Qantas attempted denial of OW Emerald access to Sydney First Lounge

[stephenrob63]

This week I flew on Cathay CX100 in Business SYD-HKG. I am currently QF Platinum. I am also CX Silver. For this trip my CX flights are being credited to Cathay.

I went to the QF First Lounge as usual and up at the main desk at top of escalators my boarding pass was scanned and the woman looked confused, couldn't find my Qantas FF number. I told her these flights points are going to Cathay.

She told me she needed to ring Cathay as she has no record of the booking, and she had received "an email today from Cathay" that their members without Cathay Diamond status cannot enter the First lounge in Sydney (!) I went in for some lunch and she came over to me to explain that this is the case. "It's just happened", she said.

After some back and forth, she told me I needed to leave the lounge (!) She said what I was doing was "double dipping" and Cathay was enforcing this no-lounge access, only in Sydney (?)

Two times she told me I needed to put my QF FF number in the booking instead of Cathay, if I was to stay in the lounge. I was STUNNED. I refused to accept this without it being a One World rule and having received NO notification of any changing rules from either Cathay or Qantas.

I spoke to a senior rep in the lounge after that and he knew nothing of it. I was effectively being thrown out of the Qantas lounge. I didn't go, of course. I have every right to put my points with any One World carrier if I am also a member of their FF. Can anyone shed any light on this?

The woman blamed Cathay for this, But from my take, I see it as one Qantas staff member trying to change my points over to them and away from Cathay. I am appalled by this situation and I won't let it rest. Any knowledge or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

 

[moa999]

Undoubtedly a part of Cathay's new war on attempting to prevent people using two FF cards and splitting benefits - Cathay Pacific to stop FF changing after check in
(And I'd refer to it more as splitting benefits rather than double dipping)

Suspect QF lounge staff have been told that the lounge won't get reimbursed unless the relevant status card is linked to the booking.

It's not the first time Cathay has played this game. If I recall over a decade ago there was a time QF was denying entry if CX check-in hadn't printed and given you a lounge invite card.

 

[stephenrob63]

Paragraphs please

Undoubtedly a part of Cathay's new war on attempting to prevent people using two FF cards and splitting benefits - Cathay Pacific to stop FF changing after check in
(And I'd refer to it more as splitting benefits rather than double dipping)

Suspect QF lounge staff have been told that the lounge won't get reimbursed unless the relevant status card is linked to the booking.

It's not the first time Cathay has played this game. If I recall over a decade ago there was a time QF was denying entry if CX check-in hadn't printed and given you a lounge invite card.

Thanks for this (and I've fixed the paragraphs).

If this is in fact a new rule, then surely we need official notification.

 

[RooFlyer]

If you’ve recounted the interaction accurately ( and I’ve no reason a doubt that you have) then irrespective of what Cathay is saying, the Qantas lounge person was in the wrong. OneWorld Emerald status gets you into the lounge, full stop.

Showing your QFF card, physical or on your phone should’ve ended the matter.

Even worse that they then tried to chuck you out of the lounge. I would file a complaint.