First time flying business class-help!
Jan 10, 2011, 3:40 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: Continental SE 2010, Air Canada Elite 2011
Posts: 83
Jan 10, 2011, 4:14 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 13,145
NRT: ANA lounges: amazing. Highlights: Showers, sushi, udon noodle bar, sake bar, chocolates are amazing. 2 to choose from, one is nicer than the other (larger and has windows)(Satelite 5 by gate 55, the other (SAT 4, gate 46) is in the basement but still has all of the "stuff" the other one has. It really depends on how much time you have, where you plane arrives (what gate) and what gate your departing plane is leaving from.
Jan 10, 2011, 4:43 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: Continental SE 2010, Air Canada Elite 2011
Posts: 83
Actually while I was in the UK over Christmas I watched the delays at LHR on tv and a gate attendant was shown telling everyone that the flight was canceled ... the crowd groaned but one passenger pushed forward and asked "does that apply to business class too?" :-)
Jan 10, 2011, 5:08 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,607
Your carrier will grant access to whatever lounges they want, usually it'll be their business class lounges except in unusual cases like upgrade certificates or last minute upgrades. Sometimes that carrier won't have a lounge and they'll have a contract lounge or another non-*A lounge they give you access to. Sometimes they won't have anything at all.
But in addition to that flying business class on any Star Alliance carrier grants you access to any other Star Alliance business class lounge in the airport you can get to.
And they might not tell you about this as they'll just tell you about their own lounge which might be cheaper for them. For example in SFO flying UA in business class they'll only tell you about their own business class lounge, not the SQ SK lounge. (though SQ might be closing access to this lounge now) Most airports won't have multiple *A lounges to choose from. Only large hubs like Heathrow or unusual cases like SFO would fall into this category.
Jan 10, 2011, 5:15 pm
#21
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Posts: 13,145
Jan 10, 2011, 6:08 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Jan 10, 2011, 6:22 pm
#23
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
Don't be shocked by the quality of cabin on the ANA BKK-NRT leg. ANA uses their oldest planes and a very old recliner business seat on that route. Thai would have been a much better choice on the way back again.
But who knows, maybe by October they would have upgraded those old planes.
But who knows, maybe by October they would have upgraded those old planes.
Jan 10, 2011, 6:56 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium, National EE, Sixt Platinum, Hertz PC, AVIS PC
Posts: 1,909
Jan 10, 2011, 8:19 pm
#25
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Mind you, I've always had *A Gold anytime I've flown in J so I don't have first-hand experience in this.
Jan 11, 2011, 5:15 am
#26
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Northern Italian Lakes
Programs: BA, *A, Hertz Goldstar, Mucci wannabee, Waitrose, safari Oleg
Posts: 1,545
If in doubt about my ticket/membership status. for entry to the lounge, when I check in or drop by bag at the baggage drop-off desk I always ask "do I need an invitation for the lounge". In some airports you do... so it;s not an unusual thing to ask and they'll hand you an invitation if you qualify and if they are needed, or tell you if you don't qualify on your particular membership/flight combination.
The only other thing you have to be aware of is the advice already given by someone else on this thread that the airline will always direct you to their own lounge or contracted lounge - which may not be the best one that you have access to. So you should research available lounges online - find out where they are and either ask ahead or try.
The only other thing you have to be aware of is the advice already given by someone else on this thread that the airline will always direct you to their own lounge or contracted lounge - which may not be the best one that you have access to. So you should research available lounges online - find out where they are and either ask ahead or try.
Jan 11, 2011, 11:43 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,607
International Business Class Customers: Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers' owned Business Class lounges.
Customer must present a boarding card for the same day travel in international Business Class on a Star Alliance flight
Customer must be departing from the local airport in International Business Class
Customer is not entitled to any guests
Customer must present a boarding card for the same day travel in international Business Class on a Star Alliance flight
Customer must be departing from the local airport in International Business Class
Customer is not entitled to any guests
Think of *Gold as a special benefit giving you access to some of these even on economy tickets.
Jan 11, 2011, 1:23 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 92
Jan 11, 2011, 1:38 pm
#29
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Location: AU
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Access to star alliance lounges is also based on class of travel. So J boarding pass gets access to all J star alliance lounges.