AS is shut. One might hope so but let's pray somebody takes a cheap ticket for the team soon and puts everyone's mind at rest, one way or the other
Oct 17, 2023 | 11:08 am
#113
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 14
I am also a bit puzzled, if I will get into any lounge or not. I have an award ticket with booking class U (FRA-DOH) and Z (DOH-AUH). I just noticed that I am also a gold member with QR. Will that get me into a lounge? And would that even be the F Lounge in DOH on the outbound leg (since DOH-AUH is "first class")?
+1 is flying also on an award ticket, but booked with aa miles, I gues that does not make a difference, does it?
Sorry for these dumb questions, but while I am pretty familiar with other frequent flyer programmes, I have no idea how QR works. And that has not changed materially after spending 30 minutes to find out more...
+1 is flying also on an award ticket, but booked with aa miles, I gues that does not make a difference, does it?
Sorry for these dumb questions, but while I am pretty familiar with other frequent flyer programmes, I have no idea how QR works. And that has not changed materially after spending 30 minutes to find out more...
Oct 17, 2023 | 3:44 pm
#114
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 9,221
I am also a bit puzzled, if I will get into any lounge or not. I have an award ticket with booking class U (FRA-DOH) and Z (DOH-AUH). I just noticed that I am also a gold member with QR. Will that get me into a lounge? And would that even be the F Lounge in DOH on the outbound leg (since DOH-AUH is "first class")?
+1 is flying also on an award ticket, but booked with aa miles, I gues that does not make a difference, does it?
Sorry for these dumb questions, but while I am pretty familiar with other frequent flyer programmes, I have no idea how QR works. And that has not changed materially after spending 30 minutes to find out more...
+1 is flying also on an award ticket, but booked with aa miles, I gues that does not make a difference, does it?
Sorry for these dumb questions, but while I am pretty familiar with other frequent flyer programmes, I have no idea how QR works. And that has not changed materially after spending 30 minutes to find out more...
I will let someone more experienced with class of travel lounge rules comment on Al Safwa and/or Al Mourjan on your itinerary.
Oct 18, 2023 | 8:31 pm
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold/OW emerald, QR
Posts: 16,963
I am also a bit puzzled, if I will get into any lounge or not. I have an award ticket with booking class U (FRA-DOH) and Z (DOH-AUH). I just noticed that I am also a gold member with QR. Will that get me into a lounge? And would that even be the F Lounge in DOH on the outbound leg (since DOH-AUH is "first class")?
+1 is flying also on an award ticket, but booked with aa miles, I gues that does not make a difference, does it?
Sorry for these dumb questions, but while I am pretty familiar with other frequent flyer programmes, I have no idea how QR works. And that has not changed materially after spending 30 minutes to find out more...
+1 is flying also on an award ticket, but booked with aa miles, I gues that does not make a difference, does it?
Sorry for these dumb questions, but while I am pretty familiar with other frequent flyer programmes, I have no idea how QR works. And that has not changed materially after spending 30 minutes to find out more...
Awards tickets usually grant access to premium lounges.
Nov 2, 2023 | 3:31 pm
#118
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: M&M FQT, BA LTG, Bonvoy LTT, WoH GLOB
Posts: 988
Transiting in Doha on a biz class ticket bought via our corp travel portal and denied access. I was not aware and no info popped up anywhere. Can use the ow lounges but obviously not the same.
BA tier points and Avios do not post automatically and require manual intervention. No fast track when in economy on the outbound and using QR web check in with a BA Gold #. And on my flight just now from HKG to DOH they had run out of champagne in business right after take off. The airport is a zoo and every time I seem to be getting a bus gate. QR was nice for a while but for me theyve lost it.
BA tier points and Avios do not post automatically and require manual intervention. No fast track when in economy on the outbound and using QR web check in with a BA Gold #. And on my flight just now from HKG to DOH they had run out of champagne in business right after take off. The airport is a zoo and every time I seem to be getting a bus gate. QR was nice for a while but for me theyve lost it.
Nov 2, 2023 | 8:18 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold/OW emerald, QR
Posts: 16,963
Transiting in Doha on a biz class ticket bought via our corp travel portal and denied access. I was not aware and no info popped up anywhere. Can use the ow lounges but obviously not the same.
BA tier points and Avios do not post automatically and require manual intervention. No fast track when in economy on the outbound and using QR web check in with a BA Gold #. And on my flight just now from HKG to DOH they had run out of champagne in business right after take off. The airport is a zoo and every time I seem to be getting a bus gate. QR was nice for a while but for me they’ve lost it.
BA tier points and Avios do not post automatically and require manual intervention. No fast track when in economy on the outbound and using QR web check in with a BA Gold #. And on my flight just now from HKG to DOH they had run out of champagne in business right after take off. The airport is a zoo and every time I seem to be getting a bus gate. QR was nice for a while but for me they’ve lost it.
When you book a ticket yourself, QR makes it very explicit that P fares (Business Lite) does not grant access to QR Premium lounges. STrange that your TA did not advise you. But then the fare is cheaper. Nowadays, many airlines offer a family of fares with various benefits. It is getting complex and always advisable to check. It is a (sad) new world for passengers.
Quite a few airports do not grant security priority based on status.
Running out of Champagne in J is inexcusable, but never happened to me.
Nov 3, 2023 | 12:00 am
#120
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: M&M FQT, BA LTG, Bonvoy LTT, WoH GLOB
Posts: 988
Well the running out happened for the welcome drink after take off. It seems they do not cater in outstations, and if people drink a lot ex DOH, then this can happen. As you say, inexcusable.
I have just transited in HKG a few times in recent weeks, and the contrast in respect CX shows towards OW elites vis-a-vis QR could not be more startling.
my home base does allow fast track based on OW status, however the QR OLCKI does not issue a boarding pass with fast track, you need to stop by the counter and get printed passes.
I have just transited in HKG a few times in recent weeks, and the contrast in respect CX shows towards OW elites vis-a-vis QR could not be more startling.
my home base does allow fast track based on OW status, however the QR OLCKI does not issue a boarding pass with fast track, you need to stop by the counter and get printed passes.