Lounge Access (Newbie Question)
 

Hi All!

In December we will be flying BNE (DJ/UA codeshare) SYD-UA-LAX//LAX-UA-PHL-US-LGW-US-PHL//PHL-UA-LAX-UA-SYD-DJ/UA-BNE. I'm UA *G and my partner is non-status and all travel is in Y.

I've done a search but couldn't come up with the answers.

In BNE is there lounge access for *G travelling on DJ/UA codeshare?

In SYD is UA's lounge for *G pax? I was denied access to this lounge in June while travelling to BKK on TG. (Was told "We don't allow access for *G pax travelling TG" (?) Too tired to argue.

Can we use the NZ or SQ lounge at SYD if we wish?

Will we get access to RCC in LAX on our LAX-PHL-LGW leg?

Which lounge(s) can we access in PHL and any recommendations?

We stopover in PHL on IB then same day PHL-UA-LAX-UA-SYD-DJ/UA-BNE.

Can we access any *G lounge in PHL?

Can we access any *G lounge on our return to SYD? Be great to have a shower etc!

Thanks in advance,

Adam.

Can help you with one question: the NZ lounge is a *G lounge and is one of the best I have ever visited. Great ambiance, fantastic showers, food and good wine.

BTW is the UA lounge a *G one? If not then it's understandable that you didn't get access flying TG, if it is I would send an email to UA to complain about this.

Welcome to FT adamkps :)

As you are travelling on DJ BNE-SYD you probably wont have lounge access, unless you pay to visit DJ's Blue Room (or have other lounge access through Diners or ...).

At SYD I would use NZ lounge. It is superb - great food and drink, showers, computers, decent size, etc.

My understanding is you will have access to RCC at LAX - provided either your *G status is with airline other than UA and US, or the LAX-PHL is same day connection from the international flight. Coming back is international flight so definitely access as *G. Similarly for PHL on way back (note I dont know what lounges are available in PHL).

On the return through SYD you wont have access to *G lounge as they are only for departing pax. However you can pay (A$5 IIRC) to use DJ's Blue Room which reportedly has showers.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Fliar and Kiwi Flyer,

It's great to get such quick responses and thanks for your welcome.



Adam. :)

No. As DJ fly from the domestic terminal there are no *G lounges at all. DJ have their Blue Room but it's not quite the same as a real lounge and costs $5.

The SYD RCC is for *G. You should be allowed into any *G lounge when travelling *G that day, but as others report, sometimes individual lounges claim otherwise.

Yes. If told to go to RCC tell them you heard their lounge is so much better.

Yes. Show ongoing BP and SYD-LAX BP and tell them your on an international itinerary.

Can't help there sorry.

Yes (don't if there are any beyond RCC). For RCC show them you're on an international itinerary.

No. The lounges are in the international departures area and you will have to leave intl to go to the domestic terminal. Plus your ongoing flight is not a *A flight so no access anyway I think.

Print a copy of the *A lounge access rules, and a copy of the RCC/ADMIT profile (search the MileagePlus forum) to take with you in case of any hassles. Be sure to ask for your drink certificates at LAX RCC on way back to SYD.

In PHL you'll be leaving from A-West on US, which has a new US Airways club upstairs as you're going down the hall to the A-West gates. If you're in Envoy (business class) the Envoy lounge is to the left, and the US Airways/*G lounge is to the right when you get to the entranceway. (I know you said all travel is in Y, but just in case. Maybe they'll send you to the Envoy lounge anyway...who knows?)

There are other lounges in PHL, but that's the nicest (especially if you're Envoy) and the closest to your gates.

On return to the US you won't have access to anything in PHL since that's your endpoint and you're taking a stopover. If you were continuing, you'd have access to any lounge since it's an international connection, but sometimes you have to explain that rule to people.

In PHL, prior to your PHL-LGW flight, I would definately use the Envoy lounge in terminal A-West. It is on the 4th floor, above gate 16. To find it, just look for the elevator and escalator near gate 16. There is also a sign that reads something like "US Airways Club and Envoy Lounge."

You should be allowed to use the Envoy Lounge, as US allows *G passengers travelling on a transatlantic flight to access the Lounge. Inside you will find hor d'oeuvres and an open bar.

Upon you return, it appears that you are flying PHL-LAX-SYD all on the same day. If this is correct, than you are entitled to lounge access in PHL, as you are travelling on a same day international flight. I would suggest that you visit the US Airways Club in PHL, prior to your LAX flight. The club is located between concourses B and C, about a 7 minute walk from the UA gates. To get to the club, after clearing security in the D concourse (where UA gates and checkin are located), make a right immediately after the security checkpoint. There will be overhead signs that say "Concourses A B C." Walk down the hallway (or ride the moving sidewalk) and you will come to the shopping mall. Look for the moving sidewalks and a sign reading "Express Walkway," they are both to the left of the mall, against the windows. Get on the moving sidewalk, and where the first one ends, turn to the left and go up the escalator.

UA also has a club in PHL, but it is truly nothing special, as it is no larger than the size of an average person's living room, with seating for no more than about 15 people.

A map of the PHL airport can be found here http://www.usairways.com/travel/maps/terminal/phl.htm

Thanks all! :)

Just one more question - will DJ check our bags all the way to LAX or as we have to change terminals in SYD will we have to collect and drag them over to the International terminal :mad: we're not known for travelling light! :D

Adam.

No DJ can not interline your bags. You will have to drag them over to the international terminal. You may be lucky and find the DJ shuttle between terminals but others have reported it is usually nowhere to be found.

General recommendation: don't bother with DJ from BNE to SYD, always fly QF. The bags get checked all the way through and you get no-hassle transfers between terminals. Even better try to get on one of QF's international flights between BNE-SYD. Other than a fairly long walk right round the international terminal, this gets you the benefits on no domestic transfer at all, you can clear customs and immigration in BNE, and you typically get a much nicer flight on a 747 than regular domestic QF service. I check-in in the RCC at SYD when I do this. The only downside of getting QF to interline your bags is no *G Priority tags :) - if that applies - and we all know they have limited worth on UA anyway. :D